The King's of New York

The Five Rules

"Ooh, you're gonna feel the vibes. When the wolf comes out tonight."

~

Hermione
RICKY bangs on the mahogany door as I stand awkwardly  beside him. The sounds of banging doesn't even bother the people of the Bronx community. Clearly frustrated, wRicky pulls out his phone and begins to punch in numbers, but stops once the door swings open.

My eyes land on the tan skin girl with her  black hair in big rollers. She stands in the wide doorway with only a white crop tank top and black underwear. I quickly divert my eyes elsewhere.

"Ricky I swear to fucking God I'm going to kill you! I told you countless of fucking times to not bang on my fucking door sounding like them fucking pigs!" She shouts and points her acrylic nail, not even looking at my direction, as she glared at an unfazed Ricky.

"Look I got something to handle before Leo has my fucking head. Can you watch her?" He asks in a rush as he runs his hands through his curly hair.

"Do I look like a fucking babysitter to you?" She asks right before her eyes land on me, "She doesn't need a god damn babysitter, she looks older than me! What the fuck is going on? Who the fuck is she?"

"Look she's Leo's girl, Pauly and Tommy got locked up and now I got to move some shipments from the warehouse in Queens to the Island, and Leo will have my fucking head if he sees shit hasn't been moved when he gets back in the city. So just make sure she doesn't get hurt." Ricky explains quickly before leaving me with the angry woman.

I shuffle my feet awkwardly as I feel her heated stare at me before walking back inside. I take that as my cue to follow her in, as I close the door gently.

"YOU GOT TO SLAM IT SO IT CAN LOCK!" She yells from up the steps that must lead to the upper level.

I do as I am told and lock all three locks. Looking around I slowly walk in and take a seat on the couch. The apartment is anything but dull or clean. Clothes and lingerie were flung everywhere, boy toys were piled in the corner. I do admire her healthy plants section that occupies the large bay window.

As footsteps descend from the staircase my eyes land on the woman I realize I don't know the name of. I watch as she inhales in smoke from a cigarette before releasing.

"What's your name?" I find myself asking very mousy like.

Her dark brown eyes land on mine giving me a check over, "Andrea. What's yours Princess?" She answers as she flicks her ash in an ashtray on the coffee table full of old and new fashion magazines.

"Hermione." I answer back and she nods continuing on with smoking her cigarette.

"Okay well listen Princess, I'm a stripper. So from 9pm-6am I am on a pole doing tricks for tips. Which means during the day I need to sleep to have the energy to give lap dances to some slimy assholes. Before you judge I do this to pay for the life I have now and want." She says before putting out her cigarette.

"I'm not judging." I state quietly and she narrow her eyes at me before nodding.

"Good. I hate a judgmental bitch. With that being said I'm going to bed. I don't know how long you're going to be here, so for the next couple of hours don't touch or meddle through my shit. And don't eat shit, I barely have the food as it is." Andrea announces as she makes her way back upstairs leaving me in full silence of her own home.

~~

For nearly four hours I didn't touch anything of hers, I didn't snoop, and I didn't eat. I just read the book I stashed in my purse before I left with Ricky. After some time, I checked the clock wondering how long I will be in a strangers home.