A Woman's Worth 2 Read online

  “So, umm, how have things been with you?” Tiffany tried to strike conversation; it was Mezzie who suggested they go out together and let her stay home with the kids.

  “Good,” Tyrisha simply said and continued looking at a cashmere sweater dress.

  “Tee, I don’t know what your problem is but I feel you being distant.”

  “Distant? No I’m fine just having some Tee time. Why can’t I enjoy myself?” Tyrisha answered and looked down at her phone. Lace texted her he was outside.

  “I have to go, I’ll see you tonight,” She tossed her freshly curled weave over her shoulder and left out the store. Tiffany sighed and pulled her iPhone out her tote bag and called Marquise. He said he had to tell her something but she told him she would call him back later. He picked up on the first ring.

  “Hey, baby, what are you up to? Tiffany cooed.

  “I’m chilling, babe, what’s going on with cha?”

  “Baby, where are you? It sound like you’re in traffic.”

  “Where you at?” Marquise shot back.

  “Barneys. I needed something nice to wear tonight.”

  “Baby, can I call you back real quick?” Marquise ended the call abruptly. Tiffany looked at her phone, then continued looking at some black dresses.

  Tiffany paid for her items and rushed out the store. She almost lost her eyes at what she saw. Marquise was sitting on a red BMW with a single red rose. Marquise walked up to a speechless Tiffany and kissed her Mac covered lips.

  “Ba-baby, what are you doing here?” Tiffany asked.

  “Well my cousin needed me so I came up and I figured I’d surprise you, too. I was on my way to him but I wanted to surprise you. You can come with me.” Marquise grabbed her hand and opened the door for her. Tiffany stepped in and Marquise closed the door. Tiffany didn’t know what she would tell Marquise but she hoped he didn’t ask too many questions.

  *

  Epiphany and Promise sat outside of Tone’s trap house located in the Bronx. The house stuck out like a sore thumb and screamed “Trap house”. Promise and Epiphany covered their faces with black ski mask because they knew for sure the cops were watching the house. Epiphany started the engine and waited for Promise’s cue. Promise sent their cousin in the house to cop some weed to scope out the house. Kea came out the house and ran across the street. She hopped in the back seat with a bag of weed.

  “What happened, Kea?” Promise asked.

  “Those niggas in there getting high as the sky,” Kea said. She held up the bag of weed and continued. “They dime bags are fat though, can I keep this?”

  “Damn, Kea, you can have it. Did you see one of them niggas getting ready to leave?” Epiphany impatiently questioned.

  “Damn, Piffy, yeah he was about to leave. His name is Reggie and he is my friend’s baby daddy so don’t kill him.” Kea looked at Promise, the wild one. Promise was always trigger happy.

  “Yeah, whateva’ thank you anyway and keep the weed.” Promise dismissed Kea, who rolled her eyes and exited the car. Promise spotted a man holding two duffle bags get into a car and pull off. Epiphany followed behind the car.

  Twenty minutes later the car pulled up to a dead end block. Epiphany pulled the car in front and took off her ski mask before she got out the car.

  “What are you doing?” Promise looked confused.

  “Just watch,” Epiphany said.

  Epiphany knocked on the window of the car with tears coming down her face. The man rolled down the window.

  “What’s good Ma’” Reggie looked at Epiphany’s thick frame bursting out her jeans.

  “My man just kicked me out and I don’t have any money and my tank is almost on empty,” Epiphany lied.

  “Damn, I don’t know why. You fine as fuck. Hang around for a few and I’ll hit you with some bread.” Reggie got out the car and leaned on the driver’s side.

  “Thank you so much. If you give me your number, I’ll make sure I pay you back,” Epiphany cooed. Reggie was so focused on looking at her body he didn’t see Promise get into his car. Promise winked at Epiphany. Epiphany pulled Reggie into a hug so he could lean off the car.

  “Damn, Ma. I’m about to be ya’ new man,” Reggie joked.

  Promise pulled off in the car making the tires screech as she did a U-turn and peeled down the block. Epiphany pulled away from Reggie and looked at him.

  “Someone just stole your car!” Epiphany yelled.

  “Shit, yo let me ride in your car.”

  “Hell nah, my man don’t let nobody drive my car but him.”

  “I thought you said he put you out?” Reggie looked at Epiphany.

  “I lied,” Epiphany confessed and shot Reggie in the left shoulder.

  “Argh! Bitch, what the fuck you did that for? Reggie screamed.

  “Because you got a baby. If you didn’t you might have a bullet in your head instead of your shoulder,” Epiphany replied and got in her car. She turned up Beyoncé’s “Yonce” then pulled off, making the same U-turn Promise made.

  “Yo,” Epiphany answered.

  “Meet me at the spot,” Promise responded.

  “No doubt.”

  *

  Kim finished her day out and was exhausted from dealing with a whole bunch of women day by day. She and Lisa had grown close. Lisa would come in and learn what Kim was doing and over shadow the Nurses from time to time. Kim never minded; she just didn’t need Lisa seeing the triplets.

  Lace’s one rule was the mother was never allowed to see the child. His reason was a mother’s love is a strong type of love that will make a woman do anything to be with or protect her child. Kim wrote down the task she needed the nurses and aids that were on duty to do and grabbed her bag. She had three women in labor. She planned to go home to get a couple hours of sleep and return back. Kim went to the kitchen to grab a bottled Cappuccino for the road. Lace sat with his MacBook, pen and pad. Kim grabbed the iced drink and leaned against the counter staring at Lace.

  “What’s up?” Lace asked never bothering to look up.

  “Why do people call you Lace?” Kim asked curiously.

  “When I was in high school niggas laced my weed with PCP and I was tripped out for a minute. Now with my proper medication I’m back good,” Lace revealed.

  “That’s fucked up. Why don’t I ever see you with a woman? I mean you’re here most of the time besides when you do leave the house,” Kim probed some more.

  “I get around. I have some ladies, nothing major. They’re something small right now. I like my business and this is also my home,” Lace welcomed the probing.

  “I see. Why do you do this? I mean you are very smart to come up with this all alone.”

  “You’re a doctor because you like medicine. I like doing illegal shit because I’m an outlaw. There is no need to understand it, just accept it,” Lace answered in a cool mellow tone.

  “You’re right. Let me get going so I can get some shut-eye,” Kim grabbed her tote bag ready to leave.

  “Nah, you can stay. I have an extra room in my suite. My suite is like an apartment, I have my own kitchen and all. I come down here because I get conversation and I get to speak to the girls.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother but I really don’t feel like taking that hour drive,” Kim sighed.

  Kim showered and changed into a pair of new pajamas that Lisa offered her. Kim pulled her hair back into a ponytail and went into the living room of Lace’s wing. Lace was in a pair of flannel Pjs and had a cup of milk with cookies. Kim laughed out loud which caused Lace to look up.

  “Something funny?”

  “Yeah, are you waiting up for Santa to come?” Kim doubled over in laughter.

  “I see we have jokes. Guess who won’t be eating none of the flatbread pizza I cooked.” Lace laughed.

  “Okay, I’m sorry Martha Stewart,” Kim burst out laughing again.

  *

  Lace and Kim sat watching reruns of Martin until they couldn’t get enough. Kim h
ad never heard of Martin and once Lace found out he pulled out his DVD boxed set. Kim looked at her phone again and looked at the over seventy missed calls her phone had incurred. Lace noticed her looking at her phone and was slightly disappointed she couldn’t get a bird ass nigga like Tone off her mind.

  “Thinking about him?” Lace blurted.

  “You could say that,” Kim sighed. Lace looked into her sad, sea green eyes and saw emptiness. He pulled Kim into his arms and rubbed her soft arms with his big hands. Kim got chills down her back from the affection Lace was showing her. Kim scooted a little closer and leaned her head on his broad shoulders. Lace lifted Kim’s face with his index finger and kissed her pouty bare lips. She returned the kiss with a lot of force and hunger. Lace pulled back and Kim looked at him, confused and slightly flustered.

  “Once we go there, I need to know if you will be all the way there with me,” Lace warned. He didn’t need Kim to mess with his emotions. He needed her to understand once they connected physically and mentally, there was no turning back.

  “I’m here, ain’t I?” Kim panted, eager for what was to come.

  “Anybody can be physical here. It’s the mental I’m talking about,” Lace kissed her lips again and pulled back. Kim grabbed the back of Lace’s neck and stuck her tongue into his mouth interlocking their tongues and thoughts at the same time. At that moment, Lace understood what Kim wanted and needed. Time and affection.

  Lace picked Kim up and carried her to his master bedroom. The room was lit in red lighting which made Kim feel sexy all over again. Lace laid Kim down like a precious doll that he didn’t want to break as he caressed her hair and kissed her face down to her toes. He kissed from her toes up to her vagina. He tore the silk two piece pajama set off and softly licked her clit like a kitten drinking milk for the first time. Kim tried to close her legs but Lace slammed them open and continued to lick his milk slowly causing Kim to back up against the headboard and grip it.

  The sound of “BAE” by vado played from Kim’s iPhone. Lace knew it was Tone and plastered a smirk on his face. Kim reached and answered the phone. While Kim was convincing Tone everything was okay, Lace latched on to Kim’s pretty pink pussy and reached up and caressed her nipples causing Kim to scream out “Good Lord.” Lace could hear Tone yelling on the other end of the phone but he continued. Once he felt her legs shaking he made his way up and stroked his “Ego”.

  Lace slapped his dick on Kim’s inner thighs waiting for her to scream she wanted it. He poked her pussy and moved back. Kim gyrated her hips, waiting for Lace to invade her pussy with his night stick.

  “What are you waiting for?” Kim damn neared screamed.

  “Tell me you want it. Tell me who you want,” Lace purposely demanded, he looked over at the iPhone sitting on the edge of the bed.

  “I want it so bad, I want you, Lace,” Kim chanted like she was in cult.

  “Nah, tell me who you really want.”

  “I want you, Sylvester, I want all of you,” Kim whined.

  Satisfied with Kim’s answer he lined his dick up with her creamy opening and grabbed hold of the headboard and slammed his dick into Kim’s dripping pussy. Kim’s scream was laced with pure elation. Lace gave Kim long strokes using the headboard for leverage. Kim grinded her hips against Lace’s dick and pumped back until she reached her peek. Once Lace felt Kim shaking he got down and opened her pussy wide and put his mouth on it to collect all the juices she just let go. Kim laid in bed in total, utter fulfilment.

  “I swear on my kids, I will kill you, Kim,” Tone threatened.

  He had listened to his wife sex a man better than she did him. He listened to Kim scream for this man and need his touch, Tone felt disrespected and hurt. Kim looked at Lace who looked high off weed when in fact he was high off bliss and Kim. Kim covered her mouth and pointed to the phone. Lace kissed her lips loud and sloppily.

  “Kim, baby, tell me how good it was,” Lace demanded.

  “It was good, Lace, just what I needed,” Kim answered.

  “Now hang up the phone and lay down with me.” Kim did just that and laid on the bed with Lace wondering if what she just did was a smart idea.

  Chapter Twelve

  Moses sat in a black Tahoe watching Tyrisha rapidly knock on this townhouse located in East New York, Brooklyn. Moses had a funny feeling about Tyrisha ever since they got to New York. He checked all Tyrisha’s calls and came up with a New York area code. The number didn’t start appearing until they got to New York. A man finally answered the door with a towel wrapped around his waist. Moses laughed to himself; it was crazy Lace from the hood.

  Niggas laced his weed years ago and last time Moses saw him, he was talking about the aliens were coming back. Moses always looked out for him and his younger cousin Marquise. Moses always felt Marquise was gay because he used to keep all the girls hair done. Then again, now he didn’t know since he and Tiffany fucked around. Moses didn’t know how his world seemed to be so damn small.

  Moses wasn’t mad at Lace for being with Tyrisha, if that was the case. How was he to know that Tyrisha was his? Moses got out the car while Tyrisha was so engrossed in cursing Lace out that she didn’t see Moses walk up on her. Lace saw him and gave a half smile and head nod.

  “Nigga, don’t be smiling at your little hoes. I’m fucking standing here. Now why you been ignoring my calls?” Tyrisha kept drilling.

  “Tee, what we had was cool except I know you hiding shit from me. All I asked was to keep it trill with me and you couldn’t do that.” Lace blew Tyrisha off waving his hand in her face. He was feeling Tyrisha, at some point he thought he was falling for her, however her bird antics and clocking him were getting a bit too much. Not to mention she always disappeared for a couple days then ended back on his door steps. He was proud he never showed her his real residence.

  “I think I can answer that. She has a man and a child,” Moses spoke up. Tyrisha slowly turned around and looked into Moses’s menacing eyes. Moses was hurt that she was clocking another nigga’s moves but not her son’s.

  “Moe, it’s not what it seems,” Tyrisha cracked her mouth to explain.

  “Nah, shut the fuck up, bitch. First, you were engaged to Tone and fucked with me while fucking me. Now you’re with me, on top of that, we have a son, yet you still choose to fuck around with another nigga. I should have been smart when niggas told me ‘you lose ‘em how you get ‘em’. You got me out here trying to get at this nigga, Tone, because he tried to take your life while opening ya’ legs to anybody.” Moses shook his head. Tyrisha was taken back at the disrespect. Lace’s smile lit up.

  Yo, Moe, no disrespect. I didn’t know this was your shorty,” Lace spoke up.

  “You’re good man you wouldn’t be standing here if I thought otherwise.” Moses chuckled, but was dead serious.

  “How’s your mother doing?”

  “She’s good. She moved to Jamaica with pops.” Lace stepped aside.

  “Yo, come in I wanna holla at you about something.” Lace invited Moses in. Tyrisha blew a sigh of relief the attention wasn’t on her. Moses stepped in the house and Tyrisha was right behind him but Lace closed the door in her face. Moses opened the door back and Tyrisha fixed her face; she knew her baby loved her.

  “Get your shit out the house and I don’t want to see ya’ ass no more unless it’s in a body bag.” Moses slammed the door again.

  “Fuck both you niggas I don’t need y’all.” Tyrisha pounded on the door.

  *

  Lace returned back to the living room fully dressed. He grabbed his keys to the Honda Civic he drove in Brooklyn and nodded to Moses to follow. The two got in the car and Moses turned his face up at the choice of car.

  “Nigga, don’t even trip. This ain’t my regular shit. That ain’t even my house. I’m about to take you there now.” Lace laughed.

  “I was about to say. Nigga, you know I’m not one to sugar coat shit. How you doing my, nigga? Last time you was talking about starships and shit.” Lace la
ughed so hard, Moses thought it was unhealthy.

  “I stay on my meds and when I have a slip up I’m under lock down. I’m still the same nigga just got a wicked mind now,” Lace clarified.

  “That’s good, my Gee, what you got to holla at me about?”

  “You mentioned that nigga, Tone, and my ears perked up. I ain’t got no beef with him but I know he has some with me after I had him listen to me fuck his wife.” Lace grinned, reminiscing of that epic night.

  “You really do have a wicked mind. That nigga always getting his woman taken from him. So what you need me for?”

  “Let’s link up. I want to see him gone just like you. I heard about his stash houses getting hit and I’m going to assume you have something to do with it. I don’t want no money I just want to see his ass suffer and get out me and my ladies way. I plan to marry that woman.”

  “If money is involved you getting some, if I’m eating everybody eating.” Lace pounded Moses and pulled off. Moses didn’t know what he had going on with Tone’s wife, it wasn’t his business and it wasn’t about to become his either.

  *

  Lace pulled up to his house and punched in the code, he pulled up the driveway and smiled when he saw Kim’s car parked. Lace and Moses entered the house and Moses wondered how Lace afforded such a huge house. Lace showed him around and even the medical wing where Kim was busy delivering a baby. Moses was disturbed, but upset he didn’t think of it first. Moses spotted the same woman in the picture at Tone’s house. Kim shook his hand and Moses returned the gesture.

  “This is Kim, Tone’s wife, soon to be ex. Kim, this is Moses, Tone’s killer.” Kim had a look of panic of her face.

  “Kim, we talked about this. Doesn’t matter if you with him or not the nigga is going to die if not by me than someone else like my friend, Moses,” Lace explained like he was explaining a math problem. Kim excused herself.

  “So you in?” Lace asked.