The Score (18 page)

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I snapped out of my reverie and realized I was crying. My legs were trembling so hard I finally collapsed onto the closed toilet seat. I put my head in my hands and started thinking about my next move. There was no way I could allow Mrs. Shepherd to die without seeing her one last time. There was also no way I could allow that assisted living place to move my safe. Hell no!

But, now that I was practically living with Drake, he wasn't going to just let me up and go back to my hometown alone. He was very possessive over me.

I would have to tell Drake that I needed to go back to Virginia Beach, but I know he would insist on going with me. Which would mean the possibility of Drake finding out my real name and identity. I couldn't let that happen. All of this pretending would have been in vain. No other man had treated me like Drake had treated me in the few short months we had been spending time together.

I let out a long windstorm of breath. The more I sat and thought the more things I came up with that were just all wrong about returning to Virginia Beach. I mean, I couldn't forget that I hadn't left under the best of circumstances. I had to be very careful going back because I was sure that even after three months, Matt and Yancy were probably still searching for me. Not to mention, last week I had just gotten in contact with my best friend, Daysha, to let her know I was okay. Although the broken relationships I'd left behind were swirling in my brain, at the top of the list was the fact that I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let Mrs. Shepherd die without seeing her one last time. And, my safe . . . there was still the fact that I needed my safe.

After about twenty minutes of being holed up in the bathroom, I finally returned to my bedroom. Drake was awake lying on his back staring up at the ceiling. When he heard me enter the room, he turned toward me and parted that sexy, lady-killer smile of his. He was too damn fine for human eyes, I swear. I had told him several times he should be a model.

“What's up, sweetheart?” he asked. My heart started pounding all over again. I had told so many lies that I couldn't just stop and go back to telling the truth. I hated to keep lying to him.

“Nothing, you sexy thing,” I faked as I slid into the bed next to him. I snuggled my body against his, hoping that his touch would ease some of the angst I was feeling.

“You sure? You kind of look like you've been crying,” Drake asked and told me all in one breath.

Damn, he noticed everything. I had never had a man who paid attention to every detail and was always so interested in my every move like this. It was flattering, but sometimes it was annoying and unnerving. Like now. I immediately grew annoyed with Drake's constant probing. I let out an exasperated breath.

“Nah. My eyes were tearing up because I had an eyelash stuck in my eye,” I lied, thinking quickly on my feet. “Why would I be crying when you make me so happy,” I said all phony-like.

“Good, because I can't have my lady crying and not knowing what I can do to make it all better. My job is to make you happy at all times. Remember that,” he said. Then he pulled me on top of him.

“Now stop all of the talking and kiss me,” he demanded. I cracked a halfhearted smile and let out a real phony giggle. I wasn't in the mood for sex, but it was the only way to really change the subject and make Drake feel that everything was normal. I lowered my mouth on top of his and kissed him passionately. His hands ran down my back and over my ass and back up again. Although I wasn't in the mood, my body began preparing for Drake. I felt myself getting wet and my nipples were hard and erect.

Within seconds I was on my back, legs bent, feet planted on the bed and Drake was entering my deep, moist center.

“Ahhh,” I crooned as Drake moved inside of me rhythmically. I closed my eyes and tried to get lost in the ecstasy of his touch. It didn't work. The gears of my brain were still grinding on ideas of slipping away from Drake, going to Virginia Beach to see Mrs. Shepherd one last time, grabbing the remainder of my cash, and getting away from everyone and everything forever. It all sounded much easier than it really was. I was really going to have to be smart about it this time or else everything I had planned might come crashing down around me.

MATT

I
was pacing like a motherfucka during the phone call. My stomach was in knots. My fists were curled at my side and my jaw rocked feverishly. The adrenaline coursing through my veins had me feeling like I could rip someone's head off with my bare hands. I was listening intently to every word. This had to work. It was the only way I was going to get Lauren's ass back for what she had done to me. I could almost feel the satisfaction of getting revenge on her. The anticipation of it had me feeling invincible.

Finally the call ended. I rushed over. I'm sure the curiosity was written all over my face. I couldn't contain it.

“What did she say? Did she sound like she believed you? Did she say where she was at? Did she say she was coming back to VA? When she coming back? How long did she say it's going to take her to get here?” I shot off questions rapid-fire. I wanted answers to every single question and I wanted them now.

Daysha shot me an evil glare and sucked her teeth. She was such a mean little bitch I could've just snatched her by that fucked-up weave she had in her hair. I played it cool though.

“Yeah, she believed me. What? You think I can't sound like a professional over the phone?” Daysha shot back. I bit down into my jaw to keep from telling this dirty rat what I really thought of her ass.

“I'm not saying that but you know Lauren, she is real smart. Shit, for all you know she might've recognized your voice even through the disguise. I'm just fucking asking. You don't have to get all stupid about it,” I retorted. This bitch was bugging, but she was so greedy she would've done anything for a little paper. Including betraying her best friend.

“Yeah whatever. She sounded like she believed every word that I said,” Daysha snapped. “She's coming as soon as she can. Trust me, it worked. I don't do no half-ass work.”

Daysha stomped over to me with her face folded into a frown. She extended the open palm of her right hand out in front of her and used her left pointer finger to point to her palm. Then she made the throat-clearing AHEM sound. I pursed my lips at that bitch and shook my head in disgust. I had seen opportunistic, money-hungry bitches before, but Daysha was the worst kind. She's the type of bitch that I would've had burned alive in my old life.

“Damn, I'ma pay you. Why you acting all pressed?” I grumbled in disgust. I hated thirsty-ass hood rat bitches. I never liked this troublemaking bitch Daysha anyway. It seemed like every time Lauren and I got into problems over other chicks, Daysha was right there in the middle of it. More than once she was the one who had carried the information back to Lauren. There were many times I argued with Lauren telling her not to trust Daysha's snake ass. But, no, Lauren was all about her so-called best friend.

“Look, this is about money. Or am I wrong about what all of this about? I mean, you think I would've been setting up my best friend for the downfall and for the likes of a grimy nigga like you? Too bad for her that she didn't look out for me with a few stacks before she snuck out of town because now it's fair game. What Lauren did to you and to me was grimy. And the way she played us lets me know that me and her must have never been
real
friends in her eyes. I mean you telling me she came off with almost three million dollars, the hood gossip is that she raked in more than that, and she ain't even try to hit me off with ten stacks? Shit, one stack would've done the trick. I'm not no hater chick, but I'm just going to keep it one hunn'ed with you right now. Lauren always did think she was better than everybody, but that was after she got with you. Before that she was on those struggle meals and struggle outfits just like the rest of you. She got with you and you upgraded her a little something. She never even tried to throw us nothing. I mean, I got with my own version of a so-called hustler so I did a'ight for myself. I wasn't pressed. When your ass fell off I thought for sure Lauren would get humble . . . but nah . . . the bitch kept shopping, kept flossing, kept acting like me and her sister and all of us up in the hood were just rats compared to her. I didn't even know she had no credit-card-scam shit going on. She kept frontin' like you was still getting long paper in the streets. Well for me, this whole thing that's about to go down serves Lauren right. So yeah, I'm fucking setting that bitch up and I'm about to get paid to do it. Call me grimy but where I'm from only the grimy survive,” Daysha preached, still holding out her hand in front of her.

I let out a long sigh. Irrational chicks like Daysha that had their own sense of right and wrong made my fucking head hurt, I swear. It really didn't take much convincing for her to turn on Lauren like a straight Judas. Money was all it took.

The day I approached her with the idea of helping me, I handed Daysha a thousand dollars as a deposit and promised her five thousand more. So, six thousand dollars to set up someone you called your best friend. I had to shake my head at this bitch.

“Here's another two stacks. When I'm sure this shit works and we get to the finish line, I will give you the rest,” I told her.

“So what do we do now? Wait for Lauren to come to the assisted living place and snatch her ass off the street?” Daysha asked. “Because I'm not so sure she will even get in contact with me when she gets to town. I can't predict for sure that she will even let me know when she gets here. I expect her to call me but what if she don't?”

“Didn't you say she had called you like twice to ask you to go see about the old lady?” I asked her.

“I mean . . . yeah . . . she had me going down to check on Mrs. Shepherd every now and then . . . even though I never actually went. So, she might call me and ask me to go down there. So if she does, then what?” Daysha replied. She was so damn dumb she had to be told everything.

“Well when she contacts you just act like the old lady is real sick. Urge Lauren to come back to Virginia Beach to see the lady. I mean the point of all this is that we want the bitch to show up. Maybe you can tell her to meet up with you first and that you'll go with her to see the lady or something like that. I need you to lure her to me. It don't matter how it's done, I just need to be face-to-face with her. Once I get my hands on her, you can dip and I'll pay you after,” I suggested. Daysha let out a sarcastic giggle.

“Nah, nigga, you can pay me first and then I'll lure her to you. Remember, I'm not new to this stunt you're trying to pull off. Y'all hustler types think y'all can swindle chicks like me. Well not this chick. I ain't no dumb-ass,” Daysha snapped, rolling her neck like hood rats do.

“Ain't nobody tryna play you, Daysha. I'm tryna think of what will be easiest for you and what will get you out of it faster. I just need to grab Lauren. Period. I'll pay you,” I replied.

“But wait . . . if you grab her then how do you expect to get your dough? I mean, once you snatch Lauren up you really think she's going to hand the money to you and let you go about your way?” Daysha pointed out.

“Once I grab her ass I will put my gun on that bitch and go with her to get the money. Once she gets inside she will know that Ms. Shepherd ain't really sick, but I don't give a fuck. She's going to find out you set her up regardless. But, you won't care because you'll have six stacks in ya pocket,” I replied.

Daysha fell silent for a few minutes, seemingly contemplating what I had just said. I could see that change-of-heart look coming over her face. Either way she was already knee-deep in this.

“It's either loyalty to your grimy-ass friend or loyalty to the almighty dollar. You can't worship two gods. You feel me? All I'm saying is your so-called best friend chose the almighty dollar over you already so think on that long and strong before you give me your final answer,” I told Daysha. I waved a few dollars in front of her. She followed the money with her eyes like a horse being led by a carrot on a string.

“Yeah. I'm looking out for myself. Let's do what we gotta do,” Daysha acquiesced.

I handed her two stacks. She snatched the money like she needed it to stay alive. Just like that I had bought her betrayal.

LAUREN

I
was covered in sweat and my stomach was doing flips as I rushed around the apartment trying to pack a tiny overnight bag for my trip. It was so hard to think about what I might need because my mind was muddled with all kinds of thoughts. I was thinking about going back, thinking about Mrs. Shepherd dying. And at the top of my mental list were thoughts of dipping out on Drake. I hated lying to him but it had just become a way of life for me at this point. I couldn't even imagine going to him to tell him my real identity and explaining all of the baggage I was carrying from my past life.

I looked nervously over at the clock on the cable box. The time was ticking by faster than usual or so it seemed that way.

“Shit. I gotta get out of here in thirty minutes or Drake will be back,” I huffed. I didn't need much, but it was just a matter of getting my mind right in order to go back to my hometown. I was running off of no sleep. I hadn't slept one hour since the phone call. Fuck tossing and turning, I hadn't even been able to relax my mind much less my body since the call from the assisted living place.

“C'mon, Lauren. Get it together. In and out of that place. Drake will have to understand when you get back. He'll get over it,” I pep-talked myself. There was also the matter of what I would do with the money once I retrieved it. Just another thing to worry about. But, first things first.

I needed to slip away before Drake returned from his morning workout. I shook my head thinking about him coming back with that sexy sheen of sweat on his gorgeous face, flashing that bright white smile and holding my morning cup of coffee. I shivered just thinking about him. He was such a good man. I was really starting to feel like I was falling in love with him.

“Finally,” I exhaled the word. I had enough stuff in my bag and I was ready to go. I grabbed my keys, Chanel purse, and cell phone. My cab was already outside. I took one last look at the note I had left for Drake.

It kind of broke my heart to have to leave Drake something as impersonal as a note but I had no choice. Sending him a text would've just made him race back to the apartment and calling him would've just had him peppering me with questions. I raced outside and hopped in my awaiting taxi.

“JFK, please,” I instructed.

As soon as the cab pulled away from the curb and began moving down the street, I closed my eyes and rested my head back on the seat. I was trying to let all of my worries fall away for once. I had been living so happily over the past three months that I had become a different, more carefree person. I had truly become my alias, Lauriel Kelton. She was classy. She was happy. She was carefree. She didn't steal. She was a totally different person.

I knew returning to Virginia Beach was going to require that I transform back into street-smart, hood-thinking, thieving, lying, conniving, watch-your-back–ass Lauren Kelly. It was so exhausting having to be that person. All of my life, I had to be a thief, a sneak, a grimy chick to survive. I was very young when I was forced to be a thief and scammer for survival. No one wants to be a thief and a liar, but in my circumstance I didn't have much of a choice. It was either become ruthless or die. Tears cropped up in my eyes because a painful, intrusive memory slammed into my mind and I couldn't shake it away.

 

 

 

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I couldn't stop the tears from falling during my cab ride to the airport.