Unconditionally Single (10 page)

B
enito lowered his head. I closed the limo door.

“What’s up, bro? Was that Honey? You could’ve let her speak to me,” he said.

“None of your business who that was,” I answered, scanning the motel lot for my car and my personal assistant. “Where’s Valentino?” I asked Benito, dialing my assistant.

“You’re there?” my assistant asked.

“You’re not,” I replied.

“Too many propositions going on over there, Mr. Hill. I’m down the street at the mall. Be there in a minute,” he confirmed.

Couldn’t blame him for not waiting here. Rusted trucks, dented cars, and broken down women in slanted heels consumed the pothole ridden parking lot. The_
OOMS___ABLE__ABLE__UZZI__PA
sign flickered, leaving one to fill in the blanks. A woman in a short tight pink dress with high white heels approached me. “I’ll suck your dick over there behind that car for ten bucks.” She smiled and removed her dentures.

“How much for me?” Benito asked.

Digging in my pocket, I handed her a hundred, then said, “Take the day off.”

“Thanks.” She sucked in her teeth, then went into the lobby.

Valentino trotted down the steps as my assistant parked in the driveway. Another car parked behind my assistant.

“Here’s the keys to your car, your condo, and here’s your iPhone. I’ll be in my car waiting for you,” my assistant said.

“You can leave. I’ll get home,” I said, handing Benito the black box with his phone inside and the keys to the condo. “I’m leaving this car with you.”

Benito started grinning. “Thanks, bro. That red convertible we kinda borrowed from that restaurant on the Chattahoochee is across the street at the mall.”

Amazing. Don’t know why I was surprised Valentino stole that car. I slid my hand inside my pants’ pocket. Made sure the card the bartender had given me with the vehicle information was still there. I’d report the location of convertible to the police when I got home. My brother wasn’t that smart. I knew he was along for the ride.

“Wait!” I ran to my assistant’s car. “Meet me at this address in thirty minutes.” Valentino and Benito were not dropping me off at my house.

I walked back to Benito, noticed his face was clean, clothes not really dirty, but dingy. The knees of Valentino pants were scuffed. “Come here,” I told Benito. I held his hands. Flipped them over. No scratches. His face—no marks. My Honey would’ve definitely fought her kidnappers.

He pulled away. “Wha’cha doing, man?” Benito asked, opening the box. “Yeah, just what I wanted for my birthday. Yo, V. Look what I got. This is my brother, Grant. Grant, this here is Valentino.”

“Sweet, nigga.”

After the introductions, Benito sat in the front seat of my Benz. Valentino followed me to the driver’s side.

A petite woman in boy-cut shorts, a tank top, and high heels raced to my door. “How much?” Her eye was swollen, jaw bruised.

I dug in my pocket. Valentino held up his hand. I checked for scratches, cuts, signs he’d been in a struggle. Nothing. “Don’t give her ass shit. Bitch, roll.”

“Please,” she begged. “You gave her a hundred for doing nothing. I’ll do it all.”

Valentino shook his head. “Bitch, step. Let’s go, G. You’re not used to all this,” he said, waiting for me to get in first.

“Here.” I handed her a hundred, got in my car, headed north on Piedmont.

“You’re too soft, G. That ho just gon’ give that C-note to her pimp. Make that nigga think she’s holding out on him. He’s liable to beat her ass again.”

Was he telling the truth?

“That’s why I’m allergic to cheap bitches,” Valentino said. “No telling what she’s got. Thanks for picking us up, nigga. I owe you. And when Valentino owes a favor, a nigga has got your back. Never know who you gonna need in the fucked up world.”

Me need him? Never. “I’m not your G or your nigga. My name is Grant.”

That was my first time meeting Valentino. Minus the profanity, he didn’t seem like the type who’d kidnap Honey or beat a woman. He was charming as hell. I understood how this man was a pimp with escorts versus prostitutes on the street. My Honey actually worked for him. I wondered if she’d ever fucked him? Hoped not. Didn’t want the answer to that one.

“Straight. No problem…Grant.”

“Bro, was that Honey in the limo you got out of?”

“Stop with all the
bro
stuff before I drop your ass off at the police station for kidnapping Honey. You tell me, where is Honey?”

Benito hunched his shoulders. “Why you so sensitive?”

Valentino said, “We haven’t seen her.”

“Then why are the two of you in Atlanta?” I asked them.

“Unfinished business. A nigga gotta get some ends,” Valentino said then reiterated, “When you see her, let her know I got something for her. Ain’t no telling where she’s at. That’s how we roll in this lifestyle. Here today. Gone to motherfucking morrow. I might be up outta the ATL by tomorrow myself. Seriously, Grant we haven’t seen Honey.”

I said, “Yeah, like you haven’t seen that red convertible across the street in the mall’s lot. When you leave, take Benito with you.”

Valentino slapped the back of Benito’s head.

Benito blurted, “Sorry, V. Bro, I was hoping you’d invite Honey to dinner so I could apologize for outing her in front of Mom and Dad. You talk to Mom today? I’ma call her on my new iPhone you just gave me,” he said.

Yeah, right.
He didn’t have any numbers programmed in his phone.

Benito tapped the screen, paused for a moment. “Hey, Mom. It’s me, your next to favorite son.”

“You are not talking to Mom,” I told him. “Press the speaker button.”

I heard, “Grant baby, you okay? Your father and I are worried you haven’t returned our calls today.”

“What about me, Mom? You worried about me too?”

“Grant sweetheart, where’d you find your brother?”

“I didn’t, Ma. He found me. Love you. I’ll call you later. Promise. Bye.”

Benito yelled, “Bye, Ma. Grant and I are coming home. I’ll see you soon.”

“Don’t think Mama can save you. Onyx said your friend Valentino back there demanded fifty million dollars for Honey. Said the two of you kidnapped Honey from her house this morning.”

“That,” Valentino paused, then continued, “Onyx is a pathological liar. Why would we be in your car if we had kidnapped your girl?”

Driving into my development, I parked in front of a rental condo in the middle of the complex. “That’s what I want to know,” I said. I handed my brother the keys to the condo and car.

“Your unit is upstairs. You’ve got ninety days. That’s it.”

“Sweet,” Valentino said. “If you ever need me G, let a nigga know.”

“Thanks, bro.”

I shook my head, got in my assistant’s car. Honey was too smart to be kidnapped by Benito or Valentino. Until I found out the truth, I didn’t know who was lying. Valentino? Benito? Onyx? Sapphire? Or Honey?

W
as I jealous of Honey?

Tangled hair and tattered clothes didn’t detract from Honey’s beauty. She slept peacefully. I hated slipping that pill in her food, but had to do it to keep her calm. Keep her from freaking out again. Keep her location unknown to her until the mission was accomplished.

If I weren’t her friend, I could take her man and her money the same way I’d taken Valentino’s money.

What was wrong with me? “Let it go,” I told myself. “Give Santonio a chance.” My wicked thoughts weren’t predicated on having Honey’s money or Grant. It was the power. The excitement. My ability to control others. Valentino got what he deserved, had a lot more coming. My new challenge was to find Valentino and Benito. No one made a fool of me. When I put a criminal in lockup, they stayed there until I approved letting them out. Valentino outsmarted me but not for long. His ass was going back to Nevada’s prison, hopefully tonight. Benito didn’t pose a threat to anyone but himself. Multiple counts of stupidity would warrant a lesser sentence.

Honey hadn’t asked for Valentino’s money. I gave it to her. By doing so, I had endangered her life. I had the power to blackmail her for the hundred million, get all of her money, and put Valentino away for kidnapping her. That setup would squash the rumors that I had Valentino’s money. I could marry Grant, an upstanding citizen never in trouble with the law. Have his babies. Live happily.

Regardless of how screwed up my thoughts were, I could never harm Honey. Honey was sweet. The few months I’d really known her, Honey never complained about her mother or childhood, her life as a prostitute or a madam. Twelve-plus years in the business, Honey had her own money—not as much as what I’d given her but she was a multimillionaire before we’d met. She’d fought her way out of every situation today. First Valentino, then Ken.

Approaching Buckhead Premier Palace, I glanced at Honey. Her head hung toward her lap, bounced as I rolled over the speed bump and entered the gate. I texted Hunter: We’re here. Open the garage door.

I parked. He pressed a button, the garage door closed.

Damn!
That chocolate, bald, sexy man stood in the doorway like a framed picture of seduction. Hunter made my pussy throb. Santonio, he was nice but no pussy throbs, pulsations, or palpitations for him. Hunter could pull my hair, push me against the wall, fuck me numb. I looked at Honey. Contemplated going inside, fucking Hunter right quick, then coming back to get her. Shit, my fantasizing about Hunter let me know I was overdue for a good fuck.

I got out the car. “Come get her,” I said. “She’s knocked out.”

Hunter opened Honey’s door, slid his arms behind her back and under her knees. Honey lifted her head, opened her eyes, looked around, stared at me, closed her eyes. Her head fell forward.

“Put her in the bed,” I said, going to my trunk. I opened my suitcase, gathered a pair of sweats, a T-shirt, and socks, then went inside.

Starting in the living room, I surveyed the condo. Peanut butter leather sofa, matching reclining chair. Track lighting on the ceiling illuminated a combination of two large mirrors and two unframed oil paintings hung on one wall. Wall-to-wall snow white carpet brightened the room. Seeing Hunter brightened my spirit.

I made my way to the bathroom, which contained a Jacuzzi, separate shower; both could comfortably accommodate two. I smiled with thoughts of the things I’d do to Hunter in that bathroom.

In the bedroom was a king-sized bed with four high posts, almost a dozen black and white pillows. Honey was laid atop the black faux-fur comforter. A white sham draped to the floor. I returned to the living room to find Hunter reclining in the chair with his legs spread wide, hand on his dick.

“Get comfortable there,” I told him. “This was supposed to be a two bedroom. I don’t want you fucking her.”

Hunter stood, his crotch centered in front of me. Baggy sweats flowed over the hump of his dick. Hands big, thick fingers that could firmly grip my ass like he’d done before. “No one tells Hunter
how
to do his job. If you don’t think I’m the man for you, hire someone else.”

Yeah, right. Obviously he didn’t know I was aware of his gambling debt. I took a deep breath, positioned myself away from Hunter’s dick, tossed the clothes in my hand on the sofa. Those would have to do for Honey until I made it to her house to get some of her clothes.

“Where in the hell am I?” Honey entered the living room stretching her arms above her head.

I should’ve put two sleeping pills in her food so she’d sleep into the night. Her waking up early dismissed all chances of my getting fucked by Hunter. “This is your new home,” I told her.

Honey shook her head. “No, it’s not. I’m going to the bathroom and when I come out, you are taking me to my house.” She stared at Hunter. “Who the hell is that?”

Hunter grinned. “I’m your bodyguard.”

“Damn. I might have to rethink leaving until the morning,” Honey said. She went in the bathroom, closed, then locked the door.

I stared into Hunter’s deep-set brown eyes, squinted, then looked away when Honey came out of the bathroom. “This arrangement is just until Valentino is under arrest,” I reminded her. “How are you going to be missing if you go home?”

“Fuck that bitch Valentino,” Honey said, pacing in front of the coffee table. “Punk ass sneaking up on me. Balls too small to confront me.” She pulled out a .22, held it with one hand, pointed at me. “I don’t know who the fuck to trust. But I will say this. Any motherfucker that crosses Honey is catching a bullet with my name on it.” She sat the .22 on the table.

“Make that your last time pointing a gun in my face.” Annoyed with Honey, I phoned my boss.

“Bleu, you there yet?” he asked. No hello.

“We’re at the location. Thanks, this spot is really sweet. I’ll call you later.”

“Bleu, do your job and get outta there safe. And let Hunter do his job. You aren’t his boss, I am. Bye,” he said, ending our call.

The hell I wasn’t.
Boss was a man of few words and a huge heart for me and his other employees. I cared about him too. Almost wished he weren’t happily married with kids. My reset biological clock was pushing toward my goal of having a child by the age of thirty-two. My original plan was thirty.

“Honey, this is Hunter. Hunter is here for whatever you need. Whatever you need,” I repeated, then said, “except sex.”

Soon as his assignment was over, Hunter was going to frisk me all over. “Pat her down,” I told him. “Take any other weapons you find.”

Hunter smiled. His hands roamed Honey’s body. I was jealous.

Honey stared at me. Her lips tightened, eyes narrowed.

When Hunter’s hands stopped moving, they were empty.

“You missed a spot,” Honey said, tapping her pussy.

“I know you’re engaged and in love with Grant. Hunter knows that too. I put it in your profile,” I lied. “I’m defining the rules up in here. This is strictly a business arrangement. Actually, it’s more of a favor from me to you, Honey. You can have your gun back when all of this is resolved.”

“Fuck a favor. I ain’t no damn charity case. That toy gun is not mine. It’s Valentino’s. And stay out of my personal business. I can handle Grant.”

“Obviously not.” I looked at the gun. Valentino’s? He really was doing bad.

Honey wished she was engaged to Grant. What was my problem? I came to Atlanta to rescue Honey. Now that I knew she was safe and felt she was trying to control the situation, I decided to play my own games.

Hunter sat in the recliner. “The rules are, you cannot open any doors or the alarm will sound. You cannot open the blinds or I will mouth off at you, and trust me, you don’t want to hear me yell. You will not be alone for one second, even when you’re in the bathroom. And these,” Hunter said, holding up a set of hand and ankle cuffs, “are for when you sleep.”

“Well, why don’t you wipe my ass after I shit?” Honey asked sarcastically.

Nodding, Hunter replied, “No problem. I’d be delighted.”

“I’d be delighted for you to test those handcuffs on me,” I said, eyeing Hunter. “Make sure they’re not defective.”

This time Hunter shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Honey, you make the call,” I said, reverting to my professional persona. “You still want to follow through with the plan of my telling everyone you’re missing? Or do you want to go home?”

Was my personal reservation for Hunter being cancelled by him? Men had a way of letting women know when they were not interested. Then again, Hunter could’ve been oblivious to my advance. I had to make sure. Damn, wasn’t I the one who said I wouldn’t chase another man after Grant slapped me in the face with his love for Honey?

“I need this assignment,” Hunter protested. “She’s not going anywhere until the boss says so.”

Honey was my age but looked younger. She was cute, with a golden complexion and long curly blond locks. She had a cup-holder booty that jiggled when she wiggled, and her cheeks separated just enough to command every man’s—straight or gay—attention. She was so gorgeous Grant knew but didn’t care about her jaded past.

“Absolutely I’m missing. I want to find out if Grant is loyal to me and I don’t want to risk being kidnapped by those fools again,” Honey said, sitting on the sofa.

Telling Honey about the meeting at Stilettos tonight wasn’t a smart idea. Checking the time on my phone, I realized I had to meet Onyx at Honey’s house soon to go over our plan.

I looked at my caller ID, then said, “I need to take this call in private.” I placed my clothes in Honey’s lap, then went to the bedroom. I heard them close the bathroom door as I closed the bedroom door. “Hey.”

“Any word on Honey yet?” Grant asked.

“Not yet. I’m wrapping up a call with my boss on the other line. Can we talk in say, thirty minutes?” I had to get out of that condo before I embarrassed myself with Hunter again.

“Wait,” Grant said.

“Yes.”

“What time should I meet you at Stilettos?”

“I don’t want you to come. Honey is already endangered. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

He asked again, “What time?”

“If you insist, eight o’clock. But I don’t recommend you come. I’ll call you in a few. Bye.” I had to end the call. Didn’t want Honey to walk in on me talking to Grant.

Valentino wasn’t going down easily. Whatever the outcome, I hoped it didn’t cost Honey her man. Grant could get shot, killed, scared, or disgusted. I tapped on the bathroom door.

Hunter peeped through the crack. I heard the shower in the background.

“Hunter, do your job right and you might get a bonus to help pay off your debt,” I whispered, winking at him.

“No worries. Honey is making it easy for me to do my job. I might not ever let her out of my sight. That way I could get a fat bonus.”

I glanced down. His dick was harder than the doorknob. I considered calling in his replacement immediately. If Honey gave Hunter a taste of her pussy, he’d be the one in protective custody. Bitch had all of us catering to her. Hunter need not confuse Honey with the one signing his damn check.