Cheaper to Keep Her (part 1) Read online

  Cheaper to Keep Her

  This is a work of fiction. Al of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are

  either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Cheaper to Keep Her. Copyright

  2010 by Unique. Al rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may

  be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without written consent except in the case of

  brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Publisher’s address:

  K.S. Publications

  P.O. Box 68878

  Virginia Beach, VA 23471

  Website: www.kikiswinson.net

  Email: [email protected]

  ISBN-13: 978-0984529032

  ISBN-10: 0-984529039

  First Edition: December 2010

  1098765

  Editors: J. Wooden & Tenisha Oliphant

  Interior & Cover Design: Davida Baldwin (OddBal dsgn.com)

  Cover Photo: Davida Baldwin

  KS Publications

  www.kikiswinson.net

  Don’t Miss Out On These Other Titles:

  Wifey

  I’m Stil Wifey

  Life After Wifey

  Stil Wifey Material

  Wifey 4-Life

  Mad Shambles

  The Candy Shop

  Stil Candy Shopping

  A Sticky Situation

  Sleeping with the Enemy (with Wahida Clark)

  Heist (with De’nesha Diamond)

  Playing Dirty

  Notorious

  Cheaper To Keep Her Unique

  Prologue

  “Bitch! You better open this fucking door!”

  When I heard his voice, the banging and then the kicking on the door, my heart sank into the pit of

  my stomach. A hot flash came over my body at the sound of his deep, baritone voice. I could tel he

  was more than livid. I immediately started rushing through the luxury high-rise condominium I had been

  living in for the past six months. Duke owned it. It was time to put my Plan B into motion. Quick, fast

  and in a hurry.

  “Damn, damn, shit!” I cursed as I gathered shit up. I didn’t know how I had let myself get caught

  slipping. I planned to be the fuck out of dodge before Duke could get wind of my bad deeds. I had

  definitely not planned my escape correctly.

  “Lynise!” Duke’s voice boomed again with additional angry urgency. He started banging even

  harder and jiggling the doorknob. I was scared too death, but I wasn’t shocked. I knew sooner or later

  he would come. After al the shit I had done to him, I would’ve come after my ass too.

  “Lynise! Open this fucking door now!” Duke continued to bark from the other side of the door. He

  didn’t sound like the man I had met and fel in love with. He damn sure didn’t sound like he was about

  to shower me with cash and gifts like he used to. Not after al the shit I had done . . . or undone, I

  should say.

  “Open the fucking door!” he screamed again.

  I was shaking al over now. From the sound of his voice I could tel he wasn’t fucking around.

  “Shit!” I whispered as I slung my bag of money over my shoulder and thought about my escape. I

  whirled around aimlessly but soon realized that my Plan B didn’t include Duke being at the front door

  of his fifth floor condo. There was nowhere for me to go. It was only one way in and one way out and I

  damn sure wasn’t jumping off the balcony. If it was the second floor, maybe I would’ve taken a

  chance but I wasn’t trying to die.

  “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I cursed as I saw my time running out. Duke was a six foot tal hunk of solid

  muscle. I knew I had no wins.

  “Bitch! I’m about to take this fucking door down!” Duke screamed. This time I could hear him hitting

  the door hard. I couldn’t tel if he was kicking the door or putting his shoulder into it. Although it was his

  condo, I had changed the locks to keep his ass out.

  I spun around and around repeatedly, trying to get my thoughts together before the hinges gave in

  to his brute power. Hiding the money I had stolen was paramount. My mind kept beating that thought

  in my head. I raced into the master bedroom and rushed into the walk-in closet. I began frantical y

  snatching clothes off the hangers. I needed to use them to hide my bag of cash.

  Wham!

  “Oh my God!” I blurted out when I heard the front door slam open with a clang. I threw the bag

  onto the floor and covered it with piles of designer clothes. Things Duke and I had shopped for

  together when shit was good between us.

  “Bitch, you thought I was playing with you?” Duke’s powerful voice roared. “Didn’t I tel you, you

  had to get the fuck out of my crib?”

  He was up on me within seconds. I stood defenseless as he advanced on me so fast I didn’t

  even have time to react. I threw my hands up, trying to shield myself from what I expected to come

  when he reached out for me. But I was too late. He grabbed me around my neck so hard and tight I

  could swear little pieces of my esophagus had crumbled.

  “Duke, wait!” I said in a raspy voice as he squeezed my neck harder. I started scratching at his big

  hands trying to free myself so I could breathe.

  “What bitch? I told you if you ever fucked with me you wouldn’t like it!” he snarled. Tears

  immediately rushed down my face as I fought for air. “Ain’t no use in crying now. You should’ve

  thought ’bout that shit a long time ago.”

  Duke final y released me with a shove. I went stumbling back and fel on my ass so hard it started

  throbbing. I tried to scramble up off the floor, but before I could get my bearings I felt his hands on me

  again. His strong hand was winding into my long hair.

  “Ouch!” I wailed, bending my head to try to relieve some of the pressure he was putting on my

  head.

  Duke yanked me up by my hair. Sharp, stabbing pains shot through my scalp.

  “Owww!” I cried out as he wrung me around by my hair. I tried to put my smal hands on top of his

  huge, animal hands, but it was no use. Hands I had once loved, I now despised and wished would

  just fal off.

  “You thought it was al good right! You a fucking trifling ass bitch and I want you the fuck out of

  here!” Duke gritted. Then he lifted his free hand and slapped me across my face with al his might.

  “Pl-pl-pl-please!” I begged him for mercy. But Duke hit me again.

  I was crying hysterical y. Partly from the pain of his abuse, but more so from our past. I would have

  never thought our relationship would come to this. It had been a long road and al I wanted to do was

  teach him a lesson when I did the shit I did. I never thought I would have been facing this type of

  torment.

  “I want al your shit out of here, you scandalous bitch! And don’t take nothing that I fucking bought!”

  Duke roared, then he hit me again. This time I felt blood trickle from my nose. My ears were stil ringing

  from the previous blow to my head. He hit me again. I was sure he had knocked one of my teeth

  loose.

  “Yo Ak, get this bitch shit and throw it the fuck out,” Duke cal ed out to one of his boys. He never

  traveled anywher
e alone. There were always two dudes with him at al times. The one I knew as Chris

  rushed into the closet and started scooping up my clothes and shoes.

  “Wait!” I screamed, but it was for nothing.

  “Shut the fuck up!” Duke screamed in response, slapping me again.

  I could actual y feel my eyes starting to swel . I final y gave up. My spirit was broken, my body was

  sore. I watched as Chris and another one of Duke’s boys slid back the glass balcony doors and

  started tossing al my shit over. I doubled over crying. More and more shit went over and I was sure it

  was raining down on the beautiful y manicured lawn below.

  “Yeah . . . that’s enough. Don’t throw none of that jewelry or those furs outside. I got bitches I could

  give that shit to,” Duke said maliciously. His words hurt. “A’ight bitch . . . ya time is up.”

  I shrunk back thinking he was going to hit me again. But he didn’t. He grabbed me by the arm

  roughly. “Oww!” I cried out.

  Duke was squeezing my arm so hard the pain was crazy. “Let’s go,” he said, pul ing me towards

  the door.

  “Nooooo!” I screamed and then I dropped my body weight down towards the floor so he couldn’t

  pul me.

  “Oh bitch, you getting the fuck outta here,” Duke roared. He bent down, hoisted me over his

  shoulder and started carrying me kicking and screaming towards the door.

  “You can’t do this to me! You wil regret this Duke Carrington!!” I hol ered.

  “Fuck you!” he spat in return, opening the condo door and tossing me out into the hal way like a

  piece of discarded trash. I can’t even describe the feeling that came over me. It was a mixture of

  hurt, shame and embarrassment al rol ed into one.

  Duke slammed the door in my face and I yel ed for him to listen to me. My cries fel on deaf ears.

  My shoulders slumped down in defeat. Duke had left me in the hal way with no shoes, a short

  nightgown and nothing but my belongings on the lawn outside. I didn’t even have the key to my BMW

  X6.

  “Aggghhh!” I grunted in anger and frustration as I raked my hands through my tangled hair. I vowed

  from that minute on that Duke Carrington would learn just what al men have been saying for years . . .

  it’s cheaper to keep her.

  As I limped down the hal way of the building, al of the memories of how I had gotten to this point

  came rushing back.

  Cheaper to Keep Her Unique

  Chapter 1—Magic City

  One Year Earlier.

  I walked into the Magic City and was immediately disgusted by the crowd that was already hanging

  around my post.

  Same shit, different day , I thought to myself. I had been working at the wel known strip club for a

  minute and it seemed like each passing month, more and more thirsty ass niggas showed up to

  spend their hard earned money on a fantasy. I crinkled my face and looked at my watch just to make

  sure I had the right time. It was only eight-thirty in the evening and niggas were already starting to pack

  the club. I mean, damn, didn’t they have wives at home giving them some ass. Maybe not, judging

  from how they came up in the club and made it rain almost every night.

  I noticed a few of the regulars sitting around. Of course, the ones that were there early were the

  older, more broke niggas that wanted to take advantage of the specials. The bal ers usual y rol ed in

  after midnight and when they did al the girls who worked at the club would put their best foot forward

  and try to get some of that bal er dough.

  I scanned the bar area and rol ed my eyes as I headed for my post behind the bar. I wasn’t no

  stripper chick. Bartending was my thing. I could mix the fuck out of a drink, but I wasn’t about to shake

  my ass for dol ars. I didn’t know how the chicks up in the Magic City did it. Men touching them al over

  their bodies for as little as a single dol ar bil . Hel naw! Not me. Al of those different hands al over

  my body, I would be sick after that shit. Then al that ass shaking, pole hopping and these chicks may

  or may not make a single dime. Not me, I needed guaranteed money. Even though these thirsty ass

  dudes didn’t tip bartenders like they used to, they stil wanted to sit up in my face and try to spit game

  my way. I probably turned down sixty niggas a night. I had so many of them tel ing me how beautiful I

  was. Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it al . One nigga even told me I looked like Jada Pinkett Smith. Wel , a few

  people told me that. Maybe it’s true, maybe not. I did know that I was official. I kept my shit together:

  hair, nails and clothes. Although money was definitely an issue, the package had to be presentable.

  As a bartender, I had listened to every type of story about life there was, especial y the same old

  story men told about their dry ass wives at home who didn’t give up the pussy. Yada, yada, yada. Al

  that said, bartending at the club paid the bil s. At least until a better opportunity came along,

  bartending was my gig.

  I switched my ass past the early bird hounds who were already surrounding the bar trying to be

  the first to get their seats at the stage. It was Thursday, which meant, their favorite stripper was about

  to grace them with her presence.

  Diamond was al the rage at the Magic City and she was also my best friend and roommate. She

  had left for work before I did since she had to set up her look and her music. She was the club’s

  Thursday night feature. A different stripper was featured each night of the week.

  Needless to say, Thursdays were when the club was most packed. Al the men loved Diamond. I

  mean, she was beautiful. She had a sweet baby face and the body of a video vixen.

  I was almost to my post behind the bar when I felt a presence. I jumped.

  “It’s about damn time you showed the hel up!” I heard the voice and then felt somebody grab my

  arm.

  “What the—” My statement was cut off. I was a bit thrown off.

  “Lynise . . . I need a big favor,” Diamond said in a pleading voice. Her words rushed out of her

  mouth like running water. She looked as if she had seen a damn ghost.

  “Damn girl, you scared me grabbing on me like that,” I huffed, looking at Diamond as if she was

  crazy. “What’s the matter with you?” I asked confused.

  “I need to borrow some cash quick before Neeko gets here. I ain’t got the money to pay for my

  sets tonight,” Diamond said, with urgency in her voice. She was rubbing her arms fanatical y. The

  nervousness was written al over her face. I hated when she acted spooked and it had been

  happening more often lately. I sucked my teeth at her.

  “Why you need to borrow money Diamond? Didn’t you do a couple of sets last night? I saw

  niggas making it rain al around you,” I said, frustrated. There was no reason Diamond didn’t have any

  money when I was sure she had probably made over five hundred dol ars just the night before.

  “I know but I had to loan some to Brian,” Diamond replied.

  I threw my hands up in her face. I already knew she had given her no-good ass, wanna-be hustler

  boyfriend her money. I despised Diamond’s boyfriend, Brian, but I tried to stay out of her business.

  He looked and acted like a buster if you asked me. However, Diamond was madly in love with his

  raggedy ass. He always had his hand out. I told her a mil ion times it was supposed to be the other

  way around. Brian should’ve been taking care of her and tryin
g to get her the hel up out of the Magic

  City . That’s the way I saw it anyway. But there was no turning Diamond against the slouch.

  “How the fuck you keep giving that nigga al your money?” I barked at her. “He is a grown ass,

  able bodied man! If he can’t hustle up money or go get a damn job then you need to leave his ass!

  You a sucka for love or what?” I was fed up with Brian or better yet, I was fed up with Diamond fal ing

  for his shit. He was always at our apartment, eating up our food and never lifting a finger or putting a

  dime in the pot.

  Diamond put her head down and wore a sad frown when I told her about herself and her man. I

  knew I had hurt her feelings and I was immediately sorry. I loved Diamond. She was my road dog. We

  had been through hel and back together. Neither one of us came from good homes and we had

  been down for each other for years. I just wanted her to make better decisions and be smarter with

  her money. I guess I should have been a little more sensitive. But I was too mad to be nice.

  “Lynise, I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t real y need this,” Diamond said somberly, shifting her weight

  from one foot to the other as if she had ants in her damn pants. I noticed she was fidgety as hel .

  “Yo, this is the last time I’m loaning you money Diamond. We both struggling to pay rent and bil s,

  remember?” I chastised her, taking my bag off my shoulder and placing it on a barstool so I could get

  my wal et. I dug into my purse and handed her a hundred dol ars. That was enough for her to pay

  Neeko so she could do a few sets and make some money. That would lead to more sets. I knew she

  hated doing lap dances, but I was sure she would be doing some tonight to get some extra money. It

  was part of the game . And as much as we hated it, sometimes the game ruled us.

  Diamond smiled and snatched the money from my hand. Then she threw her arms around my

  neck and hugged me. “Thanks girl, you’re a lifesaver, that’s why I love you,” Diamond said, al of a

  sudden in a cheery mood.

  “Just go knock them dead tonight bitch, ‘cause we need to eat dammit,” I said jokingly. Diamond

  smiled. She was so pretty when she smiled. I smiled back. I real y loved my best friend. I watched as