Tevin disconnected the phone and dropped it in the passenger seat. White fury raced threw him as he hit a U-turn in traffic and hit the gas in the direction of Tranquility. A sick feeling filled his stomach, knowing that Sparrow had her at Tranquility. Tevin knew what kind of men came through there, and Amira was just the kind of girl they were looking for. If Sparrow had harmed a hair on her head or allowed anyone else to, his body would be in the same ditch he left Jerron in.

  Chapter 15

  Sparrow tried Jerron’s line for the third time, but again, it rang through to voicemail. He was getting more and more frustrated. Usually, Jerron called him immediately after a job, but Sparrow was still out of the loop regarding Eddie. He tried Tevin’s phone too but got no answer. He wondered if something had gone wrong, but nobody was saying anything. He was in the dark.

  “I knew I should have just handled that shit myself.” Sparrow shook his head.

  He was standing at the bar in Tranquility, waiting for Laya to finish making the drink he requested. He had a lot of pent-up frustration that needed to be released, and he knew just the way to do it. Every man in the world had a kink, and Sparrow’s was watching women have sex with each other. Nobody could please a woman like another woman. They naturally knew how to make each other reach a fast climax just by touching the right spot. Watching such artistry made him weak and horny. All he wanted to do was sit in the corner and stroke his own orgasm out. He was excited to watch Amira in action again. Her body was immaculate, and he couldn’t lie. This time he planned to join in on the fun.

  Laya handed him the drink, and he dropped a crisp hundred-dollar bill on the bar. She snatched it up quickly and winked at him before serving her other customers. He left the main floor of the club and entered the members-only part of the club. The moment he arrived, it was like a new world opened up. The red lights had an alluring effect, and he saw pure bliss everywhere he turned. He passed an open curtain, revealing an older white gentleman getting his dick sucked by a naked woman while another snorted a bump of coke out of his belly button. Sparrow chuckled when he recognized that it was the governor. There was no doubt in his mind that Kaleef would be out of jail soon. He had the entire city eating out of the palm of his hand. Sparrow took a quick photo with his phone and went about his business.

  He turned a few corners until he reached the Play Room. It was where he was keeping Amira hidden away. There was an “under construction” sign outside the room because they planned to renovate it and add a full bathroom. Sparrow nodded at the two men standing outside of the door. They moved out of the way and let him pass. He opened the door and saw Amira lying where he had left her, and she wasn’t alone. One of Sparrow’s favorite treats, Treasure, was in bed with her. She wasn’t wearing anything but a G-string and high heels.

  Nautica had refused to come back for round two. Sparrow felt she knew something was off, and he planned to deal with her. He didn’t need any whistle-blowers around him. But he would do that later. He wanted to have some fun first. Treasure was an Ethiopian goddess. Her long hair flowed around her heart-shaped face, and her big, cherry-red lips protruded, asking him to kiss them. She had a petite frame but was thick in all the places that mattered.

  “It took you long enough.” She smiled sexily. “This girl isn’t much fun. She’s just lying here.”

  “Oh, trust me. She’s about to get lit in a second,” Sparrow said, holding up the drink.

  He went over to Amira and forced her to sit up. He’d given her a pink lace lingerie set to wear, and seeing it excited him. She looked at the drink and seemed to know what time it was. She grabbed it from him and began to gulp it down. It hadn’t taken much to break her, but he didn’t think it would. A spoiled princess like her had never had to withstand anything or get her hands dirty. She would do anything to stay alive and not be hurt.

  While she was drinking, Treasure crawled to where he stood and unzipped his pants. He placed his gun to the side so she could have full access. She gave an excited squeal when she pulled his dick out and instantly wrapped her lips around it. Sparrow gripped the back of her head and guided her mouth down his shaft until he felt his tip hit the back of her throat. He moaned when he heard her gagging on it and then proceeded to fuck her face. She sucked and slurped on him real wet and sloppy, just how he liked it.

  “Mmm, fuck,” he moaned and massaged his own balls. He removed himself from her mouth and pointed at Amira. “Eat her pussy.”

  Treasure wiped her mouth and giggled. Amira lay on her back without prompting so Treasure could position her head between her legs. Sparrow’s dick was still soaked from Treasure’s mouth. He stood there jacking off, watching Treasure’s tongue flick Amira’s clit. At first, the licks were slow, but then they sped up.

  “Shit, that pussy is getting wetter and wetter. You like that shit, girl. Don’t act like you don’t. Mm, mm, mmm.”

  What he said was true. Amira’s body naturally reacted to being pleased by Treasure. Soon, Treasure’s chin was soaked, and Amira’s body squirmed under her. Sparrow jerked the tip of his one-eyed monster and sighed when Amira’s first moan left her lips. He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to dive in.

  “Move,” he said and pushed Treasure out of the way. “Lie right here and play with yourself.”

  Treasure did as she was told and lay next to Amira. She massaged her own clit while Sparrow positioned himself between Amira’s legs. He rubbed her slippery slit with his thumb and trembled at how good he knew it would feel inside her.

  “You’re going to love this,” he said and prepared to slide into her.

  Suddenly, he heard a commotion outside of the door. There were shouts and many thuds, followed by two gunshots. Treasure screamed. She and Amira scooted to the top of the bed, holding their knees. Sparrow pulled his pants back up and grabbed his gun. Creeping to the door, he aimed his weapon, prepared for whatever was about to happen. However, as soon as he got close enough, someone kicked in the door with a force that knocked him back. His gun flew from his hand and went flying across the room. Standing there looking like a madman out for vengeance was Tevin. He was pointing his gun directly at Sparrow’s dome.

  “Tevin, what the fuck are you doing?” Sparrow asked, surprised.

  “Wondering what the fuck you got going on,” Tevin said and looked at Amira. “Why the fuck is my girl back here, man?”

  “Kaleef ordered it. Now put the gun down, cuz. You don’t even have to do all that.” Sparrow tried to reason with him.

  “Fuck that. What kind of sick shit you got going on here?”

  “Kaleef told me to get her, so I got her.”

  “He didn’t tell you to rape her, though!” The more he talked, the angrier Tevin became.

  “I didn’t rape her. I swear I didn’t. Put the gun down, cuz.”

  “I’m not your cuz. The fuck outta my way,” Tevin said and passed Sparrow to get to Amira.

  “Aye, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “Taking my girl home. And I’ma deal with you later.”

  “You can’t. Kaleef—”

  “If Kaleef knew she was my girl, he would have never told you to do no shit like this,” Tevin said, lowering his weapon to attempt to scoop up Amira.

  “The funny thing is, he did know. I told him. And he still told me to snatch her up and do whatever I wanted to her.”

  Sparrow took advantage of the lowered gun and sent a blow to the back of Tevin’s head. Tevin was forced to let go of Amira, who fell to the floor. He aimed his gun at Sparrow and fired it, but he missed. Sparrow knocked the weapon away and punched Tevin in his face, making him drop the gun. Then he tried to grab it, but Tevin regained his footing and tackled him. A fight between them ensued on the floor, and Tevin got his licks back, plus more. Sparrow had power, but Tevin had both strength and youth on his side. He easily got the better of the older man and soon had him where he wanted him. Sparrow felt the anguish in the blows Tevin sent crashing into his face. Suddenly, a crack sounded, and Sparrow knew his nose was broken, and he felt the rush of warm blood spilling over his face. When Tevin knew Sparrow was immobile, he stopped hitting him and stood at his feet. Slowly, he grabbed his gun from the floor. Sparrow watched him with the one eye that wasn’t swollen shut. First, Tevin aimed the weapon at Treasure.

  “I’m sorry. You just look like a talker,” he said breathlessly.

  “Wait, n—”

  The shot from his gun silenced her forever. Tevin then returned to Sparrow. He knelt and placed the barrel of his weapon under his chin.

  “Your services are no longer needed.”

  With one final shot, Sparrow’s light was put out forever.

  Chapter 16

  Three months later ...

  “Baby, you forgot something.”

  Tevin was on his way out the door when he heard Amira call his name. He looked back to see her rushing to him from the kitchen in their new house. She was beautiful, although her face was bare, her hair was messy, and she wore nothing but a robe. He wondered if she knew how blessed he felt to come home to her every day.

  “What I leave?” he asked, checking his pockets for his phone and car keys.

  “Me!” she said with a grin and kissed his lips.

  When she pulled away and he looked down into her eyes, he couldn’t help but give her another one. She was the strongest woman he knew besides his grandmother. The horror she had lived was brief, but still, it was traumatic. However, somehow, she stood there with a smile.

  “You good?” he asked her. “’Cause I don’t have to go.”

  “I’m good, Tevin,” she reassured him. “You can’t stay here with me forever. Plus, you have Jay outside. He won’t let anything happen to me while you’re gone. I’ll be okay.”

  “All right. You talk to your dad?”

  “Yeah, he’s still a little mad that I moved out, but he’s coming around. After what happened, he’s still a little shaken up.”

  After Tevin had gotten Amira back, he thought it was best that she stay with him. It wasn’t something that was up for debate. Both Aramous and Tevin played a dangerous game, but Tevin knew he had better resources to protect Amira. However, that didn’t mean Aramous didn’t have an important part to play. He dropped Kaleef as a client and never looked back. With Kaleef in jail and Sparrow dead, Tevin was now in charge, and both Amira and her father were off-limits.

  Amira didn’t want to talk much about what happened to her. She told Tevin what she could remember, and he dropped it after that. He, however, was happy that she was seeing a therapist every week to help her sort out anything she needed to sort out. The biggest thing for him was that he didn’t want her to feel that what Sparrow did to her made him look at her any differently. In fact, it made him tighten up in every way. He stopped doing business with the Ponds entirely and found a new connect in Florida. It wasn’t hard to get people to fall in line. He was the new made man, and keeping the money flowing was the main focus.

  “I’ll be back in a bit,” he told her. “Be dressed when I get back so we can go eat and shop.”

  “Shopping? Ooh, baby, yes. I saw that new Chanel purse that I want,” she squealed and hugged him tight. She pulled away from him and gave him a serious look. “Tevin, don’t forget to not take your gun inside that place, okay? I need you to come home.”

  “I’ll never lack like that.” He grinned and kissed her once more before stepping out of the house.

  He walked to his new Chevy Tahoe and got in. He was the new kingpin, but he still had his old ways. He didn’t need to be too flashy. He always wanted to blend in and be out of the way. As he drove by, he waved to Jay, who sat parked on the street outside the house. Tevin knew Amira was in safe hands.

  The ride to the jail was long, but it gave him the time he needed to get his thoughts together. He hadn’t seen or spoken to Kaleef the entire time he was locked up. Kaleef called, but Tevin changed his number. He didn’t have anything to say to his cousin. Many would look at Tevin as choosing a woman over his blood, but in his eyes, Kaleef crossed him first. Tevin would never harm something Kaleef loved, no matter the situation he was in. Tevin had been loyal to Kaleef and done the unimaginable for his cousin, so for Kaleef to do something like that to Tevin when his back was against the wall showed him that he would do anything. Everybody was dispensable.

  When he got to the jail, he put his gun in the glove compartment and went inside. The officers inside patted him down and used the metal detector on him before leading him to the visitor station. Kaleef was already there waiting for him. His cousin smirked when he saw Tevin approach and sit down.

  Kaleef had been in jail for three months but still looked clean-cut as ever, even in his jail uniform. He also didn’t look like he was missing any meals. He picked up the phone, and Tevin did the same.

  “Long time no talk, cuz. I was beginning to think you forgot all about me. How you been?”

  Tevin stared at him. Kaleef’s voice was chipper like he hadn’t done what he’d done.

  “I’ve been good,” he finally answered.

  “Good. I heard about what happened to Sparrow. Whoever did that will have to answer to me when I get out of here.” He gave Tevin a knowing look.

  Tevin understood Kaleef knew it was him who killed Sparrow. He hadn’t made it a secret. He wanted everyone to know what would happen if they ever tried him like that again. It was his turn to smirk.

  “You might want to watch your words. I heard dude is a monster,” he responded.

  Kaleef laughed and leaned closer to the glass that separated them.

  “You think you’re big shit, huh?” he scoffed. “You crossed me behind a bitch? We’re blood.”

  “She’s not just a bitch. I love her. And you knew she was my girl. So who crossed who?” Tevin asked.

  “When I get out of here—”

  “You’re gonna kill me? Make me pay? You must not know.”

  “Know what?”

  “I’m running shit now,” Tevin said and watched Kaleef’s face drop. “Out with the old and in with the new. I heard your lawyer dropped you and picked up a more . . . fruitful client. One who knows how to treat him.”

  “You motherfucka,” Kaleef exclaimed when Tevin winked at him, letting him know exactly who that client was. “You don’t know how much you’ve fucked up for me, Tevin. I’ma make you pay for this. Soon as I’m out of here, I’m on your ass.”

  “I’m counting on it. When and if you get out, you’ll have to see me for what you did. Until then, I got the streets on lock. And you? Don’t drop the soap. I heard they have a thing for light-skinned, pretty boys.”

  He hung up the phone as Kaleef continued to shout curses at him. He was hysterical, and when he started to beat on the glass, the officers had to come and detain him. Tevin’s last sight of Kaleef was them dragging him away, and he smiled. With Kaleef’s power and influence, Tevin was sure there would come a day when he was free. And when that time came, Tevin would be ready.

  Murder

  by Katt

  Chapter 1

  I knew at the beginning of this quest exactly how it would end, but still, I welcomed it. My path had a purpose . . . vengeance.

  My mother’s name was known widely around the city of Chicago. Chleo Love is what they called her because no matter how much money she had or how much pull she held in the streets, she always showed love. She was bred from them and knew what it was like to be on the other side of the fence. She had run away from home at the ripe old age of 16, trying to escape her mother’s abusive ways and the eyes of the men her mother had in and out of their house. Although young, she’d developed a grown woman’s body, so with the streets as her new mother, she began turning tricks to survive. She had long, curly brown hair, hazel, doe-shaped eyes, full lips, and high cheekbones that made her look like a model. Even though she was green to the game, my mother wasn’t stupid. She knew all about the common street whore and refused to be anything like that. She went into business by herself, with no pimp. She left an abusive household and vowed that no one would ever put their hands on her for control again. Once she realized the value of her unique looks, being of African American and Caucasian descent, she began making a good enough profit to make a living.

  When she was 19, she fell in love with one of her tricks. Jared “Smooth” Thompson was a 24-year-old African American and Irish man with red hair, who promised to show her a life filled with real love outside of prostitution but still with never-ending money. As it turned out, Smooth had a hand dipped deeply in the drug trade business in Chicago, and soon, my mother found out precisely what it was like to play wifey and live out a hood fairy-tale life. Smooth took care of my mother and loved her despite her past. He taught her everything there was to know about the business, and the two spent many happy years together.

  The day my mother found out she was pregnant was the same day the love of her life was taken from her forever. Nobody knew what happened at that business-meeting-gone-wrong, but not even five bullets lodged into Smooth’s upper body could stop him from coming home like he always promised every day. My mother told me he stumbled into their front yard, and she held his head in her lap in the grass while he lay dying. He held on long enough to tell my mother all of his stash spots and the information to his connect. He heard my mother tell him they were expecting a child, and he made her promise to keep it a secret with his last breath. She always told me that he died with a smile on his face.

  When Smooth died, my mother barely had time to mourn. She had to hurry and put in work before a thirsty hustler tried to snatch Smooth’s spot on the come-up. It came to be known that Smooth hadn’t even told his right-hand man the information he told my mother, which meant his empire was rightfully hers. The ones loyal to Smooth stayed faithful to my mother, and although the city had lost a king, the business had to continue as usual.