Chapter 21
“I get everything I want.”
—Yasmine
Miamor smiled as she danced with her baby boy, holding his hand as she bent down to kiss him on the cheeks. He was clad in a Ralph Lauren suit and as she turned her head to see Carter watching them closely, she realized that life could not get any better. She held out her hand for him to join them and Carter shook his head to decline but gave her a wink instead.
Carter had never imagined that the fruit to their street labor would be so abundant, but Vegas seemed to be the reward. For all the loss . . . the blood shed . . . the misery that The Cartel had endured, they had finally reached the ultimate goal. Legitimacy. As the live band switched tunes he checked the presidential on his wrist. It was almost nine o’clock. It was time to send the children home with Magdalena so that a night of true celebration could begin. He motioned for Miamor to come off the dance floor. She was now grooving with CJ and her nephews Tre and Monroe Jr. She left the boys to entertain themselves as she went to her husband’s side.
“Have Magdalena take the kids back to the condo,” he said.
“Cool, you want me to send Aries?” Miamor asked.
“No, she needs to be here. She helped build this. The men, their families . . . the entire Cartel gets to enjoy this night,” Carter said. Miamor kissed his cheek, recognizing his nostalgia before walking away to dismiss the kids.
He watched Miamor hustle out of the room but tensed when the feeling of soft hands covered his eyes.
“Guess who Mr. Jones?”
He turned, stepping back to create some distance. “Yasmine? What are you doing here?” he asked. He was cool under pressure as he rubbed his freshly lined goatee.
“You think my father would invest in a casino without protecting his investment. I’m his eyes and ears,” she replied. “After hearing that you were out, I couldn’t help but make the trip. We have unfinished business Mr. Jones.”
Carter smirked at her persistence. Even after five years Yasmine didn’t give up. She was a lioness on the prowl and she was looking for a king. She was prettier, more mature, and more glamorous. In another lifetime perhaps she would be his lady, but in this one the competition for his heart had already been won.
“What business is that?” he asked.
She stepped close, standing next to him as she leaned into his ear. Carter kept his eye on the crowd, not even looking down at her as she whispered, “No one has fucked me quite right since you and I know that little ghetto girl of yours can’t suck your dick like I can. She’s trash.”
“Watch your mouth,” Carter warned, still keeping his eyes straightforward.
She cut her eyes at him. “You know you don’t love her Carter. If you did, you would have never slept with me. Silly man,” she said with a mischievous grin. “If you think I came here to be turned away you’re mistaken. We both know the connection we shared while you were in Saudi Arabia. If you like, I can refresh your memory.”
She caressed Carter’s hand but he quickly gripped her wrist tightly and pulled her across the room until he found a corner of slot machines that was practically empty. He cornered her against the wall. “Look ma, this is my life. Shit was good in Saudi, I’m not gone play you like it wasn’t but it isn’t laying like that between us over here. I have a wife now . . . a family.”
Yasmine reached down and massaged his print, feeling his thickness through the fabric of his pants. He shook her hard, slamming her back against one of the machines. “What the hell is wrong with you ma? I said it’s not happening.” He thumbed the center of her forehead. “Get that shit through your head.”
She reached out to him, grabbing at his lapel but he dusted her off of him as if he were removing a piece of irritating lint. He was trying to save her. The way she was acting she would blow up her own spot and get herself whacked. My bitch ain’t bout them games, he thought, shaking his head as he walked away briskly.
He didn’t realize that his face was scrunched until he found Miamor. “What’s wrong?”
He straightened his brow and took a deep breath as he replied, “Nothing ma. Everything’s good.”
“Good because it’s time for the ribbon cutting ceremony and for you to make your speech,” she said.
Monroe made his way to Carter’s side and they hugged jovially. “We made it bro,” Monroe said.
“We’ll always make it,” Carter replied. He looked around. He had his left hand, now he was only missing his right. Zyir was his hitter and it wouldn’t be right to bust this cherry without him. The casino symbolized their rise into greatness. He had helped to achieve it. It was important that he be a part of this moment. “Where is Zyir?”
“Breeze isn’t going to let that nigga come up for air anytime soon,” Monroe replied. “We can get started without him.”
Miamor walked up on the small stage where the live band was playing and signaled for them to stop playing as she took the microphone.
“Good evening everyone. First I would like to thank you all for coming to the official grand opening of The Davinci Resort and Casino. I would like to introduce you to the owners of The Davinci, my husband Carter Jones, and my brothers Monroe Diamond and Zyir Rich. Let’s give them a round of applause ladies and gentlemen.”
Miamor walked off stage as Carter and Monroe stole the spotlight. As she stepped off she was yanked into an empty broom closet. She protested, but her hands were held tightly at the wrists as a hand quickly covered her mouth to silence her scream.
“Chill Miamor, it’s just me,” Fly Boogie stated.
Miamor snatched away from him violently. “What the fuck is up with you?”
“I had to talk to you ma,” Fly Boogie said. “You haven’t fucked with me since Carter been home. It’s been days Miamor. I’ve called you like a hunnid times ma.”
Miamor shook her head. It was now confirmed that she had him lovesick. He was handsome, paid, hungry, and she had trained him to be a killer but he wasn’t for her. He didn’t have enough teeth in the game to even look her way. Her resume trumped his. Even if she wasn’t in love with Carter she didn’t have time to grow Fly Boogie up. They weren’t in the same league. “Fly, my man is home. My husband,” she said.
“I know and I respect big homie, but I’d be lying like shit if I told you that I haven’t been thinking about you. I’m feeling you ma. I know it ain’t supposed to happen like that but its true. Seeing you on this nigga arm is making me sick,” Fly Boogie stated as he cornered her. He reached down and seconds before his lips touched hers she turned her face, causing him to kiss her cheek.
“Stop, just stop Fly,” she protested. “Carter will murder you in this bitch. If you’ve never believed anything before please believe that. Just do your job Fly. Remain loyal. I’m not the girl for you and these are not the kind of problems you want.”
“Look at this shit ma,” he said, pulling up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo of her name on his wrist. “I’m riding with you Miamor. Everything I do is for you. I’m stacking my paper for you.”
“Have you lost your mind? What if Carter sees that? What does that mean ” she asked. “Fly, get a hold of yourself before you put yourself in a position you can’t get out of.”
“You didn’t feel nothing. When Carter was away and it was just me and you? Tell me I’m imagining it,” Fly Boogie challenged, wearing his heart on his sleeve. Over the years Fly Boogie had fallen for Miamor. She was the only type of woman he could see himself with. Carter coming home had thrown him off. He couldn’t stand the sight of them together. It pained him greatly despite the fact that he knew what it was.
She looked into his handsome face and thought, If Carter was any other nigga I would give you what you asking for little boy. But he holds the key to my heart.
Miamor didn’t respond, she simply walked out of the closet while shaking her head in disgrace. She wasn’t a liar and she didn’t want to insult Fly Boogie’s intelligence. They had connected. She even enjoyed his company. Many nights they had stayed up until the sun came out, talking about the game . . . about life . . . his presence had made things a little less hard. She couldn’t tell him that she hadn’t felt anything, but she wouldn’t confirm that she had either. Even thinking it made her feel like she was betraying Carter. With her thoughts running rampant in her head, she bumped straight into Yasmine.
“I love your dress. What is it? Yves Saint Laurent?” Yasmine asked, playing nice. “I had one just like it last season.”
“I know one thing you didn’t have last season,” Miamor shot back. She wasn’t even going to pretend to like this girl. She had no time for games. Not when Fly Boogie had her flustered and bothered.
Yasmine pursed her lips as she waited for the punch line. Miamor pointed her manicured finger up at the stage where Carter charmed the crowd. “That’s all mine,” she said. Yasmine rolled her eyes as Miamor joined her husband on stage. By the end of the speech and the ribbon cutting ceremony, Carter had made all of the attendees fall in love with him.
“What is Yasmine Baraka doing here?” Miamor asked, leaning into him so that no one could overhear her disdain.
“Her father sent her. She’s here to stay so play nice ma . . . for me,” Carter stated.
“I don’t play at all. The sooner she learns that the better. I have no problem shipping her ass back to the middle-east in a box,” she spat. Carter was already feeling the heat from the mistake he had made years ago. He only hoped that it didn’t come back to haunt him. He had to make sure that Yasmine could keep a secret, because if his infidelity ever got out he could lose it all.
“Why exactly were the Italians brought in on the deal?” Carter asked. It was the first words out of his mouth as Miamor walked into their condo. She was carrying a sleeping CJ in her arms. It was the first day that she hadn’t had to rely on Magdalena to play ‘mommy’. She had spent the entire day with her four year old and she was exhausted. In so many ways being a regular wife and mother was more taxing than running an entire staff at the resort and casino. The last thing she wanted to do was come home and go over every single move she had made while Carter had been away.
“That’s the first thing you say to me? I haven’t seen you all day!” she said as she pouted playfully. She carried CJ into his room and laid him across his bed before rejoining Carter at the dining room table. He had requested that every contract that had been acquired during his absence be copied and sent to him. It was all laid out in front of him as he tried to wrap his brain around the entire operation. He couldn’t be a boss without knowledge. He didn’t want to have to go to Miamor every time someone asked him a question. He was playing catch up and it was overwhelming.
“Okay Mr. Jones . . . the Italians?” Miamor said rhetorically. “Well Jim Salerno runs this town. He’s old school. Mafia. I could not get the gambling commission to approve my license application unless I cut a deal with him. He has a ten percent stake in The Davinci. I’ll make the introduction if you like?”
Carter nodded and pulled her into his lap as he kissed her shoulder. “I’ll set it up for the morning.”
Carter and Miamor stayed up half the night as she filled him in on business. She was thorough and ran through it all, leaving no detail up in the air.
While she had him talking Miamor’s thoughts drifted. She didn’t like how Yasmine suddenly had a vested interest in The Davinci. Where the hell was she when I was building it from the ground up? “Can I ask you something?” she asked.
“Anything ma,” he replied, distracted. Miamor used her forefinger to turn his chin toward her.
“I need you to be honest with me Carter,” she replied. “And I need to see your eyes when I ask you this.”
Her tone worried him and he gave her his attention. “You ain’t got to tip toe around anything Miamor. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know,” he said seriously.
“Have you ever fucked with Yasmine?” she asked.
The question caused his heart to stop but his face remained the same. He wasn’t one to lie but he couldn’t admit to that. To dig up skeletons from years ago would only bring trouble. He didn’t want to upset Miamor or give her insecurity about Yasmine. He had told himself that it would never happen again and he had meant it. “No, I wouldn’t have her here, around you everyday, if I had. I wouldn’t disrespect you Miamor,” he said. As he spoke he felt like scum because that’s exactly what he was doing. Yasmine had an inside joke on Miamor and he knew how catty women could be. I got to take care of that, he thought. “You don’t have to worry about that okay?”
Miamor wanted to believe him but her intuition was telling her otherwise. He had never lied to her before. It was she who had been the deceiver in their relationship. Even if she didn’t want to she had to extend the benefit of the doubt. “Okay,” she replied.
Carter saw the doubt in her eyes. The fact that she couldn’t hide it told him that life was about to get real messy for him. Straightening out things with Yasmine would have to be the first thing on his agenda. Fuck the Italians, Carter thought as he shook his head. They’re the least of my worries. I’ve got to get this shit together before it blows up in my face.
Carter, Zyir, and Monroe sat in the aficionado bar, sipping cognac and puffing the finest cigars as they absorbed all that had occurred.
“It took a lot to get here bro, but we made it my niggas,” Monroe said as he raised his glass in the air.
“Indeed,” Zyir agreed as they all touched glasses.
“There are a few things that can be fine tuned but over all the girls held it down. If it weren’t for them . . .”
Monroe didn’t even get to finish his statement before Carter interrupted. “We would have been stuck in Saudi Arabia.”
“Saudia Arabia wasn’t so bad though my nigga. The bitches over there . . .” Monroe replied, shaking his head.
“Speaking of,” Carter said as he leaned forward and rested his elbows against his knees. He lowered his voice. “I need the two of you to run interference on Yasmine. Keep her away from Miamor. I don’t know why she is here but the heat is hot at home. She thinks Miamor is some regular chick, but my li’l mama don’t do the catty shit. She will set that trap and have Yasmine plugged. That would be bad business for everybody.”
“I told you that one was bad news,” Zyir said. “The smartest thing to do would be to send her ass back to Saudi Arabia.”
“Baracka wants her here and we kind of need her. She has experience running a casino. If she can keep her head on straight it would be a good look,” Carter said.
As if they had spoken her up Yasmine came waltzing into the bar. Her presence was like a magnet and the men in the building immediately turned their attention her way. She was a beautiful woman. That much couldn’t be denied.
“Here you are,” she said with a smile as she stood. “Hello gentlemen,” she added, nodding at Zyir and Monroe. “Do you mind if I borrow him?”
Monroe nodded as he grinned, knowing the delicate position that his older brother was in. Carter gave him a stern look and then followed her up to her office.
He was glad that Miamor had played the back that day. Since his return he knew that she was trying to let him find his footing in the casino. Today her absence gave him the perfect opportunity to iron things out with Yasmine. As soon as they were inside the privacy of her office Yasmine was all over him.
“I missed you Carter and ever since I saw this desk, I’ve imagined you fucking me on top of it,” she whispered.
Her seductive ways enticed him. He hated that she was so damn sexy. A lesser man would have taken her up on her offer, but he wasn’t a dog. He wasn’t in the business of lying. Cheating took too much effort. He grabbed her wrists as she tried to undo the buttons of his shirt while rubbing her body against his.
“Yasmine. Stop,” he said sternly in a low no nonsense tone.
“Hmm,” she moaned as if she couldn’t help herself. “You know I’m never going to stop.”
“I’m married ma. It was different when we were in Saudi Arabia. Things have changed,” he said. “We can’t do this.”
“Oh we can,” Yasmine stated. “And we will . . . as often as I want. Because if you don’t, I’ll ruin your marriage. You wouldn’t want that little black bitch to find out about us now would you?”
Carter placed his hands in his pockets to stop himself from laying hands on Yasmine. His jaw tightened instinctively. He didn’t take kindly to threats and she was testing him. Just for getting flip at the lip he wanted to wring her pretty little neck. She was too comfortable, too close, and he wasn’t feeling the thin line she was dancing on. “Perhaps I’m not making myself clear,” he stated his voice dangerously low. “I eliminate anything and anyone who poses a threat to my family. There is no way I’m leaving my wife or allowing you to embarrass her. So do your job, lets make this money together, and forget about the past.”
Yasmine chuckled. Carter’s threats only made her want him more. It was his gangster that she loved the most. “Forget about the past? You wish you could Carter. How many times did you think of me at night while you were locked up? The way I wrapped my lips around your dick? Or the way my body molded to it as I rode you? You probably see my face when you’re fucking that average wife of yours.”
“We’re done,” Carter insisted.
“We’ll see about that now won’t we?” she said as she licked her lips. “Because I’m just getting started.” She reached down to stroke his manhood and it jumped. She was like a snake charmer, commanding it at her will. He gripped her hand but she was insistent as she massaged his rising manhood harder as she undid his slacks. He didn’t even feel her slide his cell out of his pocket, he was too focused on the arousal she provided. “Maybe I’ll just get rid of your bitch of a wife altogether and then I’ll have you to myself.” Everything in him wanted to bend her over and punish her. She was right . . . he had fantasized many times before just off her memory, but it was only a physical attraction for him. The more she played this game, the more she put his family at risk, the more she held their tryst over his head, the more his mental despised her. Carter pushed her off forcefully, causing her to stumble as she crashed into her desk. He glared at her as he adjusted his clothes. “You’re biting off more than you can chew. Stay the fuck away from my wife.”
“With pleasure, as long as I don’t have to stay away from you,” she replied. She hopped on her desk and spread her legs as she moved her panties aside, massaging her swollen clit. “Join me?”
It was a temptation that not many men could resist, but Carter knew that dipping into Yasmine was like sinking into quick sand. An affair with her would drown him. He fumed as he slipped out of her office, shaking his head in dismay because he knew that Yasmine was a problem. She was playing hard body and it seemed that the only way to control her would be to comply. Otherwise her slick talk would get him caught up. A part of Carter wanted to just come clean to Miamor. The secret keeping and covering his tracks was boggling his mind. He needed a clear head to take hold of the casino operations and to move the resort into a new direction. He couldn’t focus on business when his personal life stood on rocky ground. If Miamor uncovered the truth on her own, her wrath would not severe. Yasmine thought she had control of this little game but what she didn’t realize was that she was playing Russian roulette. There were only so many times she would be able to pull the trigger before Miamor popped off.
Miamor sighed in frustration as she was sent to voicemail for the fourth time. “Where the hell is he?” she whispered as she slipped into her shoes. An impromptu meeting with the mayor of Las Vegas had popped up and she needed Carter to be there. She was supposed to make the introduction. Right now all of the major players in the city were familiar with Miamor. They knew her as the owner . . . the face of the casino. Easing Carter into prominence was important. He couldn’t officially be on the deed because of his prison history, but it was the unofficial business in a city like Las Vegas that made the world go round. She wanted to be the lady on his arm, but his presence was required in order to make that happen. She was beyond irritated.
“Relax, he will be here. I’m sure he’s just busy. His phone is probably in his desk. When he gets to it, he’ll be here,” Breeze said. “In the meantime, Money and I will take C.J. for the night.”
“Thanks Breeze,” Miamor said. “You’re a lifesaver. I already packed his bag.” She walked into her son’s room to find him sitting in the middle of the floor playing with his toys. She loved her son, more than life itself. She couldn’t wait until things were settled. She just wanted to be a wife and a mom. She could hang her holster and her business hat up. She would be completely content with being Mrs. Jones forever and ever. “You ready to go with Auntie Breeze and Uncle Money?” she asked.
“Yeah!!!!” he shouted. He hopped up and ran to Breeze who was standing behind her.
“Can I get some love first?” Miamor said with a laugh. Her son ran back to her full speed and kissed her on the cheek repeatedly, inciting laughter. He knew exactly how to fill her with joy. He then rushed out of the door, following Breeze.
“Good luck tonight!” Breeze shouted as she eased out of the door.
Just as she made her exit the telephone rang. Miamor rushed to answer it. “Hello?”
“I’m downstairs, buzz me up ma,” Fly Boogie said.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“You forget about the deposit? I was late going to the bank. Didn’t want to keep that much paper on me,” he said.
Miamor went to the door and buzzed him up.
He walked into the penthouse with a Gucci book bag slung over his shoulder. He held it out for her.
“I take it there is no need to count it?” she asked.
“I’m never short ma, you know that,” he replied. “Where you going?”
“Carter and I are supposed to be meeting with the mayor but it looks like I’m being stood up. Carter has been unavailable all day. I can’t get in touch with him. Did you run into him at the casino?” she asked.
“Nah, I ain’t seen him,” Fly replied. “The nigga slipping though. If he let you leave the house looking like that and you not on his arm, he’s crazy.”
Miamor laughed as she shook her head. “You need a girl Fly. I worry about you. You can’t trap all day and night without someone to go home to,” she said. She grabbed a bottle of wine and cracked it open as she poured two glasses.
“Before your boy got out you left me no room to get a girl. You took up all my time,” he replied with a charming smile. “Had a nigga around twenty-four/seven. A bitch would have had a problem with that,” he said.
“I needed you,” she admitted. “I couldn’t have held everything together while Carter was gone without you.”
“I’ma always be here ma. No bird can get in the way of that,” he said. “You’re the priority. My loyalty is always with you,” he said.
Miamor was speechless. She didn’t know if Fly Boogie was loyal to her for business or in a more intimate sense. She knew that she should establish limits with him, but he was too good to her. He was good for her. She didn’t mind having him around. Loyalty was hard to find. She handed him a glass.
“Have a drink with me while I wait?” she asked.
He took the glass and then downed the wine before handing it back to her. “I’ma get out of here. It’s late,” he replied. He stepped closely to her, dangerously close, making the temperature in the room increase. He smelled good, looked good, and his youth made him fear nothing, not even Carter. Miamor could feel his attraction. The more they interacted the more it grew. Fly had a thing for her. They both knew it, but they both were aware that it could never be. She would have to be very careful how she handled him. She didn’t want to mismanage his young heart. Young boys were loyal but they were also reckless when wounded. He kissed her cheek. “Goodnight beautiful,” he said. “If it were me, I’d never keep you waiting.”
“I believe you,” she replied. “But its not you Fly. Carter would kill you for even having the thought. He’s out, things are getting back to normal. I need you to be okay with that . . . with my husband. You’re loyal to The Cartel, not to me.”
“Nah ma, just you,” he answered.
He made his exit leaving Miamor’s heart racing and she grabbed the entire bottle of wine, drinking straight from the bottle.
Where the hell is Carter? She thought, flustered and overwhelmed. While he had her waiting he had no idea that there was somebody in line just dying to snatch his lady.
“Mr. Jones, I have your messages,” his secretary said as he entered his office. His day had been long and stressful. Thoughts of Yasmine filled his head, distracting him, tormenting him all day. He had never been one to tolerate blackmail, but she was Baraka’s daughter. Baraka owned half of The Davinci and on top of that his power was unlimited. He couldn’t handle Yasmine like he would any other chick, because she was far from ordinary. He would have to handle the situation with extreme delicacy. “Mrs. Jones wants to meet for drinks. She’s waiting for you in your suite upstairs.”
Carter nodded, deciding that he would handle the rest of his business later. He headed out. The thought of seeing Miamor’s face instantly soothed his troubled soul. She was his safe haven, his peace, and his guilty conscience made him feel like he could lose her at any moment. He made his way upstairs, knowing exactly what she had in store. He inserted his key card into the lock and pushed the door open. He opened it and walked inside, finding his favorite cognac already prepared. A note accompanied it.
Have a drink and relax. Tonight is about us. Turn off your phone. I’ll be up in five minutes.
After the day he had endured he could use a drink and he downed it in two large gulps before searching for the open bottle. He poured himself another, took it to the head and then finally slow sipped a third. Finally he felt the tension melt from his shoulders as he settled onto the couch. There was nothing like a good cognac to unwind but tonight he was feeling exceptionally loose. He licked his lips as he imagined the things he would do to Miamor. He wanted to taste her on his lips and the thought alone caused his manhood to brick. He lay his head against the couch as he adjusted his hard-on in his pants. The distress of his day had worn him out. He was more tired than he had realized. He hated that Yasmine had something over him. The pressure to live according to her terms was too much. I’m not playing the blackmail game. I’m going to come clean to Miamor. If she has to hear it, it should come from me, Carter thought. He heard the click of the lock and then the lights went out as the sound of stiletto heels click clacked against the tiled floor.
“I love that you set all of this up for me ma, but I need to talk to you about something important,” he said.
“Shhh,” was the only reply he got. The room was so dark that all he saw was the silhouette of her trench coat and when she lowered onto her knees and fumbled with his belt he knew what was next. He closed his eyes as she licked his length. He was throbbing and she could feel him pulsating in her mouth as she took him in. No gagging, no shallow throat, she was a pro as she worked his shaft with her hand while sucking the life out of him. It wasn’t until she said, “I told you Carter. I get everything that I want.”
When he heard her voice he jumped up, pushing her off of him. “What the fuck?” he exclaimed as he tripped all over himself while backpedaling away from Yasmine. He was stumbling all over the place. Suddenly he had turned into a clumsy oaf. He couldn’t seem to gather his bearings as she advanced on him.
“Don’t fight it Carter, just take me. Take me any way, every way, you want to,” Yasmine said as she pushed him toward the bedroom. Either he was light as a feather or she had suddenly become he-man because he couldn’t evade her as she aggressively pushed him onto the bed. His mind was screaming no, but his dick was clearly in the game as it stood to attention as she lowered her body onto his girth.
“You drugged me?” he asked in disbelief as he placed his hands on her hips. He didn’t have the strength to lift her off of him. She hadn’t meant for him to drink three glasses back to back. She had spiked the bottle with Ropyhnol, hoping to keep him submissive through the night. The amount he had drank had him completely sedated. He could feel everything, but even now remembering how he had gotten to this point with her was beginning to fade away. All he felt was the pleasure as she bounced on his dick.
“Damn,” he whispered. The fact that he had fallen for her okie doke had him feeling like a sucker. She was in control, at least for the night and with him incapacitated there wasn’t much that he could do. In his mind he knew that this would be the straw that broke the camel’s back. In a situation where the truth sounded like lies, Miamor would never believe him. As he blacked out the last thing he heard was Yasmine whispering in his ear. “You should have just gone along with me Carter. You know you love it.”