Before Rome could say anything, Jewels's phone rang. She looked down at it in her lap. She hadn't realized she had five missed calls from the agency and double that number from Sassy. There was no doubt in her mind that they knew about the trick back at the hotel. But how? she wondered. She looked over at Rome.
“Go ahead.” He shrugged.
Jewels grimaced. She unlocked the screen on her phone and took a deep breath before answering. “Hey, girl,” she greeted Sassy. Her voice cracked a little, but she doubted Sassy would notice.
Sassy asked her if she was okay. Jewels could tell by Sassy's tone that she had heard about the hotel incident.
“Yeah, I'm okay. Why you ask? I didn't even know you was calling my phone,” she admitted.
In her peripheral vision, Jewels could see that Rome was both watching and listening as Sassy wasted no time telling her what she knew. She could practically feel his heat on the side of her face.
“What? Dead? The news? That's crazy,” Jewels said, putting on her best Academy Award performance and pretending to be surprised.
She repeated Sassy's words for Rome's satisfaction. She knew how the game was played. Her life depended on how the incident was reported.
“No! I didn't do it, bitch! Is that what they're saying?” A mixture of fear and nervousness filled her body. “So, what are they saying happened?”
Sassy said something.
“Nothing? So, why the fuck you scare me like that? And no, I don't,” a relieved Jewels lied.
Rome felt somewhat relieved as well, but he knew they weren't, or rather he wasn't, out of the woods yet. His initial thought seemed more promising than ever now. He continued to listen to Jewels's conversation.
“The fat muthafucka started trippin',” she went on. “He beat the fuck outta me, and I got the hell up out of there.”
She waited for Lacy to reply. She could tell she believed her and was genuinely concerned. After all, Sassy was her road dawg and her only friend.
“Thanks for checking on me. I'm taking it down. I'm beat.” She needed to end the call with Sassy. “Okay, tomorrow I'll be ready, but I'm not fucking with that agency no more,” she added.
Sassy spoke.
“I knew you were gonna say that. Bye, girl.” She disconnected the call. For the first time in hours, Jewels smiled. She knew if she was done with a spot, so was Sassy. That was just how they rolled.
“So wassup?” Rome asked.
“If you're asking whether any photos flashed of us or any warrants were put out for our arrest, the answer is no,” she answered. “They have no leads, according to my girl. But she said that they said something about him having outstanding gambling and loan-sharking debts and that they think it may be in relation to that.” She played back to him what Sassy had said to her.
Rome grabbed his chin. “Cool, cool,” he repeated.
“Well, this is where we say our good-byes,” Jewels told him. “Thanks.” She paused. “For everything.” She didn't feel the same way she had felt when she first got in the Denali. Bottom line, had he not killed the fat white man, she might possibly be on the news instead of him.
She waited for Rome to say something. She could tell that he was pondering whether to say something. She wanted him to say something, anything, but he didn't say a word. Jewels let out a light sigh, then reached for the door handle, opened the car door, and put one foot on the ground.
“Hold up for a second.” His tone was forceful but unsure.
She was nearly half way out of the truck. She didn't know whether he had had a change of heart or not. Her first impulse was to take flight, but her gut did not alarm her of any imminent danger.
Jewels turned to face him.
Rome brushed the top of his head with his hand. “I know this shit gonna sound crazy, but I need somewhere outside of my normal surroundings where I can lay low at,” he blurted out. “Just until I get the official four-one-one on that hotel shit,” Rome added. That was partially true.
Rome needed to be sure that the situation didn't come back to bite him on the ass, but he was more concerned with the earlier body, Mike-G's. He knew different types of heat came with anybody finding out it was he who had pushed him. Not only was he thinking about the repercussions from Mike-G's little brother if he found out, but he was also considering how credible a witness the Arab would be. If he wanted to remain a free and healthy man, he knew he had to handle both of those situations before they caught up to him. Which was why he needed a safe place to clear his head and think of the best way to handle both matters.
Jewels's face became distorted. Did this MF just ask to use my place as a hideout spot? she thought. Jewels couldn't believe her ears. “Um, l-lay low?” Jewels stumbled over her words. “Look, I appreciate youâ”
“I'll pay you.” Rome's words stopped Jewels in midsentence. He had spoken the magic words and didn't even know it.
Jewels studied him. Aside from the obvious, Jewels had already determined that Rome was not someone who stressed over money. Everything about him told her that he was no stranger to it. What she did pick up on was that his money was most likely obtained through illegal means, particularly drugs. She wanted no parts of that world. She wasn't about that life. Still, with all that had happened, she couldn't deny the fact that she was still alive because of him, and he needed to lay low because of her. It also didn't hurt that he had offered to pay. She was no fool. The day had been blown. Not only had she gotten her ass kicked and almost gotten killed, but she also hadn't made any money, and that was a problem. She couldn't recall the last time a day had gone by without her making some type of money. She glanced at the time on her phone. It read 11:34 p.m..
The night is not over with yet,
she thought. She considered Rome's request. She looked at him before looking right and left at nothing specific, then directed her attention back to him.
“How much?” she asked. “And for how long?” she quickly added.
Rome took a long shot in the dark, and it seemed as if it might pay off. He believed he had more than enough in his pocket to convince her to let him stay. With it being Wednesday, he knew he needed to survive through the weekend. He shot out what he felt was a reasonable number for the amount of days he needed to stay.
“Five stacks for the rest of the week, up front.”
Jewels hadn't even computed how many days it tallied up to. She was focused on the amount that Rome had just offered her in one lump sum. She thought about the offer.
Rome grimaced. “Look, I promise you won't even know I'm there,” he said, thinking that would help with her decision making.
Jewels went with her gut feeling. “Just until Monday?” She wanted to be sure. Had it not been for the fact that she really could use the money, she wouldn't even consider his request so seriously.
“Or sooner.” Rome lit up. He couldn't believe she had agreed. He began reaching into his pants pocket. Jewels's eyes zeroed right in on the knot of hundred-dollar bills Rome pulled out.
She counted with him as he peeled off fifty bills from the wad of cash. That didn't even seem to put a dent in his bankroll. Jewels climbed back into the Denali.
“Pull in there.” She pointed.
“Okay. Here you go.” Rome went to hand her the money but stopped as Jewels extended her hand.
“But all I ask is one thing,” Rome said. He fanned the money in Jewels's direction as he spoke.
Jewels eyes went up in her head. She knew there had to be a catch. It was too good to be true, she thought. “What's that?” she asked dryly.
“Nobody can know I'm here. Not even your partner who called you.” He put an emphasis on his words.
Jewels nodded in agreement.
Believe me, we're on the same page
, she thought to herself as Rome handed her the money and then threw the SUV back in drive and pulled into her complex.
Rome pulled into the spot marked eighty-three and killed the engine.
Jewels hopped out and made her way to her place in the complex. Rome followed her. She hurried up the stairs and reached her door in record time. Quickly, she searched her bag for her keys. She didn't want any peering eyes noticing her guest. She got the keys out, placed the house key in the keyhole, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.
“Welcome.” She waved her hand as she stood in the doorway, waiting for Rome to enter.
She owned the three-bedroom condo that she lived in. Ice had been smarter than he appeared. Jewels remembered thinking that when she found out that he had transferred the property's title to her name so that he would not have to file it on his taxes. She hadn't found out that she owned the condo until years later, after his death. She loved her spot. It was huge and had been fully rehabbed with updated everything. She had a huge walk-in closet, which had once been the fourth bedroom. Her bathroom in her master bedroom was as big as the second bedroom and had a Jacuzzi tub and a separate shower. The third bedroom she had turned into her home office. The contractors she had hired had laid her spot out just the way she had envisioned it. Her kitchen was equipped with all Kenmore stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops. She had huge bamboo cabinets with glass doors, a granite-top island in the middle of the space, and large diamond-shaped marble tile on the kitchen floor. She had dropped nearly ten grand for the contemporary burnt-orange-colored soft-leather furniture.
A peculiar look appeared on Rome's face as he did a quick scan of the condo. He was actually impressed. It was evident to Rome that Jewels was in her early to midtwenties, and that was what impressed him. He didn't know any woman her age who had her shit together like she did.
Where he came from, females her age were generally on Section 8, were sack chasers, or were chicks who let dope boys use their cribs as stash spots.
“So, you can use this room while you're here.”
When Rome turned in her direction, he saw Jewels standing in the doorway of a bedroom. He made his way over to where she stood, and peered in.
Nice
, he thought.
This'll do just fine.
The room had a queen-size bed, part of a bone-white bedroom set, and a forty-two-inch flat-screen television.
“Appreciate it.” Rome walked past her and entered the room. He went straight to the bed and fell back onto it.
Jewels rolled her eyes up at the ceiling and twisted her face. She had never let a man cross her threshold to stay the night, either for business or pleasure, let alone spend a few days.
You sure you're okay with this?
she questioned herself for the second time.
Rome leaned up just in time to catch the look of disdain plastered across her face. “You sure you're cool with this?” She was making him unsure about being there. The last thing he needed was to be around an unstable and unpredictable chick right now.
I hope I don't have to slump this chick,
Rome thought.
“Yes, I'm okay,” Jewels replied in a reassuring tone. Even though she was a little uneasy, she had made a deal and needed the money. As far as she was concerned, he was not getting it back, whether he left now or later. Jewels hesitated before she spoke again. “It's just that I've never had a man in here.” She couldn't believe she had just told him that.
A peculiar look flashed across Rome's face.
Is she fucking serious?
he thought to himself.
Does she really expect me to believe that?
“Yeah, okay,” he wanted to say.
“Oh,” was all he said instead, and then he began unloosening his black Pradas.
Jewels could tell he didn't believe her. Other than the fact that he had rescued her and killed someone over her, she didn't know him from a can of paint, but for some reason, it bothered her that he thought she was lying. She knew it was time for her to go to her own bedroom, before she said something that she'd regret and that pissed him off. It was apparent that he was a killer, and even though she wasn't afraid to die, she wasn't ready to die tonight. She had already escaped death and seen enough of it for one day.
“If you need anything, please help yourself. Your money includes total access to the refrigerator,” she told him. She caught his head nod before she closed the guest-room door behind her.
Bitch, let it go,
she told herself, but she couldn't. She opened the guest-room door. “Just so you know, I don't have to lie to you or any other nigga about who or what I do under my roof,” Jewels spat, then closed the door behind her again.
Rome sat there for a second. His chuckle and the shaking of his head were a delayed reaction to Jewels's words. He didn't know what she was talking about at first. Then it dawned on him that she had noticed he didn't believe her about never having a man in her home. Rome stood up, made his way over to the guest-room door, and locked it. He pulled out the remaining weed he had from the hotel, along with a pack of E-Z Wider paper, and twisted up a fat one.
I know her ass don't smoke,
he figured. He cracked the one window in the room and posted up near it. He didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize his opportunity to lay low at Jewels's crib. He couldn't believe how things had worked out in an ironic way. He didn't care about killing the fat white trick. He was sure that it couldn't be traced back to him. After all, he wasn't even a registered guest at the hotel, at least not under his real name, anyway.
He lit the spliff and peered out into the darkness.
You gotta fix this shit, Rome,
he said to himself as he took a deep drag of the potent cannabis and exhaled out the window. Any way you looked at it, laying low was the only move he could make right now, even if it meant being with a chick he didn't know.