1 p.m., Coconut Grove. Miami's village they called it. Lots of palm trees keeping everything shaded and cool, cute boutiques and restaurants everywhere. The people all relaxed and unsuspecting and rich, taking their time and talking real low. You didn't come around here unless you had money or wanted to see what it was like to have money.
Now this was living, this was where it was at, the place he wanted to be-Can't-Afford-Me-Anyway-So-Don't-Even-Bother-Asking Central, thought Carmine, as he squeezed the lemon slice into his Perrier water and looked around him at the rich ladies lunching outdoors at Dubois' Fresh amp; Natural, a healthfood place on Grand Avenue. It had round tables, parasols made from recycled wood; they served you on plates made by indigenous South American Indians, and you spent a lot of money on their specialties-nutroast, seed loaf, soya sausage, dried-berry pudding and tofu fuckin' everything. Every time he ate there he spent a week shitting his guts out.
Still, there was nothing he liked better than sitting here in the lap of luxury, dressed to the nines and studying all those haughty trophy bitches through his dark-blue-lensed Ray-Ban Aviators with the gold Bausch amp; Lomb frames. They all sat around in their expensive clothes and discreet jewellery, branded paper shopping bags at their sides and those ugly manicured poodles standing to attention at their feet. Them damn dogs all looked like they got their fur sculpted by the same hairdresser who did their mistresses' hair. The women all looked the same, give or take-starved down to bone, nervous tics, with so much plastic surgery added in they were like shopfront mannequins who'd been brought to life by Frankenstein when he'd run out of cadavers.
This was his playground. Here he liked to amuse himself and play God in his head, load the dice and turn the tables. He'd take away the rich husbands, the bank accounts, the property portfolios, address books and wardrobes, disconnect the phone and send the staff packing. Then he'd imagine them coming to him with their sob stories, and him acting all boo-hoo-hoo sensitive mucho simpatico, before telling them that there was a way out of their dilemmas, that they had to use what they'd got-or what the plastic surgeons had left them with. Oldest trade known to man, shit that's been going on since man was a monkey and lived in a tree. Hell, even Mary Magdalene started out that way. They wouldn't like it at first. They'd slap his face and call him scum, but sooner or later they'd realize it was his way or no way. How low could they go? All the way down that social ladder. After Sam had turned them out good, he'd pimp out these stuck-up cunts to cab drivers, shoeshiners, waiters, bellhops, store managers, gardeners, pool men, cooks-anyone they'd been rude to or turned their noses up at. They'd all get a piece. Once in a while he'd bring them back here and rub their old lives in their faces; only they wouldn't want to eat salads and fruits, they'd be begging him to go to Wendy's or BK, get themselves some real food. He chuckled quietly to himself: man, he was a nasty motherfucker when he wanted to be, scared himself sometimes. But life and his evil-ass mother had made him that way, so tough shit and too bad and boo-fuckin'-hoo-hoo-hoo.
Today he was here on busy-ness. Waitress called Dominique. Potential Heart. Only this one wasn't going to his mother. Oh no, he was keeping this piece for his own Deck. White, long blonde hair (real), big round baby blues that had this way of going wide like she was hearing or seeing something new and wonderful for the first time, slender body, tall, long-legged, narrow waist, good hips and a great pair of tits; real healthy glow to her skin, classic all-American apple-pie blonde straight out of the Christie Brinkley/Chris Evert gene pool. Yessir. Looking just like her workplace, Fresh amp; Natural.
He'd been working her since before Christmas, taking it real slow, reluctant at first, truth be told, because he wasn't too sure about recruiting on his own turf, but in the end he'd recognized she had way too much potential to pass up. In fact, she was the one who had initiated contact, not the other way round. He'd noticed her OK. Damn near couldn't miss this fine piece of cornfed ass. He'd just come back from posing as a photographer around Biscayne Bay, and she'd asked him if he was 'a professional'. He'd laughed at the unintentional irony of what she'd said and she'd thought he was laughing at her. She'd blushed and looked hurt, which was a perfect entry point for him. He'd made up some shit about how he'd just got called an amateur that morning, blah blah blah, and they'd hit it off. She'd told him she came from Vegas. She'd tried making it as a model in LA, but hadn't got anywhere, and now here she was. He did the usual-got to know her, made sure she had no one around-husband, long-term boyfriend, family. When she said it was just her and her ambition he mentioned an assignment he had coming up in the next few weeks. He shot a few Polaroids of her and gave her his card. Sam had almost come when he'd seen the photographs, so he'd decided to move in today, final phase-date her a couple of times, gain her trust, then introduce her to Sam, the turn-out man.
'Hey, Louis!' Dominique called out to him and smiled in that high-voltage white flash-bulb way she had. Louis De Ville, photographer. That's what it said on the card he'd given her.
'Whassappenin', princess?' Carmine smiled at her and pushed his glasses up. He made his fingers into a rectangle and framed her. She posed, pouting, holding up her hair. The mannequins looked their way. Carmine got up and kissed her on the cheek. Had to tiptoe up a little. Bitch was taller than him by an inch or two and she was wearing flat shoes; some fat old dwarf would love her.
She'd just started her shift. She'd work late today, right through to midnight closing. After sundown the place was popular with young couples who sipped fruit-juice cocktails while looking into each other's eyes. She said she hated that time of day the most because seeing those happy couples only reminded her of her loneliness. It never ceased to amaze him the kinds of intimate shit bitches told you when they trusted you-kinds of shit he could turn to gold.
'I've got some real great news,' he said to her, slipping into pro photospeak. 'That job I told you about? It's a new Calvin Klein shoot.'
'Calvin Klein!'
'Thassright.'
'With Brooke Shields?'
'No.' He laughed. 'I ain't all that. This is like a local campaign, aimed at Florida. And they want some local models, so I thought of you.'
'Oh, mi God! Oh, mi God!' She jumped up and squealed loud enough to turn every starved head in the place their way. She hugged him tight, pressing herself right against him.
'Now hold on, hold on.' He disentangled himself. 'Lots we got to talk about first. Like what the process is gonna involve, and how you gotta be gettin' yourself a good agent.'
'Sure, OK.'
'How's 'bout I pick you up after you get done, an' we can go get ourselves a bite to eat, an' I'll talk you through what is what?'
'I get out of here about 12.30,' she said.
'Kahmyne?'
Right behind him, he heard it, but it didn't fully register.
'I'll be here,' he said, then he heard it again, clearer and closer.
'Kahmyne?'
Dominique was now looking over his shoulder, knots of puzzlement in her happy expression.
'Kahmyne Dezzamoo!'
Oh shit! It was Risquee!
'Kahmyne Dezzamoo-nigga, turn yo' ass arown when I address yo' redbone ass!'
There was a hand on his shoulder and a real pissed-off voice bellowing in his ear.
He turned around. Risquee, one of his own Cards. What the fuck was she doin' here? Bitch looked like all kinds of shit. She was squeezed into a short 'n' sheer pink pvc dress, so tight it made her flabby thighs spill out over the hem. She stood unsteadily in leopard-skin heels, and had a handbag to match. Big gold Africa earrings and a short black wig that looked like she'd scraped a dead crow off her porch and glued it to her scalp. She was sweaty faced and wild-eyed, anger over all what was left of her looks.
'Sorry…'he started. 'Do I…'
'Do you what, nigga?' she snapped, hands on hips, getting up real close to him. He could smell reefer and malt liquor on her breath. 'Do you know me? Thass what you was gonna say to me, right?-Bitch!'
He hadn't seen her in five months, not since she'd got herself busted and slung in jail. He was supposed to bail her out like pimps usually did, but she'd been so much trouble he'd decided to cut her loose and let her rot. Drinking too much. Doing way too much blow 'n' reefer. Robbing johns. Stealing from him. She'd piled on the pounds too now, gone for that skidrow skeezer look. Time was when she was a sexy little piece. Dangerous and sexy. She'd even got him a little hard come to think of it-and that hadn't happened to him with a ho since a good while.
Now her bloodshot eyes were dancing all over him, taking him in and spitting back contempt. Her voice was hoarse, like she'd been screaming all night and basing all day. He remembered how Sam had had to stuff her panties in her mouth when he'd turned her out, on account of her yelling so loud while he was doing her. Johns had loved that about her though, made them feel like ten Tarzans, even though she was faking it.
'Listen…'he began, but his mouth was all dry and the words wouldn't come. He had a cold, churning feeling in his gut. He wanted out of this picture quick. Every eye in the place was on them now. The waiters and waitresses had stopped what they were doing to look at the commotion.
'Who dis white bitch, Kahmyne? Huh? You playin' her like you played me? What you tell her it is you do? Huh?' She pushed past him and changed her tone to something as close to polite and civil as she could get, 'Wassyo'name, suga?'
'Hey, leave her out of this,' Carmine managed to say.
'I AIN'T TALKIN' TO YOU, YOU PUNK-MADE BITCH!' she yelled in his face, spraying him with spit. She turned back to Dominique. Carmine tried to catch her eye, but she was focused on Risquee. Dominique looked scared and confused. Carmine doubted she'd seen anything like Risquee outside of television.
'What you say yo' name was, baby?' Risquee was back to sweetness and light, kind of voice she used on johns to talk their dicks up and their wallets open.
'Dominique.'
'Thass a nice name, baby. Yo' momma give you that?'
'Yes.'
'What this-' she curled her lip up in disgust-'this "man" tell you his name was?'
Dominique looked at Carmine. Carmine shook his head at her, and twirled his index finger around his temple to tell her Risquee was crazy, but Dominique looked away.
'Louis. Louis De Ville.'
'Looooweeeee!' Risquee scream-laughed like a hyena on fire. 'An' what did Looooweeee tell you he does?'
'He says he's a photographer,' Dominique said, looking at Carmine with sudden anger now, seeing him as he really was for the first time. He wanted to run off, get away, but he couldn't fuckin' move. His feet felt like they were part of the ground which had just given way beneath him.
'He tole me he was a talent spotter fo' a record company. That was some long time ago. Said he was gonna make me Tina Turner. He give you a card, right?'
Dominique nodded.
'Well, lemme tell ya, suga-this motherfucker here-he's a pimp. Ya hear me? He's a motherfuckin' PIMP. He was fixin' to ruin yo' sweet lil' self. An' this is juss about the luckiest fuckin' day in yo' life, baby.'
'That's-that's-that's not true!' Carmine found his voice. 'Dom, listen to me-this woman-'
'Shut yo' fuckin' mouth, bitch!' Risquee span on her heel and slapped him so damn hard across his face it shook the fillings in his back teeth and made him cry out in pain.
'Don't ever come near me again, you lowlife,' Dominique said to him, ice cold. 'If you do, I'll call the cops. You disgust me.'
'What?' Carmine started. 'You believe her!'
But Dominique had turned her back on him and was walking quickly away, probably to get the manager.
Carmine felt like he wanted to faint. Risquee's palm print was burning his cheek.
She grabbed him by the arm and started dragging him out of the cafe, away from the mannequins, away from the place he had, until very recently, most loved to be. She dragged him down the street like he was a big rag doll, her heels clickety-clacking loudly on the sidewalk, her plastic dress squeaking as she moved, pushing her way past people. He tried to pull away from her, but her grip was fast, her hand welded to his arm.
They got to where he'd parked his car. She slammed him up against the wall.
'You owe me, nigga!' she screamed at him.
'Listen, I-I'm sorry I didn't bail you out of the joint. I was havin' problems makin' my paper, you know?' he said, realizing he was whining. She back-handed him. He felt her bones connect with his cheekbone and yelped.
'Fuck dat! Fuck everythin'! Gimme my money, bitch! Where it at?'
She didn't wait for an answer. She grabbed his nuts and squeezed them with her left hand; her free hand quickly patted his trouser pockets until she found his $4,000 roll, various denominations held together by a solid-gold clip. He was proud of that clip, the dull green really brought out the gold.
She quickly counted it and then dropped the roll in her handbag.
'What you doin'?' he whinged. 'Thass all the bread I got!'
'No, nigga. Thass all the bread you had. Iss my bread now!'
'Damn, bitch! After everything I done for you!'
'What you did, Kahmyne Dezzamoo, was leave me in the motherfuckin' joint. Ain't a damn pimp in the world leaves his girls in no joint. Thass part o' the deal. Only you done violated that deal. You got no pimp ethics. You done broke the golden rule o' pimpin'. You can treat yo' girl like shit, you can beat her black and fuckin' blue, take her last dicksuckin' dime, leave her ass broke 'n' hungry, but you always bail yo' bitch out.'
'I'm sorry,' he repeated.
'Well, I ain't.' Risquee smirked. 'I learned some things 'bout yo' ass in there. See, all that while I was out there peddlin' my ass, I thought I was one o' yo' mamma's girls. Only I wasn't. I ain't got that playin' card shit tattooed on my thigh, an' I ain't got me no retirement plan neither. Yo' mamma's girls get to keep ten dollars outta every hunnert they make, an' she puts aside another ten dollars on that for when they can't ho no mo'. You bin rippin' me off, nigga! An' you straight up lied to me 'bout how I was workin' fo' yo' mamma too. I bin workin' fo' yo' ass the whole time. An' I know you playin' yo' po' mamma, runnin' hos on the side without her knowin'.'
Carmine didn't reply. She had him. She was completely right.
'I was gonna go see yo' mamma, tell her everythang, only ain't no money in that.'
'How much you want?'
'Fiddy thousand bucks.'
'I ain't got that kind of money.'
'Get it,' she snapped coldly. 'Today's Tooseday. You got till next Tooseday, or I'll go see yo' mamma. And maybe I won't gonna go alone neither, 'cause I'm sure you runnin' plenty other bitches out here. Meet me at yo' boyfriend Sam's store at eight.'
'He ain't my boyfriend,' Carmine said bitterly.
'Way that nigga passed up my pussy fo' my ass that night? He straight fag-fucked me, nigga.' Risquee sneered. 'You the only pimp in the world don't fuck his bitches, you know that? Hell! You ain't even a pimp-you a motherfuckin' pimple!' She laughed her hyena screech. 'An' I'ma gonna squeeze you like the pimple you is, nigga! Next Tooseday. You better be there-an' you better have my money.'
With that she turned and walked off, squeaking and clicking down the street, head up, swinging her bag.
Carmine got in his car and drove off.
Humiliated and panicked, he went through Coral Gables, barely giving it a glance, even though it was one of his favourite drives. Normally he loved cruising past all those beautiful big homes, along the smooth, ficus-tree-lined roads, his top down, the warm wind on his face, the smell of big money and fresh grass in his nose. Now he just sped over the Blue Road Bridge, not even glancing at the boats parked in the seawater canals behind their owners' houses. And he didn't even bother marvelling at the Venetian Pool. He didn't give a fuck about all this man-made beauty. He wanted to get the hell away from what had just happened.
He went down Miracle Mile, faintly aware he'd planned to scope out two potential Cards-Diamonds, one for him, one for his mother-but he felt like such a failure he didn't even want to think about doing what he did best.
Christ! That bitch knew!
He'd been running his own Game for three years now without a hitch, being real careful about everything. And now that cunt Risquee was threatening to blow it all. Solomon would kill him for sure. Didn't matter what history they had. Didn't matter that they'd been virtually like brothers from Haiti up. None of that shit mattered to Solomon. He'd torture him too. He'd do him at an SNBC. And what about Sam? What would happen to him? Sam was his best friend, his only friend. Sam was in this shit as deep as him.
When he got to Little Havana he felt better. The whole place was so run down and poor and derelict it suited his state of mind. Shitty little spic stores. Shitty little spic bars. Shitty little spic diners. Even the sky was shitty little spic something here.
He should never have brought her in. Bitch hadn't even worked nowhere nice. She'd worked at fuckin' Wendy's! A burger chain!
And she'd hit him. Twice. Just like his mother did.
It just wasn't right! It was too much. He had to stop.
He pulled over and parked on Calle Ocho. Opposite him a man was standing near a flatbed truck loaded with coconuts. He was cutting the ends off and selling them as drinks to passers-by. Carmine watched him work. Simple job. Simple life. Simple guy. Right then he would've traded places with him in a heartbeat if he could. Let that fuck deal with Risquee.
Bitch had taken his money. Bitch wanted to take more. Bitch was gonna tell his mother. Bitch was gonna tell all his other Cards too. He'd lose them all. And he was so damn close to getting away. So damn close.
A solitary tear ran down his face, still throbbing on both sides from the slaps. He hated himself for crying. He hated himself for being such a fuckin' pussy. Bitch was right. He wasn't no real pimp. A real pimp would've broken both her arms and then gone to work on her face. He wasn't no real pimp.
Maybe it was time he started behaving like one. Maybe it was time he grew some balls.
He wiped his face. He was going to see Sam.
He started his car, pulled out and drove on.
Risquee wasn't going to get his money. No way.
No fuckin' way.