chapter 4
Huey and Riley waited anxiously for their ride. They were only told that they'd be getting picked up, they still had no idea where exactly they were going.
They ate dinner with their grandfather, and told him they would be leaving him alone once again. Robert wasn't too happy about it at first, but when Riley said they would be seeing Ed and Rummy, his eyes lit up in curiosity. He was equally surprised as they were that Riley's old friends were now willing to hang out with them, and he couldn't hide his excitement over it.
When Robert went to lay down, the brothers changed attire. Huey always brought nice clothes on any trip, while Riley was forced to borrow a few of his brother's things. They were dressed similarly; their black suit pants, black shoes, and belts, only Huey wore a purple button up shirt while Riley wore a dark blue one. They freshened up in the bathroom and went over their plan of action at least three times before Riley got a text from Ed just after nine, saying he and Rummy were outside.
Huey was a little hesitant to leave their grandfather alone for a second time, but Riley practically pushed him out of the door. They headed outside, where Ed's Audi awaited them.
Ed and Rummy had also taken the liberty to change from their nice suits and into more fitting outfits. They both were similar outfits; black pants, black shoes, white button ups, dark vests, and shades. They looked like they were trying to be undercover agents, like they were on a mission that they were taking a hundred percent seriously.
"Well, well," Ed whistled as they approached the car, "Y'all knew exactly how to dress for the occasion." The brothers could see him smirking at them. Huey shrugged, "We've had experience." He looked to his brother, who snickered.
"Y'all got protection?" Ed asked, searching them with his eyes. Huey shook his head. Ed reached into the glove compartment in front of him and pulled out two fully loaded handguns, "Keep these with y'all no matter what." he ordered.
After taking the guns, the two hopped into the backseat for the second time that day, and the car took off.
They traveled into the heart of Woodcrest; the busy and bustling downtown area. This was where the crime was most prevalent; this was where Jazmine and Cindy hung out.
As kids, Huey and Riley never really ventured into the downtown area. Huey held down a part time job somewhere downtown his junior year of high school, but it was only for a few months until he found another closer to home, and for good reason. Woodcrest Downtown was like a maze. After making a few twists and turns, they had traveled through the business part of the city and into the area that neither Huey nor Riley had ever actually been to; Tenth Ward. It was called Tenth Ward by locals, although Huey and Riley didn't really know what this area of Woodcrest was actually called. Either way, this was the bad part of the city.
The streets were littered with trash, and they spotted a few prostitutes scoping the area, walking up and down the streets. There were men hanging around liquor stores and driving in made-up cars to show off. There were hardly any children around, and the few that did pop up were often young boys accompanied by older men. Everyone looked exactly the same; mean, like they'd rob you of everything you owned if they had the chance. This place reminded the two a lot of where they grew up in Chicago, only less diverse. It was after six, and the sun was starting to set in the distance.
Riley glanced around nervously, "Y'all sure they'll be here?" he asked, as if he was unsure. Ed nodded, "Yup. Just stay with us." he said in a low voice.
They continued to drive through the streets until they rounded a corner, heading into a parking lot that was surprisingly packed with cars. They parked close to the side, and hopped out of the car. Huey and Riley scanned their surroundings, which was no different from what they'd already seen so far, "Well this isn't too comforting." Riley joked, and Huey rolled his eyes, "C'mon, we gotta follow them."
Huey and Riley followed Ed and Rummy as they made their way towards a nearby building. However, instead of heading towards the front, they made their way to the side alleyway. It was a dark, dank alley, with little light. There was a single door on the side of the building, lit only by a single light that was hung above the door. They approached, and Ed cautiously knocked. After a moment, the door opened slightly, and Huey barely made out a figure in the dim light, "Back already?" The figure chortled, but then saw Huey and Riley. Riley could see the figure's eyes narrow.
Ed smiled, "They're with us, don't worry." He assured the figure in a calm, smooth voice.
After a moment's hesitation, the door fully opened, revealing an average looking guy dressed up in all black. He was shorter than both Huey and Riley, but still looked as though he was ready to fight anyone that came his way. However, he merely stepped aside, and allowed the four to enter. The boys got chills as they passed through the door, but they didn't say anything.
They were heading downwards instead of upwards, and the more they ventured in, the darker it got, "Where are we?" Riley asked. They soon stepped into a dimly lit room, and Ed chuckled, "Welcome to the Underworld." he said, gesturing around them.
They were now in what looked like a bar or strip club. Instead of normal lights, there were primarily red and purple lights that flashed brightly, mixed with the occasional white or blue. The room then continued downwards with more stairs, revealing a lower level. Towards the back of the lower level was a stage that branched off into three sections, where a part of the stage extended forwards. Connected to the ends were long poles that reached the ceiling. There were several girls clad in nothing but lingerie that danced and walked around. Sitting in the seats were men who whooped and hollered, throwing money towards the stage, and towards the vying dancers that swooped up the bills in one motion.
To the left was a large bar area, decked out in liquor galore, and was the only part of the room that seemed well lit. In the wings above, where the four stood, there were more people that idled around, drinking and talking. There were machines for gambling, too, and everyone around them carried almost visible guns at their sides, and they mainly hung out in groups. Everyone they looked at was dressed up for the occasion, like they needed to show off. Men wore flashy gold chains, watches, and wore expensive suits while women wore too-sexy dresses and were decked out in rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. There was smoke in the air, which gave off a little bit of a hazy effect.
"This is Woodcrest's Underworld?" Riley whistled, impressed.
Ed nodded, "Yup, founded a few years ago and has been booming ever since. Most of the crime lords hang out here on Saturday nights." They descended the stairs and entered the lower level, where the party was really happening, and Ed continued to talk, "Everyone here dabbles in somethin', you name it: smuggling, ransom, trafficking, kidnapping, prostitution, anything illegal you can think of, these people have done it." Huey and Riley glanced at each other with equally unsettled expressions.
As soon as they'd entered the area, they were approached by a man and woman, "Ed, Rummy, good to see you!" The man cheered, enveloping the two into a hug. Ed smiled, "Henry, how long's it been, a month?" He then hugged the woman, "Camilla, you look beautiful as always."
The woman giggled, pushing a strand of her long blonde hair behind her, "Why thank you, Ed!" She then turned to Rummy and gave him a hug, too. She wore a blue skin tight jumpsuit that had a low cut front and slits along the legs, paired with black heels. She wore a lot of makeup, and her hazel eyes glinted in the changing lights. The man was a little older than her, and was rather short with a small potbelly and thinning brown hair.
She spotted Huey and Riley and looked them over, "Who are your…friends?" she asked, smiling devilishly at the two.
Ed chuckled, "These are some old friends of ours, Huey and Riley." He introduced the two, who nodded towards the man and woman. "Well, nice to meet you. I'm Camilla Lytton. This is my…partner," she hesitated as she gestured to the man next to her, "Henry Evans." He extended his hand out in a handshake, and both Riley and Huey took turns shaking his hand. Both boys assumed that they were either married or a couple, although she was acting like they weren't.
"Hey, so," Rummy addressed Camilla, "you heard from them?" He said 'them' in a slightly different tone, and she gave him a thin smile, "No, not yet. They're coming, though, didn't you hear?" She then giggled, "They landed something really good, they're celebrating."
"Ah, well that's good, maybe they're in a good mood." Ed muttered.
Camilla arched a brow, but shrugged. He turned around to Huey and Riley as Camilla and Henry walked away, "Let's just chill for a little bit, they should be here soon."
Huey and Riley nodded, following Ed and Rummy to the bar. There, they sat side by side and ordered some drinks, "Why would they be in a place like this?" Riley asked, "Who do they work for? Don't tell me they're strippers." The thought of Jazmine being a stripper at a place like this made Huey's face heat up slightly in anger, and Riley was feeling a similar emotion.
Ed and Rummy gave each other sideways glances as their drinks were served. Ed took a gulp of his, "Nah, they don't work for anyone," Rummy shook his head, chuckling softly, "they work with each other."
Huey arched a brow, "Wait, wait, are you telling me that Jazmine and Cindy…are crime lords?"
Ed shrugged, "They call themselves Crime Queens." he rolled his eyes, "But yeah, they're pretty…big around here." he sighed, "I told y'all, things changed around here."
Huey's eyes were wide in shock, "Why? Why did they go down that route? Is it really because of that breakup?" he took a shot.
Ed shrugged, "I really don't know. I mean, I don't know all the details about everything they've gotten into, but I do know the parts that I was in." He thought for a moment, "I told y'all, the first time I ever saw them taking interest in this life was a few months after y'all left. After that, they were in and out of jobs with me and Rummy for a few months before they began working their way past us." He shrugged, "We only did jobs like that for the money, but they, well…they seemed to enjoy it." He shook his head, "It was like a whole new world for them, a whole new outlet. They couldn't get enough. I saw a fire in their eyes after that first stunt we did—they were hooked."
"Stealing is like a drug," Rummy chimed in from the other side of Ed, "They did it once and got hooked almost immediately. I remember the months after that: Cindy and Jazmine became partners in crime. Always doin' something against the law, gettin' into trouble. First it was robberies, and then it was smuggling. That changed to drug trafficking, then ransom holds, and so on."
"Did Jazmine ever do anything she'd wanted to do?" Huey asked quietly, but it was more of a rhetorical question.
Nonetheless, Ed shrugged, "I dunno, I never really looked into that part in her life. I only know a small part of it, the part I saw. One thing I know for sure, though, is that Jazmine's a cutthroat woman now. Cindy's not any nicer. In fact, they don't do anything without each other, and that includes makin' decisions." He eyed the two boys.
Huey felt a hand on his shoulder, interrupting his thoughts about Jazmine. He turned around and was face to face with a dancer. She was pretty tall and had long, dark brown hair and brown eyes with dark skin. She wore a skimpy outfit with tall, black stilettos that added at least seven inches to her height. She smiled at Huey, her red lips becoming thin, "Well I've never seen you here before," she mused in a sultry voice. Huey gave her a look, although she probably didn't even notice it.
"Hey, who'd you find over here?" Another voice asked. Riley now had another young woman leaning on him. She was Asian, with black hair that was cut into a shoulder length bob and slanted brown eyes. She wore a traditional Chinese inspired dress that barely stopped midthigh and equally tall stilettos than the first girl. They both reeked of alcohol and metal, like coins.
The Asian woman practically draped herself over Riley, her pink lips pouted. Riley inwardly groaned and had the sudden urge to push her off, but he had no idea who he'd piss off if he did that.
"I don't know," the first girl responded innocently, her eyes never leaving Huey. She continued to smile, "I'm Sugar," she said, "this's Lolli." She gestured to the Asian, who clicked her tongue and leaned in closer to Riley. Riley began to inch away from her, but she was dead set on keeping him locked in her grasp. Huey rolled his eyes, but they couldn't see it behind his glasses, "Did y'all need something?" he asked, his voice deep.
Sugar smiled seductively, "Well baby, I've been coming here for a little while and I've never seen someone quite like you before." She gave him a once over, and Riley was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with Lolli practically drooling over him.
Huey nodded, "I've never been here before." he admitted. He turned to Ed and Rummy, "These are my friends, Ed and Rummy." He said, his voice practically begging the two to intervene.
Sugar smiled at them, too, "I know I've seen you both here before, but I've never talked to either of ya." She sauntered over to the two, Lolli behind her, their attention now caught by Ed and Rummy.
Riley exhaled quietly, turning to Huey, "Thanks man," he whispered.
Huey nodded, "No problem." He stood up, a glass in hand, "I'm gonna go walking around."
Riley stood up, "You ain't goin' alone, I'm goin' with ya." They turned to signal Ed and Rummy that they were walking away, but Ed and Rummy were already in a steamy make out session with the two girls. They waved their hands at Huey and Riley, and they took it as an 'okay'. They grabbed their drinks from the bar and began to mosey their way into the thickening crowd.
It was exhausting as they watched people dance, chat, and try so hard to show off to each other. It was like everyone in the room needed to prove something to everyone else, like they were better. Every once in a while the two would catch a part of a conversation here and there, and most of the topics were over illegal activities.
Huey and Riley stuck exclusively to each other, pushing past people as gently as they could and apologizing for running into anyone. They were not there to draw attention to themselves or attract trouble, although neither were afraid of getting into a fight if they really needed to. For the most part, they stuck to the sidelines, which was something they rarely did at any event.
An hour later, they managed to find their way into an empty table. They had roamed the dance floor and the stage area the entire time, their gaze on the sea of people in search of Jazmine and Cindy. But, they had no such luck, and now found themselves slumped into chairs that faced the stage, where different strippers had emerged from and were prancing around. Huey had finished his drink, but Riley was still working on his, "You need any more?" Huey asked.
Riley shook his head, "Not yet, I'm almost there, though." He took a small sip. He was drinking something he wasn't used to; it was more bitter than he would've liked, but Riley didn't chicken out of anything, so drank it anyway.
Huey began looking around, "Where d'you think Ed and Rummy went to?" he asked.
Riley shrugged, "You saw how hard those girls came onto them," he chucked, "I bet you they're getting laid or somethin'." He looked at his phone, "Damn, we've been here for over an hour and no sign of 'em anywhere. Didn't they say they'd come tonight?"
"They said that they might come," Huey emphasized the word 'might', "we knew it'd be a long shot coming here." He leaned back into his seat, sighing as he rubbed his forehead with a hand.
Riley sighed, "What do you make of all this?" he then asked. This made Huey turn his attention back to his brother, "Of what? Jazmine and Cindy? Or Woodcrest?" He cocked his head to the side, as if he was mocking Riley.
Riley set his drink down on the table and threw his hands up into the air, "All of it nigga! The whole situation."
Huey stared into his empty cup, "I don't know," he admitted slowly, "I always knew that they'd move on with their lives, forget about us, but I had never expected something like…this." He gestured around them, the music blaring and mixing in with the noise of the growing crowd, "This is some pretty big shit, especially for those two."
"We got into some pretty big shit too," Riley countered, gulping down the last of his drink. The liquid burned his throat, but he bit back the urge to cough, "Yeah, but we didn't actually plan on landing into trouble." Huey argued back, "Looks like Jazmine and Cindy went looking for it."
Riley shrugged, knowing that his brother was right. Jazmine and Cindy…had actually gone looking for trouble. Riley could've seen Cindy in this position, sure, they were wild in their teen years. But Jazmine? Jazmine was the good girl, not only that; she was Huey's girl. Riley never knew Jazmine as anything other than Huey's girl. She never partied, never stayed out past her curfew, and was always extremely loyal to Huey. Riley remembered how Jazmine would always hang around Huey and follow Huey almost everywhere, and he did the same to her. Riley had seen Jazmine getting an honest job and probably engaged by this point. But this life…this was something unexpected indeed.
Huey stared into his cup, "I've always imagined what Jazmine would be doing with her life now." He admitted absently. He chuckled softly at himself, "I dreamed about her a lot, especially those first few years. I always wondered how her life would play out without me in it."
Riley inhaled sharply, "What did you see? "he asked.
Huey propped his head up with his arm, his elbow on the table, "I always imagined that she would attend college, graduate, become a veterinarian like how she talked about. She always wanted to save the animals or whatever, and that was her number one dream job since we were like twelve."
Riley had to chuckle. Huey looked up at him, "What about you? Did you think about Cindy?"
Riley scoffed, "'Course I did nigga. I thought about her like that too, but I always thought she'd be the baddest point guard on a basketball team." He bit his bottom lip, "Yeah, I dreamed she'd be dustin' niggas on the court and takin' shit from no one. She always said she wanted to play basketball for some college, maybe make it to the WNBA one day. But...I guess she never got to do that."
Huey stared off into space, "I guess she didn't."
The two heard a small crash behind Huey, and he was grabbed by the shoulder. Ed poked his head in between the two brothers, interrupting their thoughts. "I hope I wasn't interrupting things," he said, "but…they're here."
At those words, the two instantly stood up, abandoning their drinks on the empty table. They weaved their way through the crowd, following Ed. They met up with Rummy back at the bar, who looked just as disheveled as Ed.
"I see someone had a fun night." Riley joked, and Rummy blushed slightly. Suddenly, he looked up, and he nodded his head, "There goes your girl." He said, gesturing behind them at the stairs. Holding their breath, the two slowly turned around, preparing for anything. This was seven years in the making, and everything had led up to this moment.
Descending the stairs were two young women, and the moment the brothers laid eyes on them, their hearts almost stopped.
The first to come down was a young white woman. She had long, beautiful blonde hair that was pulled back up into a slicked back ponytail with a glittery band at the base made of diamonds. She wore a dark blue dress that had a deep dip in the front and showed off a lot of cleavage. The dress stopped a few inches below her knees, and hugged her body so tightly it looked like she couldn't breathe. She wore a pair of clear heels that added a few inches to her height, making her appear taller than what she probably was. Her makeup was flawlessly done, and when she smiled, it was blinding. Riley instantly recognized her, and his heart leapt into his throat as he watched her carefully descend the stairs.
Huey's eyes had trailed to the woman behind her. This woman had warm, caramel skin and the biggest, puffiest strawberry blonde afro he'd ever seen in his life, but he knew that strawberry blonde afro. She wore a dark purple dress that hugged her waist just as snugly as the woman in front of her. Her dress reached the floor almost, and had two large slits that went up her legs on both sides, revealing her long, toned legs and purple heels. She also had a large dip in the front of her dress that showed off ample cleavage, and another one in the back. Her makeup was done just as flawlessly as the first woman, and she wore a silky purple headband to keep her afro from falling into her face. She smiled, and he could spot her pearly white teeth from where he was sitting.
The boys gawked at the two as they entered the party scene, seemingly unfazed by the bright lights and loud noises. They looked calm, cool, and collected. Most of all, they looked...comfortable. They looked like they belonged, that this was their world, and it very well could have been with how everyone around them seemed to shrink away as they made their entrance.
Huey and Riley turned to look at Ed and Rummy, who shrugged, "It's Jazmine and Cindy." Ed said, stating the obvious.
"Aka Emerald and Crystal, Crime Queens, in the flesh." Rummy added, taking another much needed shot.
Finally introducing Jazmine and Cindy into the story. R&R. PS I wrote my first rated M story called Vision if y'all wanna check it out. It's a one shot (as of right now).
xoxo, Queen
