Obsession 3 (16 page)

“Secret, what the . . .” Shawndiece's words trailed off as she stood there staring at her best friend in the doorway. She'd greeted Lucky when she saw him come in. Secret had cleared the corner a few seconds after him, to Shawndiece's surprise.

Secret hadn't seen her best friend in a grip, not since the day they were supposed to meet up at the grocery store. What she really wanted to do was to run over and give her friend a huge hug. Secret was feeling so emotional, like the real her was trapped inside of this bad ass she was portraying. Only Shawndiece would understand and know what a struggle it was for her. But this wasn't the time. This wasn't the place. With at least six other people in the room, all dudes, Secret definitely had to keep up the façade.

“Hey, Shawn,” Secret said dryly. “Sup?” She gave a head nod.

Shawndiece snapped her neck back. “Sup?” Shawndiece twisted up her face. “Since when don't you speak proper English?”

Lucky interrupted. “Hey, everybody. What's up?”

“Ain't nothin',” one guy said.

The others responded verbally in one way or another as Lucky walked over and greeted them with a pound, dap, or five and slide.

Shawndiece walked over to Secret and was all in her ear while the fellas greeted one another. “What the hell you doing here? This spot is off-limits with the exception for workers. No girlfriends, boyfriends, cousins, baby mommas, or whatever. Lucky don't budge on that rule. He don't even . . .” Shawndiece's words trailed off as the reason why Secret was there began to set in. “Wait a minute, you're not thinking about—”

Lucky cut Shawndiece off when he walked over and threw his arm around Secret. “Everybody, this is Secret,” Lucky introduced her. “I've known her for over a year. Y'all know I like secret weapons right?” He looked down at Secret and kissed her on the forehead. “Well, this is one of 'em.” He winked at his crew.

“Yo, Secret, what's up?” a couple greeted her.

“Hey,” Secret replied with a smile. She loved the way they were all showing her respect.

“Secret, damn, you sure do look familiar,” said Major Pain as he came up the rear of all the crew members. Secret hadn't spotted him at first, thanks to Shawndiece immediately stealing her attention.

“So do you,” Secret played along, staring Major Pain right in the face. She was secretly taking a mental picture of all his features. Dina looked nothing like him. Nothing. A smile spread across Secret's lips.

“Trust me, I can guarantee you two don't know each other,” Lucky interrupted. He then went to introduce Secret to another member of the crew. “Yo, this is my man TJ.”

“Wasup, Secret?” TJ said with a head nod.

“Yeah, Secret, what's up?” Shawndiece snapped. The displeasure in her tone did not go unnoticed as all eyes landed on her, including Lucky's.

“Is there a problem?” Lucky asked Shawndiece with bass in his voice.

Shawndiece quickly straightened up her attitude.

“I thought you of all people would be happy to see your girl join the team,” Lucky said.

“I . . . I am. I'm just so surprised to see her is all. We were supposed to connect and . . .” Shawndiece's words trailed off. She had never been one to be fake, so it was very hard for her to play this role. She grabbed Secret by the arm. “Come on, girl. I'm so excited. Let's go catch up.” Shawndiece led Secret to the door by her arm.

“Don't be long,” Lucky said to Secret. “It's still training day.”

Secret smiled and then walked out of the door with Shawndiece. That smile was flushed clear off her face when Shawndiece's nice little grip turned into her yanking Secret by the arm and pulling her into her face.

“Have you fucking lost your mind?” Shawndiece spat in a hard whisper, spittle splashing on Secret's face.

Secret snatched her arm away. “No, but clearly you have.” Secret rubbed her arm that was still throbbing somewhat from the grip Shawndiece had on it.

“I'm sorry, it's just that . . .” Shawndiece shook her head. “I can't let you do this, Secret.”

“Do what, the exact same thing you're doing? What, you think you're the only one who can make money? I'm supposed to just live and raise my child on welfare for the rest of my life?”

“No, but not like this, Secret. You're better than this. You're better than me. I was doomed to this lifestyle, but not you. You never wanted any part of this while I, on the other hand, gravitated to it. This is my shit. This is my life. What can I say? I love thug niggas and I love the thug life, but you . . .” She pointed Secret up and down. “You ain't built for this. Niggas trying to fuck you, rob you, rape you, and make you feel like shit just 'cause they see you as a helpless female.”

“I don't see you getting raped and robbed,” Secret shot back.

“That's 'cause mafuckas know better. I can hold my own, but you . . .” She sucked her teeth. “You ain't hardly 'bout this life. And there ain't no way I'm gon' be able to concentrate on making money if I'm worried about your ass.”

“Then don't worry about me. After all, did you forget you are the one who taught me about hood life? What? Are you doubting your skills now?” Secret folded her arms as if she was challenging Shawndiece.

“I taught you how to recognize game, not be a player in it.”

“Not true, because you are the one who taught me how to handle a dude like Lucky in the first place.”

“I taught you how to handle a dude like Lucky in the sheets, not in the streets.”

“Same difference,” Secret begged to differ.

Shawndiece shook her head. “Really it's not. Trust me, you're gonna see a totally different side of your little boyfriend.”

Secret already knew that much to be true. But what she didn't know was that she hadn't seen nothing yet.

“Y'all two bosom buddies done playing catch up yet?” Lucky asked as he stuck his head out the door and into the hallway where Secret and Shawndiece stood.

“Yep, we're finished out here,” Secret said and then walked over to Lucky.

“For now we are,” Shawndiece said.

“Come on then. There are some things I wanna go over with you with the crew,” Lucky said to Secret. “Then we have one more stop to make.”

“Where to?” Secret asked.

“You'll see.” Lucky looked to Shawndiece knowingly while still addressing Secret. “You'll see.”

“Take off your clothes.”

“Excuse me?” Secret said to Lucky as they stood on the back porch of a house. The porch was closed in with shades drawn.

After going over a so-called “business plan” back at the garage, Lucky had driven Secret to a more upscale neighborhood. They'd driven up a private alley to the back of what looked to be about a 3,500-square foot home. Lucky had used a key to get them in the black security fence they had to go through in order to get to the back porch.

As they walked up the walkway, Secret had noticed security cameras on the house. She looked around and saw a dog house with a huge dog bowl in front of it. Lucky had noticed her pause at the sight of the dog house.

“Don't worry. There's no dog. We keep a big dog bowl of water on the front porch too. It's more like a deterrence. Punk-ass niggas don't wanna take the chance of being eaten alive by a dog while trying to break in. And if they do, we got somethin' for that ass inside.”

A chill went through Secret. This was the second time a gun had been alluded to. Secret wondered if Lucky had ever killed anybody and if he'd eventually expect her to kill. That was something she just would not do, so hopefully she'd be able to get Detective Davis exactly what he wanted and soon. Murder would be where she drew the line.

After getting past the fear of the invisible dog, Secret had now found herself standing on the porch being told by Lucky to take her clothes off.

“You're joking right?” Secret chuckled.

Keeping a straight face Lucky asked, “Do I look like I'm joking?”

A chill went through Secret's body. Lucky looked to be transforming right before her eyes. He had just spoken to her like he was speaking to someone on the streets. It was such a hard tone, and that look in his eyes . . . She couldn't explain it, but it made her uncomfortable.

Fear rose up inside Secret as Shawndiece's words replayed in her head.
“Trust me, you're gonna see a totally different side of your little boyfriend.”

Secret had seen what he'd done to Fonda; how in a matter of seconds he'd gone from this happy-go-lucky dude to kicking his friend down to the ground. Perhaps that's where Secret was making her mistake, by thinking that was Lucky's friend. When it came to business and money, maybe Lucky saw everyone as an enemy so that's how he treated them. Secret didn't want to take the chance of ending up face down with her teeth knocked out.

Slowly, with a trembling hand, she removed her shoes. Next her socks. She looked at Lucky dead in the eyes as she took her pants off. She then lifted her shirt over her head and paused.

“All your clothes,” Lucky said. “Bra and panties.”

Secret was crying inside but kept on a brave face. Perhaps this was just a test, Lucky trying to figure out how good she was at taking orders. After all, she'd rather be ordered to take her clothes off than to kill somebody. On another note, this very well could have been Lucky's house and he had something sexy and romantic waiting for her inside. Keeping that thought at the forefront of her mind, she removed every stitch of clothing she had on.

“Now go find an empty drawer and place your stuff in there.” Lucky pointed toward the wicker patio furniture table that was surrounded by four matching chairs. The table looked to have drawer compartments on each side.

Secret scooped up her clothing and walked over to the table. The first drawer she pulled out had a terry cloth hot pink romper in it with a pair of flip-flops. She closed it and opened the one next to it. It had a pair of jeans, T-shirt, bra, and canvas tennis shoes in it. It was apparent that Lucky didn't have something planned exclusively for Secret. From what Secret could tell, there were at least two more buck-naked women inside that house. With several other drawers that could be full of female's clothing, no telling how many more could be inside as well.

After finding an empty drawer, Secret placed her belongings inside it. She was moving at a snail's pace. Her nerves were truly getting the best of her. She stood up straight and turned around to face Lucky. She stood there as naked as a baby when it's born. Looking into Lucky's eyes, she had a hint of seductiveness behind her own. Perhaps that would calm the raging beast. He seemed to have looked right through her though.

“Come on.” He waved his hand for Secret to follow him. “Let's go.”

Any other time had Secret been standing in front of him with her birthday suit on, he would have complimented her, tried to feel on her, suck a titty or something. He was acting like a naked girl standing in front of him outside on a porch was an everyday thing.

Secret looked back at the table with drawers full of women's clothing.

Perhaps it was an everyday thing.

Secret walked over to Lucky while he opened a security box and started punching in codes. The heavy metal door cocked open. Lucky stepped inside and Secret followed behind him just as she'd done back at the garage.

“Oh shit!” Secret stopped in her tracks, stunned, and grabbed her heart.

Lucky hadn't been fazed by or had even spoken to the four men, two on each side of the door, who stood wearing all black with protective gear and heavy artillery. He'd just moseyed on inside like he was coming home from a hard day's work, headed for the shower, used to and therefore oblivious to his surroundings.

Secret, on the other hand, had to tighten her private area and slightly twist her legs to keep the piss from running down them. That's just how much this scene had frightened her and caught her off guard.

Lucky turned and looked her. “Girl, come on in here. They ain't thinking about you. They see this every day.” He shooed his hand and continued walking.

He must have thought Secret was trying to hide her privates from the men instead of keeping her bladder from emptying right there on the floor. Secret gathered her composure and continued following Lucky.

They went through a kitchen and then down a short flight of steps into what was more like a lower-level den than a basement. There Secret saw four pool tables with two women on each longer horizontal side and one woman at each vertical side. There was all kinds of drugs on the tables.