Philadelphia (7 page)

“Yo, meet me at the spot,” Phareed said into the phone and hung up.

Stone tossed his cell phone next to him on the couch. He had hoped for a night in, watching the 76ers make their run to the playoffs. Stone decided he would watch the remaining five minutes of the quarter before heading out to meet with Phareed. He put his feet up on the coffee table, leaned back on the couch, and sipped his Heineken. He was in no rush to go and problem solve right now.

The first quarter ended with the Sixers leading by seven. Stone grudgingly turned his eighty-inch HDTV off. He looked out his penthouse window down on to Philadelphia. From that vantage point he felt like he owned the city. Maybe he could never actually own it, but some days he felt like he ran it. Even though Phareed was the head of the organization, Stone felt that without him the organization wouldn't be as strong. He was happy to stay behind the scenes as number two. The way Stone saw it, he was the brain, and Phareed was the face and muscle.

Stone picked up his keys and headed out of his penthouse to his Escalade in the parking lot.

He had his stereo bumping some Lil Wayne as he crossed the bridge into Camden, a shitty town just over the border in New Jersey. Phareed and Stone would meet at an abandoned warehouse along the river.

Stone drove his Escalade into the empty space. Phareed was already waiting, leaning up against his Hummer and texting.

After exiting his truck, Stone slid the massive steel door of the warehouse closed.

“What's good?” Stone said as the two men greeted each other by grabbing hands and bro-hugging each other.

“All good.” Phareed leaned back on his Hummer. “Yo, what you find out about them murders?”

“We comin' up empty. Ain't no one know shit.”

“You need to step your shit up then,” Phareed shot back.

Stone wanted to say “fuck off,” but he bit his tongue. He instead said, “I got a lotta niggas out there with their ear to the ground. No one's talkin'.”

He hated when Phareed would question his work ethic. Stone was always making sure his business was being handled and he thought Phareed should know and respect that shit.

“Well, get more niggas out there and make niggas talk.”

Again, Stone bit his tongue. He didn't see Phareed doing anything about the problem so for him to get a bug up his ass pissed Stone off. “Phareed, we start taking niggas off the corners it's gonna hurt business.”

“The ones who stay on the corners have to sell more. So what? I want whoever this bitch is killing niggas.” Phareed didn't want to hear excuses, he just wanted results and right now none were being produced.

“A'ight. I don't know if that's the best play though. We'll find out who it is. Someone is bound to talk,” Stone said.

“I don't care what you think. Make 'em talk sooner rather than later.”

This did not sit well with Stone. It was a slap in the face to him. He was loyal to Phareed and had always given him solid advice. He hoped that Phareed wasn't becoming too much of a playboy nigga. If that turned out to be the case he might have to reconsider his loyalties.

“A'ight. That it?” Stone kept it simple. He didn't want to keep talkin' about this shit. He was doin' what he was supposed to be doin'.

Phareed changed the subject. “You talk to your man lately?”

“Nah. No reason. Said he'd call when he got anything new.”

“You need to call his ass. I had a visit from some gung-ho detective. Got all up in my grill askin' me 'bout them murders.”

“That's why you stressin' this shit.” Stone shook his head, showing he understood. Now Phareed's attitude made more sense to him.

“Nigga, I ain't stressin' it!” Phareed raised his voice. He felt that showing stress was a sign of weakness.

“Cool. I hear you.” Stone put his hands up to calm him. Stone didn't want to escalate Phareed's anger. He had a short fuse, and when he went off it took awhile to get him back to normal.

“Holla at your boy and find out who this motherfuckin' cowboy cop is. Tell him to get Lone Ranger off my ass.”

“Bet. I'll holla at him. What this cop look like?”

“He'll know who I'm talkin' 'bout.” Phareed's phone rang. “Yo,” he answered.

He listened to the person on the other end with a scowl on his face.

“A'ight. I'm comin'.” He hung up the phone. “I gotta bounce. Isis is trippin' on some shit down at the Trap. Come with.”

“Nah. I'm gonna try and catch the end of the Sixers at home.”

“Nigga, you a lame.” Phareed smiled and shook his head.

Stone agreed. “I like my crib. What can I say? I worked hard to get mine, and I want to enjoy.”

“I hear that.” They slapped palms. All the tension that was between them before was gone. That's how it was between the two men. They were like brothers.

Phareed got into his truck while Stone went to open the metal door.

“Yo,” Phareed called out from his truck as he pulled up next to Stone.

“'Sup?”

“Tomorrow night you comin' to the Pearl. I'm having some off-the-hook shit goin' down.”

“Word.” Stone smiled. He knew that when Phareed said “off the hook,” he meant it. Tonight Stone would chill; tomorrow he would rage with Phareed.

Phareed smiled, then got serious and pointed at Stone. “Call your man. Fix this.” Phareed drove off.

Stone got into his truck and made the call. When his man answered he said, “Meet tomorrow. The spot.” He hung up the phone.

Billie held the napkin with Stone's number on it. She knew once she made this call there was no going back. The train would start rolling and would just keep on picking up speed. Was she ready? Hell, yes! She dialed the number.

Stone answered. “Stone.”

“Hey. It's . . .” Her heart leapt into her throat. “Me.”

“Who?” Stone asked.

Shit.
“Me. You know, split lip from the bar.”

“Oh, shit. Sheila! How you doin', ma? What took you so long?”

“I needed my face to heal a little before I could let you see me again.”

“You were fine with a busted lip. You gonna be ridiculous all healed up.”

“You too sweet.” She smiled.

“I speak the truth. So what's up? We havin' our first date tonight?”

They were the exact words she was hoping to hear. “If you say so,” she answered.

“I'll pick you up.”

“Meet me at the Westin hotel. I'm staying there until I get my own place.”

“I'll be there at ten.”

“I'll be waiting.” She hung up the phone happy.
One step closer to fucking up Phareed and his organization.

 

 

Billie was waiting in the lobby of the Westin when Stone pulled up. She watched him step out of his Escalade and enter the hotel. He was better looking than she remembered. He was wearing a fitted, cream-colored button-down shirt, which showed off his muscular chest and arms. His perfectly pressed Armani jeans, expensive shoes, and Breitling watch told Billie that this nigga had money.

Too bad this muthafucka is a thug. I might enjoy spending his money and rubbing up on that body,
she thought as he approached.

“Damn, you look fine.” Stone gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Billie was wearing her favorite Gucci jeans, a sheer Calvin Klein blouse, and a pair of Prada heels. “Thanks. You not too bad yourself,” she responded.

“Shall we?” She locked her arm inside his and led him right back out the door he'd just come through, wasting no time at all. She couldn't risk anyone recognizing her, especially if she was going to kill Stone tonight.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked as they drove through downtown Philadelphia.

“We headin' to a new club called Pearl. My man is having a big throw down tonight. Believe me, you don't want to miss his parties. Off the chain.”

“That's what I'm talkin' about.” She reached over and turned up the volume on the stereo. Stone smiled at Billie bobbing her head to the beat.

Stone pulled up in front of the club, and a valet came to the car immediately. He opened the door for Billie, then ran around to the driver's side door. Stone handed the valet his keys along with a fifty dollar bill.

“Thanks, Stone.” The valet took the keys and money.

There was the usual line outside of Pearl waiting for the doorman to allow them entrance. Billie always thought it foolish to wait to be deemed good enough to be let in to a club.

“What up, Stone?” The doorman moved the red velvet rope to the side to allow Billie and Stone through. Stone had to clear a path to get to the front of the crowd and through the rope. Some of the people waiting started to gripe.

“What up, Curtis? This is Sheila,” Stone said.

“Nice to meet you.” Curtis shook Billie's hand.

“Phareed here?” asked Stone.

“Not yet.”

Confetti started falling from the ceiling the second they stepped into the massive club. The dance floor was packed with people moving to the beats the DJ was spinning. There were girls dancing on stages surrounding the dance floor, and lasers were shooting off of every wall.

“You have anything like this in Pittsburgh?” Stone asked over the loud music.

“What?”

“Any clubs like this in Pittsburgh?” he asked

Luckily he thought she was asking for him to repeat because she didn't hear, but Billie had forgotten that she told him she was from Pittsburgh.

“Oh. Yeah. Nothing this big.”
Shit, I need to step up my memory. Keep my lies in order,
she thought.

“Let's go.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her through the dance floor. On the opposite side of the club they found the VIP section. Another red velvet rope was moved aside for them. This was where the real party was going to happen. This was where Billie was sure she would meet Phareed. She was stepping into the hornet's nest.

They walked up the six steps and into the private room overlooking the dance floor. The music was loud in the VIP room, but not as loud as the main club. It had just the right amount of people. There was room to walk, but it still felt crowded. The waitresses strutted by, carrying bottles to all the tables.

“You want a drink?” Stone asked.

“You know it. Vodka cran,” she replied.

As Stone mixed her drink from the bottle on the table in front of them, Billie scanned the room. There seemed to be a mix of businessmen and men from Phareed's crew.

“You know everyone in here?” she asked as he handed her the drink.

“Most everyone. I do business with most of these guys.”

“Wow. What do you do?” she asked.

“I'm an accountant.” He bumped his glass against hers then took a sip. “Ugh.” He squished his face in disgust. “I'm not much of a vodka man. I like my Heineken.”

A waitress was walking by, and Stone gently grabbed her arm. “Can I get a Heineken?”

The waitress nodded and walked away. Billie chuckled as Stone put his glass on the table.

Stone wrapped his arm around Billie's waist. “Let's dance.”

Billie took one last sip of her drink and placed it next to Stone's glass. They started dancing to the music and fell into perfect rhythm with each other. Stone was loving being out with this woman.

Billie was playing along while she scoped the club, waiting to see Phareed. She was now in work mode, and it was getting her energized. She loved this feeling of being on the hunt.

“Yo, Stone.” Phareed had come up behind Billie.

Stone pulled away from Billie to greet Phareed. Billie turned and looked into the eyes of her target. His light brown eyes matched the tight Versace crew neck hugging his hulking muscles. His two-carat diamond stud earrings sparkled against his deep chocolate complexion.

“What's good?” Stone said.

“Damn? Who's this?” Phareed was looking at Billie.

“I'm Sheila.” She put out her hand for him.

“We came together.” Stone let Phareed know that she was off limits.

“A pleasure.” Phareed looked seductively into Billie's eyes.

Isis cleared her throat. Billie's attention was diverted to Isis, who was standing behind Phareed and staring daggers at her.

“I'm Sheila.” Billie introduced herself to Isis.

“Stay away from my man.” Isis sucked her teeth and craned her neck as she looked Billie up and down.

“Isis, go get us a bottle of Moët,” Phareed instructed.

She didn't dare say anything to Phareed for fear that he would get violent with her. She gave Billie one last stink eye before she sulked off in search of the champagne.

“Let's start this muthafuckin' party!” Phareed pulled out a vial of coke from his jeans.

He went and sat on one of the couches and proceeded to lay out three lines of the purest coke available in Philadelphia.

“Let's go, bitches,” he said to Stone and Billie.

They both walked over to the couch. Stone sat down and started rubbing his palms together in anticipation. Billie remained standing. She didn't want to do any coke. She had her reputation as an ADA to think about; if she were ever caught with coke in her system she'd never be able to prosecute again. Plus, she had seen how even one hit could get people addicted, and end up ruining their lives. She'd seen it in the city, and she'd seen it in the courtroom. She'd always been afraid of trying the stuff. Of course, the immediate issue here was that she wanted to stay coherent and focused. She thought that if she started doing coke she might end up saying the wrong thing and getting found out. One slip-up could end her life a lot quicker than a coke addiction.

“I need to use the restroom,” she blurted.

“Nah, girl. Sit down and do a hit first. Then go do your thing.” Phareed moved over to make room for her next to him.

“I'm about to burst. I'll be back. Save me some.” She winked at Phareed and walked toward the bathroom. Stone missed the wink because he was too busy snorting a line.

About halfway to the bathroom, Isis came stomping up to Billie and got right in her face. “I swear it, bitch. You stay the fuck away from my man.”

“Excuse me?” Billie raised her eyebrows.

“I saw how you were lookin' at him like he was a well-aged steak. Don't even think about fuckin' him.”

“Get out my face. I'll think about fuckin' whomever I damn well please. Now step.”

“Bitch!” Isis started to go for Billie's throat. Billie easily swatted her hand away.

Before the fight could escalate, a huge bouncer came between the two ladies. “Is there a problem, ladies?”

“This bitch is after my man and she got all up in my face! Kick this heffa out!” Isis was pointing in Billie's face.

“Please, you got all up in my face with your insecure ass.” Billie pursed her lips. She had grown up with plenty of girls like Isis and wasn't intimidated. She could stoop to their level and get just as ghetto if she needed.

“All right, both of you keep it movin'. If I see you at it again, you both out. Now go your separate ways.”

“Gladly. I don't like to be this close to ghetto trash.” Billie started walking toward the bathroom.

“Bitch!” Isis threw a flailing punch at the back of Billie's head and missed. The bouncer pushed Isis in the opposite direction away from Billie.

Billie entered the bathroom stall and locked it behind her. As soon as it was locked, she turned and leaned against the door and let out a huge breath. It was as if she was so excited to be near these men she was forgetting to breathe. Her adrenaline was sky high, especially after her run-in with Isis. She took a few more deep breaths to calm herself. She needed a clear plan on what to do next. But what was her plan? She couldn't really kill anyone tonight. It would be too obvious who did it. She needed to just chill tonight, gain their trust, and then attack later.

After talking herself through her plan, Billie freshened up in the mirror. Satisfied that she was looking good, she went back into the party.

As soon as she stepped out of the bathroom, Phareed grabbed her arm.

“Yo, holla at me.” He pulled her into a corner. Phareed was using his muscular frame to trap her.

She seductively smiled at him. “Looks like I have no choice.”

“I just want to get to know you, ma. When I see a fine piece, I want to know all about her.”

“What you want to know?” She rested her hand on his bulging chest.

“You Stone's bitch?” he asked.

“I'm no one's bitch. I'm my own girl, free to do what I please.” She rubbed his chest slowly as she looked directly in his eyes.

“A'ight.” He shook his head. “You and me need some time alone. Know wha'mean?”

“I hear you loud and clear, daddy.”

He pressed his hulking body closer to her. She gasped a little as she felt the weight pressing up against her.

“I got that ya-yo you wanted me to save.” He pulled the vial out and poured a little on the back of his hand in the space between his thumb and forefinger.

Billie thought she had no choice this time. She had to do it if she was going to gain his trust and keep Phareed close. She leaned in, as slowly as she could, while her mind raced for another way out of this.

“That's it, baby,” said Phareed. “You gonna enjoy this, ain't you?”

The lust in his voice gave her a brilliant flash of an idea. “Mmm,” she said. “Actually, I see something I want to taste even more.” She bypassed the coke entirely, traced her tongue down his forefinger, and inserted it in her mouth. She sucked and teased and nibbled it like a dick, and while she did that, she breathed hard enough out of her nose to blow the blow completely off Phareed's hand.

As she'd hoped, he forgot all about the coke as she worked his finger. “Oh shit, baby. We need to take this party somewhere else.” Phareed moaned.

Billie did not want to leave the club with Phareed. To stall a little, she deep-throated his finger. Her lips hit his bottom knuckle as Phareed looked on with a huge smile on his face.

This night is about to get freaky,
he thought.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Gunshots rang out in the club. The club turned to pandemonium as everyone panicked and started to take cover or run for the exits.

Billie released her suction on Phareed's finger.

“Shit.” Phareed pulled out a nine from his waistband. “We gotta bounce.”

Pop! Pop! Pop!
More gunshots. It was now a shootout.

Billie and Phareed took off toward the exit. Billie got but about two feet before she got tackled. Phareed didn't see this and kept it moving. He disappeared into the crowd.

Billie was stunned for a second and then realized that Isis had tackled her.

“Bitch, I told you to stay away from Phareed.” Isis started pulling Billie's hair. Each woman struggled to gain control of the other.