Chapter 4

I stood at the window watching Deuce pull out of my neighborhood. Part of me was livid that he showed up here uninvited. The other part was intrigued with putting a face to those eyes up close. That man was so damn fine. As mad as I was about him putting a gun to my face, I was just as curious about the six foot three, caramel colored, tattoo covered, arrogant ass man that just left here.

How did he find me so quick? How did he know my mom was out of work? A few months ago, she had open heart surgery. Her doctor put her out of work for four months. She had already been out sick for two months before that. I’d given up my apartment and moved back home to take care of her.

I was happy to do it until a fire completely destroyed my work site. With no consistent cash flowing in, I had to dip into my savings time and time again. I was down to five hundred dollars in my account. With my tips from last night, I had maybe eight fifty to my name. That wouldn’t even put a dent in the mortgage and bills. Mama was set to return to work next week, but that still wasn’t going to help us now. We were in a bind, and Aura had been my best chance to get us out of it.

The sound of my mama clearing her throat caused me to let the blinds slap back together.

“Who was that man, Salima?”

“A new acquaintance, Ma. I met him at work.”

“And he’s already coming over?”

I thought of a quick lie. “I lost my ID last night, and he brought it back.”

Just the mention of work left a sour taste in my mouth.

“How was your first night? You look exhausted, baby.”

“I am exhausted.” I leaned against the wall. “I take it you haven’t watched the morning news.”

“I didn’t. I slept in until my doctor’s appointment for once.”

“You may want to sit down for this one.”

She held her chest as she took a seat on the couch. I began telling her the story of last night and she looked absolutely terrified. I made sure to leave out the part about Deuce putting a gun to my face.

Karen Navarro was alot of things, but she didn’t play about me. If I told her he pointed a gun at me, she’d be ready to call my uncles and cousins and ride the fuck out. I also hid the stack of money in the pocket of my robe. She’d want to know why Deuce gave it to me and what either of us did to get it.

By the time I was done, she had her arms around me, crying profusely.

“I can’t believe that happened! Oh, those poor babies! My poor baby! Are you okay, Salima?”

“I’m fine, Ma. I’m just tired. All I want to do is take my shower and climb into bed.”

“Go ahead, baby. You’ll have the house to yourself. Your Aunt Sarah and Aunt Cicely are taking me to lunch to celebrate my clean bill of health.”

“Have fun. Don’t get wasted off bottomless mimosas.”

She giggled. “Chile, I’m too old to get drunk. Now back in the day, I could throw them back.”

I believed her. Seeing younger pictures of her told me that she and my aunts were something else back then. Nothing but hoochie shorts, crop tops, big hair, and long fingernails. Mama was a baddie then, and she was still bad now.

“I believe you, Ma.” I hugged her and kissed her cheek. “I love you. Tell my aunties I said, hey.”

“I will. I love you too.”

Standing from the couch, I headed into my bedroom and locked the door. Pulling the stack of money from my pockets, I looked down at it. Ten thousand dollars. That would hold us over for a while if I budgeted it correctly. Deuce had to be crazy to walk around with this type of cash and not worry about getting robbed.

“The man is a cold-blooded killer, Salima. He ain’t worried about being robbed.”

I looked around the room and laughed. I did talk to myself. I had to rationalize with myself at times. I was never the type to tell people all of my business. Most bitches and niggas were trifling, but I always had a friend in me. Sighing, I dropped the money in my purse, making a mental note to deposit it in the bank later today.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower to heat up while I brushed my teeth and washed my face. Last night had me out here looking down bad. Once I was done with this shower, my pillow was about to get some serious head. Stripping out of my robe, I stepped into the steamy, hot shower.

With my eyes closed, I stood there releasing the tension from my body. I had scrapes on my knee and my hands were sore from that hard ass concrete floor. I still couldn’t believe I landed a job at a place that doubled as an underground pedophile ring. That shit was sick. I kept seeing those scared, innocent faces.

They were children. Somebody loved them. Somebody missed them.

They would never be the same after this shit. Even therapy may not help them recover. I couldn’t imagine that being me or my child. The whole thing was simply heartbreaking. Deuce may have been an arrogant, fun pointing asshole, but he saved those children. He made sure they were safe and sound before he took out their abusers. For that, he had a little… very little… of my respect.

Hopefully, today was the last I would see of him. If circumstances were different, I didn’t think I would mind running into his fine ass again. But right now? Right now it was fuck Deuce.

I ’d gotten maybe four hours of sleep.

By the time I enter the REM cycle of my nap, my phone was going off back-to-back. With a frustrated groan, I pulled the covers from over my head and snatched my phone from the dresser. Of course, it was my best friend, Shar, blowing me up about last night. She was one of the few people who knew I was starting at Aura.

“Biiiiitch!”

“Are you okay?”

“What the fuck is going on down there?”

“Salima Navarro! Answer me!”

“Bitch, I know you see me calling you. Pick up the phone.”

“Oh, see now I’m finna pull up. I’m five minutes away.”

That last text was exactly five minutes ago. Shar was never one to say she was pulling up and not pull up. Tossing back the covers, I rolled out of bed. I didn’t bother to put on real clothes. Dressed in nothing but boy shorts and a sports bra, I dragged myself to the front door. As soon as I opened it, she came barging in with the dramatics.

“I know your black ass saw me calling you, bitch! Got me out here worried that somebody done got you! I was ready to paint this fucking city red, Salima.”

“Hello, Sharina.”

She frowned. “I’m still mad enough to smack you.”

She pulled me into her arms for a hug. Her heart was racing, and she held a slight tremble. Maybe she really had been scared. When she pulled away, her beautiful face softened.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, girl. I spent all night at the police station and I’m just tired.”

“We’ll come sit down and tell me what happened.”

I really didn’t feel like hashing this story out again, but she would not leave without answers. Reluctantly, I followed her to the couch and sat down to give her the story. She went through a range of reactions, just like I knew she would.

“Bitch… that’s some crazy ass shit.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Wait a minute… did you say Deuce?”

“Yeah. He told my mama his name was Stanley.”

She jumped up from the couch. “Oooo biiiiitch!”

“What?”

“Do you know who that is?”

“Now you sound like him. Should I know this nigga?”

“Uh yes! Please tell me you know who the Dillingers are?”

“Dillinger…” I pondered the name.

“Salima, not only do they run most of the city, they own most of it, too. I’m talking hotels, restaurants, clubs and lounges, jewelry stores. That’s just the legal shit. They run deep in the underground world. That paper is long. Deuce probably wipes his fine ass with the ten grand he gave you.”

“Shar, he knows where I live. What if he comes back? What if he decides I’m expendable and they need to get rid of me.”

“I doubt that. If he wanted to kill you, he would have done it last night. I honestly think he was trying to protect you from getting caught it the crossfire by putting you in the room with those kids. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he spared you.”

I shook my head. “This is some TV shit, Shar.”

She giggled. “It is. Ain’t he fine though, girl? Ain’t nothing like a fine, tatted ass thug nigga. That man walks like he slings dick for days.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s okay.”

“Now I know you lying. Your lil’ pussy probably got wet just looking at him. You know you haven’t had dick in a minute.”

“See how you come over here trying to play me? I’m taking a break from niggas, thank you very much.”

“I know you’re wearing that damn rose out.”

“Fuck you, Shar!”

“I mean, I do have a harness. You sitting here with your ass hanging out is turning me on a little bit.”

She reached over and slapped my thigh. I slapped her hand away.

“I’m not about to play with you.”

We shared a laugh. It was all in fun. Shar had been my bitch since birth. Aunt Cicely was her mother and my mama’s best friend. We were the sisters each other never had, and I loved her dearly.

“Where is Auntie Karen?”

“At lunch with your mama and Aunt Sarah.”

“Oh God. My mama is about to be white girl wasted on mimosas before five. You know how they get when they get together.”

“I know girl.”

“Well, I’m hungry. You worked up my appetite. Put on some clothes. I feel like I want a fried fish sandwich.”

My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since yesterday afternoon.

“Give me a few minutes,” I said standing.

As I walked past Shar, she slapped my ass like she always did.

“Hurry up!”

“Don’t rush me, ho!”

I disappeared into my bedroom and slipped into a pair yoga pants, a crop top, and my favorite fuzzy slides. Pulling off my bonnet, I fluffed out my curls and added a little gloss to my lips. Grabbing my purse, I headed back out front to find Shar chomping on a bag of chips like we weren’t going to get food.

“Don’t start,” she said, pointing a chip at me.

I grinned as I raised my palms.

“I ain’t said nothing, girl. We need to stop by the bank so I can deposit this money.”

“So this means you’re treating right.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, bitch. I got you.”

She randomly bent over and twerked her ass on me, something she did on the regular. I gave it a couple smacks, then pushed her toward the door.

So much for sleep.

F ifteen minutes later, we were sitting outside of Mr. Luckey’s, a spot in the hood that served the best fried fish sandwiches. We already placed our orders and were waiting at one of the picnic tables. It was a sunny Saturday, and everybody was outside soaking up the sun. Kids were playing in the water from the fire hydrant. The local fire department sometimes opened them to flush out the pipes, and the kids loved it.

I could smell grilled food from somebody’s barbecue nearby. The corner boys were posted up looking to make a sale. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear music blaring through somebody’s speakers. This had been my element for the last twenty-five years. It was home.

“Fuck it’s hot out here,” Shar complained.

She tossed her phone on the table and pulled off her shirt leaving her in this cute pink bralette top that showed off her perfect C-cups. Whistles went up around us.

“Nigga, not even in your dreams,” Shar said, flipping that thirty-two inch bust down over her shoulder.

“I’m just saying, lil’ mama. You bad as fuck witcho’ thick ass. You and your friend.”

“This is my girlfriend.” She leaned over and cupped my chin before kissing me softly on the lips.

“Oh it’s like that? Shit, I’d love to be a fly in the wall in that bedroom.”

“We swat flies,” Shar said, waving her hand. “Shoo, shoo. Goodbye.”

I laughed at her antics. “Girl, please don’t give these niggas a reason to act up.”

“Ain’t nobody worried about him. I have a gun, I have a bullets and if he wants one, he can have it.”

I rolled my eyes. Just then, our number was called. Shar got up and went to go grab the food. Just as she left the table, a loud rumbling car came around the corner and pulled to a stop out front. When I looked up, I realize that it was the same car I saw Deuce pull off in this morning. That bitch was clean.

The doors open, and he stepped out along with another guy who looked similar to him. I assumed that it was his brother or cousin. They dapped a few of the guys that were standing out front. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him and he must’ve felt it because he looked over at me. A smirk spread across his face as he and the guy with him walked over to my table.

“Well, well, well. Ms. Navarro. We meet again.”

“Are you following me? First, you show up at my house and now you’re here. It can’t just be a coincidence.”

“You seem to be a very suspicious person, Ms. Navarro.”

I frowned. “I’m only suspicious of you right now.”

“Not that I owe you an explanation… I have business to attend to over here. We got hungry.”

“And you couldn’t find anywhere else to eat?”

“Damn, bruh,” said the man with him. “She clocking you like this is her hood.”

I frowned at him too. “I’m sorry, you are?”

“Mace.”

“Well, Mace, this is my hood. I’ve been here my entire life. Not once have I ever seen either of you around here.”

Deuce chuckled. “Everybody ain’t mean to be seen, baby. Real niggas move in silence. You don’t need to see me to feel me.”

The way he said that sent chills up my spine. All I could do was stare at him as he stared at me. The full gold grill in his mouth glistened in the sun. I wondered what his teeth looked like without them. Some niggas took their grills out, and their teeth were all fucked up. He seemed like he might have a nice smile.

“Huh uh! Don’t come over here scaring my girl, now,” Shar said as she came back with our food.

Deuce raised his palms. “No threat intended, Sharina.”

“How do you know my name?”

“See what the fuck I mean, girl?” I said. “He just throws around information like it’s his business.”

He grinned. “What ain’t my business, I make my business, baby.”

“Yeah, well I don’t like that shit.”

He stepped close to the table and rested his palms on top of it. My eyes involuntarily trailed him from his handsome face to the tattoos covering his arms, to the veins protruding from them. It was something about veins in a man’s arms. He had me looking at him like who the fuck is he and why he ain’t in my drawls yet.

He licked his lips. “I find that hard to believe. Even if it were true… whatchu gon’ do about it?”

I found myself holding my breath as I stared at him, unable to say a word. He smirked as he stood up straight.

“Good day, ladies.”

Nudging his brother, they walked off to order their food.

Here came Shar. “Bitch, I don’t know about you, but my kitty just purred.” She picked up a napkin and dabbed my lips. “You’re drooling a little bit, baby. Don’t worry, I got you.”

I slapped her hand away, causing her to laugh. Deuce looked back at me once again and winked. I quickly turned my attention back to my food. Lord knows I didn’t need to find this man attractive. He was already doing too much, and I was beginning to feel like that was his thing. I needed to stop while I was ahead before him doing too much turn into him doing me.

Jesus be a fence.