“And you make our clients happy, Fiona. So, if they want you, they have to pay for you just like any other client.”
Fiona sat silently looking at Simone, considering the words that she had just spoken to her.
Pay me what you are worth … future earning potential … you make our clients happy.
“You are right, Simone. If they want me, they have to pay for me,” Fiona said, and she agreed to come back with Simone. “Could you take me by the hotel to get the things that they have bought for me. That will give me an opportunity to say goodbye to Ms. Washington and Mr. Burns in a proper manner.”
“I don’t believe that will be a problem,” Simone said, thinking that this may give her another opportunity to convince Jackie and Travis to pay her price. She needed that money, and she needed it soon. Once the check was paid and the server was tipped handsomely, Simone and Fiona were driven to the Plaza.
When they arrived at Jackie and Travis’s suite, Fiona was no longer talking about going anywhere with Simone and she was once again begging Simone to be reasonable, lowering her price and allowing her to stay.
“As long as they meet my price, you are more than welcomed to stay,” Simone said as Jackie and Travis looked on quietly. As far as they were concerned, the negotiation was over.
“Don’t I get a say?” Fiona asked.
“You belong to me, Fiona, so no, you don’t get a say. Now go get your things so we can leave,” Simone said, and Fiona rushed out of the room.
When Fiona slammed the door to the bedroom, Simone smiled. “I just want to be sure that you understand that this is business.”
“I understand,” Jackie said graciously, but not Travis. Like Fiona, he thought that Simone was being unreasonable.
And besides, ain’t we supposed to be family? Family don’t do family like this.
So Travis had no talk for Simone.
“I think that your price is ridiculous—” Jackie started.
“Damn right, it is!” Travis paused and took a breath. “But I understand your position,” Travis said. “It’s business. Fuck family.”
Simone smiled. “I would have hoped that there wouldn’t be any hard feelings.”
It was then that Fiona came back in the room and stood in front of Simone. She raised a gun, pointed it at Simone and shot her in the head.
“I do get a say,” Fiona said calmly.
“Good!” Travis shouted.
Jackie smiled and shook her head. “I guess that means you can stay until Jada gets back.”
By the time Jackie and Travis got finished with the story, Rain was laughing hysterically. “Y’all two is something,” she laughed. “I don’t know what, but it’s something,” she said, practically in tears. “What y’all gonna do now?”
“We already took care of the body and now we’re just waiting for Jada to get back in the city, so we can tell her about it,” Travis said.
Chapter Eight
Kermit Barnes had a lot going on in his world, a world that had changed radically the night that RJ killed Sterling. That night, he stood by and watched him fall to his death. He swore to RJ that this wasn’t over, and he meant what he said, he was going to kill RJ and avenge Sterling’s death.
Personally.
There was another reason why he had to move quickly. Barnes needed to establish himself as Sterling’s successor before Hawkins got any stupid ideas, like he’s in charge now. No. Him being the one to kill RJ and Hawkins if it became necessary would put him on top. All of Sterling’s crew would fall in behind him.
When he left the murder scene, Barnes had to pass Sterling’s body. A broken, bloody, twisted mass dead on the concrete. All he could do was shake his head, reiterate his promise to kill RJ and drive on. What else could he do? Call 911? Wait for the police to get there and snitch out RJ?
Fuck no!
Barnes got the hell out of there knowing that the opportunity had presented itself and all he had to do was step up. Be the man. Fulfill his destiny.
So, he waited.