He shook his head, dismissing the thought. “But you couldn't be. You are way sexier than her.”
Keisha exhaled. “Whatever he's drinking keep dem coming.”
“I'm starting to think that you want to get me drunk.”
Noah stepped on stage, commanding everyone's attention. “It's time to announce the winners, not the losers.” He announced third place, the second-place winner, then Hype's name was called in first place and the crowd cheered.
He left his drink at the bar and Keisha took the opportunity to put in the sleeping pills that she had crushed to powder. Keisha hurriedly took a jar out of her purse and poured it into his drink, since all eyes were on Hype, including the bartender's. She couldn't get the shakiness away. She was nervous thinking someone might see her. She was praying that the powder would dissolve faster. The female admirer who was competing for his attention earlier took him by the hand, pulling him in the opposite direction, and Keisha breathed a sigh of relief. When it was fully dissolved she took it upon herself to walk over to him with the drink. “Yuh left yuh drink a di bar and I don't want mi money going to waste.”
Hype took the drink and finished it one shot, thinking he was the man.
“I'm heading home but you seem like you have a story to tell. I'm interested to hear it if you care to join me,” Keisha said with regret. But that was the only way to carry out her plan without any witnesses. Besides, it was only a matter of time before the pills would set in.
“I'd gladly accept, but where is home?”
“I'm staying at a hotel nuh far from here.”
“Oh, so you're not from around here?”
“Yuh coming or not?” she asked as she headed for the door.
Hype wanted to take his car but Keisha signaled for him to join her in her car. If everything went as planned she would be heading back to Connecticut before the night ended.
She pulled up outside the Marriot and the valet approached to park her car. She handed her key over, then scooted out of the car holding her pocketbook tight.
“Are you checking in?” the employee at the desk asked.
Oh shit. I totally forgot to check in before I went to find Hype. If I check in he's going to know my name.
“Ma'am! Are you checking in?”
Hype's phone started to ring and he answered it.
“Phew.” Keisha exhaled as Hype walked away, engaged in his conversation. She hurriedly gave her name and information. She stared at Hype with his back turned to her. How she wished she could just pierce his head with a bullet.
“Here you go, Miss. Burkett.” The man handed her the credit card. She turned her head quickly as if she wanted to tell him to shut up. “Room 301 will be your room for the night.”
She hurriedly took the key card. Hype walked back to her with his conversation on high. Keisha walked off to the elevator and slid the key card. The door opened promptly.
Hype stepped inside, still on his phone. “You know me, player, I get mine,” he said aloud to whoever it was he was speaking to. “I got a diamond tonight. She even looks like a keeper. But I'll fill you in later.” He reached out and touched Keisha and her skin crawled.
The door slowly closed and she pressed the number three. Keisha held on to her pocketbook with a firm grip, hoping that Hype didn't get too close to her for her to kill him in the elevator. Her eyes studied the numbers from one to twelve representing each floor. The elevator started to move and her stomach felt like she was on a roller coaster. The number two button lit up and her stomach was in a knot. She didn't know what her next move would be when she got to her room.
“What brought you to town?” Hype asked.
Keisha's eyes were still focused on the numbers. She didn't want to look at him. She hated every fiber of his being. “Mi here on business fe eliminate a problem dat should've been taking care of a long time ago.”
“You sound lethal. You're not carrying a weapon are you?” Hype joked.
Keisha gave him a sadistic smile.
If you only know how badly I want to blow your fucking head off.
Keisha tightened her grip on her pocketbook.
“It seems like you have a story to tell. I'm more than willing to listen.” He got closer to her but the door opened and Keisha led the way.
“Tell mi 'bout your life as a struggling artist; dat will be more interesting.” Keisha was a step ahead, not wanting to walk at the same pace. She paused at room 301 and slid the key card. A green light flashed, giving her the okay to open the door.
The AC was on high and the cold air gave her chills when she entered. Hype grabbed her from behind and Keisha had a panic attack. “Get off me!”
Hype backed up as she ran to the far end of the room. “You can't bring a man to a hotel and not expect him to touch you.”
“Yuh tink mi looking for a one-night stand. Me just here pon business fe right a wrong.”
“You can right your wrong after you satisfy this man.” He was walking over to her, unbuttoning his shirt. “Take your glasses off. I would love to look into your eyes. You're like a mystery that I'm trying to solve.” He took his shirt off and lay on the bed. “Come to papa!”
Keisha darted to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She took her glasses off and splashed her face with water. Hype was banging the door like he wanted to break it down.
“Open the door, baby! I won't bite. I'll be gentle I promise.”
Keisha took the gun out of her pocketbook and aimed at the door.
“Don't let me wait too long.”
She could hear him walking away from the door. Keisha exhaled, looking at herself in the mirror. She was raging with anger. She didn't want to spend another minute in the room with him. She was going to kill him and the time was now. Keisha unlocked the door and turned the knob, opening the door.
It's better to wait until the sleeping pills set in. I don't want anything to go wrong.
She placed the gun back into her pocketbook and put her glasses back on her face. When she emerged from the bathroom Hype was lying on the bed in his boxers, licking his lips.
“It took you long enough,” Hype said as he got up off the bed.
“Wha di hell yuh expecting. Mi look like a whore to yuh?”
“Take off your clothes and show me what you got under that dress.”
“Do you think I'm going to sleep with you? Don't get it twisted.”
Hype got out off the bed and started to get dressed. He was furious at Keisha. “Why the hell would you pick me up in a bar and invite me to your room if you didn't want to sleep with me? Do you know how many women at the club would've loved to take me home?”
“Why isn't the poison working?” she said through gritted teeth. She didn't want to use the gun if she didn't have to. If the pills would just work she could call the police to come and get him.
“What did you say?”
“I said, âwhat position wud you like?'” She tried to cover up what she had originally said.
“You are a character. Now you changed your mind.”
“I need yuh company,” Keisha lied.
“Then prove it.”
She had to convince him to stay because she knew the pills should set in very soon and she wanted him to pass out in her presence. “Is dis what yuh want?” She dropped the straps off her shoulders.
“It's all I want and more.” He walked toward her.
She didn't want him to touch her. The repulsive thought made her squirm. She could tell he was starting to feel the effect of the pills. His eyes were half closed and his speech was slurred. “I'm going to . . . give it to you good.”
“Come and get it,” she taunted, knowing damn well that she didn't want his hands touching her.
Hype took another step and fell to the floor. She looked to the sky. “Finally!” Keisha took her glasses off. She felt his pulse and he was still alive. She took the gun out of her pocketbook and pointed it at his head and her hand started to shake. “I can do this. I can do this. I can kill this motherfucker!” She kicked him hard.
“Mmhh.” Hype moaned.
She kicked him again. “This is for my uncle.” Tears ran down her face. She wiped her eyes and placed both hands on the gun. She couldn't pull the trigger. She kicked him again and again. “I hate you!” She was shaking uncontrollably. “I can't do it, Uncle! I can't.” She saw her reflection in the mirror that overlooked the bed. Keisha hit the mirror with the gun, breaking it. She was disgusted with herself. She walked over to the phone and dialed 911. Keisha could barely get her words out. “I'm . . .” She sobbed uncontrollably.
“Calm down. I can't hear you. What's your location?” the 911 operator asked.
Keisha managed to control her sniffles. “The Marriott . . . Hotel.” She could hear the 911 dispatcher typing her answer. “Room 301.”
Hype woke up and limped toward her. She was unaware because her crying blocked out any sound.
“The man you're looking for, Jerome Campbell aka Hype, is here. Please hurry.” Keisha felt a presence behind her and turned to look. She screamed in disbelief and dropped the phone.
“Ma'am. Ma'am. Are you okay?”
Hype grabbed her by her neck and took the gun from her. “Look at those eyes. So it's really you. I must say you did fool me with that Jamaican accent. But you should have killed me when you had the chance.” He squeezed her throat. She fought frantically to get away. Her eyes rolled back in the back of her head and he released her from his grip. Keisha fell to her knees, gasping for air. “You are just a bitch trying to do a man's job. Let me guess, you wanted to take my life like I took your uncle's! He would be so disappointed in you.” He walked away from her, laughing.
She took a piece of the broken glass off the floor and ran toward him. Before he could stop her it was in his chest.
“You bitch!” He butted her with the gun and she fell to the floor. Her hand was bleeding because the glass had cut her. “I treated you like a lady and you played me like a fool.” He braced his back against the wall and pulled the piece of glass from his chest. “Ahhh!” Blood squirted all over the room. He took a pillowcase and pressed it on his chest.
“Do you think I wanted to kill your uncle?” He was rummaging through the drawer to find tape to cover his wound. “All he had to do was give me the fucking money. I didn't mean to kill Outrage. I accidentally shot him instead of Bling. I didn't want to shoot your friend Nikki. Those bullets were for you. The one time I decided to trust a woman you fucked with my head.”
He took the belt off his pants and wrapped it around his chest, holding the pillowcase in place. He kept on rambling as he got dressed. “I was supposed to be a star. I was supposed to go on tour but instead I'm on the run. Get up! Get the fuck up!” He pulled her by her hair and the wig came off. “What a fucking joke. I can't believe you fooled me.”
The hit made Keisha dizzy. Everything was a blur. Even Hype's words sounded like a bad phone connection. “Listen carefully. We are going to walk out of here like we are in love; you are going to stay close to me as if we are conjoining twins. The few minutes it will take us to get outside, you're going to be the happiest you have ever been.”
Chapter 25
The elevator door opened to the lobby and Hype held her close. He scoped the lobby swiftly, making sure there was no police. A woman was at the counter checking in. the automatic door open permitting a lesbian couple who couldn't keep their hands off each other entry to the lobby. A man with his briefcase came toward them, talking on his cell phone. Confirming that it was safe to walk out without being noticed, Hype proceeded to the door. The automatic door parted for him to exit but before he could put one foot in front of the other four police cars with their lights rotating pulled up outside.
Hype stepped to the side wrapping both of his arms around Keisha with a tight embrace. The pressure from the hug made him cringe as pain from his wound shot through his body. The police came rushing in the lobby with guns drawn. He planted his lips on Keisha, giving the impression that they were in a mating session.
The last police that entered the lobby lingered, looking in their direction. Keisha made eye contact with the cop, hoping he would see her cry for help. She parted her lips to speak and Hype planted another kiss on her lips. With it being clear that everything was okay the police hurried to the elevator.
“Clear!” a policeman shouted to the other five cops ahead of him. Hype held her arm tight and walked outside. A cab was dropping off a passenger and Hype almost knocked them over in a haste to get in the cab.
“Church Avenue. Brooklyn,” he ordered.
“Church Avenue and what?” the cabbie inquired with his thick Indian accent.
“Just drive.” The cabbie did as he was told.
He was a little weak because even though the pills weren't strong enough to knock him out they still had some effect on him. He was also losing blood but he was fighting to stay awake. Keisha was still woozy from him knocking her over the head with the gun. The whole ride Hype had the gun jammed into her rib cage just in case she tried to do anything stupid.
Keisha rested her head against the door and drifted off sleeping.
You have to be strong. You can do this. You can get through this, baby girl.
Patrick's voice reassured her.
I don't know how, Uncle. He's going to kill me. You have to tell me how, Uncle. I need you.
She felt a hard tug on her arm like the person wanted to rip it off her body. Her vision was blurry as she slowly opened her eyes.
“That will be $25.50,” the cabbie said. Realizing she was at their final destination Keisha sat up quickly to face her demise. Hype took out the envelope with his winnings from last night and gave the cabbie fifty bucks. “I have no change for this.” The cabbie turned, looking at him angrily.
“Keep the change.” He pulled Keisha by her arm out of the cab and the man thanked Hyped continuously for his generous tip. Keisha lazily placed one foot in front of the next as Hype dragged her to a basement apartment.
Hype banged on the door and the lock hanging from the steel bar made the noise even louder. A dog was barking in the apartment, ready to attack. “Who is it?” a man inquired from inside.
“Just open the damn door,” Hype stated in anger.
You could hear the many locks being pulled. When the door was open the foul stench of dog pee and musk rushed to Keisha's nostril, making her hurl. “Who is this with you, man? You know I don't like strangers at my place,” the man said, trying to see past Hype. Hype pulled Keisha into clear view. “Women are always welcome.” He rubbed his palms together.
“Well, she is yours if you want her.” Hype pushed Keisha toward the man and she fell down two flights of stairs into the man's arms. They stumbled backward and Keisha fell, hitting her head hard on the tile floor. The dog barked hysterically.
“Why the fuck did you do that?”
Hype made his way down the steps and the dog growled at him. The pit bull was fierce and it wanted to rip him to shreds but lucky for Hype he was in his cage. The pit bull watched intently as Hype walked past his cage.
“Who the fuck is this chick?” The man got up off the floor, looking back at Keisha.
“That bitch from Top Dot Records.” Hype reclined on the sofa.
“Don't tell me that you went after her?” The man limped toward Hype.
“She came searching for me. I had everything all planned out. With the money I got I was going to pay Mikey toâ”
“Who the hell is Mikey?” the man interrupted.
“My connection with the boat. He was going to take me to the Bahamas. I would be free. This bitch had to mess shit up.” Hype got up and headed for the door. The dog barked at him. “Shut the fuck up before I put two bullets in your fucking head!” It was as if the dog comprehended every word Hype said and he lay quietly in his cage.
“Where are you going, man?”
“I'll be back in an hour. Make sure this bitch doesn't move.”
The man shook his head in disapproval. “I don't want any part of this mess.”
Hype turned the knob and opened the door, then turned to face his friend. “How about her playing the park of your bitch while I'm gone? I know you haven't had pussy in a while.” Hype left with a big smile on his face.
His friend closed the many locks on the door, then picked Keisha up off the floor, taking her to the couch. Keisha was too weak to defend herself. Her brain wasn't sending any signal to her body parts. Inside she was kicking and screaming, putting up a fight, but it was futile. He dropped his boxers and his manhood was already hard. He got down on his knees, kissing her legs. He had a toe fetish. “French-manicured toenails.” He sucked her toes until he was satisfied.
Keisha found the strength to lift her head but quickly returned it to the comfort of the couch because the pain intensified in her head. Tears streamed down her face as she lay lifeless to his touches. He raised her dress and her lace red panties turned him on even more. He kissed her lower body all over. Keisha felt disgusted as he removed her underwear. The man smiled at her flesh. She fought with whatever energy she could summon up. He was too strong for her and he overpowered her.
Keisha closed her eyes, hoping to fall asleep and reconnect with her uncle but she couldn't sleep through the ordeal. She wanted him to stop. Keisha's eyes were closed through the whole ordeal. She didn't want to see this animal on top of her. She felt his hands cupping her breasts. She also felt his warm tongue. He was suckling like a newborn. Keisha eyes watered and her tears ran like a stream. He kissed her cheek as if to say thanks. She turned her head quickly to the right and it made the room spin. He removed himself from her wetness and fixed her dress, then pulled up his boxers and went to the kitchen.
Keisha had wanted to get revenge for her uncle's death. Hype was supposed to be terminated. How did it backfire on her?
It wasn't supposed to be like this; it wasn't supposed to be like this!
She sobbed quietly and drifted off into sleep.
“I hate what's happening to you,” Patrick said.
A woman stood beside Patrick but she had her back turned so Keisha couldn't recognize her face. “Who is with you, Uncle? And why do I feel like I know her?” Keisha suddenly felt a deep connection with the woman. It was as if she knew who she was. She remembered her father telling her that her mother was sick and in the hospital. Without saying another word she knew instantly that the woman was her mother. “Mommy!” she cried, reaching for her. They embraced each other and they sobbed together. “I'm sorry, Mommy! I'm so sorry.” Keisha tried to hold on to her mother, not wanting to let go, but she felt someone shaking her and pulling her away from her mother. Keisha was trying to hold on but she lost her grip. “Mommy, please come back. Please come back.”
Keisha awoke from her dream to the smell of eggs and bacon. The man had made breakfast and served her a plate. After what he did to her she didn't want to accept his breakfast but she needed to eat to retain energy if she wanted to avenge her uncle's death. She managed to raise herself up and looked into the eyes of her rapist and made a vow to herself.
Revenge will be mine.