Tiffany and Dior: Love in Las Vegas Streets (8 page)

     In our household, growing up my mother was big on Christmas. Me and my three sisters would stay up late on Christmas Eve just so we could see Santa. However, we found out my mother was Santa. We didn’t even care. We respected my mother knowing that she went out of her way to let some white man take the credit. She was the one who hustled day in and day out to get us nice clothes, shoes, and gifts.

      Our mother was mommy and daddy. She played both parts so well she deserved all of the credit. On Christmas day we would surprise her as well and have a party. We would get together all of her friends and family.

      She’d love to cook and so did my aunts. Christmas was my favorite holiday. I loved the happy occasion and how it brought us together, even if it was to drink hot chocolate and eat big dinners. But my momma loved to party and nothing we did was traditional. We would gather around the table eating, playing cards, smoking weed, and drinking liquor. My mother was young and into the street life. She believed in having fun and bringing her family together. My mother had a big heart, so I knew she was turning in her grave that she couldn’t be here for her favorite holiday. Especially since it was my birthday. It just wasn’t fair.  

      Now my Christmas and birthday mornings were spent alone in my room that I shared with    Black. I knew if my mother was alive she would have thrown me a big birthday celebration. Quickly, I wiped away the tears that had traveled down my cheeks when I noticed Black staring at me. 

     I sat at the table in silence. It was hard to enjoy my breakfast knowing that when it was over I had to sit in my room bored or entertain Black. It was killing me inside to know that Black wasn’t going to acknowledge my birthday.  He could have just said happy birthday and I would have been fine with that.

     “Senora, are you okay?” Teresa repeated.

     “Yes, sorry, I had zoned out for a second. Thank you for breakfast. It’s so delicious. Can you put some more fruits on my plate?” I said to Teresa, handing her my plate I had barely touched.

     “Mason, eat your food first and then you can drink your juice.” I looked over at him nervously.

   Ding-dong. I was relieved hearing the doorbell ringing, because I knew it would be Black’s right hand man Foreman. Foreman came over every day after breakfast like clockwork to pick Black up and drive him around all day.

      However, he was early this morning. Foreman was like a doormat that Black walked all over. Although Foreman was his best friend and right hand man, he didn’t get the same respect in the streets as Black did. Black was spending old money from when he was hustling back in the 1990s when he lived in Jersey City, New Jersey but he needed someone like his young son Landon to keep him updated with the new era.

   Black loved the way the streets respected Landon and feared him too. Secretly, Foreman resented him for passing down their operation they built together to Landon. I noticed how Forman would act whenever Landon was around and I wondered if Black noticed it for himself. I felt like he had been by Black’s side since they were kids and he deserved everything as well but I guessed there were some things in the drug game I wouldn’t understand and that's why I stayed in my place.

     Surprisingly, Landon walked inside of the dining room with him. I was shocked to see those two together being that Foreman was still feeling salty about Black’s decision. He took a seat next to Mason with both hands folded into one another and Landon sat at the head of the table across from Black.

       He briefly stared into each of our faces as he looked around the table, then to his father.  He always chose his words wisely. Without saying a word, he sipped from the glass Teresa placed before him.

     “Landon, son, what can I do for you?” Black said briefly.

     “We need to talk.”

     Black nodded his head, letting him know he understood and then signaled for me to excuse myself from the table like I was some type of pet you train to do as you command. I heard Foreman whisper something before I exited myself from the dining room.

     I peeked around the corner, listening to Black’s conversation. As I eavesdropped I made sure Mason stayed in the living room across the hall. I listened intensively but nothing seemed to hold my attention. I was getting ready to walk away when I heard Black mention he was having a VIP party tonight down at Black Diamonds.

     “Boss, Jacques Hendrix will be arriving soon. He is staying at the MGM Hotel downtown and he is looking for a spot to chill. His rep says he was looking to come out to Black Diamonds tonight but wants no paparazzi or news reporters. He has Floyd Mayweather, Future, and French Montana with him. Black this could be big for us and he’s talking $70,000. We the only club on the strip of Las Vegas catering to the streets,” Foreman said to Black.

     “Set it up,” Black told him. 

      “No problem, boss,” Foreman said to him.

     “Son, what’s on your mind?”  Black asked as he looked over at Landon.

     “Last night somebody killed my little brother. But I didn’t come here to talk about that. Fawn Maxwell reached out to me a few hours ago. She said she needs to talk.”   

“I don’t know, son. Fawn has gotten herself in a lot of trouble and now that my Malachi is behind bars I don’t want anything to do with her. He was like a nephew to me. What did she call you for?” Black asked out of curiosity.

     “She didn’t say, but she sounded real choked up over the phone. I know Malachi going away for twenty-five years is a lot but Fawn held us down. She put Jersey back on the map in less than two years. She will forever be a legend in my book,” Landon stated as he demolished the rest of the food on his plate Teresa had brought to the table a few minutes ago.

     “Well, have her come out to Black Diamonds tonight and I will hear what she has to say.” He sipped this rest of his drink.

“A'ight, bet.”

“Landon, how’s the work coming along?”

“Shit, it’s lovely. I just collected twenty percent.” He said confidently. It was music to Black’s ears. They were at the highest in the drug game thanks to Landon. He rebuilt the streets of Vegas and Henderson. He supplied all of the dealers the best drugs and for cheap. He made thousands in weeks, which took his father and Foreman months to do.

    “No need to count it; it’s fifty thousand dollars and in a few days I will have twenty thousand,” Landon said to Black. 

     Black nodded his head as he tossed the duffle bag on the carpeted rug. “Job well done, son.”

    “Pops, I need to celebrate early with my time.”

    “Son, if you keep bringing in money like this, you can celebrate at my club any night,” he smiled confidently.

     “I wanted to have the party tonight at the club. I got my peoples from Miami and Atlanta coming and I cannot afford to mess this up.  These connects looking to expand. And we need more product but Foreman comes with this bullshit.” He sucked his teeth as he looked over at him.

    “Boss, South Las Vegas Boulevard is my terri—” Foreman started but he sat back in his chair when Black spoke.

    “Foreman, Landon has been bringing in thousands. Let him handle the streets; I need you working the club making business moves. We are prospering over there.” Black looked at Foreman and then Landon who was sitting at the table with his feet up as if he was a king.

    “A quarter million by the end of the week,” Landon stated.

    “Boss we need to stay under the radar. We can’t afford to have young niggas like Landon thinking he can run the streets, especially his goons he has hustling the corners. They ain’t nothing but flashy young niggas. We can’t afford the tip the feds off. After that white girl was found unconscious in the bathroom from a bad drug overdose, detectives have been monitoring that strip,” Forman fussed.

    “Listen son, Forman is right. Business comes first. You could set up your own deals and territory out in Henderson. I will put Pill out there. He knows that area and he got a couple of warehouses. I can’t have too much heat at my spot. You know they hate that a black man is running a million-dollar nightclub. Plus, you heavy into the drug game and I don’t need no violence. And I’m sorry for your loss; your brother was a good kid.”

    “Bullshit, Pops. You know you not found of my baby brother Kane. I’m out here grinding in these streets. I’m about to a one of the richest kingpins in the city. This meeting is happening. I put that on my mother’s grave. Fuck Foreman, I am in these streets.” Landon stood from the table.

      It was true Black hated the fact that his wife cheated and had a baby as well. She died giving birth to him. I smiled thinking about Ms. Donna. If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t know half the shit that goes on with Black. He kept me in the dark about his past, his wife, and their son, even his businesses, and that’s the
part I hated about him. 

    It was all a front. His club was to hide his criminal and drug activity. Together Black and Landon were the most active drug dealers in the country. Black’s name rang bells in the streets and he was supplying almost all of the East Coast since he was from Jersey city, New Jersey. The state was his stomping grounds and earned him respect in places in the dirty South and Miami.

   “A’ight. Just keep it cool. I don’t need no bullshit out you and them young niggas! I run an exclusive nightclub. Keep the hood shit in
Henderson,” Black said as he looked at Landon.

    “Say no more. See you at Black Diamonds,” Landon said in his low, even tone.” Landon was very mild-mannered and admired his father. In some ways he was just like him. He and Black had a great relationship and even though Black never told Landon he loved him, Landon knew in his heart his father had a soft spot for him. That was how Black was—very silent. He kept his feelings to himself and showed it in material ways.

      That’s probably why his wife cheated. He was incapable of showing love and affection. He was a good man but he didn’t know how to say the simple things like I love you and give you that love. He just bought it or gave you what it was that you wanted if it benefited him in the end.

         It was now three years later he still treated me like I was just some trophy to him. I made him look good. He bought me nice, expensive things but what good was that when he didn’t give me affection? He didn’t hug me, kiss me, or even cuddle with me.

        He was the big fish and I started to hate his sex game after a few months. Black always did the same missionary style. He never wanted to hit it from the back, side, or do foreplay.

   “Tiffany, come in here.” I jumped when I heard Black call my name. I was too busy into my feelings and didn’t hear him calling me at first.

   “Yes, Black?’ I asked hesitantly. I was so afraid he caught me eavesdropping into their conversation I almost peed on myself.

    “Foreman is going to drive you around today. I scheduled you an appointment at the spa and pick something sexy out. I need you there at Black Diamonds, and don't invite none of your friends.” He smirked.

    “Okay I will be ready in an hour,” I said as I turned around, exiting the dining room.

   “We will have both meetings. Just keep it cool.” Black said as he looked at Landon and Foreman. I slowly headed towards the stairs. I couldn’t wait to get out of the house and shake my ass tonight.

     I walked into my bedroom, closing the door. Excited was an understatement. I stood in the middle of my walk-in closet doing my happy dance. I was twerking and shaking my ass like I was inside of the club. I had to look my very best tonight since it was still my birthday even if Black liked it. I was going to turn up in VIP with my girls Paige and December regardless to Black’s wishes. I hadn’t seen them since the Rehab party and that was a few weeks ago.

         I sat down on my vanity stool pulling out my iPhone so I could FaceTime them. I was so excited I had to see their faces. I loved my girls and they were the only ones who knew about everything that took place from the night of the fire to me ending up with Black. Those were my day one bitches. 

     “Happy birthday bitch!” Paige and December yelled into the screen in unison.

      “Thank you ladies.” I smiled from ear to ear and then busted into position to do my happy dance. I started twerking like music was playing. 

     “Bitch, sit your ass down. You always twerking.”

     “Damn Black had your ass on lock down. It’s been like two months.”

     “Bitch, bye, you know it wasn’t that long and I wasn’t on lock down. I was chilling be a housewife; something you don’t know anything about Paige!”  

     “Bitch, please. We missed you!” Paige yelled.

     “I miss you guys too. That’s why I FaceTimed instead of calling. Black is having a meeting at the club and I don’t want to go alone,” I said to Paige and December leaving out the part where Black informed me not to invite them..

     “What? Black letting you out and setting you up with VIP at his club?” Paige said, being sarcastic. I hated when she reminded of the invisible leash Black had wrapped around my neck.

     “It’s because he’s meeting up with Fawn.”

    “Wait? Mrs. Trap Queen Fawn? Girl, she was just on the news a few weeks ago. Her man went down for like twenty-five years because he wouldn’t snitch. That’s a real nigga; he didn’t snitch on his lady,” December said.