Brooklyn Brothel (26 page)

Next thing I knew, each man had given Tony a secret handshake and had made their way to the front door. Suddenly, Paulie stopped at the front with the door wide open. “You know the money’s better than the dry pussy?” He laughed. “Raul counted it,” he continued, “said it totaled nineteen thousand.”

My mind started calculatin’. Cinnamon had moved
twelve thousand to the vase for me and at least twenty ’g’s had been bundled in the safe. I couldn’t prove it, but knew deep down inside she’d taken even more money for herself. I was sure of it.

“Let me help you get up,” Tony said, extendin’ his hand toward me.

The moment my hand jerked away, he gave me the look of death.

“Seriously. Get up from there before the girls come down. They gotta start making money within the hour. I need you refreshed and completely dressed.”

I looked at Tony like he’d been smokin’ crack. Did he really think business was gonna go on as usual? “I’m done Tony. Find yourself another Madam.”

“Get the fuck outta here.” He grinned tryin’ to make light of what I’d just said.

“I’m dead serious. I thought this was what I needed for the moment. I was wrong. I can’t do this anymore.”

Tony’s tone changed abruptly. It was soft and more grim than I’d ever heard from him. “There is no getting out. Only I… tell you when it’s over.”

He pointed at himself sharply. It was clear he meant business, but I didn’t care at all. I was done. My confidence had been smashed and there was no one left to live for. “Do what you gotta do Tony. Fuck me, shoot me. Hell, kill me. I’m leaving,” I told’em as I managed to raise myself up off the floor.

“Trust me Co-Co, it’s not a good decision…could affect your health,” he advised me, as his brows crinkled sharply.

“Yeah, I know,” I shot back.

I pulled what was left of my satin material up above my chest and walked as if I’d just had an operation to make me extra bo-legged. Oddly, I showed no fear. I turned my
back to Tony and walked toward the bathroom to clean myself up. I moved along like I had some sort of handicapped issue between my legs. Truth was, I was sore, and my insides hurt like hell. I kept walkin’, refusin’ to drop a tear, and prayin’ that Tony would just shoot me in the back.

Chapter 20

By the next
mornin’, I had reworked the plan for my future. Brooklyn was no longer my home. I stood leanin’, my knees against my bed, while throwin’ piece by piece into my borrowed suitcases. I had two big Samsonite luggage bags compliments of a girl I’d hired a week ago, thrown across the bed. When she got wind of what happened with the rape, she volunteered anythin’ I needed to get the hell outta dodge.

My shoes, purses, make-up and anythin’ else I owned was splattered on top of my sheets. I moved swiftly keepin’ my eyes on the clock, and my mind off of what had happened. I tried to keep my emotions intact, of course droppin’ tears on top of my clothes as I folded, and thought about my life. I hadn’t slept a wink all night, and as soon as the sun peeked through my curtains, I hopped up and started gatherin’ my shit. I’d managed to slip outta the house and down to the corner store by seven a.m. to call Mike, fillin’ him in on what had gone down between me and Tony’s boys. I neva revealed that I’d been raped by three of them, ’cause I’d decided I wanted to be with him, and didn’t want it to taint our future relationship.

Mike was pissed, and shouted like crazy into the phone. He told me he was partially to blame, because he’d had bad vibes about Tony all along, but knew he couldn’t go up against a man like that. When Mike told me he loved me, I felt all gooey inside, but couldn’t tell him the same. Luckily,
he didn’t harp on the love shit and just kept promisin’ to take me away from any harm or danger. I told Mike not to worry about it…no ‘get back’ on my behalf was necessary. I just needed him to be at the house at eleven o’clock sharp to pick me up. I figured that would give me enough time to pack all my shit, and escape before Tony showed up.

For the first time since I’d known Tony, he finally stayed with me until about two a.m. He tried his best to explain how the Mafia worked and attempted to make amends. He had a nerve to tell me not to worry ’bout the money that was taken.
We
could rebuild is what he shot me. I asked that fucker was he French.

The thought of how he rubbed my back throughout the evenin’ and ordered me some Chinese food, now repulsed me. That’s what I wanted from him all along. When it was all said and done, he left sayin’ that we’d talk in the mornin’. He claimed his wife had some sorta emergency, othawise he woulda stayed. The craziest part of it all was when he said, “I won’t tell anyone that you had considered leaving the brothel. Just don’t mention me to the girls. It would ’cause everyone to get fucked up a little. Know what I mean,” I remember him sayin’. I thought it was funny, yet sad at the same time that he really thought I was gonna stay.

Just before Tony left, he kissed me on the cheek softly and said that I would soon be his number one woman. He claimed he was divorcin’ the wifey. He also told me, I was emotionally fucked up and needed tender love and care, and most importantly some time to heal. Hell, the only time I needed was to pack my shit. But I smiled and played it off like I was fallin’ for it all. Little did he know that when he arrived today, Chantel would be gone.

My thoughts were interrupted when Sasha walked into the room. “Chantel,” she called out as she entered, I guess still tryin’ to give me some privacy. I wasn’t even lockin’ my
door anymore or expectin’ anyone to knock before comin’ in. I’d talked to the girls the night before about choices. I made it clear to them that the choices they make today will haunt them tomorrow. It was sorta cool bringin’ myself back down to their level. The craziest part of the night was when Kitty confessed that she knew about Cinnamon’s sneaky dealin’s. She said she tried to tell me on numerous occasions, but I neva gave her a chance to talk to me about it. I apologized for my rudeness, and for hostin’ them into a life of wrongdoin’. Sasha smiled, and thanked me for lettin’ her back in. We even hugged and kicked it a while after Tony left.

“Need any help packing?” Sasha asked.

With speed, my forefinger touched my lips softly. I mouthed to her in a whisper, “Don’t forget the house is bugged.”

Sasha caught on quick. “You need some sleep, girl,” she said cheerfully. “Your eyes are puffy.” She grabbed a strapless shirt, folded it, and placed it in the suitcase. I guess she was gonna help whether I wanted her too or not.

“I’m leaving today,” she blurted out. Then she winked. “Are we gonna keep in touch?”

“Sure. Call me anytime.”

“No, seriously,” she said in a heavier tone.

She grabbed my right hand and wouldn’t let go. With a soft caress, her eyes revealed what she felt for me. Next thing I knew, Sasha touched my face gently. Then she turned me toward her without warnin’, and wrapped her arms quickly around my waist.

“I’m not fuckin’ gay, Sasha!” I shouted out in frustration. I didn’t care who was listenin’ in.

Her eyes widened. They emotionally asked the question, why are you speakin’ out knowin’ that the house is bugged. “I didn’t say you were,” she snapped. “I just want to be here for you,” she said boldly. “As a friend.”

“I don’t want to have this conversation right now!”

“We have to. I’m leaving, remember?” Her eyes widened again. Then she hit me with a wink.

Sasha wanted my undivided attention, but now wasn’t the time or place. The risk seemed too high. I simply turned away, once again denyin’ her advances. Eventually, she let me go, and removed her phone number from her bra. Her hands were warm and seemed sincere. But nothin’ in me could allow myself to trust her. She’d turned on me once before and would surely do it again.

“I wanted to give you these,” she said pullin’ a strand of pearls from her large pant pockets. “They’re not as pretty as your favorite set, but it’s the closest thing that I have to your other ones.”

“Why are you doin’ this?”

“Because I know you love jewelry. Don’t worry,” she added, “Cinnamon will get what’s coming to her. I know her pimp.” Sasha grinned.

I grabbed the pearls from her hand and decided not to discuss the fact that Cinnamon had stolen mine any further. Durin’ my meetin’ with the girls, they’d told me everything. Each detail hurt deeply, but when they said she took my favorite pearls, I was outdone.

I managed to muster up a fake smile. “Let’s switch,” I told Sasha. I handed her the phone receivers hidden underneath my pillow, and thanked her for the necklace.

We both laughed at the fact that I’d taken all the phones in the house and the girl’s cell phones to make sure nobody had an opportunity to betray me. Betrayal seemed to be contagious in a brothel so nobody would be given the chance to call Tony, warnin’ him about my plans. I seemed to be gettin’ smarter, but I guess way too late.

Sasha stepped away from me for a few seconds, then returned with the gun Tony had given me. She patted me on
the shoulder and pointed to my purse. We did the hand gesture thing for a few moments before I stuck it into my bag. I really wanted no parts of guns anymore, but the 9mm did have my prints on it. So leavin’ it behind for one of the Italian boys to send somebody to their grave with that gun, meant a possible life sentence for me later.

Sasha and me were both stopped in our tracks at the sound of a horn blowin’ outside. She looked at me. Then I looked back at her again. Our eyes were in competition to see whose got the largest. I rushed ova near my desk to check the clock. It was 10:45. I saw a black, towncar out front, that didn’t look like the one Mike normally drove.

“I guess Mike is early,” I said to Sasha, and jetted back ova by the bed.

I zipped the smaller suitcase and rushed to greet Mike at the door.

“I’ll grab your other suitcase,” Sasha suggested.

“No. Leave it. Mike will get it. Just sit any of the other small bags by the door. I’ll grab my purse.”

I was still a lil’ uneasy about Sasha bein’ so helpful. She coulda had some bogus shit planned up her sleeve. I just didn’t trust the bitch. So even though I headed to open the front door, I kept my good eye on Sasha. When I made it to the door, my insides tingled a bit. I swallowed hard as I checked the outline of the body at the door which could be seen through the beveled glass. I couldn’t make out the face, only the shape of the figure. It wasn’t the outline of Mike’s body at all.

My heart raced at the thought of more men comin’ back for more. Then the sound of the double knock at the door startled me.

“Who is…”

I stopped mid-sentence noticing that the figure on the otha side of the door resembled the silhouette of a woman. I
wasn’t hirin’ nobody, and was ready to say it to the woman’s face. I swung open the door with an attitude, ready to tell the bitch to call Tony herself.

The door was wide open as well as my mouth for several minutes. Neither of us said a thing. Betty stood up tall, makin’ sure her posture was perfect. I kept my hand on the door knob wonderin’ whether I shoulda slammed it in her face. Had she shown up to get revenge?

Betty looked meaner than ever. She displayed the same evil grimace she wore before being hauled off to jail. Only now her attire matched kick-ass persona. I’d neva seen Betty in a pair of jeans, or dirty sneakers. It was obvious she was doin’ bad.

“Look, Betty,” I started. “Don’t come here startin’ no shit with me. It wasn’t me,” I whined, tryna plead my case.

“Are you gonna let me in? We need to talk.”

“Talk about what? I’m leavin’ in just a few minutes. For good,” I added.

“Shit too thick for your skin, huh?”

“Not really sure what that means.” I frowned, then peeked around Betty’s frame to identify the car that had just pulled up. This time it really was Mike.

“Look Betty, that’s my ride I gotta go.”

“Co-Co. I’m here as a friend. I need you and you need me.”

My eyebrows crinkled. “Do I?”

“Yeah. That damn Tony is a snake,” Betty growled. “His little short-ass had me shut down, and is planning on using you as a scapegoat, too. Here’s what I want to do.”

Mike laid on the horn loudly as I listened to Betty rant. She spoke angrily as she rattled off all that Tony had done, and her plan to take him out. Honestly, I wasn’t interested in gettin’ him back. I just wanted to put my past and Brooklyn behind me. I started grabbin’ my bags with speed,
and pullin’ them closer to the front door. I tried to think hard about anythin’ that I coulda left behind in my bedroom. Finally, I asked Betty to step back so I could sit all my stuff on the porch. I wasn’t sure what was takin’ Mike so long to get outta the car, but I’d started to become more nervous as Betty talked about the police, Tony, and her boys from uptown.

Finally, all in one breath, Betty said to me, “police want to talk to you, and Tony wants to have you killed.”

I stopped movin’ out on the front stoop. The sun seemed to be scorchin’ and I’d already begun to sweat as Betty’s words marinated in my head. All at the same time, I watched Mike finally emerge from the car out front. He stood in the middle of the street lookin’ down the block as if he’d seen a ghost. I turned to look in the same direction his eyes were planted. Maybe he’d seen the police headed our way. Betty claimed they needed to talk to me. I panicked ’cause I wasn’t goin’ back to jail for Tony, Betty, nobody!