“See, if you stop messing around with those young boys and get with a man like me, then I can

  show you how you supposed to be treated.”

  Leroy burst into laughter. “Come on down, Tyrone, that lady ain’t in the mood for your old school

  pickup lines,” he commented.

  “They may be old school, but they are real!” old school Tyrone replied.

  Any other woman would’ve laughed and gave the old man a nice kiss on the cheek for his efforts,

  but he chose the wrong night and the wrong girl to flirt with, especial y after al I had been through in

  the last ten hours.

  When Leroy grabbed my hand to help me climb into the van, I saw the headlights of a smal

  sports car pul up on the other side of the van. My heart nearly jumped out of my fucking chest,

  because I knew how the engine idled on Duke’s Porshe. And since I hadn't heard anyone else’s car

  that sounded like his whip, I knew it had to be him. I pushed Leroy out of the way and rushed inside of

  his cousin’s van without his assistance.

  “Are you al right?” he questioned me.

  I wanted to tel him that the owner of the car was after me. But I change my mind. I didn’t know

  these men so I couldn't risk them turning me over to Duke. Nor could I risk Duke fol owing me once he

  figured out where I was. So I played it off and acted like I was just a little anxious to sit down.

  “Are you sure?” Leroy pressed the issue.

  “Yes, I'm sure,” I assured him.

  “Boy, sit down. The young lady said she was fine. Now, let’s get out of here,” Tyrone spoke up.

  Leroy took his advice and slammed the door shut. And right after he got into the front passenger

  seat, Tyrone put the van in reverse and proceeded to back out of the parking lot.

  Fortunately for me no one could see inside the van. But I could see out and while Tyrone was

  backing out of the parking lot I final y got a chance to see that it was in fact Duke’s Porsche. The

  butterflies in my stomach started jumping around rapidly. My heart started beating like crazy too. Al I

  wanted at that very moment was for Tyrone to get out of this place quickly. I’m guessing he was

  taking his merry time to get out of another patron’s way because someone in a car behind us started

  blowing their horn.

  “Can you hurry up and get that shit out of the way!” I heard the road raged driver scream.

  Everyone in the parking lot turned and looked in our direction. And when the passenger side door

  opened and Chris got out of it, he looked back at the van too.

  I swear I was about to freak out. I wanted to throw up right where I was sitting. These two guys had

  no idea what was going on and they wouldn’t be able to grasp the amount of danger they could

  possibly be in if Duke and Chris knew I was with them. So to prevent these innocent men from getting

  hurt I knew I had to tel them something. It wasn’t going to be the ful truth, but it was going to be

  something real y close.

  “Hey, listen up guys, my boyfriend just got out of that silver Porsche right there. Now if you don’t

  hurry up and get me out of here, he might suspect that I’m in here with y’al and try to drag me out of

  here,” I twisted the truth.

  Leroy spoke up first. “That lame looking motherfucker right there is your boyfriend?”

  “Yeah, so we need to hurry up and leave.”

  “Fuck that! We ain't gotta leave! And he ain't gonna put his fucking hands on you either,” Leroy

  continued.

  “Look, I'm not one to judge, now he may look lame but he carries a big ass gun and he’s not

  afraid to use it. So let’s be smart and not play the hero,” I warned him.

  Apparently Cousin Tyrone took heed because he put his van in the drive position and sped out of

  the parking lot like he had just smoked some crack. He almost drove into the ditch when he made a

  left turn to get on to the next street.

  “Leroy can act like he’s a gangsta al he wants, but he’s going to do that shit in his own car and on

  his own time,” Tyrone commented after he got control of his van.

  I let out a long sigh and then I laid my head against the headrest while Leroy and Tyrone went

  back and forth about how the situation with Chris should’ve been handled.

  I started to jump into their conversation but Tyrone held his ground so my presence wasn’t

  needed. He laid down plenty of scenarios where Leroy could’ve gotten hurt real y bad, especial y

  behind something that could’ve been avoided. “People these days are crazy,” Tyrone began. “I’ve

  seen guys who’l kil you behind ten dol ars. Now I know that is downright insane. But I ain’t got time for

  that foolishness. I believe that this younger generation is possessed with demons because in al the

  days of my life I ain’t ever seen so many young folk kil each other like they do today. So Leroy you

  better start acting like you got some damn sense. That mess you tried to involve yourself in tonight,

  can’t ever happen again, especial y if you with me.”

  Leroy tried to interject a few times but Tyrone wasn’t having it. He made it perfectly clear that he

  wasn’t happy with Leroy’s actions. And I agreed. If we had more older men trying to teach young men

  like Tyrone than maybe the graveyards wouldn’t be fil ed to capacity with younger black men. When I

  thought that, I thought about Neeko and Bishop, and the sadness of it al .

  After Tyrone laid down the law to his baby cousin, he looked through his rearview mirror and

  asked me where he was dropping me off?

  The first thing that came out of my mouth was, “2111 Bazemore Avenue.”

  “Where is that?” he asked me.

  “It’s in Norfolk,” I told him.

  “What part of Norfolk?”

  “It’s right off Military Highway near the Wal-mart,” I replied and then I thought to myself, was I

  making the right choice by taking a trip over to Devin’s apartment even though I hadn’t been invited? I

  guess I would soon find out.

  Cheaper to Keep Her part 2 Unique

  Pussy For Sale-Chapter Fifteen

  Since the beginning of time, a woman has had to do what a woman has to do.

  In the little bit of time it took for Mr. Tyrone to drive me to Devin’s apartment, it felt like my clothes

  were starting to dry. Not that it made any different, because I stil looked like shit. But the fact that I

  would soon be in dry clothes made me feel just a tad bit better.

  The old man pul ed slowly into the apartment complex where Devin resided. I immediately noticed

  his car was parked in his normal parking spot, so I go a little excited. I knew I was only minutes away

  from getting out of these wet ass clothes and into something dry. Not to mention that I’d be able to

  sleep in a warm bed. Shit, and the way I felt after running, ducking and dodging fucking bul ets, if he

  held me right, I’d give him some pussy just for GP. And who knows, I could possibly let him eat my

  pussy too. After being in jail with those carpet munching chicks, I was desperately in the need of some

  licking and sticking. Hel , Bishop would’ve gotten it first if Katrina wouldn’t have set him up to get kil ed.

  So I had to keep it moving and Devin was the next best thing. Hopeful y, he was in the mood.

  Before I got out of the van, I thanked them both for giving me a ride. I expressed how grateful I

  was and promised them that I would never forget them. Leroy tried to get me to give him a number

  so he’d be able to contact me but I told him I didn’t have a phone number to give him. I’m sure he

  didn’t believe me, but hey what can I say? Tyrone insisted on waiting in the parking lot until I got inside

  of Devin’s apartment safely. But I assured him that I was fine and sent them on their way.

  After they drove away, I realized that it probably would’ve been a good idea for them to stay until

  I got Devin to open up his door. I mean, it would be just my luck if I found out he decided to jump in the

  car with someone else and headed out on the streets for a few hours. Before departing Tyrone’s

  van, I noticed the clock on his dashboard. It was a few minutes past midnight. So I crossed my fingers

  and hoped Devin was home.

  I climbed up to the second floor and walked about one hundred feet from the staircase entryway

  to get to his front door, which was the sixth door on the right. My heartbeat pumped a little faster than

  normal. I guess it was because I didn’t know how he would react after he opened the door and saw

  me standing there. I took a deep breath and hoped for the best.

  I rung the doorbel a few times and when I didn’t get an answer, I started knocking on his door. I

  wasn’t counting but I believe I knocked every bit of twelve times. I even cal ed out his name a few

  times but I stil got no answer. The likelihood of me getting inside of his apartment tonight became

  very grim. Frustration and depression began to weigh me down. I felt like I had fifty pound dumbbel s

  on my shoulders. I just wanted to bal up into a knot and rol back down the flight of steps I had just

  ascended.

  I mean, what else could go wrong tonight?

  I had nowhere to go. The hotel was off limits because of my unknown stalker. I was forced to leave

  Katrina’s house because my life was in danger. Diamond’s apartment was also off limits because

  she was now my adversary and now Devin’s place was unavailable because he was nowhere to be

  found.

  “Why in the fuck did I let those guys leave me?” I asked myself. And instead of answering my own

  question, I shook my head in disbelief and began to walk away from Devin’s front door. When I got

  halfway down the hal way, I heard clicking sounds. I stopped in my tracks and turned back around. It

  sounded as if the unlocking door was Devin’s. I waited and out popped his head. I let out a sigh of

  relief and ran towards him.

  “I am so glad you’re home,” I told him.

  Wearing only a pair of boxers, he acted like he wasn’t happy to see me. I tried to dismiss his

  expression, but he didn’t let me off that easy and said, “How you get over here?”

  “I got a ride,” I told him as I moved a little closer towards him.

  He barricaded himself between the door and the door seal. I could tel he was trying to prevent

  me from seeing past him. “Why didn’t you cal me before you came over here?” His questions

  continued.

  By now, I knew coming here was a bad move on my part. But I didn’t have anywhere else to turn.

  “Look, Devin, I did cal you but you didn’t answer your phone,” I explained.

  “You must’ve cal ed me from some unknown number?”

  “Yeah, I cal ed you from a couple of numbers. But let’s not get into that. Right now, I need a place

  to lay my head tonight,” I told him.

  Before he was able to respond I heard a woman's voice say, ‘baby, who's at the front door?’ And

  then, she walked up behind him and looked over his shoulder. I could only see her face and I have to

  admit she was very pretty. But her facial expression turned sour as soon as she got one long look at

  me. “What the fuck happened to you?” she growled.

  “None of your motherfucking business!” I snapped. I mean, how dare this bitch ask me what the

  fuck happened to me? She didn’t know me from a can of paint. And because she was laying up in

  this nigga’s house, she felt like she was obligated to question me. Hel nah, she better get back in her

  place, especial y with the way I was feeling.

  Before she could get another word in, Devin pushed her back from the door. “Kim, take your ass

  back in the room and stay there until I get there,” he instructed.

  I cracked a smile because I was proud that he had the bal s to stand up for me. When we dated in

  the past, he would let al of his side chicks disrespect me at the drop of a hat. But today, I saw a

  changed man. “Look, Lynise,” he began, “tonight is not a good night for you to be here.”

  “Devin, I don't care about her because I am not here for that. You can have twelve bitches in your

  room for al I care. Al I need is a place to lay my head tonight and as soon as the morning comes, I

  wil be out of here.”

  Devin stood there and thought to himself for a couple of seconds. He looked like he was about to

  stick to his guns and send me on my way. But I couldn't let that happen, so I began to plead my case.

  “Devin, look at me. I am so tired. My clothes are soaked and wet right now. I have absolutely

  nowhere else to go. So please don’t make me walk back in these streets tonight,” I begged. “I

  promise, if you give me one of your T-shirts and a pair of your shorts to wear, I wil hop on the sofa

  and you won’t hear a peep out of me.”

  He thought for another second or two, and then he stepped back from his door. “Come on, but

  the first time you try some shit you’re gonna have to leave,” he warned me.

  Happy about his decision, I damn near jumped into his arms. But I thanked him instead. “Thank

  you so much, Devin. Believe me, I’m going straight to sleep.”

  After he let me into the house, he closed the front door and locked it. Al the lights in the apartment

  were off so I was standing in the dark, waiting for him to give me further instructions. “Wait right here,”

  he said and then he disappeared.

  I heard him as he made his way down the hal way. And immediately after he entered into his

  bedroom, he hit the light switch, turned the light on and then closed the door.

  “Whatcha’ doing?” his girl, Kim, didn't hesitate to ask.

  “Just be quiet,” he cut her off.

  “I know you ain’t gonna let her stay here tonight?” she continued to question him. But he didn’t say

  word, so I think he put her ass on ignore.

  “Oh, so now you gon’ ignore me ’cause you got some other bitch in your house? Devin, don’t

  make me put my clothes on and leave!” she ranted.

  He continued to ignore her.

  “Do you hear me?” she snapped. “I promise you that if you let her stay here I am going home,”

  she continued to threaten him.

  “Wel , carry your ass home. I don’t give a fuck!” he snapped back and then he walked back out of

  his bedroom and slammed the door. He stormed back down the hal way like he was pissed. So I

  played the innocent role and acted like I was eternal y grateful. Wel , actual y, I was grateful so I made

  sure he knew it.

  While he was handing me some of his clothes to change into, I heard yel ing at the top of Kim’s

  voice. And boy was she angry.

  “I can’t believe that motherfucka gon’ get cute because he got another bitch in his house,” she

  ranted. “And then on top of that, he gon’ talk shit and tel me I can leave when he done already got the

  pussy. Now how trifling is that? But it’s al right, that motherfucka gon’ wished he didn’t put that bitch

  before me.”

  “I’m sorry for al the trouble I caused,” I told him, even though I could care less. Devin was the type

  of nigga that didn’t give a fuck about no one but himself. This was the way he was. Too bad she was

  just now seeing it. But I saw it firsthand not too long after we started dating. I guess this was my way

  of getting some get back and it felt real y good.

  “Don't worry about her. She’s just talking shit! She’l be al right in the morning.”

  “Oh, so al I’m doing is talking shit, huh?” she roared after she walked into the living room.

  Devin and I both turned around in her direction. I couldn’t see her face clearly. But I could see her

  body movement. “Didn’t I tel you not to come in here with al that drama?” Devin said.

  “Fuck you nigga! I ain’t the one causing the fucking drama!” she yel ed back. “You’re the one letting

  some random chick come up in here like she owns the place.”

  “Didn’t I tel you to shut the fuck up?” he screamed.

  Appal ed by his disrespect, Kim flicked on the light switch. At that very moment everyone was

  able to see each other. She was completely dressed and she had her handbag in the palm of her left

  hand. She had her hair pul ed back into a ponytail and she was dressed in a cute little fitted skirt with

  a semi-see-through dated strapless top. She sort of looked like Rhianna but with a little more weight.

  She looked as if she could be a stripper. Knowing the type of women Devin liked, it wouldn’t have

  surprised me if she was.

  “Nigga, do I look like I’m one of your kids?” she spat. “You don’t be tel ing me to shut the fuck up!

  I’m a grown ass woman.”

  “Wel , take your grown ass out of my house,” he spat back.

  I tried to hold back my laughter. But this whole argument was so funny, I couldn’t help myself.

  However, I tried snickering very quietly. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough, because Ms. Kim heard

  me. “So, you think this shit is funny, huh?”

  “I wasn’t laughing at you,” I lied, trying to prevent another argument from happening. I was real y

  not in the mood. So I hoped she’d cut me some slack.

  “Wel , who the fuck was you laughing at?” she asked sarcastical y, and then she took two steps

  towards me.

  Devin must’ve thought something was about to go down because he interfered real y quick.