Promise Broken, page 22
She didn’t have as much trouble walking on her second trip down the hall. She was still good and drunk, but no longer twisted. Asher getting her adrenaline going helped to sober her up some. Some of the guys who were in the hall when she left with Asher were still lingering. They were looking at her oddly, and some even snickered a bit. Did she have something on her face? They likely assumed they knew what was going on between she and Asher in the room. Fuck ‘em. Let them talk if they wanted to. Asher belonged to her now so she didn’t care. She couldn’t wait to steal him away so that they could finish what they had started. It felt good to be loved. For a little while at least. When she got back into the hotel suite, everything changed.
It didn’t take her long to find Asher. He was at the bar, but he wasn’t alone. He was with Ruby and they were hugged up like he hadn’t just had his face buried in her pussy not even twenty minutes prior. The sight hit her like a physical blow. She went from stunned to hurt and finally mad as hell.
Asher’s eyes got as big as saucers when he saw Promise storming in his direction. Ruby’s back was to her, so she didn’t see the girl which was for the best. All it would take was one look at the hurt in Promise’s eyes and she would know what time it was. Then he and Promise both would be dead. Thankfully, the universe spared him from having to deal with it. At least at the moment.
Cal appeared out of nowhere and intercepted Promise. “Don’t do it,” he whispered to her, taking her by the arm and steering her in the other direction.
“Get your damn hands off me!” Promise said loud enough to draw some stares.
Cal released her arm and held his hands up. “Baby girl, I’m trying to do you a favor. If you go over there and do something out of pocket it’s going to end badly for you.”
“Your bitch-ass friend gonna try to play me to the left like I’m some sucker-ass bitch?” Promise fumed. She was so hot that you could’ve fried an egg on her head.
“Shorty, I ain’t got a dog in that fight. Whatever is between you and Ash, is between you and Ash. I’m just trying to keep you from getting yourself hurt up in here,” Cal said sincerely.
“I can take care of my fucking self!” Promise spat. She was causing a scene now. There was obviously nothing that Cal could do with her, but thankfully Mouse showed up.
“What you over here doing to my homegirl, Cal?” Mouse rushed to Promise’s defense.
“Trying to keep her from getting herself fucked up,” Cal told her, angry with himself that he had even gotten involved.
“He played me Mouse! He fucking played me!” Promise was crying now for all to see.
Mouse followed her line of vision. Asher was ushering Ruby back to the side of the room where B-Stone was sitting. He kept looking over his shoulder like he was afraid Promise was going to run up on him. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know what had happened. Promise had just learned the hard way how wicked the hearts of men could be.
* * *
“Asher, why is that bitch staring at me like I took something from her?” Ruby asked. Every so often she would look up and catch Promise shooting daggers in her direction. She was sitting in the cut with her little friend Mouse, sipping from a plastic cup.
“How the fuck should I know?” Asher faked ignorance.
“You ain’t gotta talk to me like that,” Ruby said with an attitude.
“Then why don’t you stop asking me so many questions. You been on that shit since you walked your ass in here.” Asher sucked his teeth. Part of his irritation was from her questioning and the other part was because he had fucked up with Promise.
“All I asked was why that white bitch is staring at me?” Ruby repeated her question.
“She ain’t white, and I told you that I don’t know. I don’t even know shorty like that except she be around the hood with Mouse,” he lied.
“You’re awfully defensive over a bitch you supposedly don’t know like that,” Ruby pointed out.
“Maybe I should go ask her what’s good?” Starla suggested. She flicked her tongue out, revealing the small razor at the end of it, before making it disappear in her mouth again.
“Starla, calm your ghetto ass down. I don’t need y’all in here thumping and then I’ll have to hear B-Stone and Ab’s mouth about the shit later,” Asher told them.
“That nigga is so high you could drop a fucking TV on his head and he probably wouldn’t notice.” Starla nodded in B-Stone’s direction.
B-Stone was planted in the same chair he had been in for most of the night. The angel dust and whatever else he was on had him on stuck. There was a young girl chatting away at him but it was doubtful that he had heard a damn word she said. At first it looked like he had checked out, as he sometimes did when the PCP had him on one, but closer inspection you could see that he had zeroed in on something across the room. It was Promise.
Asher knew that look all too well and knew exactly what B-Stone was thinking. He was scheming on what was his! Asher felt a tinge of jealousy, but what right did he have? He had shit on Promise, intentionally or not. He hadn’t meant for it to play out like that. Ruby showing up had been an unforeseen hitch in his plans. Seemed like she had been doing that a lot, fucking up his plans. He cared about Ruby but was getting tired of her. He was ready for a change, which was supposed to have been Promise but judging by her murderous glare that ship had probably sailed. He’d made up his mind that night that whether he was able to fix things with Promise or not, he was dumping Ruby. He was over her and was ready for something new.
“I’m about to go outside and get some air,” Asher said.
“Hold on, I’ll go with you,” Ruby offered.
“Nah, no need. I’ll be back in a few.” Asher walked off before she could protest. As he passed Promise on his way out the door, he couldn’t even bring himself to look at her, but he could feel her eyes on him. He wanted to stop and say something to her . . . anything, but with Ruby and Starla on deck it was probably best he didn’t so he kept it pushing.
CHAPTER 29
“Sucker-ass nigga,” Promise mumbled as Asher passed them. She had managed to procure another cup of liquor from somewhere and was punishing it.
“Promise, why don’t you slow down with that shit?” Mouse tried to take the cup from her, but Promise moved it out of her reach.
“I’m trying to drink the pain away,” Promise half-slurred. She went back to mad-dogging Ruby.
“What you’re going to wind up doing is falling the fuck out if you don’t fall back,” Mouse warned. “As a matter of fact, I’m about ready to leave. This party gettin’ whack. You ready?”
“Let me get one last drink for the road,” Promise downed the last of her liquor. When she went to stand up to go back to the bar, her legs were shaky and she damn near fell.
“Nah, you’ve had enough.” Mouse finally wrestled the cup from her friend. She took Promise by the arm and started steering her toward the door.
“Hold on, y’all leaving already?” Ab slid up on them.
“Oh, now you wanna act like you give a shit?” Mouse asked with an attitude.
“C’mon, don’t start your bullshit. You know I been moving around trying to make sure everything is in order,” Ab told her.
“Why couldn’t B-Stone keep shit in order while you spent a little time with me tonight?” Mouse asked.
“Have you seen this nigga?” Ab pointed in B-Stone’s direction. “That boy ain’t no good to nobody right now.”
“Why is he looking over here like that? He’s giving me creep vibes,” Promise said.
“Because his ass is wet, as usual. Seems like he spends more time dusted than handling business.” Mouse remarked.
“You need to watch your mouth before the wrong person hears you talking shit that you don’t know nothin’ about,” Ab warned.
“Whatever, nigga. I’m about to slide. My girl is tipsy and my feet hurt. Plus, dyke one and dyke two look like they over there scheming. I don’t wanna have to bank a bitch in here tonight.” Mouse was referring to Ruby and Starla.
“Man, don’t pay them bitches no mind. Let me talk to you right quick. I wanna tell you something.” Ab started pulling Mouse toward the bathroom.
“Promise, give me five minutes, and then we’re out, okay?” Mouse was letting Ab lead her off. For all the shit she talked, it didn’t take much for her to get caught up again.
“Whatever, bitch. I left my jacket in the other room. Meet me by the elevator in five minutes or I’m leaving your scandalous ass,” Promise threatened.
“Five minutes!” Mouse called over her shoulder before disappearing into the bathroom.
Promise shook her head sadly. She spared Ruby one last dirty look before staggering out of the suite.
* * *
“You peep that?” Starla asked Ruby, watching Promise wobble out.
“Yeah, I peeped it. I’m about to go out there and drag that white bitch.” Ruby started taking off her earrings.
“Nah, don’t do it like that. You run down on that bitch and the whole hood will be talking about you like a chicken head, out here fighting over a piece of dick,” Starla pointed out.
“Like I give a fuck.” Ruby was heated. She felt like Promise was testing her and it was Asher’s fault. She was worried that if she didn’t do something every hood rat on the block would be testing her next.
“I got a better idea. Watch your girl work.” Starla winked and walked over to B-Stone. He was still sitting there slack-jawed, bobbing his head to music that only he seemed to be able to hear. “You good over here?”
B-Stone turned to her. “Yeah, I’m just groovin’.”
“So I see. But yo, I saw you over here checking out the white girl. You fine, right?”
“Yeah, I’d smash,” B-Stone admitted.
“For a hundred cash, you can,” Starla informed him.
“What you mean? You trying to tell me shorty is selling pussy?” B-Stone asked in disbelief.
“On everything. That’s what the beef between her and Ruby was over. Asher paid for that,” Starla lied.
“I fucking knew it!” B-Stone said. He knew that there was no way Asher could’ve pulled a white girl with just straight-up game. Money had exchanged hands.
“She blazed at least four niggas in the hood that I know of.” Starla continued her slander. “If you’re trying to put your bid in, you might wanna hurry up and catch her. I heard her say something about after she finishes with her last trick she’s out of here.”
“Oh nah, I need to see what that’s about. Good looking out, Starla.” B-Stone got up and went off after Promise.
“Any time, my nigga. Any time.” Starla smiled devilishly.
“Starla, what the hell did you do?” Ruby asked, watching B-Stone hurry out of the suite.
“Nothing much. Just showing Asher’s little side piece how we play in the Bricks.”
* * *
Promise was glad to find the door slightly adjusted when she got back to the room down the hall. Whoever had used the room after she and Asher had folded the latch, preventing it from closing all the way. She was over the party that night and especially Asher’s punk ass.
She looked at the spot where they had almost made love and felt herself getting emotional. How could she have been so fucking dumb? She should’ve known that somebody like Asher could never go for somebody like her. No matter how fancy her clothes or how much makeup Mouse painted her face with, she’d never be anything more than the fat white girl from down the street.
She sat on the edge of the bed, head in her hands and overcome with a feeling of defeat. The room was beginning to swim a bit so she just needed to get her wits about her. “Just until I can get my shit together,” she told herself. The next thing Promise knew she had nodded off. She was awakened by the feeling of someone tugging at her pants. She opened her eyes expecting to see Asher. He’d probably followed her into the room, ready to spin some more lies and try to get in her pants. Instead, she found B-Stone.
“What are you doing?” Promise tried to sit up but found that the room was spinning.
“Just chill baby,” B-Stone whispered.
“No, get off me!” Promise tried to shove him, but he was too heavy.
“Relax, honey. I’m willing to pay like I weigh.” He dug in his pocket and held up a roll of bills for her to see, before going back to trying to take her pants off. He was having some difficulty because they were so tight.
“What part of ‘get off me’ don’t you understand?” Promise slapped him.
“What? You let Asher and the rest of them little niggas fuck, but my money ain’t no good?” B-Stone asked angrily. He was upset that Asher had been to the promised land and she was denying him. This only added to the building animosity he already felt toward his young lieutenant.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I need you to stop!” Promise raised her voice, but B-Stone acted like he didn’t hear her. Before she could stop him, he snatched the leather pants down around her ankles.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.” B-Stone eyed her smooth white thighs hungrily. He could see her pubic hair peeking out through the sides of her panties and found himself more excited when he saw that the carpet matched the drapes. “I’m about to bust you wide open, bitch,” he lowered himself on top of her. He was fumbling with his pants trying to get his dick out when he felt pain explode in his shoulder. She had bitten him. “Oh, that’s how you wanna play it? I’m with that game too, bitch,” he backhanded her.
Promise saw stars for the briefest of moments; everything went dark. When she came back to reality, B-Stone was trying to shove himself inside of her. She was dry, so he felt like he was ripping her open when the head of his dick penetrated her. “Damn, this shit tight,” he breathed his angel dust–tainted breath into her face.
She felt something wet between her legs and wasn’t sure if he came or she was bleeding. How could this be happening to her? “Help me . . . somebody,” she cried. Between the music blasting from the suite and all the raised voices in the hallways, nobody could hear her pleas except for her attacker. Promise closed her eyes and tried to mentally check out as he pushed deeper into her. Maybe it will be over quickly? B-Stone was just getting into his rhythm when suddenly his weight was lifted off of her. She opened her eyes and saw him touch his hand to his head and his fingers came away bloody. What the hell was going on? There was the sound—like something heavy striking a watermelon. B-Stone groaned once and then fell off the bed and onto the floor. Standing behind him was Mouse. In her hand she held the lamp that had been on the writing desk. Blood dripped from the bottom of it from where she had cracked B-Stone’s skull.
“Promise, are you okay?” Mouse asked frantically. Her friend’s face was bruised and there was blood on her inner thighs.
“He . . . he was raping me. I called for help, but nobody came. Nobody came.” Promise stammered. She felt like she was going into shock.
“I know, but I’m here now.” Mouse hugged her friend.
“How did you even know I was in here?” Promise asked, pulling her pants back up.
“Dumb luck.” Mouse admitted. “I looked for you when I came out of the bathroom. I thought maybe you went downstairs so I went outside, but still didn’t see you. I know you wouldn’t leave me without saying anything. Then I saw them two dyke bitches in the corner snickering and realized both you and B-Stone were gone. I remembered you saying something about having to get your coat so I took a chance by checking this room. I’m glad I did because . . . I don’t even wanna think about it.”
“Thank you, Mouse. Thank you.” Promise started crying again. There was no telling what else B-Stone might’ve done to her if Mouse hadn’t come into the room. Remembering her attacker, she peered over the bed to where he was laying. He wasn’t moving and there was blood pouring from the gash Mouse had opened up in his skull. “Is he dead?”
Mouse nudged him with her heel. “Sure as shit looks like it.”
“We have to call the police!” Promise reached for the hotel phone on the nightstand, but Mouse stopped her.
“Bitch, are you crazy? We’re underage in a hotel full of gangsters. We bring the police here and people get busted and we’re gonna look like rats,” Mouse said. “Besides, we’ve got a bigger problem right now. I killed a man.”
“I know, but you did it to save me,” Promise reasoned.
“That might work in the square world, but B-Stone wasn’t no square. He was a general . . . a made man. Word gets out to the homies that I killed one of their leaders and every nigga claiming a Blood or Piru set from here to South Jersey is going to be gunning for me. Probably you too because it’ll only be a matter of time before somebody puts two and two together and realize you and B-Stone disappeared from the party around the same time.”
Promise had never thought about it like that. “What should we do, Mouse?” she asked nervously.
“We gots to run, baby girl.” Mouse started pacing back and forth.
“We can’t run, Mouse. We ain’t got no money and what about school?” Promise asked.
Mouse stopped her pacing. “Bitch, are you not hearing me? Neither one of us will be walking down the aisle if we’re dead! We gotta get off the grid until we can figure this out. I got a few dollars in the stash. It ain’t much, but it should hold us for a couple of weeks until we come up with a long-term plan.”
“Where are we gonna go?”
“I got some place in mind, but you might not like it. Now come on before somebody comes down here looking for this nigga and finds us at the scene of the crime.” Mouse grabbed Promise by the hand and they took off.
Five minutes after the girls exited the room, the corpse they had left behind began to stir.
