Working Girls (15 page)

 

Jewels followed the navigation system's directions until it said she had reached her destination. She peered up the street. She matched the destination with the address she had been texted. She grimaced. The area brought back a lot of memories. This scenery was not her cup of tea, although she was St. Louis bred. She could count on one hand how many times she had been on this side of town since she had relocated. These were her mother's stomping grounds when Jewels was growing up. Ever since her mother's incarceration, this was an area she had steered clear of.

She scanned the streets. They were infested with bodies, everyone from dealers to streetwalkers. It was business as usual. Jewels recognized two low-budget local prostitutes and frowned. It had been a long time since she'd walked the streets of the Lou, or anywhere else, for that matter. She had quickly learned a long time ago that this was indeed a business and that you had to treat it as such. She could not see herself standing on anybody's corner, trying to sell her ass for nickels and dimes.

Who the hell would spend their money on them bitches, anyway
? she questioned as she eyed the two women posted up. It reminded Jewels of when her own mother and Sassy's mother used to stand on the block. But that was a different time and a different era. Their mothers had never looked as bad as the two women she studied now. You never would have caught Jewels's or Sassy's mom with their hair looking wild, like the hair of these two women, or with the type of messy makeup these women wore. You'd never catch Jewels or Sassy looking like them, either. Even the clothes they wore were unappealing, she noticed.

Jewels pulled out her cell phone. The caller answered on the first ring.

“Yes, I'm here,” she said into the receiver. Her annoyance about and disdain for their meeting place was evident. The news was filled with enough murders and shootings in this area to convince her that she needed to steer clear of it if she could help it. It wasn't that she was afraid. It was more that she knew bullets did not exit guns with instructions, and they didn't come out with names on them. The last thing she needed in her life was more negativity and violence.

But she knew she was there for a reason. She could've been told to meet in the worst part of St. Louis, and she would've been there. Her friend, her sister, meant that much to her. Jewels thoughts were broken when her attention was drawn to the blinking light to the right of her. She pulled a few feet up, toward the low-level housing apartment, and parked alongside the curb. She hesitated about getting out of her car, but she figured if it wasn't safe, she would have never been asked to meet here. She took a breath and then climbed out. She clutched her LV bag, which contained the agreed amount, and made her way to the entrance door. She was met with a half smile when she reached it.

“You straight.” Rome chuckled. He could see how being in the area made her uncomfortable. “Ain't nobody gonna fuck with you. This my hood,” he assured her.

His words brought her some comfort. Jewels was already aware of his capabilities in the event that there was danger around. Jewels flashed him a relieved smile as she walked past him and into the apartment. To her surprise, the small apartment was not what she had expected.

Rome closed the door behind her. “Pardon the mess,” he said as he scurried over to the living-room area to straighten up. He picked up a Pizza Hut box and an empty two-liter Pepsi bottle. “Have a seat.” He pointed to the couch. “I gotta go change my shirt.”

Jewels noticed that although there was a little trash around and an unfolded blanket balled up on the couch, the apartment was not low budget looking or dirty. As her eyes roamed around, she realized it was actually quite tastefully decorated and neat for a man. The couch was part of a five-piece black leather sectional, which had been put together in a U shape around an area rug. An Xbox was hooked up to a seventy-inch flat-screen TV, with surround-sound speakers mounted on the walls. A picture of Malcom X peering out of a window, with an AK-47 in hand, and other black art had been strategically hung throughout the apartment.

Rome returned to the living room with no shirt on. Jewels tried to position herself so she wouldn't be staring directly at his bare chest. She was nearly eye level with his pecs.

“This is for you,” she said, handing him a manila envelope.

Rome looked at the envelope oddly. “I told you, we were good. Never know when I may have to call you for a favor,” he joked.

Jewels smiled lightly. “I doubt you'll ever need me,” she returned. “But this isn't a payment. This is what you gave me to stay at my place.”

Rome couldn't believe his ears. “I don't get it.” A confused look appeared on his face.

Jewels knew he wouldn't. “I'm returning the money you paid me to stay with me because I felt it was the least I could do,” she informed him. “Not only did you save my life and get yourself involved in my mess, but you also did something for me that meant a lot to me.”

The more she spoke, the more Rome understood. He was both surprised and impressed. Her gesture reminded him of something he would do and had done on more than one occasion. He could tell that Jewels knew about the bartering system. He nodded and took the envelope. He knew it would be an insult if he didn't.

“It's six, not five,” she informed him. She'd included the extra thousand dollars he had paid for the days he had stayed past their agreed-upon date.

“That's wassup.” Rome smiled.

“Well, I guess this is good-bye.” Jewels stood.

“I guess it is,” Rome shot back. He made a path for her.

“Thank you again,” Jewels said as she made her way to the door. She stepped outside.

Rome stood in the doorway and watched as she strutted to her vehicle, looking both ways until she had reached it. He chuckled. Just as he was closing the door, he caught Jewels staring in his direction. There was something about the way she was looking at him that made him question it. Rather than close the door, he waved at Jewels, who was apparently still looking over at him. He returned the smile Jewels sent his way, and then he watched as she made her way out of the hood.

 

Rome had just exited the freeway. He came to a screeching halt at the light at the intersection. He was tempted to run it, but he knew that with his luck, a patrol car would be cruising by and would pull him over. That was the last thing he needed in his life, with all that he had escaped. So instead, he took two pulls of the half a blunt he had been smoking while he rode across town. With both drugs and a loaded gun in his ride, Rome could not afford any mishaps. Besides, he was all too ready to meet up with Red and their crew and turn up for the evening at the downtown nightclub. Red had called him earlier and had told him about the mini celebration he had put together for them and the team. You didn't have to tell Rome twice. Anything Red put together, he knew would be epic, from the bottles to the chicks. Rome knew they'd be on deck if Red was behind it.

His thoughts were interrupted when his attention was drawn to a passing vehicle. It wasn't so much the car that caught Rome's attention as the person who occupied it.

I know that wasn't her
, thought Rome. He peered up at the traffic light. “Come on! Come on!” he exclaimed.

As if it had heard him, the light turned green. Rather than going straight, to where Red and his crew were awaiting his arrival, Rome hooked a sharp left and sped up the block. He did sixty-eight in a thirty-five-mile speed limit zone, trying to catch up to the familiar-looking car. Once he was a safe distance away, he slowed down, thankful that there were no police in sight. Rome squinted his eyes. He was almost certain that it was her, but he needed to be sure.

Rome trailed behind the luxury car as it turned into the five-star hotel off to their right. Rome continued on down the road and then pulled over once he was sure he would be out of plain view. He threw his whip into park and then turned around to look out his back window. He watched as a chauffeur jogged around to the passenger's side of the unmistakable loud-colored car. He already knew who the man was who was about to step out of the car. But all was confirmed when he saw the extended hand of his connect help Jewels out of his red Bentley.

“You can't make this shit up,” Rome said out loud. A sinister grin appeared across his face. He snatched his gearshift into drive and made a U-turn in the middle of the street. He couldn't wait to get ahold of Red to tell him what was on his mind.

 

Jewels had already been briefed. It hadn't taken a lot of convincing by Rome. Ever since she had discovered that Kareem was not who she thought he was, she had lost the ounce of respect she had had for him. Had she known he was no different than the nigga who killed her homegirl, she never would have given him the time of day. As far as she was concerned, he had played a part in Sassy's death. Rome had told her how he had supplied the person responsible for it, so in her mind, he was partially responsible. Aside from all that, Jewels just felt obligated to help.

To most, it might sound crazy, but to her, it made sense. It was an unpaid debt she felt she needed and wanted to pay. She knew what it was like to need somebody's help and not get it. When she had needed someone the most on two occasions, both times, there had been no one there to turn to. It was Rome who had been there for her once, something she had never expected. He had saved her life and had helped her girl rest in peace. This was what Jewels had been telling herself over and over again during the whole ride over to the hotel. She had her game face on. She was just hoping that everything was on schedule and on point.

After Kareem pulled into the parking lot, she scanned the area to see if, by chance, they had been beaten there. Realizing that they hadn't, she took a quiet breath. Normally, Kareem's driver would be chauffeuring them around, but Kareem had relieved him for the evening. He pulled into the hotel's underground parking garage and parked.

They went inside the hotel, and once they were upstairs, Jewels's mind began to race. Were Kareem not on the phone, he would've noticed her nervousness. The fact that he was engrossed in this business call created a window of opportunity for her. As soon as they arrived at the room, she got comfortable and started to undress.

Kareem had ended his first call and was dialing another number to begin a new one when he said, “I need something to drink. You want something from the machines?” he asked.

Jewels shook her head no.

“Okay. Well, be ready for me when I get back.” He pushed the security lock out so the door wouldn't close all the way, stepped out, and went in the direction of the vending area.

Jewels used that time to make a call. “Hey, where are you?” she asked in a panicky voice. “He stepped out for a minute. Thought you'd be here by now. How you planning to do this?” Jewels said, rambling. She walked to the door to peek into the hall. “He ain't coming yet. Yes, same one.” She paused and looked behind her. Her mind was playing games on her. “I gotta go,” she whispered into the phone before abruptly disconnecting the call.

She tossed her iPhone back into her Gucci bag and hopped in the bed, pretending that she'd been there the whole time.

Kareem entered the room and locked the door. “All right. I'll get witchu when I get back to Chicago,” Jewels heard him say. She watched as he placed his phone on one of the nightstands beside the king-size bed.

He looked over at Jewels seductively. His second head rose to attention immediately. “Damn, girl. Wit' a body like that, a nigga fit'na put a ring on your finger. For real,” he cooed as he slithered his way over to her. The pit of Jewels's stomach knotted. She was tempted to give him a piece of her mind but then thought better of it.

For the next hour, Kareem was laying his thing down with full force. He and Jewels were getting it in. Moans and groans filled the air and could be heard clearly on the other side of the door and through the thin walls. She was sure she had never been in that many positions before. It felt so good, she was ready to change her mind. She went into character and purred like a kitten. Hearing her sweet, delicate voice and feeling the nibbling around his ear brought him to an orgasm he didn't know was possible. His eyes squeezed shut, each toe curled in a different direction, and his heart raced. Seconds later, he collapsed onto Jewels's stomach and took her sweaty breasts into his mouth.

Minutes later, he was on his feet and heading to the bathroom to wash off. With her back turned to the bathroom door, she grabbed her bag, fished out her phone, and sent a text. She then returned the phone to her bag, glanced over at the clock, and realized it had been almost an hour and a half since she'd set foot in the hotel room.

Jewels could see out of the corner of her eye that Kareem was watching her. She let half a smile come across her face. Kareem caught the smile on her face as he came out of the bathroom.

“What you grinning for?”

Jewels smiled harder. “You,” she replied as she stood and scurried over to her clothes.

Kareem trailed behind her and grabbed her from behind. He gripped her ass cheeks in his palms. “You're gonna be my permanent St. Louis woman, the one that comes before all the others.”

Jewels took offense, but she perked up her lips, like she was happy to be one of Kareem's angels. “I guess I can deal wit' that.”

“Good. I was hoping you'd say that.” Kareem pulled a wad of cash out of his suit jacket pocket and handed Jewels fifteen thousand dollars. Jewels took the money respectfully and put it in her bag.

Moments later they were on the elevator and headed down to the underground parking garage. They stepped out of the elevator, and Kareem hit the button to unlock the car doors when they were a few feet away from the car. When he didn't hear the usual chirp, he tried hitting the button again. Nothing happened. By the odd facial expression on his face, Jewels could see that he was trying to review his steps after parking the car.

Getting to the passenger's side of the car before he got to the driver's side, she opened the door and said, “See? You were so tied up with that phone call, you forgot to lock the doors. Or was I the one who had you slipping?” She grinned.

Kareem lost his focus. They climbed in the car at the same time. Jewels made sure she allayed any suspicions he still had. She leaned over and played with his ear. As soon as he turned the key in the ignition, he got the shock of his life.

“Don't move another fucking muscle,” a voiced ordered from the backseat of the Bentley.

Although Jewels knew he was in the back, he still startled her. She almost jumped out of her seat. She held her hand across her heart and turned around. “Damn! Did you have to scare me like that?”

Kareem turned and looked at her in total disbelief.

Rome used the barrel of his gun to gently turn Kareem's face back toward the front. “Didn't I say, ‘Don't move'?”

Hearing the authority in his voice sent a rush of adrenaline through Jewels's body. She had been scared at first, but now she was ready for whatever.

“Drive out of the parking lot and make a left. If you turn your head again to look at me or her, I'ma blow ya brains out,” Rome growled.

Kareem did as he was told. He pulled out of the parking garage and made a left into the light ongoing traffic. The car was silent. The longer they drove, the more Jewels had mixed feelings about the whole thing. Rome, on the other hand, was furious. If the scene had been animated, steam would have been shooting from his ears.

Rome mugged Kareem with the gun and asked, “Was it worth losing your life?”

Kareem shook his head no in response. Ignoring what Rome had previously told him, he looked over at Jewels. “Fuck this trick-ass bitch. Her pussy ain't worth shit.” He gathered up a mouthful of saliva and spit on her.

Feeling disgusted and violated, Jewels backhanded him with all her might. She wiped the spit from the side of her face and rubbed it on his. “I can't wait to see you die.”

Rome intervened with his pistol. He clunked Kareem on the side of the face. Blood sprayed on both Rome's and Jewels's face.

“Agh!” Jewels screeched.

Rome let out a light chuckle. He had had blood splatter across his face and everywhere else on his body enough times to be immune to it. He pulled his cell out with his free hand. “We pulling up,” he said before placing the phone back in his pocket. “Turn here.”

Rome directed Kareem to a dirt-filled road that led to a lot with a garage. He ordered him to stop just beyond the garage. There were a lot of abandoned cars, car parts, and junk scattered throughout the dimly lit lot. Jewels's attention was focused on the sound of the garage door opening a little ways back. There was a heavy Biggie Smalls look-alike standing behind the garage door. He seemed very strange to her, but she dared not ask any questions at that moment. Jewels hopped out of the car first.

“All right, my man. Kill the engine and get out. Make sure you keep your hands where I can see them. Please don't make me use this. I really don't feel like getting no more blood on me right now.”

Red stood outside the driver's side door, with his own heat at his hip. He stared the stranger down, waiting for him to make a sudden move. Kareem climbed out, eyed Jewels, then Red, then Rome as Rome emerged from the backseat. His eyes widened.

“You?” he said, recognizing Rome.

“Yeah, me, nigga,” Rome shot back. “I told you I needed better prices,” he added as he led the way to a room at the back of the garage. It was dark, cold, and it smelled like motor oil. He shoved Kareem over toward a wooden chair. “Sit the fuck down,” Rome ordered.

Kareem sat down.

“What you gonna do wit' him?” asked Jewels.

Red looked over at her. “Baby girl, you did your job. Leave the rest of this to us.” He didn't want to get her involved any more than she had to be. Red was still mad at Rome for involving her in the first place, but he didn't let it show. “Go 'head back up there to my office.”

Jewels cut her eyes at Rome, who was making her feel real awkward. “We made a stop on the way to the hotel. I'm sure whatever he put in his trunk will make you happy,” she told him. Then she turned, with the intention of heading to the office, as Red had instructed, but she was stopped dead in her tracks by Rome.

“Don't go anywhere,” he said. Rome threw Red the keys to Kareem's car. “Go find out what's in the trunk and let me know.”

Red had a bad feeling about what was about to go down. He looked curiously at Rome for answers but got none.

“Go handle that, Red.” Rome aimed his weapon at Kareem. “I'm tired of being in suspense. What's in the trunk?”

Kareem answered without hesitation. “Two hundred kilos of coke and close to half a million dollars.” Kareem decided to use whatever breath he had left to propose something that might get him out of his predicament. “If you play this out right, you can walk away wit' a lot more. All I ask is that you spare my life. I got over six—”

Rome cut him off with a blow to the face. Blood filled Kareem's nose and mouth and splattered all over his black ST. LOUIS VS. EVERYBODY hoodie. “I'm asking all the questions here, and I'm making all the rules. I'm not in it for the long run. I'm in it for the moment. I ain't got time to try to persuade somebody to dish out some ransom for your ass. It's a one-shot deal wit' me, so you can kiss your life good-bye.”

Rome cocked his gun. He pointed it at Kareem's head and pulled the trigger. Kareem squinted his eyes to brace himself for the impact, but nothing happened. When he opened his eyes, he saw Rome pulling on the hammer. Using that moment to his advantage, Kareem gathered all the strength he could muster while sitting there and directed a powerful kick at Jewels's leg. The blow sent her crashing to the floor.

“That's for setting me up, you sheisty-ass whore.” Kareem followed the kick with a mouthful of bloody saliva, which he spit on her face.

That hadn't been part of Rome's plan. He watched Jewels let out an agonizing scream. Red ran back to find out what could've possibly happened that fast. By the time he returned to the room, the chair had been flipped over and Kareem was flat on his back. Rome was over him and was beating him half to death. Red helped Jewels get up off the floor. Then he yelled for Rome to stop.

Rome was on fire as he landed each blow. Then he grabbed Kareem, lifted him from the floor, and said, “That's no way to treat a lady,” as
if he
were a respectable white-collar gentleman. He smacked Kareem upside the head like he was his child, righted the chair with one hand, then threw him back onto it and badgered him with questions.

“Where's the rest of the shit?” was the first one.

Kareem answered with silence.

“Oh, you don't want to answer me, huh?” Rome grabbed Kareem's hand and placed it firmly on the arm of the chair. Between breaths, he pointed to a hammer that was lying on the floor. “Pass me that shit.”

Red picked up the hammer and tossed it to him.

Rome flagged Jewels over. “C'mere.”

Her equilibrium was still off from the kick. She got herself together and staggered to Rome's side.

Rome grabbed one of Kareem's legs, holding it steady. He looked at Jewels and asked, “Was this the leg he used to kick you wit'?”

Jewels nodded rapidly.

The shot from the hammer tore into Kareem's leg, breaking his joint in two. Kareem bit down on his lip, trying to take it like a soldier.

“Now, I'ma ask you one more time. Where's the rest of that shit you keep down here?” Rome barked.

“Fuck . . . you . . . mutherfucka,” Kareem replied, slurring.

Rome snatched the hammer away from Jewels and swung it, this time at Kareem's other leg. Kareem yelled out in pain.

“Bruh, tell me something. Where it at?” Rome asked again, pulling his heat from his waist.