Chapter 15

The Hilton Hotel was only five minutes away from my bank. It was also an open public place with lots of witnesses. I knew this wwas knew thite dude was crooked; unlike Jayla, I knew a scam when I heard one. There was no way his punk ass was taking me for fifty grand. I was only making an appearance to let him see that the mother of my cousin’s children had people looking out for her - people you didn’t want on your bad side.

“Mr. Ark.” I approached the small, pathetic little man as soon as I entered the lobby. “Let’s get down to business. I don’t have much time.”

When he stood up and attempted to shake my hand, I thought he had to be joking. We weren’t there for lunch; this muthafucka crossed a line, and somebody had to push him back. Since my cousin was dead and gone, that somebody would have to be me.

“So do you enjoy strong armin’ all women - or is it just Black women?” I asked him point blank as I sat down in the plush brown leather chair pointed diagonally towards his. “You got a li’l dick, don’t you, Kevin?”

“I don’t need this shit.” He jumped up out of his seat like his ass was on fire - but I grabbed his arm so hard, his skin began to turn red. If he thought he could just walk away from me, he was mistaken. Bullies can dish that shit out, but they’re rarely able to take it. He didn’t have a choice this time.

“Sit the fuck down ‘fore I lay yo bitch ass down.” My tone was just as firm as the grip I had on that coward’s arm. “I don’t give a fuck about all these people up in here. I’ll put a bullet in yo skull and be out the door ‘fore any of ‘em even notice.”

He did as he was instructed and sat his ass back down. Once I was sure he knew what type of nigga he was dealing with, I let go of his scrawny little arm. I would kill for my fam. His life didn’t mean a damn thing to me; ending it wouldn’t have caused me to lose one wink of sleep.

“I don’t ever wanna see you again. I don’t want anybody I know to see you again. And if I find out you’ve done somethin’ stupid like callin’ the cops, I’ll find you - and I'll kill you,” I promised him, meaning every single word I spoke. “If I hear that you so much as waved to Jayla, I’ll kill you, yo wife Nancy, yo daughters Kelly and Blair, and yo ugly ass li’l dog Pepper.” I laid it all out and let him know that I’d done my homework. “You’re outta yo league, boy. Now get the fuck outta my face.”

He ran out of there like his life depended on it. Why weak niggas try to be hard baffled the shit out of me. Kevin Ark wasn’t an intimidating man. I would estimate his height at around five-foot-nine and his weight at barely one hundred and thirty pounds; I knew chicks bigger than that. I wasn’t impressed,an> nor was I the least bit frightened.

I left the hotel and headed straight towards Kitty’s bar. When I got there, she was in the back going over some paperwork that would still be there the next day. She was about to get real busy real fast - me and my dick were going to make sure of that.

As soon as I walked through the door, she put her pen down – and our eyes locked. There wasn’t a doubt about it: I wanted her, and she wanted me. I stood there and watched her as she began to unbutton her blouse, going from button to button until there were no more left. Her breasts were magnificent. I couldn’t hold back any longer; I rushed to her and lifted her body out of the chair and on to the desk. The journey inside of her was thrilling. She made me feel like a new man. It was better than any drug. I would have done anything to make that feeling last for life, but it wasn’t meant to be; some people only come into your life for a season – and they’re usually the ones who make the biggest impact.