Unconditionally Single (12 page)

I shook my head.

“Wait, hear me out. Take the check back, tear it up, and tell them you’re not giving them a penny.”

“That’s not a bad idea but you don’t know my parents. It won’t work. Think of something else. I’m going to take a cold shower,” I said, heading to the bathroom.

“Can I join you, Honey? I’d like to finish what I started.”

I could remain faithful to Grant. Or have sex with Hunter. That little peck earlier wasn’t cheating. I stood in front of him, then turned my back to him. Then slowly removed my shirt, dropped it to the floor. I needed the comfort of a man. But that man wasn’t Hunter.

“I’ll pass.” I closed the bathroom door, stood in the shower and cried.

I wanted to see my parents at the same time. That was something that had happened once in my lifetime, at my sister’s funeral. I had a right to know why they were such horrible parents. Seeing them could close the void in my heart. No matter how cruel and cold they were to me, they were still my parents. I didn’t want to die regretting I’d never cursed them out. My parents would die before saving my life and I wanted to let them know, I’d do the same.

S
urrounded by silence and memories of times shared with Honey, I cried.

I sat in darkness in my living room, placed my hands over my face, and shamelessly let my tears flow. I let out the loudest, “Oh, my God!” ever. “Please, keep my Honey safe.”

Holding Honey’s scarf in my hands, I buried my tears but could not escape the pain in my throat, my head, my heart. Placing the silk against my nose, I sniffed her scent, remembering the good times. The times when we lay in bed making love, sharing ice cream, laughing at Huey, Riley, and Grandad. I missed her so much that I couldn’t watch the
Boondocks
anymore.

Little things reminded me of Honey. Wind and fire. Rain and sunshine. Thunderstorms and rainbows. I loved Honey. I’d always love Honey. Jada was a lovely woman but she couldn’t replace Honey.

Sniffling, I turned on the light. Throughout my home the pictures of Honey—on my mantel above the fireplace, my dresser, my desk, my kitchen wall, and in my foyer, bathrooms, and guest bedrooms—gave me hope that I’d see her soon. I went to my master bath, turned on the shower, waited for the steam to rise off the water, then stepped in. Hot water from each jet pulsated against my head, neck, shoulders, back, ass, thighs, and legs. I washed my face over and over.

Ding, ding, ding, ding, dong.

I stepped out the shower, stuffed wet feet into dry slippers. Wrapped a black towel around my waist en route to the front door. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Maybe Jada had come to visit. I hoped not. Jada showing up at my house unannounced was grounds for my termination of all contact with her. I opened my living room door, entered my enclosed sunporch area, unlocked my front door.

“Hey, Sapphire, come in.” I hugged her, lifted her off her feet, and twirled her around. “Gimme the good news! Where’s my baby?”

When Sapphire didn’t answer, I put her down and said, “Have a seat.”

Tucking my towel tighter, I walked outside. Looked inside her SUV. No Honey. I went to the kitchen, poured one goblet of orange juice and filled the other with cranberry juice, then joined Sapphire in the living room.

Sapphire was seated in my blue plush upholstered chair. I put the glasses on coasters atop the round table between us, sat in the black chair. “Which would you like?”

“Cranberry.” She took a sip, then continued, “Grant, I don’t know how long it’s going to take to find Honey. Could be a few days, a week, a month, longer.”

Adjusting my towel, I asked, “What’s taking so long?”

“A better question is where were you last night?”

“I couldn’t make it,” I said swallowing hard.

Last night was rough. I struggled with going to Stilettos. The strip club was wild enough without adding in a public hostage exchange where everyone except me would’ve probably had a gun. I questioned if Honey would be there. Who’d really kidnapped her?

Sapphire’s eyebrows raised as she asked, “Couldn’t or wouldn’t?”

“Look, obviously physically I could but what I couldn’t handle was if Honey was already dead. Besides, you told me not to come. I want you to find her. Bring her home to me will you?”

“Are you serious? Is that why you didn’t show after saying you would?” Sapphire asked as though calling me a punk.

“Uh-hmm.” I cleared my throat, gulped my orange juice, swiped my brow. “An even better question is why didn’t Valentino show up?”

“Who said he didn’t?”

“If he had, you wouldn’t be sitting here without Honey. Agree?”

Sapphire rubbed the arms of the chair. “Yes, I mean no, he didn’t show. He called me. Said he has Honey. Won’t tell me where they are until I get his money.”

Liar. Quietly, I sat for a moment. I knew where Valentino was and suspected Sapphire knew exactly where Honey was. Valentino said he hadn’t seen Honey. Someone was lying for real and I was more inclined to believe him. How far would Sapphire take this before she told me the truth? I asked, “How much?”

“Fifty million,” Sapphire said.

“How soon?”

“The sooner the better. Why so many questions?” she asked, shifting her hips along the cushion before crossing her arms and legs.

“Because I know if you wanted to you could give Valentino your fifty million.” On the edge of my seat, I yelled, “Don’t! Play! Games! With me! Do you know where Honey is?”

“Do you?” she asked.

“No. If I did, you wouldn’t be here. I’d be here making love to Honey.”

Women were the biggest liars. Sapphire knew where Honey was. I saw the truth in her shifting eyes that searched for lies. “I’ll give Valentino the fifty million. Call him right now and tell him,” I demanded.

I picked up my cell phone, dialed my broker. “I need fifty million dollars. Take it from my construction development account. I’ll call you back and tell you where to wire it.” I ended the call.

Sapphire pressed a few buttons on her cell, then asked me, “Are you serious?”

“Oh, I’m dead serious. If this is what it takes to get Honey back, I’ll have the money to Valentino first thing tomorrow.”

How long was she willing to lie to my face? I knew where Valentino was and she didn’t? Yeah, right.

“Valentino, I’ll have your money tomorrow morning. All of it,” she said.

Holding out my hand, I demanded, “Give me the phone. Let me talk to him.”

Sapphire pulled away, ended the call. “I left him a message.”

I stood. My towel fell to the floor. My heads hung. No big deal for her to see the dick she’d sucked and fucked.

Sapphire moved closer and hugged me. “You’re a real man, Grant.” She brushed against my limp dick. “I’ll find her for you. I promise.”

Peeling her clammy lustful arms away, I said, “I don’t know how long I can manage without Honey.” I went into my bedroom, returned naked holding my ring box. I opened it and handed Sapphire the loose five-carat solitaire. “I have to give this to Honey before it’s too late. Don’t walk away from me with Honey’s diamond,” I sternly said.

She admired the rock. Threw it at me.

“You’re insane. Stop fucking playing games with me. I know where Valentino is. I know where Benito is. What I don’t know is what the fuck you’re up to. I’m asking you. Do you know where my Honey is?”

“You have no idea where Valentino is. If you did, you’d know where Honey is. Get the ransom money. Give it to me. I’ll take care of the rest. I’ll call you when I hear back from Valentino.”

“I don’t give a fuck about when Valentino calls you back. If you don’t have Honey, don’t call me. I’ve got to get dressed,” I said, escorting Sapphire to the sunporch. I waited until her car was out of my long driveway, then slammed my door.

That woman had always been jealous of Honey. She wanted everything that Honey had, including me. I was sincere about the money. I could put a moratorium on building my condominiums. I couldn’t place my heart on hold. Getting dressed, I could not make sense of Honey’s disappearance.

I left my house, drove to the arena to meet Jada for the game. Made my way to her suite. She had ten seats in her suite but we were the only two there.

“This is nice. Why don’t you invite more people?” I asked her.

Pouring two flutes of champagne, Jada said, “When your girlfriend writes an unauthorized biography of your family’s secrets, who can you trust? I’ve learned to appreciate my privacy. Fancy and my grandson might come up but she likes to sit behind the team for home games. You can invite guests whenever you’d like. Just let me know in advance.”

“Thanks.” I tipped my glass to hers. We sat in the middle seats.

I became quiet. The game started, the national anthem played, the players were announced. I put my arm around Jada, then said, “I had to place my real estate development on hold today.”

Jada redirected her attention from the game to me. Her pale yellow pants and cashmere sweater tapered her body well, not too loose or too tight. “Why?” she asked.

“Had to set aside fifty million dollars for the ransom money for Honey.”

She sat on the edge of her seat, stared at me. “Speaking of Honey.” Jada opened her purse, handed me two sheets of paper.

I scanned most of what I knew—Honey’s real name, Honey’s associaton with Immaculate Perception, her business Sweeter than Honey. What I wasn’t aware of caused my jaw to drop as I read, “Honey Thomas, a married woman.”

I interlocked my fingers, rested my elbows on my thighs, looked at but wasn’t paying attention to the game. “I thought you were going to help me find Honey, not to go spy on her. I already know this,” I said, crumbing the paper. “I told you my fiancée was being held hostage.” I had no idea Honey was legally married.

“No, you said you didn’t know where she was.”

“Same thing.”

“No, it’s not. She’s a married woman. What is she involved in that would make someone kidnap her? And why would you pay fifty million dollars for someone else’s wife? That’s ridiculous.”

“That’s none of your business,” I said. Jada made me question if giving away that much money was worth it. Would Honey pay me back? Should she? Would I want her to? I decided all that was unimportant. “I love her enough to pay the money.”

“You’re right. It’s not my business, but I’m entitled to my opinion and I think it’s ridiculous. Grant, your involvement with Honey is relevant. You’re placing my life, my son’s life, and my family’s life in danger.”

Jada treated me like a convict. I’d never jeopardize her life or her family’s. “Would you say the same about Wellington? Wouldn’t he do the same thing for you that I’m doing for Honey?”

“Don’t you dare bring my deceased husband into this machismo mayhem. I would never sleep with a married person,” she said, twisting a verbal knife in my heart. “Get out. You’re no better than the rest of the men out there. Just get the hell out of my face!”

“Mayhem? If I were doing this for you, you’d love me. Since I’m doing this for Honey, you hate me. You probably hate her too and you don’t even know her. Stand in front your mirror and take a long look inside yourself. You’re no better than the rest either.”

“You’re insane. Leave, now!”

“Yeah, insane about saving the woman I love. Sounds to me like you’re jealous.” I placed my drink on the counter and walked out. Sapphire, now Jada…Every woman couldn’t be jealous of Honey. How many times would I have to defend my love for Honey?

“S
hoot me! I’m telling you, I’m not going back out there.”

Onyx wasn’t kidding. That bitch was certifiable. She was crazy for putting me on a stroll, putting my life in danger. I was crazier for going out there last night. Some things I didn’t want to learn firsthand, and prostitution was one of them. I had a God-fearing mother, and yes, I have made some not-so-good decisions, but my mother taught me right from wrong.

Click. Click. Click.
Last night my stilettos tapped the grimy concrete near the theme park. Horny men drove by, whistled, circled the block, came back to get me. Each driver lowered his window, asking “What’s your specialty, baby? How much for head? We’re in a recession, you offering any two-for-one discounts?”

Onyx told me Honey had paid her girls two grand a night. I barely broke two hundred last night taking those men into one of the six motel rooms Sapphire had reserved. In and out of the rooms for hours, I alternated with Honey’s other girls, detaining and entertaining the men with lap dances until Sapphire came in to interrogate them. What bothered me the most about prostitution was knowing pimps beat young girls, girls that should’ve been in high school, some junior high. The pimps complained about the girls not making enough money. That was no way for anybody’s daughter to live.

I sat at the dinner table, pushing green peas from one side of the plate to the other. “I’m exposing my precious body, for what? We still don’t know where Honey is. This is not the way to find her. Sapphire, talk some sense into Onyx. You’re the only person she’ll listen to.”

Sapphire remained quiet.

I wasn’t ignorant. I realized teenage prostitution was an extension of some of the forty-five strip clubs in Georgia. My ex-boss Trevor was definitely an exploiter. But he paid me good money to seduce his high-profile clients and potential clients, like Grant. Trevor never put me on the street and he didn’t employ strippers under twenty-one, although the legal age for strippers was eighteen.

Onyx spoke firm. “Red Velvet, you did good last night, sweetie. We’re closer to finding Honey because of you. All of you. We are family. Family stick together no matter what our differences are. We are going out again tonight. Let’s go.”

I refused to move. “I’m not done with my peas.” The other girls got up from the table, picked up their plates, and left me alone.

Where the hell was Onyx’s husband? I wish I had her husband’s number; I’d call him right now. The other girls left the mansion. Not me. I couldn’t move. “Sapphire, please, I’m begging you. Talk some sense into Onyx. Tell her she’s going about this wrong.”

Sapphire held my hand. “Red Velvet, it’s a matter of loyalty, sweetheart, and every woman has to pay her debt to Honey so Honey can come home, including you and me.”

Sapphire didn’t seem upset. She was too calm. “Sounds like you already know where she’s at,” I told her, then asked Onyx, “What happens if I go home instead?”

Sapphire answered, “You wouldn’t want to find out.”

“Excuse me in advance, but you bitches are crazy. Red Velvet is up outta this bitch. See ya.” I held my head high, marched out the door, and bypassed the four cars lined in the driveway filled with Honey’s girls. I made my way to the gate, walked up Blackland to Roswell. Standing at the intersection, I waved farewell to Onyx and Sapphire. “Good luck!”

Onyx lowered her window. “Come here, Red Velvet.”

I stopped three feet from the passenger door. That way I could back up if I had to. “What?” I leaned closer exhibiting confidence.

“Give me back my gun.”

Small demand, worth honoring, as long as she didn’t shoot me. People who carried guns all the time weren’t living right. Gladly, I gave it to her, waited for her to drive off, then I looked in every direction before crossing the street to Piedmont Avenue and began walking toward Peachtree Street. Buckhead was a nice neighborhood. Better than that slum area the girls were headed back to by that theme park.

A four-door sedan luxury car slowed, drove beside me. I kept walking along the sidewalk, continued in front of an office advertising furnished apartments for lease. The passenger lowered his window and said, “Let us give you a ride.”

“No, thanks. I’m fine.” I strutted faster, bypassing the Manor apartments.

“Come on, girl,” the driver said. “We’re headed to the steak house up the way. Let us buy
you
some meat,” he said in a charismatic way.

Yeah, there was Ruth’s Chris and Morton’s near Piedmont and Peachtree, across the street from Brides by Demetrios and not far from the Ritz. I smiled, hopped in the backseat, wishing I had that gun for backup. “I’m not hungry. I’ll accept a ride to the restaurant, then I’ll take MARTA,” I said, fastening my seat belt.

“I’ll get you wherever you want to go. We’re from out of town. Where’s a good spot to party?” the driver asked.

Based on their casual attire, I recommended, “You can go to Taboo 2. It’s kinda middle of the road, never know who’ll you see in there, but it’s cool. Elevated dance floor next to the regular dance floor, four bars, twenty-dollar cover.”

“So what’s your name, sweetheart?” the driver asked.

“You can call me Red Velvet. And you are?”

“V, you called it man. You said she looked like one of Honey’s girls.”

“V? As in Valentino?” I asked, staring at his ass in the rearview mirror.

“That’s right, bitch, get comfortable,” Valentino said, making a U-turn.