Copyright ©2015 by Creole Gaudet. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system – except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper – without permission in writing from the publisher,
Creole Gaudet.
I was at Club Fantasy, a high-end strip club in Dallas, seated in the VIP with a wealthy friend of mine named Marty and two other friends, Vince and his brother Jose, who served as Marty’s bodyguards. As usual, Marty had the party going with lots of food, drinks, and stacks of cash for tips and lap dances with the girls.
I was chatting with Vince when a dancer by the name Faith took a seat next to me at our table.
I’d first met Faith about two years earlier at The Gentleman’s Club. She hadn’t changed much at all. Her figure was average but was made up for by her flawless skin and extraordinarily beautiful face that was enhanced even more by her now chocolate brown shoulder-length hair, which contrasted nicely against her deep blue eyes.
Faith and I had never dated or gone out, but we had developed a friendly relationship. She knew that New Orleans was my original home, and she once called me for a favor.
“Hey, Stefen.”
“Faith! I haven’t heard from you in a while. What’s up?”
“My girl and I are in your hometown…”
“You’re in New Orleans?”
“Yeah, we came down to work a couple of clubs in the French Quarter.”
“I’m in New Orleans right now. I’m visiting.”
“Really?! That’s what’s up! Hey, we need a big favor. Can you help?”
“That depends. What do you need?”
“Some green. You got a connect?”
“Sure, that’s no problem. How much?”
“We got a couple hundred.”
“Done.”
That was the last I’d seen or heard from her until now. She turned to me. “How have you been?”
“Good, how about you?”
“Just a little lonely, that’s all.”
“You’re looking for some dances?”
“No, not that. I mean, I’m…really lonely. I’m by myself, Stefen. I need a man in my life.”
Vince drew my attention with a clearing of his throat. He gave Faith a quizzical look as all six feet four of him rose to his feet. “Stefen, I’ll leave you two to it, but call me before you get out of here, okay?”
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, just hit me up.”
Faith side-eyed Vince as he walked away. “What’s his problem?”
“Vince? Nothing, he’s cool.”
“Rude.”
“Come on, stop being so defensive.”
“All these gangsters up here. Why are you hanging out with the Mexicans?” Faith panned with a careful eye. “You know, a couple of years ago, one night, Marty almost died. He drove his car off the road into a ditch and damn near drowned.
“A dude saw the whole thing and went into the freezing cold water and pulled him out. Marty was drunk and got a DWI, and they took away his driver’s license.”
“He wasn’t drunk, he’d had a heart attack.”
“No, he was drunk…”
“He wasn’t. I know this because I was there. I saw him go into the ditch. It was me that pulled him out of his car.”
Faith beamed at the revelation. “That was you? So that’s how you’re in…”
“You were telling me that you’re lonely and need a man. You have someone in mind?”
Faith blushed. “Yes, I do.”
“Well, let’s do something about that. How about I call you and we can go out to dinner. Maybe tomorrow?”
“I’d like that.”
Faith and I hung out until closing time. We said goodnight and hugged before she went off to the dressing rooms.
The valet had retrieved my car, and I was buckling my seat belt when my phone rang. It was Faith. “What are you about to do?”
“Hey… I was about to head home.”
“Come hang out with me for a while. We can go to my place.”
“Where do you live?”
“Lewisville.”
“How far is that?”
“About fifteen minutes away. Just up 35.”
“You’re a bit farther than me, I’m just two exits at Royal Lane. I guess so. Why not? How long will you be?”
“I’m right behind you.”
I looked to my rearview mirror. “You’re dressed already? That was quick. Go ahead, I’ll follow you.”
Faith pulled the green sedan around me, and I tagged behind. We’d been driving about five minutes when I got a call from Vince. “I’m so sorry, man. I forgot all about it. Do you need me?”
“No, I was just going to talk to you about that girl.”
“Faith?”
“Yeah.”
“If you’re calling me about her, she must be bad news.”
“She’s crazy, Stefen. And I don’t mean crazy like most strippers. She’s trouble.”
“I’m on my way to her house right now.”
Vince paused. “If you’re just going to fuck, then cool. But forget about bringing her to your home. Get a room or something.”
“Okay, good looking out. Thanks, man.”
We’d stopped in at a Whataburger in her neighborhood. As we sat across from each other and talked, I realized Faith was more down-to-earth than I’d imagined.
She began telling me about her dysfunctional upbringing and how she’d been thrown away by her parents at the age of twelve, having to fend for herself, hustling for food and shelter.
We chilled at her place. She smoked while we talked and listened to music. She invited me to stay the night, but I begged off.
As I drove home, running it all back through my head, I thought, maybe she was tired of the fast track and was ready to slow her pace. Or maybe she’s crazy, just like Vince said. If she was, I hadn’t seen it before, and she hadn’t shown any signs of it that night.
It was the next evening when Faith phoned me. “Hey, do you have plans?”
“Nothing out the usual, what’s going on?”
“I’m working at Cheetah’s tonight, in Arlington. Can you come get me? I want you to hang out.”
“While you work?”
“Yeah. And you know I got you… Your gas, your door fee… I got you covered. You won’t have to worry about nothing.”
“Once they’ve figured out we arrived together, they’re going to assume I’m your pimp.”
“Good, that’ll let them bitches know they have to step to me. Plus, I can get my drink on.”
Faith met me at the door with an inviting smile. Even with her hair pinned back and an unmade face, she was a beautiful girl. “Come in, I’m running late.”
I followed from room to room, keeping the conversation going. After some eyeliner and a coat of lipstick, she placed her outfits in her travel case and led me to the kitchen. “Are you hungry? I can make you a sandwich or something.”
“I’m good. I actually ate before I left.”
“Do you mind if I make myself one. I’m starved.”
“Of course not, go right ahead.”
She removed a bottle of mustard, a jar of mayo, and some luncheon meats from the refrigerator, laying them all out onto the table next to a dinner plate and a spreading knife.
My eyes began to wander. I noticed a row of prescription bottles sitting on the counter. She caught me analyzing the labels and quickly moved in front of me, shielding my view. “That’s just a little something for anxiety.” She set them far back in the cabinet above.
We were on the highway when Faith slightly lowered the volume on the radio and broke into an impromptu freestyle rap. I listened intently as she dropped about ten bars before coming to an end. “You didn’t know I had skills, did you? You didn’t think a white girl could rap like that. I know you didn’t!”
“That was pretty good. It was hot too.”
“I’m just one mix-tape away from a Grammy, Stefen. You want to be my manager? You are my manager.”
I immediately thought back to my experience with Trish and how that all played out. “Let me think on that, okay?”
It was about twenty minutes later when we approached the exit. “This is where we get off.
When you get to the light, take a left, and it’s a block down.”
“I see it.”
Faith made her way across the parking lot to the side entrance. I handed my fob to the valet along with a tip and headed in. I thought about how she’d already broken her promise. I took a seat at the main bar.
I was in the process of ordering when I noticed the bartender’s eyes look above our line of contact. I turned to the young blonde gentleman in a black suit standing behind me. “Hello, sir, I’m sorry, but Faith is not allowed on the property.”
I stood. “Really? Why is that?”
“It’s club business and at this time, I’m not at liberty to discuss that with you, sir.”
“Oh, okay.”
He led me to the exit. “She’s outside waiting. I’ve already called for your vehicle.” He looked to the door girl. “Jamie, please return this gentleman’s entrance fee.”
Jamie retrieved a twenty from the till and handed it to me. She was digging for the ten I’d dropped in her tip jar. “No, sweetheart, you keep that.”
Faith was in the passenger seat, facing out her window. Blondie spoke again, “My apologies for the inconvenience, sir. Travel safely and have a nice night.”
As we pulled away, she turned to me. “Come on. Let’s go back to Dallas. I’ll work at Fantasy.”
“Yeah, but I’m going to need you to let me in on what the fuck just happened.”
“Just some bitches hating, that’s all.”
“Bitches? That’s not bitches. You’re not even allowed on the property. What’s up with that?”
“There was this fight… Some hos jumped me, claiming I started the shit.”
“Did you?”
“I might have. I was probably fucked up. I don’t remember.” She smiled. “I do remember waking up with a black eye, though.”
It was about an hour later when I was approached by a sexy redhead. She had small breasts, a taut waist, and an incredibly plump rear. Her pleasant smile didn’t hide the hardness of her mask.
“Hey, I’m Bubbles. You’re Stefen, right?”
“Yeah… Have we met before?”
“No, your girl sent me over here. She wanted me to check you out.”
“Oh, is that right?”
“I told her that you would have to be on top because I don’t fuck with nothing but boss pimps. If your game is light, I’m moving on.”
This confirmed it for me. I was chosen. Faith was grooming me and was ready to build a family. There was no way that I shouldn’t have seen it. I was letting a pretty face cloud my judgment. I now had to avoid coming across as a lame, so I played it through. “Who are you with now?”
“I’m independent.”
“Well, now you’re with me.” I opened my contacts and handed her my phone. “Maybe we can go to a nice place to eat and talk about it. Come to an understanding. How does that sound?”
“I already like what I see and what I heard from Faith. I’m willing to give it a chance.”
Faith approached, taking a seat next to Bubbles. “I see you two are already getting along.” She looked to Bubbles. “Didn’t I tell you?”
“Yeah, he is fine.”
Faith stood abruptly, making a beeline to the main bar. I kept an eye on her as I entertained Bubbles. Faith had put down four drinks within fifteen minutes and was working on her fifth. She’d begun an argument with a dancer on the next stool. I excused myself to try to prevent the inevitable, but I was too late. It was as if I were watching in slow motion as Faith lowered and cocked the half-full glass.
The bartender, witnessing it, hopped over, putting himself between the two before it could escalate any further.
With a mischievous grin painted across her face, Faith sat, never moving from her spot. Two managers quickly arrived, taking her away.
Bubbles tugged my arm. “Hey, Stefen, you’re fine and all, but your shit is reckless. Go on and lose my number.”
This time, I was in the car waiting. Faith was smiling as she tossed in her gear.
I sped away to the service road towards 35. “Where are we going?”
“I’m bringing your drunk ass home… And buckle your seat belt.”
“We can’t go home yet. I haven’t made you any money, plus I owe you for gas and getting in the clubs. Bring me to Whispers. I know I can make a rack over there. They don’t close until six.”
“Nah, maybe tomorrow or something.”
“Well, can you at least stop and get me some cigars. I’m out and I need to roll me a blunt when I get home…so I can sleep.”
As I exited Royal Lane, I could hear Vince’s warning. I pulled into the Chevron station, leaving Faith in the car. It was after-hours, and the doors were locked to foot traffic.
I stood at the service window, waiting as the elderly clerk bagged the two boxes of grape-flavored Swisher Sweets. As I was placing the bills into the tray, I noticed him looking towards my car. He shook his head as he shoved my items forward.
Never turning around, I waited for my change. He’d already had his phone to his ear as I smiled and thanked him.
As soon as I opened my door, the scent hit me. Faith had rolled a joint and was running her tongue across the fresh cut seam, putting the finishing touches on it. The baggie was on top of my dash, jammed up against the windshield. In her drunken haste, she’d dropped half of the weed onto my console, her lap, the seat, and into the carpet.
“Are you fucking stupid?!” Faith broke into laughter. “The fuck!” I looked past her through the passenger window. The old man had a pad and pen, trying to read my license number.
“That motherfucker is calling the police.” Faith was now bent over in a full roar.
I backed out onto the street, hiding my plate. I knew I had to go somewhere to get the weed out of my car, and I had to do it fast. The closest vacuum was the coin-operated one at the car wash area of my apartment complex.
Life has this wondrous way of playing itself out sometimes. Vince’s warning was ringing even louder, but I had no other options.
I set the cruise control at exactly one mile below the limit at thirty-four miles per hour. My head was on a swivel, searching for any signs of law enforcement. “Faith, you know the police are probably looking for us, don’t you?”
“You got a light?”
“What?”
“You got a light? You mind if I smoke?”
“Smoke?” I looked to her as she was feeling around the lower dash for the push lighter. “Bitch!” I slapped the cigar from her lips. “Are you fucking serious?!”
We tussled for it from her lap. I powered down her window and tossed it out. “You threw away my blunt, man!”
“Fuck yeah, I did, and if you don’t throw out the rest of that shit, you’re going out too…and I’m not slowing the car down when I do it!”
Faith held the baggie up before her eyes, checking the remains. She pinched little pieces at a time into her fingertips, releasing them into the oncoming wind.
“Everything is a fucking joke to you.”
“What? I did what you said.”
“I thought you didn’t have any?”
“That was my last one. I needed more for later.”
She ran her hand up my thigh and began massaging me. “We don’t have time for that right now. We’ve got to clean up this mess you made, or we’ll both be in a jail cell for the night.”
“I’m just trying to have some fun. Damn.”
“You know, you’re some piece of work. You bring me to a club that you know you were banned from. Then you toss a drink in a girl’s face and get us kicked out of another club, and now here we are. All in the same fucking night.”
“I tossed a drink in a girl’s face?” Faith laughed hysterically. “I don’t remember doing that.” She then broke out into another freestyle.
As we turned into my complex, Faith eyed the facades of the buildings. She took an inventory of the parked cars in their spaces. “Where are we, the Taj Mahal or something?”
I was in a full panic when I pulled next to the vacuum machine. I quickly searched my console for quarters. “What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to get out.”
I’d attacked the interior thoroughly and meticulously and was putting it all back together when I noticed Faith jiggling at the doorknob of the laundry room. I yelled in a hushed whisper. “What are you doing over there?!”
“I have to pee.”
“You can’t fucking pee in there!” She then ran to the car wash bay, lowered her denims, and squatted over the drain. “You can’t pee there either! Get in the fucking car, you’re going to use my bathroom…and you better not fucking piss my seat.”
After parking in my garage, we hurried inside. She looked to me. I pointed. She dashed. Through the open door, I heard the strong stream splashing the bowl. It slowed to a trickle. “Where’s the toilet paper, Stefen? I need paper!”
“There should be some right there next to you.”
“This thing is empty! I need some paper. What do you want me to do? I have to wipe my pussy!”
“Hold on.” I stopped at the entrance. “Can I come in?”
“Come on in.”
I retrieved a fresh roll from the closet. “I’m sorry about that. I could have sworn… You’re hiding it behind your back!”
“I wanted you to see me on your toilet.”
“Okay, now I see you.”
“Wait, don’t go. I want you to take out your dick.”
“What? My dick?”
“Yeah, let me look at it. I bet it’s big.”
I hesitantly unzipped, removing my semi-erection. “Now…are you satisfied?”
Faith reached, grabbing my dangling phallus. She tugged me closer. “I just knew you had a juicy one.” She squeezed me, swelling me as she focused on the head, licking, sucking, nibbling, and twirling the tip of her tongue around it. She stroked me to a full erection. “Damn, this motherfucker is fat. How is all this going to fit?”
She gripped my sack in her palm, clamping her fingers into a fist before taking me deep within her hot mouth.
She spat and slobbered, slurping sloppily and loudly. Thick strands of drool slavered heavily from her chin. “Are you going to come for me? I want you to nut. Give me that nut.”
My legs quivered, losing stability. I threw an elbow across the water tank for support. “Oh shit, Faith! Faith, fuck! I’m about to come! I’m about to come right now!”
“Give up that nut! I love sucking dick more than anything! It is the best!”
My balls constricted. My scrotum knotted. “Shit! That’s it! I’m coming!”
She quickly pulled me out, wrenching and yanking, forcibly draining me. I fell away, stumbling clumsily against the wall behind me.
Faith smiled, eyeing me between her cum soaked lashes. “How do I look? Am I pretty?”
After a long shower, Faith had sobered. She’d joined me on the balcony. “This is a nice place, Stefen. How long have you been here?”
“About a year now. It was just after I moved from New Orleans.”
“You miss it?”
“I’ll always miss it.”
“Can you bring me home now?”
“Sure, what’s wrong?”
“I fucked up… I needed to take my medicine. I didn’t think I was going to be out this late.”
It was almost four when we arrived at her place. She asked me to come in for a while, and I did. “Stefen, I want to apologize for tonight. I know that I said I was going to pay for everything, but you know I didn’t even do any dances. Plus, they made me pay house fees. I promise that I’ll work hard tomorrow and pay you back. You don’t even have to come and get me or even be there. I’ll call you when I get off and I’ll bring it to you, okay? I’m going to make that for you.”
“Sounds good.”
“It won’t happen again, I swear. It’s just when I drink. You cannot let me drink. That’s when shit get stupid.”
“I see that now.”
“Are you going to stay with me tonight?” She removed her top and bra, tossing them across the room to a chair of stacked clothes. “You said you would.”
“I guess I can for at least a little while.”
Faith dropped her pants and panties to the floor before sliding to the center of the bed. She lightly patted a spot next to her.
I pulled off my boots, removed my clothes, and climbed into Faith’s open arms.
“I want to feel that dick on my clit.” She parted her legs, guiding me between them. “Rub that big motherfucker on that clit.”
“Is that where you want me?” I began licking and sucking her breasts.”
“Yeah, grind on me. Make that pussy pop. Make it pop.”
“You like that?”
“I love it.”
We were in sync, matching move for move, when Faith suddenly stiffened. She was motionless.
I rose slightly, looking into her fearful eyes. “What’s the matter? Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“Who are you?”
“Who am I? What are you talking about?”
“Why are you here?”
“What the fuck do you mean?”
“I mean I want to know who you are and why you’re here. Who let you in?”
“Okay, now you’re on some real crazy shit.” I quickly dressed, checked for my keys and wallet, and headed for the door.
Faith was on my heels, one step behind me. As I approached, she jumped in front, blocking the exit with her body. “Who are you, man? Come on, tell me your name. Please tell me. I never get to know anything.”
“So now you don’t know my name? Get the fuck out of my way, Faith.”
“Oh, it was Faith.” She chuckled. “Is that who brought you here? I should have known. She gets all the hot dudes.”
“What are you talking about? You are Faith.”
“No, I’m not, silly.”
I watched carefully, picking up on her mannerisms and vocal tone. It was different; totally different. “Look, whoever you are, I would like to leave, so could you please move out of my way?”
“You don’t want to stay and talk to me? I’ll give you some. I like to do it. I already have my clothes off. All you have to do is put it in. You don’t even have to try to smooth-talk me.” She leaned over. “You like it from the back? Go ahead, pull it out and get you some. Is it on the hard?”
“If you don’t get out of my motherfucking way!”
She turned, resting her hands on her hips. “You don’t have to be so mean to me.”
“Could you please move out of my way?”
She giggled. “You are just too much, you know that? What am I going to do with you?”
“How about you let me leave?”
“I’ll make a deal with you.”
“What?”
“Tell me your name and I’ll move out of your way.”
“My name is Stefen.”
“Alright, Stefen, a deal is a deal.” She stepped to the side, unlocking and opening the door. “Are you sure that you can’t give me some, Stefen?”
“Maybe another time.”
“Another time?”
I walked past her. “Yeah, another time. I’ll call you and let you know when I’m coming.”
“How are you going to call me? I never gave you my phone number.”
“Well, I’ll just stop by. How’s that? Would you like that?”
“That would even be better. I’ll give you some when you come back, okay? We can do it all night.”
“Okay, now go inside and go straight to bed.”
“I will… You’re my boyfriend, okay?”
“Okay.”
The sound of the deadbolt was my cue. I hopped into my car and pulled away.
My brain had gone into overload trying to sort out the events of the night. If I’d only listened to Vince.
It was around one o’clock the following evening when I received a call from Faith. I had some trepidation about answering, but I did anyway. “Hello.”
“Hey, Stefen.”
“Hey.”
“Why did you leave? I thought you were going to stay the night. I woke up and you were gone.”
“You are joking, right?”
“What? What do you mean?”
“You don’t remember what happened?”
“No… Did something happen?”
“You don’t remember following me to the door?”
She laughed. “I couldn’t have followed you to the door. I would have remembered that.”
“Was your door locked from the inside?”
“Yeah.”
“Well?”
“Oh shit. I’m so embarrassed. Did someone come out to play?”
“You could say that.”
“What happened?”
“You were someone else entirely.”
“I’m so sorry, Stefen. It happens sometimes.”
“Please don’t be offended by my asking, but do you have some sort of personality disorder?”
“None of us are fucking perfect.”
“I’m not saying that at all. I just don’t know anything about it. Shit kind of fucked me up.”
“And?”
“And nothing. I’m just saying.”
“I can’t help that, though. Why are you tripping?”
“I’m not tripping, Faith. I’m just telling you what happened. Those medications I saw…”
“That medication is for anxiety! I told you that!”
“I know, but what about something to help with your condition?”
“There ain’t no something for my fucking condition. It can’t be fucking fixed, okay?”
“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that. I don’t know anything about any of this. I have no experience dealing with…”
“You can get some experience!”
“I just don’t know how to be there for you. I like you, but I would have to learn more about…”
“So now you want to dump me? You don’t want to be my man anymore.”
“If you stop cutting me off, I can tell you…”
“I’m not trying to hear all that bullshit.”
“You know what, Faith? Your condition ain’t even the biggest issue. All that fucking getting into fights, getting kicked out of clubs, and damn near going to fucking jail is way more than your condition. Besides, you should have told me your ass was fucking crazy from the start. Maybe when that fucking other you came out, I would have stayed and fucked the shit out of her and you too when you woke up.”
“Fuck you, man! How about that?”
“Fuck you too, crazy bitch! And don’t ever come up to me again talking about how lonely your ass is. As a matter of fact, when you see me, look the other fucking way, bitch! How about that?”
“Okay. That’s the way you want it? I can’t speak to you anymore? We can do it like that.”
It didn’t take an augur to figure this one out. By her tone, I knew that I’d messed up. I was in deep Dutch, and the consequences were going to be severe.
That night I went back to Club Fantasy. I caught a table and was joined by two dancer friends of mine, Chelsea, a shapely brunette, and Meagan, a petite natural blonde with doe-like eyes.
As we sat talking, I saw Faith creeping our way. She drew Chelsea’s and Meagan’s attention as she stood looking over us. “Excuse me. You two might not want to sit with him. He tried to have sex with me while I was sleeping.”
Chelsea asked, “You’re talking about Stefen?”
“Yeah, he was by my house last night and he tried to have sex with me after I fell asleep.”
Meagan broke in, “So, bitch, why are you telling us? You should have been glad.”
Chelsea stood. “Is that what the fuck you stopped here for? Keep it moving before you catch these hands, bitch.” Faith stammered away towards the dressing rooms.
I was giving the rundown on what actually happened the night before, but was stopped short when a high-pitched female voice cut through the room. “They’re fighting!” Followed by several managers, Chelsea, Meagan, and a gaggle of strippers ran towards the action.
After the commotion had settled, Chelsea returned first. She was full of mirth. “Your girl just got fucked up.”
“Faith?”
“Yeah. Last night, she threw a drink on a girl at the bar. The stupid bitch got her ass whupped and was still talking shit. And she was telling people you tried to take her against her will.”
“She said that about me?”
“Yeah, she pointed you out.”
“Hold on.” I stood, but Chelsea grabbed my arm, pulling me back to my seat. “They’re gone, both of them. They both got fired.”
“But that bitch said…”
“Don’t worry, nobody believes that shit. They know better. Besides, Meagan stole that bitch for saying that. She hit her in her eye… Got her good, too. It was turning black already.”
Later that week, I was awakened by a pungent odor that had permeated my entire apartment. It had the sickening smell of death. I searched under the bed, behind the dressers, and even the closet, but I couldn’t find anything. I ran through the bathroom, but there was nothing there either. I headed to the kitchen and searched the pantry, behind the appliances, the cabinets, and still no luck. However, I was getting a stronger scent from the entry door.
I opened it, and the smell was instantly overwhelming, sending my olfactory sensors into overload. I covered my nose with the front of my T-shirt to fight back the stench. I didn’t have any shoes on, so I looked down before stepping out, and it was then that I discovered the source.
It took a few moments before my eyes fully adjusted to the brightness of the sun, but there was no mistaking what it was. The rat had already begun decomposing in the heat. It was swollen, its glassy eyes were bulging, and the ants and flies were already making a meal of it.
Again, I heard Vince’s warning to not let Faith know where I lived. I knew that there was probably more to come.
Animal control arrived a few hours later. The gentleman was dressed in a fully covered suit with a ventilated mask. He picked up the dead rodent and placed it in a plastic bag for disposal. He then sprayed a chemical solution on the area and mopped it. The scent disappeared immediately. He gave me instructions. “Open your windows and doors to let any residual odors out, and you should be fine.”
I did as instructed and I emptied an entire can of Febreze throughout the apartment and left for the day.
I arrived home that evening with some food from Denny’s, and I had just sat in front of the TV when I heard the heavy sounds of what seemed like running footsteps outside my living room wall. Before I could even get up to investigate, there was a loud thumping at my door followed by an authoritative voice. “This is the police! Open up now!” I opened the door to heavily shielded officers with pointed guns.
I threw up my arms. “Whoa! What the hell?!”
The lead officer ordered. “Shut up and get on the floor!”
I was now face down on my carpet. “Can someone tell me what’s going on?!”
“Spread your arms and your legs!” As he frisked me, I watched the boots of the armed intruders as they searched through each room.
I listened as they gave the signal that it was clear. Then another entered with a German Shepard in tow. “Oh, hell no! You can’t just bring that mutt in here like that! He’s scratching up all my shit! What do you want?! Do you have a warrant?!”
“Don’t need one.”
“The fuck you don’t!”
He lowered his knee deeper into my back. The pressure was cutting off my breathing. “We can do this the hard way or the easy way. You can tell us where the drugs are and save us all a lot of time, or you can stay quiet and make it harder for yourself when you go in front of the Judge.”
“Judge, what Judge? I don’t need to see no fucking Judge! And I don’t have any drugs!”
I heard a voice speak. “This place is clean.”
The pressure was released. I was allowed to stand. “I could have told you that. All you had to do was ask.” The officers filed out just as easily as they entered.
The lead officer went into his bit. “Sorry to interrupt your evening, sir, but we got a tip that this was a crack house.”
“A tip? Someone gives you a tip, and you come into my home and draw guns and put me to the floor? And you bring in a dog? But you’re sorry to interrupt my evening? That’s it?!”
“If you have any complaints, you are more than welcome to file a report.”
My appetite was gone. I had no desire to eat. I was invaded; violated.
I knew where it came from. Faith was beginning to ruin my life, and there was nothing I could do about it.
It was a game of lose-lose played on a one-way street. She could do anything to me, and because of her mental condition, wouldn’t be held responsible.
A few days later, I’d gone to The Candy Rhino. A confidant of mine, Melody, had just taken the stage performing in her Goth-chick persona wearing a jet black Bettie Page wig with matching lipstick and knee-high patent leather shiny boots accented with a purple corset.
I’d ordered a hundred ones from my waitress and was now at the stage tossing singles when I noticed Faith, dressed in street clothes, seated with a middle-aged gentleman at a table across the room.
She was leaned in close to his shoulder, pointing in my direction, and from the physical gesturing and hen-pecking at his ear, I was sure that she was planting poisonous seeds into his head.
Following her aim, he’d zeroed in on me. Gauging by the odious expression on his face, my suspicions were confirmed. With drink in hand, Faith stood from her chair and was heading my way.
I turned my attention back to Melody, watching as she crawled seductively towards me. “Make it rain, Stefen!”
I could feel Faith’s burning eyes as I cut half my stack and tossed it into the air. Melody looked to her. “Who’s this cutie? Is she your new girlfriend?”
“Fuck no! She’s not with me.” I pointed. “She’s with that guy over there. This bitter bitch is sweating me because I don’t want to fuck with her anymore. She’s going around telling people that I tried to take advantage of her while she was asleep.”
Faith took a quick look around the club and was on the upswing with her drink when I blocked her at the forearm, sending the glass to the floor.
She looked to Melody. “Did you see that?! He just knocked that drink on me!”
Melody attacked. “No, I saw what you did, bitch!”
“Fuck you!”
“Fuck you, ho! Don’t make me get off this fucking stage because I promise you it won’t be nice! And what the fuck, bitch?! You don’t work here anyway, you random ho, in here with your trick!” Melody tossed up her arm, signaling for a manager.
Faith cowered. “You have yours coming, Stefen. I’m fucking with Gorgeous G. That’s my folks now. He’s a real pimp. I’ll make sure he takes care of your bitch-ass.” Faith and her date made their way to the exit.
After completing her set, Melody came over and sat with me. “So, what’s up with you and that one? She must be missing some good dick to be acting out like that?”
“I only went out with her one time. She’s got some serious mental issues. Real mental issues.”
“So she’s legit crazy?”
“Yes!”
“She must be because I heard her threatening you with Gorgeous G. If he knew she was putting him out there like that, she’d be in a hospital fighting for her life. But you don’t have anything to worry about. He’s not trying to go to war. He’s hard on his bitches, but he’s not about that drama. He’s all about getting his money.
“I hear you and I appreciate what you’re saying, but I’m still going to keep my eyes open.”
“Just talk to him the next time you see him.”
I was upstairs in the VIP with Vince, Jose, and Marty when Gorgeous G. entered the club. They were already up to speed with everything between Faith and I and were aware of my plan to confront him face to face.
I stood. “I’ll be back.”
Vince rose from his seat, “Stefen, you’re not going down there by yourself. He’s with some of his boys. I’m going with you.”
“It’s alright. I’m just going to talk.”
Marty cut in, “Fuck all that, just walk up to him and punch him in his fucking mouth. I don’t like him anyway.”
“I’m just going to talk, Marty.”
“Stefen… Hold on a minute.” Marty reached into his pile, pulling two wrapped stacks. He tossed them onto the table in front of me. “There you go. Two thousand dollars to punch him in his mouth.”
I countered, “Make it three and you got a deal.”
“Fuck it, I’ll make it four!” We all laughed.
Vince and I took the elevator down to the first floor. We walked over to the main bar.
Gorgeous G. was draped in a money green two-piece dress suit with a stiff open collared white button-up, a pair of Mauri square toes, and a matching belt. His chest and fingers were covered in gold and diamonds, and weighing down his left wrist was a Rolex President.
Two of his girls were breaking down, filling his palms with bills. One smiled adoringly into his eyes as she toyed with his shoulder-length perm, the other easily gliding her fingertips across his cooked sugar baby smooth cheek.
Vince stayed back as I made my approach. I walked halfway between us. I got his attention with a beckoning nod. He stepped to me. I spoke, “You got a second?”
“What can I do for you, pimp?”
“You’re Gorgeous G., right?”
“That’s me, but who are you?”
“I’m Stefen. I need to talk to you.”
“What you got, pimp?”
“Faith, she’s claiming you.”
“Oh, okay. Yeah, she’s on my line now. I would have come to you like a real pimp, but I never heard of you before she ran it down to me. I’ve never even seen you. Now, if you’re trying to claim her back…”
“I’m not here for that. I’m hearing from her that you’re coming for me.”
“She said that?”
“She was at the Rhino with a trick. She left him and came over to me with it.”
“The bitch out of pockets and about to fuck up my money? Pimp, I believe you because I know she was there. But I don’t have no beef with you. You lost her, and she came seeking shelter and wisdom from me. Why would I be after you? What for? I’m getting your money.”
“As long as we have an understanding.”
“Pimp, that’s good looking out. You didn’t even owe me that. I promise you that you won’t ever have to worry about her as long as she’s with me. You got the gorgeous one’s word on that.”
I knew then my troubles with Faith were over.
A month had passed before I’d heard anything about Faith. The word was that she was caught giving facetime to another pimp by Gorgeous G.’s bottom. He’d sent four of his girls along with Faith to what was supposed to be a private party. They’d led her to an abandoned parking lot where she was badly beaten and left for dead. It was a security guard making his rounds who happened to see her lying unconscious and called the authorities.
I never knew the extent of her injuries, but it was said that she had a long way to go before fully recovering.
That one mix-tape away from a Grammy would have to wait.
Creole Gaudet
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