Chapter 61
"Why you always so mean to me, gorgeous?" Boogie asked smoothly in my ear as I hung up clothes in me and Gianna's new townhome.
"I'm not mean." I rolled my eyes playfully. "You just used to gassing bitches up and they believe it."
"I'm not gassing you though." I heard the smile in his voice. "I like you."
"Mmhm." I smirked. "You like this pussy, that's all."
"I love that pussy," he corrected with a chuckle. "But I like the woman attached to it even more."
"Tell me anything, Boogie."
"You don't believe me?"
"No," I laughed.
"Check this out then—I wrote you a poem."
I paused my task; hand planted on my hip. "Oh, this should be good." I waited, highly amused.
"Roses are red. Pussies are pink…" he paused dramatically. "Every time I see Ronnie, I can no longer think."
I burst out laughing. "You're corny and ridiculous."
He laughed. "I'm trying to penetrate your soul, girl. Not just your body."
My call waiting beeped. I held the phone out brows furrowing when I saw the caller. "Boog, I gotta talk to you later. Somebody on my other line."
"That bet not be your other nigga when your man right here."
I laughed in exaggeration. "Yeah aight. Bye, Boogie." Hanging up I clicked over. "Wisdom? Hey. What's good?"
"Ronnie—" she exhaled slowly. "You need to get to Siren House right now."
"Why?" I asked pulse already speeding up.
"I just heard Monroe talking to Bianca. Girl—it's all her fault. She was calling Boss's wife instigating the whole thing. She was the one who told her about Boss and Gianna."
My blood ran cold as I froze in place. "What?"
"Yep. I heard the whole thing. She's here." Her voice dropped. "Let me know what you need and I got your back."
"I'm on my way," I said before hanging up.
For a second, I just stood there breathing hard. Then rage exploded through me.
That bitch.
THAT bitch.
My best friend almost died over some jealous shit!
I snatched my keys off the dresser and stormed toward the door grabbing my purse.
Then I paused.
No.
I wasn't going over there emotional. I inhaled slowly forcing myself to calm down.
Monroe didn't deserve my emotions. She deserved this ass beating cold and calculated.
By the time I pulled up to Siren House, the rage inside me had settled into calmness.
A couple of girls looked at me as I passed. Wisdom caught my eye near the bar giving me the slightest nod.
Madam's office door was cracked open. I knocked once before pushing inside.
She looked up. Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly, taking me in. "Ronnie—?"
I closed the door behind me. "We got a problem."
That got her full attention. I quickly told her everything. About Wisdom overhearing Monroe. About the calls to Eva. Monroe admitting she started the shit. By the time I was finished, Madam had gone completely silent.
She leaned back slowly in her chair. "Stupid bitch," she muttered finally.
"Gianna almost died behind this shit," I said tightly. "Boss is dead. Blogs are spreading rumors about Siren House. And I know you don’t do messy shit."
Madam's jaw flexed once. "I don't."
The silence stretched.
I stepped closer to the desk. "Then let me clean it up. Give me ten minutes outside," I said evenly. "Uninterrupted."
Madam studied my face carefully. Finally, she nodded once. "Keep it quiet," she said calmly. "Take her out back. We have clients."
A slow smile spread across my face. "Understood."
I walked out and headed towards the bar to wait for her to make an appearance in between clients. I sat calmly and everyone gave me space. Finally, I heard her annoying ass laugh as she walked her client to the exit.
Standing slowly, I walked out. When she turned around, I was right behind her. She jumped at first in surprise. But then that bitchy, condescending look crossed her face.
She looked me up and down. "I thought you left."
I stared at her for a second before I spoke, "Meet me out back."
She frowned. "Excuse me?"
I stepped closer. "Meet. Me. Out. Back." I enunciated slowly.
"Girl—" she waved me off sucking her teeth. "Fuck out my face." She tried to walk past me.
Aight…
I had asked nicely.
Before she could take step a foot forward, I grabbed her by hair slinging her to the floor.
She screamed.
Madam stepped out.
"MADAM!" she hollered out.
Madam looked at her, turned, and walked back into her office.
I dragged Monroe kicking and screaming towards the back exit. Girls and clients rushed out to see, but everyone stepped out the way as I continued to move through the hall. Wisdom was waiting at the door. She opened it and stepped aside closing it shut behind us.
I dragged Monroe down the steps before tossing her onto the dusty desert ground.
It was just me and her now.
She scrambled backwards in the dirt breathing hard, one hand clutching her hair while fury flashed across her face. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" she screamed.
"You were calling Eva," I said my adrenaline rushing.
Her expression shifted instantly. But I saw it…that flicker of guilt and fear.
She shrugged. "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about."
"Wisdom heard everything, bitch," I gritted out.
Her eyes darted briefly toward the door. "Oh my God…" she scoffed trying to recover. "So what? I made a few calls. I didn't tell that crazy bitch to kill nobody."
I stepped closer. "Are you that fucked up? Why the fuck would you do that?"
"'Cause Boss played me!" she snapped suddenly. "That bitch Gianna too!"
The second Gianna's name left her mouth, all the calm left my body. I rushed her.
Monroe screamed as I tackled her into the dirt, my fist colliding with her face hard enough to snap her head sideways. "AHH!"
"You almost got my best friend killed!" I screamed hitting her again.
Monroe swung wildly trying to fight back but rage had made me stronger.
Every hit carried fear, grief, and helplessness.
All the shit I felt listening to Gianna bleed out over the phone.
"You miserable, evil ass bitch!" I yelled jerking her by her hair before slamming her back down.
"People died behind your messy ass games! "
"I DIDN'T MEAN FOR THAT TO HAPPEN!" Monroe cried shielding her face.
I rammed my fist so hard in her mouth her teeth cut my knuckles. I wasn't done though. Standing, I lifted my foot and stomped it down on her stomach with all my might. I wanted this bitch to feel exactly what my best friend felt when that bullet hit her.
I kept stomping—repeatedly, until she was coughing up blood and screaming into the empty desert for me to 'please stop,' Crouching down, I grabbed her bloodied face shoving it into the ground letting her blood mingle with the dirt.
Monroe was sobbing, coughing, and sputtering.
My chest heaved as I finally stood staring down at her. I was mad enough that I could kill her with my bare hands if I didn't stop. Slowly I backed away before my rage got me locked up for life.
The door opened. Madam and two security stepped out. Madam slowly walked down the steps approaching. She stood next to me looking down at Monroe, face unreadable.
"M-Madam!' Monroe sobbed mouth full of blood and dirt.
"Monroe—" Madam began voice void of emotion. "Your services are no longer needed at Siren House." She turned to the security. "Get her out."
The security stepped down and lifted up Monroe who was barely able to stand. We listened to echoes of her cries as they led her away.
"Thank you." I turned to Madam.
She nodded once and turned to walk inside.
Flexing my fingers, I followed. Girls were in the hallways being curious and nosy as usual. I scanned their faces. "Alright. Show's over, ladies. Don't y'all got money to make?"
They mumbled but began to disperse.
Madam looked at me again, head tilted, her eyes now filled with curiosity and amusement. "You know, Ronnie…I know you said you were done with the game, but I could use a firm hand around here to keep these girls in line."
I smirked. "For real?"
She smiled slowly. "Yeah. You have a way about you. People just know not to fuck with you."
I chuckled. "Been fighting since I was a lil' girl. That's probably what you’re picking up on."
"So have I." She nodded. "So…what do you say? You trying to learn the other side of the business?"
I smiled. "Hell yeah. Been ready."
"Good. As long as you remember the first rule to this game—" her brow lifted.
I rolled my eyes playfully. "We're not just selling pussy…"
"We're selling an experience," we finished together with a laugh.
Madam linked her arm through mine. "Excellent. I knew you were special when I met you."
"I bet you say that to all the girls," I smirked.
"See—now you're learning." Madam winked as she led me down the hall.
It was funny how life worked. I was gonna be able to keep my promise to God after all. I wasn’t selling my coochie anymore. But other woman's…hell, that was fair game.
That church shit would have to come later.