Authors: K. Elliott
Tommy and Alicia stepped off the plane in San Francisco. Don and his driver were there to meet them. This time, instead of the Maybach, it was a stretch Hummer, and it whisked them away to a downtown high-rise apartment—Avalon Towers.
“Daddy, why are we here?” Alicia asked.
“I just bought a penthouse. I want you and Tommy to stay here for tonight.”
After gawking at all the penthouse luxuries and amenities, Tommy walked toward the window again. She cut him off. She stood in front of him, grinning. Then she peeled her blouse off. Her nipples were nearly pink, and they were standing at attention.
He leaned into her and they kissed.
“I want to be with you forever, Tommy.”
“How can you say that? You barely know me.”
She unzipped her jeans. They fell to the floor. She stood before
His penis was limp. It had never been limp when she tried arousing him. She was the one person who could give him a hard-on instantly.
She kissed him again. Her tongue entered his mouth, searching for his tongue. She pulled out and slobbered on her lip. She laughed. “Tommy, you’ve got to learn to kiss.”
He wiped his mouth. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Tommy,” she said then she grabbed his crotch.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
He stood there for a moment. His mind flashed back to Nia and all the times he couldn’t get an erection. All the strippers that he’d paid to have sex with and couldn’t perform. He thought about Lisa from Toronto. Every single incident that he couldn’t perform came into his mind in a brief moment.
“Tommy, you’re not hard.” She frowned.
“I know. I’m just not in the mood.”
“But
I
am.” She kissed him then she grabbed his crotch again. It was unresponsive to her.
She grabbed his hand and led him to the bedroom. In it was a huge sleigh bed with a silk comforter set.
Tommy looked at her ass, but his penis still did not cooperate.
She pulled his pants down. “Tommy, I don’t get it. Am I not attractive to you?”
“Hell yeah. You’re fine as hell.”
She kissed him again, unbuttoned his shirt, and kissed his belly. She made him feel good. He’d always been self-conscious about his weight but he didn’t feel fat around her at all.
Her tongue traced his bellybutton.
His penis was still lifeless. He looked down at her beautiful face. He wondered whether her tongue would travel further below the belly button. He didn’t think it would, but he couldn’t help but wonder how nice it would be to have somebody as beautiful as her perform oral sex on him.
She held him and licked his shaft. Still there was no life in his penis. She put the tip of it in her mouth, but it still didn’t get hard. “Tommy, what the fuck is wrong?”
He stood and put his pants on without his underwear.
“Not delicious enough for you anymore?”
Tommy never understood why women always felt the need to be told they were sexy, or why they always took it personal when a man couldn’t get his dick hard for them. “No, it’s not that at all.”
“What is it then, Tommy?”
“Just not in the mood.”
“I don’t believe that. Something is on your mind.”
“Nothing is on my mind.”
She put her arms around him.
His heart rate increased. He found himself saying. “I have a problem with erections sometimes.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” She laughed.
“Why are you laughing at me?”
“Not laughing at you, baby. I just find it funny that you were afraid to be honest with me, Tommy. I care about you, not about whether you are able to bump and grind.”
He smiled but still avoided her eyes. It was still embarrassing to him that he couldn’t get it up.
She told him to lie on his stomach. He complied and she gave him a back massage.
“You are the fuckin coolest,” Tommy said.
“Why do you say that, babe?”
“I told you my problem and you’re still digging me.”
“I think I love you.”
“You think?”
“I love you, Tommy.” She smiled and continued massaging his back.
He turned on his back. They kissed long and passionately. He gripped her ass and held it.
She put her tongue in his ear.
His penis grew.
She grabbed it and smiled.
His heart rate increased again.
She gave him a small peck on his jaw and said, “Calm down, Tommy. It’s going to be okay.”
“You think so?”
“I know so,” she said. Then she straddled him and sat on his erection.
Don arrived at the penthouse at 8:30 a.m. They all hopped in the Maybach and drove to the International House of Pancakes on Mission Street.
The hostess greeted Don with a warm smile. “Don, it will be a few minutes before we can clear your table.”
“Daddy, don’t tell me you still sitting at the same table,” Alicia said.
“That’s where the business goes down.” He turned and smiled at Tommy. “We are here to discuss business, aren’t we?”
“That’s right. I want to own buildings one day.”
“I can make that happen for you.”
The hostess led them to Don’s table. Once they were seated, the waitress appeared and took their order. Tommy ordered pork chops and eggs. Alicia asked for cereal and toast. Don only wanted a cup of coffee.
“Not eating breakfast?”
“Naw, not this morning. I tend to go light on the breakfast or have nothing at all. I suggest you start going light. I mean, you’re not going to be young all your life. That pork is bad for you, and those eggs have too much cholesterol. That shit can cause all kinds of problems—heart attacks, strokes, impotence...”
Alicia nudged Tommy under the table.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“But back to business. Do you have any more money; we’re getting close to the deadline?”
“Yeah. I got another $250,000.”
“That’s $750,000; we’re almost there.”
“Yeah. Can’t I just go with that? I mean, this is a lot of money.”
“Yeah, it’s a lot of cash when you’re talking in street terms, but now we’re talking corporate terms, Tommy. We are going to make millions of dollars. Look at what your return will be on this investment. I mean, I could let you in for $750,000 and your return won’t be as high. I want you to get out of this drug game. I want you to be able to take care of my daughter.”
“Daddy, I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, baby.” Don grabbed her hand and stroked it.
“I should have the money in two weeks.”
“You will make $250,000 in two weeks? Perhaps I should invest in
you
,” Don teased.
“Yeah. If everything goes right, I will have the money in two weeks.”
“Damn. You selling that much coke?”
“No, I don’t mess with the coke any more. It’s all about the X now. Everybody wants the pills.”
“I guess so, if you’re telling me that you should have $250,000 in two weeks.”
“That will give me the million dollars I need to invest.”
“Yeah, it will.”
“Then I’m out of the game.”
The waitress appeared with the food. Everybody remained quiet until she left.
Tommy sipped his orange juice and said, “Yeah, I’m finished. I’ve been selling drugs since I was sixteen, and I’m thirty now.”
“Never caught a case, huh?”
“I’ve been blessed to have never caught a case, and I’ve never had a million dollars at one time because I’ve always spent my money as I made it. Luckily, you came along with this opportunity. I would have probably still been spending it as I go,” Tommy said.
“I still say you don’t need the Maybach Benz,” Alicia said.
“I need it. You only live once. Right, Don?”
“That’s right. Besides, when you’re ready, we can lease you one in my company’s name.”
Alicia put her arms around Tommy’s waist. “I just don’t want anything to happen to him.”
“Nothing is going to happen to Tommy. He’s smart. He is investing his money wisely, and he’s getting out of the game.”
Tommy smiled. He liked the sound of that. He was happy that he was getting out of the game. He was happy he had found some good people who cared about his well-being.
“So, did you bring the money with you?”
“No, I’ll send it to you when I get back to North Carolina or, if you prefer, I can wait until I get the other $250,000 and send it all at one time.”
“I need what you got now, so that we can clean it up.”
“Okay. Makes sense to me.”
“Tommy, I’m about to make you a multimillionaire, a legitimate multimillionaire.”
“So I can take care of your daughter.”
Alicia punched Tommy in his chest. “Stop saying that.”
Tommy sat behind the wheel of the $360,000 car. An older white man driving a 600 Benz looked on with envy. A small crowd gathered outside the dealership, all wondering what black celebrity owned such an expensive car.
“He plays for the Panthers,” a thin white woman said. “Yeah, I think he’s number 88. I seen him on TV.”
“I think he’s a rapper,” another man said.
Tommy sat behind the wheel in awe of the machinery. He felt like he owned the city.
An older black salesman opened the door and sat on the other side of the vehicle. “Hey, brother, is this car for you?”
Tommy was proud. “Yes. Yes sir, it is.”
The man extended his hand. “Man I’m always glad to see one of us on top.” He pointed to the back of his hand. “You know … Blacks.”
“Yeah.”
“Everyone out there is curious to know what you do for a living.”
Tommy frowned. “Why?”
“I guess because of the car, man. This ain’t no ordinary car.”
“I know, but my company’s leasing it.”
“Bro, this car is worth over three-hundred thousand dollars.”
Tommy began to wonder if he had made the right decision. He wasn’t even off the lot yet and people were talking. They were curious. He wondered how long it would take before the feds found out that Tommy Dupree was riding around in a mobile mansion. He wouldn’t concern himself with that. He couldn’t worry about it. Tonight he would have some fun.
Tommy put his hands on the steering wheel. He felt like a sixteen year old kid who had just obtained his license. He just wanted to ride—anywhere.
“Bro, I hope I’m not being too nosey, but how are you getting your bread?”
“I’m a real estate investor,” Tommy said, feeling confident.
Tommy pulled up at JoJo’s apartment, called him from his cell phone, and told him to come outside.
Minutes later, JoJo stood before Tommy. “Nigga, are you out of your fucking mind?”
“What are you talking about?”
“This car is what I’m talking about. I told you not to get this damn car.”
“It’s totally legit. I mean, everything is in Alicia’s dad’s name.”
JoJo shook his head in disbelief. “Tommy, I can’t believe you are so stupid, man. You’ve always been a little smarter than the average. If you had been Twin, I would have totally understood … but I can’t believe you, man.”
“You only live once. Get in here, man. You ain’t gonna believe this car.”
JoJo sat in the passenger seat. “These seats are plush and comfortable.”
“Can you believe the room in this muthafucka?”
JoJo looked around. “Damn, you got a laptop hooked up in the backseat.”
“I know, man. The first time I got into one of these muthafuckas I knew I had to have one.”
“I thought you said Alicia’s dad leased you the car.”
“He did.”
“Well it ain’t yours then, technically; it’s his.”
“Yeah, but we’re partners.”
JoJo didn’t respond. He was deep in thought. Tommy wheeled the Maybach out of JoJo’s parking lot and hit the freeway about a mile away. He accelerated the car up to almost 100 mph.
“What the fuck are you doing man?” JoJo asked.
“Watch this.”
“Watch what, nigga? I ain’t trying to die with you.”
Tommy pointed to his foot. “Watch how I barely touch the brake.”
He placed his foot on the brake lightly and the car slowed to 35 mph in seconds. “I’m telling you, man … this car is the shit.”
“Tommy are you sure about Alicia’s dad, man? Do you think you can trust him with your money? I know you sent him some money before, and I know you trying to get out of the game and all, but how can you trust somebody with that much money?”
“The man has money. He don’t need shit from me. I need him.”
“Okay; whatever you say.”
Tommy looked at JoJo, who seemed to be concerned about him. “Listen, man. I know you’re worried, but trust me. Everything is going to be okay. We’re going to the top. I’m gonna take you to the top with me.”
“Say no more.”
The Maybach was in front of the Liquid Lounge. Tommy had paid Bernard, an elderly guy from the neighborhood, to drive the car for tonight. Tommy and Alicia sat in the back of the car. Twin and JoJo were in Twin’s truck, parked directly in front of the Benz.
Nia and her girlfriend Rasheeda were leaving the parking lot across the street when they spotted the Benz. Nia ran across the street and pressed her face against the back window, determined to see who was inside. “Fat-ass nigga. I know you in there with your bitch.”
“Who is that?” Alicia asked.
“That’s my ex. The one I used to live with.”
“Nigga, you ain’t going to fuckin play me like that. I will hurt your
ass. I will kill you, nigga,” Nia shouted. Nia started pounding on the hood of the car. “Get out of the car, Tommy; I know your ass is in there.”
Tommy opened the door, stepped out of the car, and faced off with Nia.
“Nigga, how you gonna play me like this?”
“What the hell you mean? We ain’t together no more.”
“I know we ain’t together no more, but you owe me, muthafucka. I’ve been with you from day one and this is the fucking thanks I get.”
“Fuck you, Nia. You never loved me.”
“Fuck
you
, muthafucka,” Nia said. She charged at Tommy swinging wildly.
Twin and JoJo jumped out of the truck. Alicia got out of the car to see what was going on.
Tommy grabbed Nia’s arms. “Rasheeda, get your friend before I hurt her.”
“Nigga, you’ve already hurt me. You hurt me with that bitch of yours.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know what the fuck I’m talking about,” Nia said with tears rolling down her face.
Tommy shoved Nia. She fell to the pavement. A small crowd gathered.
Nia got up and ran with her head down, clawing at Tommy.
He quickly contained her again. “Nia what the fuck is wrong with you?”
“I was with you from day one. You think I’m going to let somebody take my position?”
“What position?”
“I’m your wife, remember? I’ve been through a lot with your ass. I’m the one that got raped, not this uppity-ass bitch that don’t want nothing but money.” Nia pointed at Alicia.
“You don’t know nothing about me,” Alicia said.
“I know you got my man.”
Tommy took a step back, pointed toward the car, and asked Alicia to get inside.
“That’s right, bitch. Get inside the car before I fuck you up.”
“Nobody is going to do anything to me,” Alicia said.
Rasheeda stepped forward. “Don’t get yourself hurt out here.”
Tommy stared at Rasheeda. She was a big girl with broad shoulders and muscular arms. He knew that Alicia and Nia would have been a good match, but Rasheeda was built like a man. He would have to take her on. He opened the door for Alicia.
She stepped inside the car.
“Tommy, why do you want to destroy everything we had?”
They looked directly at one another. “Nia, you made my life miserable. We never had anything … nothing … no kind of chemistry; you know?”
“So it’s like that, Tommy? You going to kick me to the curb just like that?” She wiped her eyes.
“Nia, it’s over.”
Nia dropped her head and charged Tommy again, scratching his face before he knocked her down again.
The crowd roared with laughter and someone yelled, “That bitch is making a fool out of herself.”
“Nia, stop. You are making yourself look ridiculous.”
Rasheeda walked to her side and held her arm.
“I’m making a fool out of myself? Well now it’s time to make a fool out of you.”
“Go home, Nia,” Tommy pleaded.
“Not before I let you know I been playing your fat ass all along. I even fucked your boy, JoJo. We’ve been having sex on the regular, and the nigga is good.”
Tommy looked at JoJo, who turned his head.
“Is that true, Joe?”
“I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Talking about me and you meeting downtown at the Holiday Inn on the regular … talking about you telling me that you want to be with me, nigga.”
“Is that true, Joe?”
“Tell him, Joe. Tell him how we have sex all day and all night. Tell about the time you fucked me in the house when Tommy was out of town.”
JoJo looked at Tommy, but he couldn’t say anything.
Alicia hopped out of the car, and walked up to Tommy. She held him tightly.
Tommy avoided looking at JoJo.