Murderville 3: The Black Dahlia

by Ashley

  Jacob had lost his leverage in the conversation. “I do not want war with the African mob, but I will engage in it if it comes to that. Let’s avoid that and go into business together. We stand to make more money together than we could ever make apart. I only want the streets; the rest is yours. I can get you in the door and introduce you to the people who can take you to the next level. Let me have the drugs. Human trafficking is your game.”

  Dahlia knew that she could easily get connected through the five families, but she didn’t want to go to them for assistance. She was still proving herself to them. If she couldn’t bring new money to the table, they would not respect her. She needed to show that her entity was self-sufficient. She was still earning her respect with the five families. She had been initiated begrudgingly. If she could show that she had her own connections, it would make their acceptance of her much easier. She watched Jacob watching her as she sat thinking in silence. The unlikely partnership could prove quite profitable, but she was still unsure. Her trust was not easily earned.

  “How do you suppose we put our current beefs to rest? I lined up your men, shot them down in the streets like dogs. That is not exactly the type of foundation I like to start a partnership on,” she said.

  “A small price to pay for a step toward greatness,” Jacob responded.

  Dahlia nodded and raised her glass. “Agreed,” she said. She sipped her champagne, and Jacob did the same, sealing their new deal.

  He stood and pulled a knot of money out of his pocket. He placed the entire thing on the table.

  “What exactly is that for?” she asked.

  “For your attire. You are my date for the Gentlemen’s Ball,” he replied.

  “Date? I’m not interested in dating you, Jacob. This is business, and I don’t need your money,” she answered, and flicked the wad with her long red fingernails, causing the hundred-dollar bills to spread out across the table.

  “Being on my arm is the only way you will get it, toots. Don’t flatter yourself,” Jacob responded with a slick smile. “The Gentleman’s Ball is where you will find your most loyal customers. They are in the market to purchase women. I’m pulling you into an elite circle. So take the money. It’s a black-tie affair. I’ll send a driver to pick you up Friday night.” He rounded the table and stopped when he was near her side. He bent down to whisper in her ear. “And if I wanted to taste you, I wouldn’t have to pay for it. You’d give it to me again and again and again.” His lips touched her ear as he spoke, and the scent of his cologne intoxicated her. She gasped as sparks of electricity caused her clitoris to swell. “See you Friday,” Jacob finished, before walking out of the bar, suavely buttoning his suit jacket as he departed.

  Dahlia licked her lips and shook her head as she finished her drink. She would have to be careful with Jacob. His charm was distracting. Little did Jacob know, she wasn’t looking for a partner. Once she acquired his connections, she would kill him. She didn’t share her throne under any circumstances.

  FOURTEEN

  PO AND ROCKO SAT IN THE SUITE of the MGM Grand, overlooking the city of Detroit. Po stared out the window while Rocko cleaned his gun on the bed. The strain on their friendship was evident, but both men couldn’t deny that they had love for each other. They had come up together and genuinely didn’t want to see any harm come to each other. They were both preoccupied by their own thoughts. Rocko hadn’t been able to take his mind off of Liberty, and to keep himself from acting on his true feelings, he steered clear of her. Po, on the other hand, wasn’t concerned about Liberty at all. He couldn’t shake thoughts of Dahlia. Although he knew she was bad news, there was something about her that kept him wanting her. Maybe it was the mind-blowing sex. Or maybe it was her smooth cocoa skin and slight accent. Whatever it was, he wanted more. His thoughts were clouded, and he needed to feel what Dahlia provided for him. She had a way of making him feel powerful. His thoughts were interrupted by Rocko’s comment.

  “So you say the ol’-school nigga is connected, huh?” Rocko said, referring to Baron.

  “Yeah, basically, he ran a black Cosa Nostra. Baron is a legend in the city,” Po answered, still focusing on the city’s skyline.

  “So you mean to tell me Liberty was connected to this nigga all the time and never plugged us? He needs to see what’s up on a new coke connect. If you say he has it, what are we waiting for? Let’s step to the man,” Rocko said, getting straight to the point. They were in a new city with no connections, so Rocko was definitely thinking about his next move. He wasn’t a nine-to-five type of guy, so the only thing he knew was to hustle.

  “You know what? That isn’t a bad idea. You looking at the nigga all crazy didn’t help us any,” Po said sarcastically. What Rocko said had struck a chord with Po; if he could get on through Baron, he would easily take over the city of Detroit. He needed a come-up, and Baron was his way in. He told himself that he would immediately begin to work on that connection. He went over and grabbed his cell phone and called Liberty, putting her up on the grand scheme. After a half hour of persuading her to set their future up by plugging them, she agreed. She told Po that Baron was asleep and she would mention it to him the following day. When Po hung up the phone, he rubbed his hands together and imagined himself taking over Detroit.

  * * *

  The sun’s beams woke up Baron as he lay on the couch of Liberty’s home. He had been in Mexico for so long hiding it felt funny not waking up to humid weather and the call of the rooster. He slowly sat up and stretched his arms out. The smell of bacon and eggs crept into his nose, and he looked behind him to see Liberty cooking. She was fully dressed and obviously had been up for a while. After their long conversation the night before, he had asked her if he could stay the night. He didn’t have a lot of money and didn’t want to take the risk of being caught on camera at any of the hotels. His face was infamous in Detroit, and he wanted to stay as low-key as possible.

  “Smells good,” he said as he stood up and wiped the cold out of his eyes.

  “Good morning! Thank you.” Liberty placed the plates on the table.

  Baron joined her. The only thing he was looking for was clarity, and he got that. He had no reason to stay in the States and run the risk of the feds picking him up. He had a life sentence waiting for him, and he wasn’t trying to do a day.

  “I’m going to head out later this evening. I wish I could help you out monetarily, but things aren’t like they used to be,” Baron said almost shamefully. He had been living modestly and low-key, not spending above his means. His secret overseas accounts were keeping him afloat.

  “It’s fine. I don’t need any money. I am going to find a job and move back here permanently,” Liberty said.

  She had never had a job in her life, and she was looking forward to getting out in the real world. However, the conversation she had with Po earlier that morning kept playing in her head. He had suggested that she ask Baron to plug him and Rocko with a coke connect. She had been battling about asking him all morning; she just didn’t know how.

  “I have something to ask you,” Liberty said just before she slid a forkful of eggs into her mouth.

  “What’s on your mind?” Baron asked as he proceeded to eat his food.

  “Well, as you know, Po and Rocko have been watching my back since A’shai died. I just wanted to make sure they were good, so I’m asking for your help,” Liberty said, obviously beating around the bush.

  “Continue,” Baron said calmly, wanting to hear what she had in mind.

  “Obviously, they know who you are. Everyone in Detroit knows who you are. They were wondering if you could introduce them to a couple of your friends, ya know, plug them?” Liberty asked nervously, not knowing what type of response she would get.

  Baron stopped eating and put his fork down. He slowly sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. He looked into Liberty’s eyes, trying to see if she was serious. He didn’t expect that coming from her. His first notion was to say no, but as
a calculated thinking man, he paused and gave it a long thought.

  “To be honest with you, Liberty . . . my first thought was to say no. I do not know these two guys you speak of. A strong coke connect is something that comes with hard work, hustle, and longevity. However, I want nothing but the best for you. So I’m going to give you some game, and I want you to listen close.”

  Baron moved the plate from in front of him. He then placed his clasped hands on the table. He took a deep breath and had already laid out a plan in his head, just that quick. Being at the height of drug dealing, Baron had learned to sort thoughts out in his head quickly, which was a trait of a great leader.

  “I’m going to introduce you to a couple of plugs. This way, they will always need you. You will be the link to them and the money. As you get older, you will understand that people and circumstances change. You can’t trust people . . . trust greed. Their greed will keep them loyal to you,” Baron said, trying to break it down for Liberty in its simplest form.

  Liberty listened closely, and it all started to make sense to her. Baron was introducing her to another angle. By no means was she built for the game, but what he said was advice she could use for everyday life.

  “You understand?” Baron asked. He could see that she was thinking about what he had said. It was as if he opened a hallway in her mind that she never knew about.

  “I understand,” she answered.

  “Good. There is something called the Gentlemen’s Ball in . . .” Baron started. He stopped in mid-sentence, remembering that Liberty was very familiar with that ball. It was the same ball at which she had reunited with A’shai years back.

  “I know what the ball is,” she whispered as her thoughts drifted to her haunting past.

  He continued after a brief pause. “Well, I want to take you there, and I have powerful friends I can connect with while there. I have been out of the loop for years, but this will get me back into my old practice.”

  “I don’t know about going there,” Liberty said as she thought about that particular time in her life when she was auctioned off. She didn’t want to relive the pain that had scarred her for life. The last time she was there, she was half naked on a stage as if she was a piece of meat rather than a human being. Her face was filled with pain and sorrow. She closed her eyes and shook her head as she tried to get the images out of her mind.

  “Listen.” Baron said as he placed his hand on Liberty’s. “The only way to conquer your fears is to face them. I know you have bad memories there, but to revisit the same place as a stronger woman will free you. You are a different woman, and this is the last step to letting all of the pain go.”

  Liberty smiled. Baron was so comforting, and she instantly saw where A’shai had gotten his strength and charm. “OK. I trust you. Let’s do it,” Liberty said. It was set. She was about to get connected. She thought about what Baron had said to her about keeping Po and Rocko dependent on her, so that they would always need her. She decided to be the middle man rather than just plugging Po in directly. The way he handled the Dahlia situation had her on the ropes about him. She didn’t trust Po the way she once had. It was perfect timing, because the ball was a couple of weeks away.

  Baron promised himself he would establish the connection and disappear again . . . like a ghost.

  FIFTEEN

  IT WAS THE NIGHT OF THE GENTLEMEN’S Ball, the one night of the year when the underworld’s elite met. That particular event served more than one purpose for its patrons. It was a night when the richest criminals in the world had a chance to buy sexual favors, but it also was a top-shelf networking mixer. It was a night when many men made connections and illegal business arrangements that lasted for years. It was a special night for the real gangsters. Baron and his date, Liberty, had just flown in and were definitely going to be in the building. Baron kept his word, and before he returned to Tijuana, he would establish connections for Liberty and her friends.

  The event was exclusive and by invitation only. Each year, a five-star hotel was rented out for the gathering. No cameras or phones were allowed inside the building. Politicians and tycoons also were in attendance. The allure of sexual slaves from different parts of the world was too much for the men to resist. The night’s air was perfect as the full moon sat in the sky. The stage was set to be magical.

  Liberty had butterflies in her stomach as she held the arm of Baron. The last time she had been at the exquisite hotel, she was on the menu as a call girl. Now she was on the arm of one of the biggest gangsters in the world. She had come full circle. As they stepped out of the limo, Baron held his arm out for Liberty and gave her a smile. He could sense that she was nervous, so he gave her his famous smile, and it seemed as if her worries melted away.

  Baron looked like his old self. He had cut his beard into a neat goatee, and his head was clean-shaven. His Italian-cut suit fit him to perfection, and he felt like himself again. Baron hadn’t been to the ball in years, and he had done enough favors to get fronted whatever he wanted. The world was his, and he was glad to be back in the limelight.

  As they walked into the entrance, an old business colleague walked in with them.

  “Baron Montgomery,” Anari said as she extended her manicured hand. She was a fair-skinned African American lady in her early forties. Baron hadn’t seen Anari in years and was happy to see an old friend. He extended his hand and shook hers, followed by a quick peck on her check. He then focused on her husband, Von, who was also in “the industry.”

  “Von. Anari. How are you guys?” he asked the power couple.

  “We’re good. I hear you’re a wanted man,” Von said jokingly, knowing that Baron had made America’s Most Wanted.

  They all shared a laugh, and Baron fixed his tie as if boasting that he hadn’t been caught. “They can’t catch what they can’t see,” he replied with a charming smile.

  Anari turned her attention to Liberty, who seemed out of the loop. “You have a beautiful date,” she said as she focused on Liberty’s beauty.

  “She is beautiful, isn’t she?” Baron said as he looked at Liberty and winked his eye. This brought a smile to Liberty’s face. “This is my daughter, Liberty.” Baron put his arm around Liberty and kissed her on her forehead.

  Liberty’s heart warmed, and she closed her eyes and was caught in the moment. It felt so good to hear Baron say that about her. She honestly felt like his daughter, and it was the best feeling in the world to her.

  “Hello, Liberty,” Anari said as she and then Von held their hands out to greet her.

  Liberty shook both of their hands, and there was something about them that she liked. The woman had a powerful aura about herself, and Liberty picked up on it immediately. Maybe it was because she was one of the biggest cocaine providers in the country. She had a direct plug with the Supreme Clientele table, the biggest drug syndicate in the world. That one table had connections to anything illegal and at the best price. Anari was the boss, and the boss energy beamed off of her.

  “Sorry to hear about your loss a couple of years back,” Anari said, referring to Willow, whom Baron had lost in the midst of a street beef.

  Baron nodded, accepting her condolences. “Well, I guess I will see you on the inside,” he said as he headed toward the door.

  They parted and entered the ballroom. The place was splendid, and the sounds of smooth jazz danced through the air as the live band played for the patrons. A beautiful, heavy-set black woman skillfully zatted to the beat, giving the place a calm ambience. Her band members wore tuxedos, and they closed their eyes as they grooved to the sound of their own musical genius. A big runway sat on the main floor, and memories began to bombard Liberty’s thoughts. Years ago, she walked that same runway, waiting to get picked by the highest bidder.

  “Everything is going to be OK. That was the old you. This is the best way to bury those old memories. You have to confront them head-on,” Baron said as he felt her shoulders tense up while having his arm around them.

&n
bsp; “I’m OK,” Liberty said as she tried to remain unmoved. “I’m OK,” she repeated, this time with a slight grin, showing that she was fine.

  Beautiful women walked around with masquerade masks, serving champagne from silver trays. Liberty grabbed a glass from one of the trays and quickly downed it.

  “I needed that,” she said, making Baron laugh.

  It seemed as if the whole building heard Baron’s quiet chuckle, because all eyes were on them at that point. Everyone had heard about Baron’s mysterious disappearance from the law, and it only added to his legend. It made him Mr. Untouchable. He had managed to shake the feds and disappear into thin air. People flocked to him, and Baron noticed that he was about to become the center of attention. It was exactly what he wanted. He would establish a connection for Liberty, and his mission would be complete.

  Baron whispered in Liberty’s ear as different men began to come his way. “Let me mingle for a second. Go and find us a seat before the auction starts,” he instructed. He began to extend his hand for handshakes as people started to crowd around him. Liberty nodded in compliance and headed to the main floor to find a table for them.

  * * *

  Dahlia’s red-soled stilettos were the first thing in sight as she stepped out of the tinted SUV. She wore an all-black dress that hugged her body tightly, displaying all of her curves. Her makeup was precise, and the black lipstick she wore gave her a sinister but sexy look. Jacob accompanied her, but he was a mere accessory to the stunning Dahlia.

  They entered the Gentlemen’s Ball together. Dahlia had been looking forward to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although she was very wealthy and successful at what she did, her greed pushed her to accumulate more. She had an insatiable appetite, and she was ready to expand.

  Dahlia put her arm inside Jacob’s as he led the way onto the ballroom floor. She immediately noticed the small crowd gathering around a tall, dark, and handsome man.