Tiffany and Dior: Love in Las Vegas Streets (13 page)

    “Where you been Tiffany?” he asked, putting out the cigar.

    “I was out with Paige and we ended up partying too hard downtown. We went back to her house and I fell asleep. I am sorry. It was very irresponsible of me, Black.” I swallowed hard, turning around to remove my clothes from last night. Like a hawk Black followed me into my vanity room. 

      In a daze, I began to prepare myself for what I really wanted to say to him. “Black, I am leaving,” I said, turning around to face him. I finally got the balls to leave, I thought to myself. I didn’t need his money, the house, or him. 

     “Tiffany you are such a pretty girl but you sound foolish. We both know you’re not going anywhere. You need me.”

    “Black I don’t need you. I am done! I am leaving and I am taking Mason with me.”

     “Tiffany you can leave but you won’t be taking anything with you and Mason is staying here.”

     “Fuck you, Black!” I spat.

     “See, here’s the thing, Tiffany. You are my woman and as long as you’re my woman whatever I say goes. Do you hear me?”  Black walked up to me.

     Whack!

     Breaking me from my daze, I couldn’t believe Black hit me. “Tiffany, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you. That’s not the way a man is supposed to handle his woman. I know what you young girls want,” Black said as he entered my personal space. He pulled down his pants and boxers, and holding his shallow dick, he flipped me over and entered my ass with a forceful thrust.

      At that moment, I regretted the thought of leaving him. I felt like I was going to die. I felt the inside of my ass burning as he moved in and out at a rapid pace. The pain was excruciating. 

     “I am sorry Black. I won't leave you,” I tried to plead with him hoping he would stop.

     “Next time you won’t come strolling into my house the next day trying to play me like I am some sucker. I fucked you in your ass because I know that pussy’s been tampered with. I am going to Arizona for a few days and while I am gone you better get your shit together. And when I get back I expect that same Tiffany I saved from the fire. Now get cleaned up and meet us downstairs for dinner and wear something nice. I have a few business partners coming over.” Black stared coldly into my eyes before walking out of the bedroom and closing the door behind him.  

    When I heard the door closed I collapsed on the carpeted floor, letting the tears run marathons down my face. As bad as I wanted to leave I was too afraid. It was only Tuesday and Friday seemed like forever.

        As I entered our master bedroom, I couldn’t wait to soak in our oversized Jacuzzi tub. I loved taking a bath; it seemed like the only thing that could relax me when I was home. I poured in my vanilla-scented bubble bath along with my blue bath crystals, and some French vanilla candles, as I prepared myself for a drama-free day.

        I bent down, reaching around inside of the bottom cabinet under the sink. I pulled out a jar containing weed and sat on the edge of the tub rolling up a nice Blunt. I was a pro when it came down to rolling up weed. That was one of the things that turned Dior on the most. Since weed was legal out on the West Coast Dior smoked weed like it was cigarettes.

     I made sure I rolled him the best Blunts because I knew there was a thirsty ass bitch waiting to take my place. It seemed like when Dior came home from jail, he instantly became a target. Bitches were basically throwing themselves at him. I knew better than to show my insecurities around Dior because of my circumstances. I inhaled and exhaled clouds of smoke into the air.

      I sunk to the bottom of the tub and let the weed elevate my mental while the sound of Jacquees’ “Mood” mix tape played from my iPhone. There I was inside of my bathroom feeling like shit. I was living a double life; a life I couldn’t escape. I loved Dior and wanted to be with him but I had Mason, who had grown to love Black as his father, and there was no way Black would let me leave.

      Usually I smoked half of the Blunt but after the sexual encounter I’d just had with Black I had to roll another Blunt. Finally, after getting out of the tub, I wrapped myself in a towel, then walked up to the sink, cleansing my face and then brushing my teeth. I stared at the woman in the mirror and asked myself the question I had been asking for four years: Why me?

                                    {8}

    I woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating underneath my pillow. Teresa had prepared a feast for last night’s dinner. After I small talked and did my wifely duties until Black was satisfied, he dismissed me and I went straight upstairs and got in bed. To my surprise, Black was lying next to me. I pulled the phone from under my pillow to see it was Paige calling.

    “Hello.” I tried to clear my throat.

    “Tiffany, what are you doing?” Paige yelled into the phone.

    “I was sleeping,” I said as I stared at the glowing numbers that read 10:45 p.m.

    “Girl, get dressed and come party with me. Plus, Dior here and it’s popping.”

   Hearing Dior’s name was all I needed to hear.

    “Okay, give me twenty minutes. Where y’all at?” I asked.

    “We at Joe’s Steakhouse. It’s lit, girl,” she said before hanging up.

   “Black ?” I whispered

   “Tiffany, I am sleeping. Why are you waking me up?” Black said to me in an aggravated tone before rolling over with his back facing me.

  “Paige called. She has to go to the emergency room. I think she's having a miscarriage and needs me by her side.”

   “That bitch don't need no more babies anyway.” Black stated harshly.

   “Black can I please be there for my best friend? Please!” I begged.

   “ Be back in an hour.” Black spat.

   “Okay, thank you so much Black.” I literally jumped in the shower and got dressed. I put on a cropped black shirt, jeans, and heels. I called for an Uber and less than fifteen minutes later I was on my way to the club.

    Usually, Paige and I would always go to Joe’s Seafood and Steakhouse on Friday but it was Wednesday and already it was looking like a movie. Lines were wrapped around the corner and the parking lot was pack with cars. It seemed like the whole Henderson was out tonight, I thought to myself as I walked up to the restaurant.

      I was so engrossed in my own sorrows I could appreciate a few drinks and dancing to some of the latest hip-hop. When I pulled up in front of Joe’s, the line was around the corner. Like the boss bitch I was, I walked ahead of the line and after letting the bouncer know who I was, I walked right in.

     Joe’s Steakhouse wasn’t your typical restaurant. They catered to the young crowd, the hustlers, trap queens and kings. The hood celebrities and the ghetto fabulous came here. When you couldn’t get into any of the exclusive nightclubs on Las Vegas strip, Joe’s always had their doors open. The bar served all night long and they played nothing but rap music. They had a few dancers, pool tables, and VIP booths. Seafood and steaks were their prime specialty.

      I looked for Paige as I made my way through the crowd. I smiled when I saw Dior standing up against the wall by the pool tables with his brother Rasheed, Kia, Paige, and two other females I didn’t recognize.

    “What’s up, Tiffany?” Paige and Kia said in unison.

    “Hey, y’all,” I acknowledged them both, giving them a hug.

    “You ready for that talk?” Paige got straight to the point.

    “We will talk about it later,” I said in annoyance. I didn’t know why I even mentioned anything to Paige in the first place. That was one of my problems—whenever something went down or I got excited I would tell Paige and then regret it later. 

     Interrupting my thoughts, Dior walked up to me looking fine as ever. “What’s good, ma?” he said before giving me a kiss.  He was rocking a fitted black T shirt, Balmain denim jeans, and brand new black timberland construction boots loosely tied. He has his gold chains and a gold Rolex on his wrist.

    “Nothing, I miss you.” I gave him a peck on the lips.

    “I miss you too, ma, and that connect from Miami came through as promised and I’m about to be making some serious money. Plus, I’m getting a place in a few weeks out in North Las Vegas,” Dior stated as he pulled me closer to him.

“ So that means no more hotels?”

“ Tiffany baby girl no more hotels. We moving in together I need to see that phat ass every day and night. I'm tired of this shit ma, I love you.” Dior said as he kissed on my lips and neck.

     Everything between me and Dior happened so fast and I didn’t think about what the aftermath would be. As much as I dug him I was starting to rethink things. Maybe I was making a mistake. Dior was into the same street life Black was into but Black had more respect in the streets and I knew in my heart leaving Black wasn’t going to be easy. 

    “Black won’t let me take Mason and you know we can’t stay in Vegas. We talked about this, Dior. I am starting to think you just bullshitting. I can’t afford to waste my time and I got Mason to think about,” I spoke up. 

    “Word, that’s what you think, Tiffany?” Dior spat.

    “Listen, Dior, it’s not like that; I just need to know that me and Mason will be taken care of.”

    “Tiffany, Black isn’t no nigga you go around fucking with. Ma, once you leave him, he is going to want war and I need to make sure you safe.”

    “I have a plan, Dior. Remember that stash we found under the bed?” Dior nodded his head, letting me know he understood what I was talking about. “Well, I am going to take like $500,000 or maybe a one or two  millions when Black leaves for Arizona tomorrow.”

    “Ma, you don’t need to do that. Just give me a few days. My brother Rasheed just ran into some big money and we got a new connect and as we speak niggas out there making serious paper. I got you, ma.” 

    “Please just think about it Dior.”

    “A’ight. I will think about what you’ve said. Let’s just have a good time tonight. Fuck that nigga. Real talk,” Dior answered, trying to get off the subject. I was about to say something until we both heard what sounded like gunshots.

     POW! POW! POW!

      Gunshots flew throughout the club and I got knocked down during the chaos. The scenery from the club look like a bloodbath, with dead strippers, bartenders, and club goers scattered all over the club.

       Out of nowhere I felt someone hovering over my body. When I looked up it was Dior coming to my rescue. I landed hard on the liquor-stained carpet while the bullets flew everywhere. 

   “Dior, oh my God, you could have gotten shot!” I said to him.

  “Tiffany, I am good. All I care about is your safety. Now stay down,” he said as he pulled his pistol from his waist. 

    “Ayo, make sure shorty gets out of here safe,” Dior shouted to one of the nearby bouncers that had been posted up by his VIP. That’s when he scooped me off of the ground.

     “No, I can’t leave without making sure my girl is good.” I tried to fight my way out of the bouncer’s strong hold.

    “Look ma, we don’t have time to look for your girl,” Dior barked with his finger tightly pressed against the trigger. It was supposed to be nothing but family so if someone was shooting that meant that someone who was in there was an enemy. 

    Pow! Pow! Pow!

     Another round of gunshots were fired inside the club. “Oh my God, Paige!” I cried.

      Bullets pierced through Paige’s body like a target. She was still alive but shot badly. At that moment I no longer cared about my own safety as I slid away from the bouncer. I dropped to my knees, pulling my friend close to me.

“Ayo, Tiffany, we gotta go. I am on parole and I can’t afford to go back to jail. I need to find my little sister Kia,” Dior whispered as he pulled me away from her.

      I nodded my head and ducked real low, quietly and quickly maneuvering my way out of the club’s back door.

    “Ayo, is everybody okay?” Dior shouted as he stared into the crowd, checking to see who made it out of the club safely. Looking around the parking lot, it seemed like everyone made it out except Kia and Rasheed.

    “Paige!” I yelled when I saw one of the bouncers carrying her outside. She was visibly unconscious and I feared for her life. 

    “Oh my God,” I heard a female voice scream from inside of the club.

      We both stopped in our tracks. I knew something was terribly wrong and I knew Dior could feel it too. Even in the midst of danger he stayed by my side. He felt like he was already mourning the loss of someone; he just wasn’t ready to find out. Indeed, he knew and soon his eyes would validate what his heart was feeling. 

     “Aye, that sounded like my baby sis Kia. I gotta go back inside,” Dior said as he looked at me and then back at the door.

    “Wait, Dior, don’t go back inside,” I begged him.

     “Tiffany, I need you to go home. I know the bouncer; he will take Paige to the hospital and take you home,” he said to me.

    “No, I am coming with you,” I said. I watched the bouncer place Paige in the backseat and watched the car pull off. I felt good knowing she would be safe but I was worried about Rasheed and Kia.

       I followed Dior back inside of the club and saw Dior drop to his knees when he realized it was his brother Rasheed who had gotten shot. I was afraid to touch him as he cried out in agony. Rasheed was slumped over a chair with multiple gunshot wounds in his chest. His shirt and jeans were completely covered in blood and so was the chair. He was face-down so you couldn’t see the damage the riffle did to his body. Kia slowly walked up to his lifeless body.

    “Rasheed? Wake up, Rasheed,” Kia cried uncontrollably as she shook her brother.

      When he didn’t respond I knew he was dead. It hurt Dior to see his older brother shot up and dead. This wasn’t Dior’s first encounter with death.

     When he was locked up his mother died as well as two of his cousins from Henderson. In the hood somebody was always getting shot because niggas were hating. He had a few bodies himself, and in that moment he regretted relying on a weapon to control his emotions.

     Seeing how hurt he was, was breaking my heart.  Rasheed had always been like a brother to me and losing him would change everything. This was supposed to be a celebration but it turned into a bloodbath. 

       As tears streamed down my face I held Kia tightly in my arms. Kia and I were never close. I guess that’s because we were just alike but at that moment she needed my support.      

       Finally, the police arrived and the paramedics rushed to Rasheed, who was pronounced dead. I couldn’t get the gruesome scene out of my head.

    “I love you, baby sis,” Dior said as he gave Kia a hug.

    “I love you too. I can’t believe this just happened. Who would want to kill Rasheed?” she asked.

    “Whoever did it, when I catch them I am going to kill them,” he said coldly.

    Dior opened the door of a black Yukon and helped Kia inside. I knew I wasn’t going home anytime soon and I didn’t care at that moment. I needed to be by Dior’s side.

        As I stood alone, I watched Dior console his sister, who was crying uncontrollably in his arms. The Yukon pulled off with Kia, and Dior started to walk back towards me. As he got neared me I thought about Black, who was home waiting for me. In that exact moment I decided I was definitely going to leave Black.

    I didn’t want to wake up a few years from now and realize that I wasted my life chasing behind a man who I knew really didn’t love me and just wanted to control me.

     Tonight is the night I am leaving Demetrius “Black” James, I thought to myself as I saw the two police cruisers approaching the club. We walked around the corner and saw Landon down on his knees with his hands behind his head. I watched in disbelief as the officers placed handcuffs on his wrists and then pulled him up off the ground.

       When Landon’s eyes connected with mine I couldn’t say anything. I stood there confused. I didn’t know why he was getting arrested but I knew it wouldn’t be long before Black got word about what happened.

       My thoughts were interrupted when Dior said something to me. “Tiffany, we need to get that money and Mason tonight. We are leaving town,” Dior said as he opened the passenger’s door so I could get inside.   

    “Dior, if I take that money we have to go far from here. Black will find us and he will kill us.”

    “Tiffany, we can go to Miami. I could come back for Kia later. I need to find out who killed my brother and we will leave. I promise.” Dior kissed me as he started up the car, pulling off into traffic.

    We pulled up to my house and I knew no one was home. Mason had spent the night at Teresa’s house since Black would be out of town, which was perfect for my escape plan. Dior kept the car running while he waited for me to go inside and get what I needed. I ran upstairs into my bedroom first. I went inside of my walk-in closet, pulling out two suitcases. I wasn’t planning on taking everything because where I was going I planned on buying new clothes.

      The countless designer items hanging up on the racks and the shoes on the shelf were all items Black had picked. Every month he had a stylist come over and redo my closet. I know most people probably don’t see anything wrong with a man hiring a stylist but when I said I didn’t have any say, I mean I didn’t have at all. I was like his living doll baby and that was it.

       I opened both suitcases, grabbing a few things. I wasn’t planning on coming back after tonight so I gathered as much of my stuff as I could. I put in my jewelry, designer bags, shoes, and then clothes. I tossed everything I could fit into the suitcases until they overflowed. I sat down on one of the suitcases, using my body weight to help me zip up the sides.