Working Girls (20 page)

It was just approaching six in the evening, and the streets were alive and on full throttle. Hustlers and dope fiends filled the sidewalks in front of every open Chinese restaurant. Sisters and brothers, mothers and friends occupied their doorsteps, gossiping late into the night.

Watching the street through his rearview mirror as he cruised through his city was a habit of Rome's. He whipped his new Audi A7 as the human traffic flowed. It was back to business for him. For months, things had been smooth sailing. It had taken a lot, but he and Red had managed to tie up all loose ends, he believed, and he couldn't have been more relieved. All the talk about the murders he had been linked to, from Mike-G and Los down to Africa, had fizzled out, and the streets had moved on to the latest. Rome's name was in the streets now only because of the strong choke hold he and Red had on the streets.

Rome had never realized just how much he did in the mean streets of the Lou, but at that moment he was glad he did. He was also glad that he had followed his gut instincts and had kept Jewels in the picture. She had proven to be valuable and had become a major asset in more ways than one. It was because of her that he and Red were operating at full throttle and with an iron fist. He and Red had eliminated the competition and had the only coke around. They had nearly doubled the number of bricks of coke they had robbed both Los and Kareem for. It was also because of Jewels, and her mother, that Rome had gotten a new and stronger plug on the East Coast out in New Jersey. He had grown to appreciate what she actually brought to the table. Never in a million years would he have believed it if somebody had said he would end up with the type of woman who had Jewels's past.

Before he'd met her, he would've sent anybody to their Maker for implying that he was a trick or anything of the sort. But these past few months, he had gotten to know Jewels for who she was, and now he couldn't imagine life without her. Especially after she had given it all up for him. Rome couldn't help but smile. Jewels words sang in his head.
I'll never let another man touch me other than you, not for money and not for free.
Since then that was what it had been.

His eyes suddenly caught some movement, bringing him back to the present. He peered back into his rearview. It was one thing for the same car to turn down two or three of the same blocks. But when the same car turned down six or seven, that was suspicious. Rome concluded that he had seen the BMW 745i one too many times.
Who the fuck is this following me
? He turned down a couple of random blocks, just to make sure he wasn't being paranoid. The car tailed him like metal to a magnet.
What the fuck's going on wit' this shit?

The navy BMW 745i stayed as far back as possible without losing sight of Rome, but it wasn't far enough. Rome used the short time he spent at the next red light to grab his Desert Eagle from the backseat and his nine from the passenger's seat. He turned his radio off and stuffed his cell phone into his pocket.
It ain't my time, mutherfucka. It ain't my time.

Rome focused on the small groups of people lingering around. He was looking for a place to pull over, somewhere where there wouldn't be so many witnesses. That opportunity came about five more blocks down. He pulled over to the side, acting like he was about to park.

When Rome's taillights turned red, he could hear the engine of the unknown car and the car's screeching tires at a close distance. His adrenaline began to pump. The car came to an abrupt stop at the corner, across from where Rome had stopped. Then out jumped three gunmen. They each wasted no time emptying their whole clips before they realized that Rome was no longer in the driver's seat. Without their knowledge, Rome had slid out the passenger's side, but not before taking a bullet in the thigh.

Eyewitnesses scattered, not wanting to get caught up in the gunfire. Some ran, while others squatted as low to the ground as they could get until the battle was over. Bullets ripped through glass, storefronts, house windows, brick walls, stop signs, and flesh. Sparks flew everywhere.

Rome's Audi absorbed most of the rapid fire. He didn't let off a single shot until he saw the perfect opportunity. One of the gunmen made the mistake of stepping around to the front of the car. Rome, from the ground, put his Desert Eagle to work. The man had no chance. His life ended with several shots hitting every part of his body. He had lost his life before his body crumpled to the ground.

Rome, in pain, let off four more shots in the direction of the remaining shooters as a diversion to buy him time. The men took cover behind the doors of the BMW. That was all the time he needed. He limped to the nearest alley, escaping just seconds before the first cop car hit the scene. Bruised from the shattered glass and injured from the bullet, he didn't make it too far. He climbed a fence and hid in someone's backyard until the coast was clear. Once in a secure spot, Rome waited for a few minutes, then scurried out from behind the backyard. He got himself together before he stepped out and blended in with the light body traffic. His thigh was killing him, but he knew he had to fight the pain and keep his composure to avoid drawing any unwanted attention. He pulled out his cell phone as he inconspicuously checked his surroundings, and then he made a call.

“Fuck,” he cursed.

Just like the other dozen times he had tried to reach Red, his call went straight to voice mail.
I know this nigga ain't laid up with no bitch
! he exclaimed to himself as he stuffed his phone back in his pocket.

Sirens wailed in the air. They echoed in Rome's ears, as if they were moving in on him, but he knew he was just being paranoid. He looked left, then right. There were no bodies in sight. He also noticed the body of the unidentified man he had gunned down was nowhere in sight, either. He was sure he had killed him. As luck would have it, his bullet-riddled vehicle was free and clear. He hopped over to his whip and dove in. His heart raced as he cruised past a speeding police car, which never paid him any mind. He pulled his phone back out. He knew there was only one other person he could call besides Red. The last thing he wanted to do was involve her, though. She had been through enough behind him to last two lifetimes.

Shit. Who the fuck are these motherfuckas
? he wondered as he pulled up in back of his stash crib.

The impact of the liquid slamming into her face brought her back to consciousness.

“Wake the fuck up!” an unfamiliar voice demanded as Jewels was doused with ice-cold water through the gate that separated the front seat from the back of the vehicle.

She had no idea how long she had been knocked out or where she was or how she had gotten there. The last thing she remembered was hitting the alarm on her Bentley and grabbing ahold of her to-go box from the backseat. After that everything else was a blur. Jewels could tell she was lying on the floor of a van. Her shoulders were sore, her stomach was cramping, and her ankles were bleeding. Her hands were tied behind her back. Her ankles were cuffed as tight as they could be. She could hear masculine voices in front of her. She struggled to open her eyes. When she finally did open them, the liquid that had been tossed in her face caused them to burn. She immediately shut them, wondering what had been thrown in her face other than water. She also wondered how many hours had gone by since she was snatched. She had been unconscious since she had taken that blow to the temple. Her head was killing her, and to top it off, she had to pee.

All types of thoughts were going through her head. She couldn't believe she had got caught slipping and had been snatched. But by whom? was the million-dollar question. Was it Kareem's peoples? The white trick's? Those of the one she had killed behind Sassy's murder? Or was it in retaliation for something Rome had done? All these questions filled Jewels discombobulated mind. She wondered whether Rome knew she had been snatched. And she couldn't stop wondering what was going to happen to her.

She said a quick prayer.
Please, Lord Jesus, I know that it's been a while since I've been to church, and I haven't prayed in a while, but you know my heart, so if you get me out of this fucked-up situation this one last time, I promise you that I will change my ways. Amen.

She tensed when the vehicle came to a screeching halt. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. She didn't know what was going on. All that could be heard was her heart pounding. Then Jewels heard a car door slam, and seconds later another car door slammed. She heard what sounded like two different voices, but she couldn't decipher anything they were saying. They were yelling about something. Suddenly the sliding side door of the van popped open.

“Don't fuckin' move!” one of the owners of the voices yelled as he gripped her by the head.

She squinted as he roughly wiped her face with a cloth. She opened her eyes for a second time when the kidnapper released his grip. Her eyes widened when she saw two figures standing there with pistols and masks on. She had no clue why they had kidnapped her, but from the fact that they both wore masks, she knew it had to be for something serious. Jewels paid the kidnapper's command no mind. As soon as he finished wiping her face, she instinctively went into survival mode. She instantly started kicking and bucking like a bull. One of the kidnappers grabbed her by her hair and told her to calm the fuck down and get the fuck out of the van, all the while pressing the gun firmly against her face.

Jewels climbed out of the van, searching for an opportunity. She turned to the nearest kidnapper and hog spit on the black mask he had covering his face. She was met with a backhand that sent her tumbling backward and back into the van. The next thing she heard was the sound of a cocking gun. She knew then that this wasn't a normal kidnapping. There was something missing.

“Please don't shoot!” she cried, making an attempt to beg for her life.

One kidnapper moved in closer, until he stood directly over where Jewels lay. “Bitch, you think this a fuckin' game!” the kidnapper barked. His demeanor was as cold as ice. He slapped Jewels across the mouth with the gun, then pointed it directly at her face. He had the gun's safety off and one bullet in the chamber. By the look in his eyes, she knew that he was seconds away from blowing her fucking head off. All he had to do was pull the trigger just a little to hit the nail with the hammer. Jewels was sure she was going to die. There was nothing between her, them, and her brains all over the damn pavement.

The kidnapper's next move caused Jewels's eyes to widen. She watched as he unbuckled his black denim jeans. Before she knew it, a semierect dick was dangling in front of her.

“Dick or lead! Which one you want, bitch?” he growled at her.

“Come on, Buster. We ain't here—”

“Shut the fuck up!” the kidnapper yelled, cutting his crime partner off, as he snapped his neck around. “And what the fuck you say my name for?” he added. He pulled out the extra gun he had in his waist belt and aimed it at his partner.

“Yo, what the fuck?” The other kidnapper threw his hands up in surrender mode.

Jewels watched in disbelief.
I know this motherfucka gonna kill me if he drawing on his own boy
, she concluded.

“Why the fuck you say my name?” the kidnapper named Buster asked for the second time. Little did he know, the name meant nothing to Jewels, anyway. Not that he would have cared.

“It was an accident.”

If he was going to say anything else after that, he never got a chance to.

The shot tore into his skull with accuracy, ending his life instantly. The kdnapper named Buster did it without hesitation or remorse. As far as he was concerned, the other guy had served his purpose and was not needed anymore. Buster returned his attention to Jewels.

“So, which do you choose?” He gripped his gun tightly and pointed it in Jewels's face.

She stared up at him and said nothing. It had been a long time since she had touched another man, let alone performed any sexual acts on them. It was because of Rome that she had been able to walk away from that life and not look back. She had vowed never to let another man besides him ever touch her again. But this was something different. At that moment, all she could think of was Rome.
I'd rather suck this dick and live to see another than be forced to do it and still die
, she reasoned.

She moved the gun out of her face, never breaking her stare, leaned forward, and grabbed hold of his dick. He rocked up as soon as she took him into her mouth. He pressed his pistol up against her.

“You bite my shit, you die.”

Jewels paid his threat no mind. She focused on performing the best oral he'd ever had in his life in order to keep herself alive. She closed her eyes and commenced making love to his entire length. The glare coming from above her caused her eyes to shoot open. When she peered up, she saw that Buster was recording her with his cell phone as she sucked his dick.

What type of shit he into
? thought Jewels.
Sick bastard.

She assumed that this was his norm and that he got a kick out of it. But his next words told her she was wrong.

“Keep sucking, bitch!” he began. “See if he gonna like this. And see how much you worth to him then!” With the gun in his hand, he grabbed the back of her head again and pushed it down onto his hard dick. Jewels gagged. Fortunately for her, she was deep throated and was able to loosen her back throat muscles before he choked her to death with his dick from fucking her face.

Jewels knew who the
he
was that he was referring to. He had answered her question. But all she could do for now was keep sucking on Buster's dick and anything else he asked of her, hoping that she remained alive long enough for Rome to figure out how to rescue her and to watch as he killed this motherfucker.