The King Of The South (8 page)

She had quit her job and told him she was going to go to school to become certified in home day care. He didn’t get Tiana sometimes. She didn’t want him in the game, but as soon as he comes home from doing a bid, she quits her job. He is happy to support his family, and would do things Tiana’s way… for now.

“Dude, just bring her. You should bring her out for a night on the town. At least it will buy you some peace for a little while.” King said. “Besides, this is a new club we are going to, and I need a good set of eyes and hands with me in case some shit jumps off.”

“Nigga, I’ll tell you who I should be bringing there tonight.”

“Who?” King asked, curious to know who else Kareem could be talking about

“That girl, Imani. Brah, she done really grew up and filled out.”

“Man, you tripping. She too young for you. Besides, she looks at us like we are her brothers.”

“Naw nigga, she look at you like that. That ain’t got nothing to do with me. How Keith Sweat say, she maybe young, but she ready,” Kareem continued while laughing.

“I ain’t fucking with your thirsty ass tonight. Just finish getting ready and holla at me when you outside the spot.”

“Aight, I got you. Meet you there in an hour.” Kareem responded.

“Oh yeah, and afterwards, I need you to head over on Hawthorne. I need my money from our trap. They been coming up short lately. Just scoop it up for me. Damn, I almost forgot. This club don’t allow jeans, man, so you gotta put on your grown man shit to get in.”

“Brah, you know I stays on my Ebony status shit, I got it.”

__________

“This is actually nice, Kareem.” Tiana said, looking around the club. “Not what I expected from you at all.”

“Your table is ready, sir. Please follow me,” the host said as he extended his arm for Tiana. Tiana giggled and took the arm of the tall host. He flashed his smile at her and she felt a tingle in her spine.

“Right this way, madam. By the way, my name is Anthony.”

Kareem shook his head as he and King followed Anthony down the stairs to a table close to the stage.

Anthony pulled the chair out for Tiana and placed three menus on the table.

“Your server will be with you shortly. Enjoy.” Anthony said, winking at Tiana.

“This dude,” Kareem said and shook his head.

“What, jealous baby? I am sure he does that with all the people that come here. It’s part of the ambience of the place. Oh, I know what I want. I have never had one before, but I am going to order it.”

King checked his phone. It was 8:45. He couldn’t believe he had actually shown up early for a female.

“So, how did you hear about this place, man?” Kareem said, looking at King.

“A friend told me about it. She should be meeting us here.”

“A friend? What friend?” Kareem said, eyeing King.

“Nigga, you’ll see. Just chill.”

“Good evening, my name is Honey, and I will be your server tonight. Can I start you off with drinks?”

“Hi Honey, you can. I would like a Sangria.” Tiana said.

“Sangria for the lady, and the gentlemen?”

“You can bring us whatever you have in dark beer.” King said, looking at the staircase.

“Ok, and would you like some of our wings to start with. We have southern style, garlic, and buffalo.”

“You can bring us southern style please, with hot sauce on the side.” Tiana said with excitement.

King looked at Kareem. Tiana was acting and behaving like she doesn’t get out much, which was actually true. Tiana, unlike so many chicks who had men locked up, had remained faithful to Kareem. She spent any free time she did have going to church with her children. As soon as she started church, she had started in on King about Kareem not coming back to the life. King never argued with her, but he knew that it would be Kareem’s decision to make. He was surprised when she stopped accepting money from him, because he couldn’t see how she was supporting the children on her CNA salary. Tiana was from the projects, so help from her family was out of the question, as well. King had planned to ask Kareem about it, but it had slipped his mind. Now that Kareem was home, he didn’t see the point in mentioning anything.

The waitress returned with their drinks and wings. She placed the bottle of Texas Pete on the table, along with white linen napkins and cutlery.

“Thank you,” Tiana said as she sipped her drink. “Oh, this is delicious. Taste it, baby.” Tiana said, handing the glass to Kareem.

“Will you need anything else right now?” Honey smiled at Kareem.

Tiana was so caught up in the moment of actually being out of the house and on a date with Kareem, she did not notice Honey checking her man out.

“No, umm not right now.” Kareem said, returning the smile to Honey.

“All right, I will be back to check on you.”

Kareem watched Honey walk away. The black leather skirt hugged her hips and thighs. The white shirt she wore only came down to her midriff, exposing her flat toned stomach and piercing. She had her hair pinned up in a messy sexy ponytail, and her caramel skin shimmered in the low light.

King cleared his throat and broke the trance that Kareem was under. He checked his watch again. It was nine o clock, and no sign of Sloan. He was a little offended that she had not shown up or called.
Chill, playa it’s just 9:00. You’re the early one.
He reminded himself and chuckled. King wasn’t used to waiting, he was usually waited for.

Thirty more minutes passed and the room had started to fill up. People were eating, chatting and laughing all around him, but Sloan still hadn’t arrived or called. King laughed to himself.
This must be karma getting me back for all the times I have stood a chick up.
His phone buzzed on his hip and he looked at the screen. There was a text message from a number he didn’t recognize.

Don’t look so disappointed. I invited you, remember?

King shook his head. He tried to hide the smile that spread across his face, but it was too late.
You like being in control, huh?
He texted back.

Always. Just sit back and enjoy.

King looked at the host stand. He scanned the crowd and searched the people at the bar, trying to locate Sloan.

“Yo, dude you aight?” Kareem asked as he sipped his Hennessey.

“Yeah man, I’m good.” King said, still looking around the club.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Cup. I am Trenton, your host for the evening. For those of you who are regulars, welcome back. For those that are new, welcome. Here at The Cup, we see everything half full. So in order to fill your glasses up, I introduce to you, Sloan Deveaux.” The purple curtains opened, and a soft spotlight glowed on the center of the stage.

I’m home alone again, and you’re out hanging with your friends.

So you say, somehow I know, it’s not quite that way.

It’s getting pretty late and you haven’t checked on me all day.

When I called, you didn’t answer.

Now I’m feeling like you’re ignoring me.

I wish, that you were home.

Holding me tight in your arms

And I wish I could go back

To the day before we met

And skip my regret

I wish I wasn’t in love with you

So you couldn’t hurt me…

King’s mouth fell open as the spotlight shined on the singer. Her hair framed her face in a curly auburn afro. She wore a dark brown lip-gloss, a white halter top that stopped above her navel, and a long sheer pink skirt that flowed to the floor. Her dark brown skin glowed as the soft light shone on it.

“Damn,” King said aloud. He felt heat rise from his feet to his head as she sang each note without effort, and with perfect tone and pitch.

The song flowed from her, and like a siren, she held him in her trance. She sang three songs, and at the end of the last song, the curtain closed, and the room erupted with applause and whistles.

“Damn, old girl can blow, huh?” Tiana said applauding. “Her hair is the truth.”

King put the glass up to his lips and realized it was empty.

“She has a voice on her, for sho. Shit, Tiana might get some when we get back home.” Kareem said laughing.

“Yeah, I’m gonna go get me another drink. Y’all want something?” King asked as he stood up.

Kareem and Tiana looked at each other as King walked away before they could answer his question.

King found his way to the bar and sat down on the blue barstool. His body was still warm from being caressed by Sloan’s sultry performance.

“Mr. King, I see you made it.”

King inhaled and bit his lip to keep himself from smiling. He had never met a female who made him want to smile like this.

“Yeah, I made it. I have to say I am impressed. You didn’t tell me that you could sing like that,” he said as he motioned for the bartender to come over. “Hey man, I need two Coronas, a Sangria, and whatever the lady is drinking.”

“Hey Tony, I will take my usual.” Sloan said, sitting down on the stool next to King.

“So you drinking Sangria?”

“Do I look like I would ever order some shit like that?” King said, leaning back against the bar.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her skin was flawless; the only makeup she wore was the dark chocolate lip-gloss. Her brown skin looked soft and kissable to King. He studied her body in a way that was foreign to him. He was not imagining himself smashing it, but he was actually admiring her.

“Is something wrong?” she asked as the bartender handed her a glass of clear liquid.

“No, ma’am, nothing is wrong. In fact, everything is right. Are you going back on again?”

“Why, you got a request?”

King looked at her and then back at the table where Kareem and Tiana were sitting. He was actually speechless. His mind was blank. Nothing witty was coming to his mind to say to her.

Sloan laughed and patted his hand. “Geez, why so serious, your majesty?”

“I like when you call me that.” King said as he grabbed the two Coronas and the glass of Sangria. “This might sound like a line, but I can help your music career. I have a studio, and I also hold events around Charlotte, Atlanta and Miami. I got a show in a couple of weeks, how would you like to open for me? Is this your band?”

Sloan studied him for a moment. She was about to laugh, because she wasn’t sure if he was joking or being serious. “A studio, huh? What kind of
show
do you have?” she asked as she sipped her drink.

King extended his arm to her. “Hey, can you bring those drinks to that table over there?” He said and slid a crisp big face to the bartender.

The bartender nodded to King.

Sloan looked King over again. She had to admit, she was enjoying her word dance with this man. He was enigmatic, funny, and seemed to have himself together, at first glance. But Slaon knew that first impressions can sometimes be misleading. She had learned that lesson the hard way with her last relationship.

“Kareem, Tiana, this is —”

“The girl that can blow!” Tiana said. “Sit down girl, sit down.” Tiana patted the seat of the chair next to her.

Sloan took the seat, and Tiana hugged her.

“Babe stop, you gonna scare her off, damn. Hey, I’m Kareem, and yo, you got a set …” Kareem paused as he looked over Sloan’s full bust. He cleared his throat. “A set of pipes on you. Whoo, yeah, King need to get you on his team.” Kareem said as the waitress placed the drinks on the table. “Yeah, you know he got a big show coming up in couple of weeks, some pretty big names will be there.”

Sloan looked at King, who was sipping on his drink and using his phone.

King handed her his phone with a web page pulled up for her. Sloan searched the site and scanned the Gettys photos of King with Keyshia Cole, Anthony Hamilton, J-Cole and other celebrities. Some of the females were really hanging on to him. King’s handsome face stared at her from the small screen. She looked up and met his eyes, cleared her throat, and handed the phone back to him.

“So, are you from Charlotte?” Tiana asked Sloan.

“No, I’m from Jersey.”

“That’s what’s up. Well, girl you sure can blow. If I could sing like that, you’d never get me to shut up.” Tiana said and laughed.

“So, you never said whether you had another set or not.” King said to Sloan as an old Xscape song came on.

Tiana grabbed Kareem’s hand and pulled him up. “I love this song, come dance with me.”

“Girl, you know I don’t dance to that shit.”

“Come on Kareem, it’s just a dance… please.”

“Nah, nah, I’m going to get me a drink.” Kareem said, and pulled his hand away from Tiana.

King shook his head as Kareem walked towards the bar where the cute server was picking up drinks. Kareem was far from faithful, and had a wandering eye, but that Tiana never argued with him about it. Her argument was always about saving his life and his soul, so that he could be there for their two children. Every female King ever had around him had always loved Tiana, and some were even still friends with her. Tiana could be a handful, but she had truly been loyal to Kareem, and sometimes King wished that Kareem would treat her a little better.

King was shocked when Sloan grabbed Tiana’s hand.

“Come on girl, I’ll dance with you. This my joint too.” Sloan smiled and winked at King as she walked Tiana out onto the dance floor.

King just sat back and admired Sloan’s dance moves. She was sexy without being slutty, and she and Tiana had all eyes on them as they danced and enjoyed themselves. King couldn’t help but to smile. The evening was a success and he couldn’t wait to get to know Sloan.

__________

Deshawn hated this fucking place with these stuck up ass niggas, but he would sit in the pits of hell to hear Sloan sing. He sat at his usual table on the second floor, staring down at her as she talked to some slick looking nigga. This one was different from the other shirts that frequented the club; he had an edge about him. As he took a sip of his cheap cognac, he searched his memory for the dude’s face. He took his phone out, zoomed in on the young gentleman and snapped a picture. The face of every man she’d talked to since they had broken up was saved in his camera. Being a police detective, he had access to anyone and everyone’s lives. It would only take him a few minutes to find out all he needed to know about this one.