Streetlife

51 - Checking In

"I wonder if death would be easier, Julius." Tess groans as she shivers.

"Oh don't talk that way, baby love." Julius says as he lays next to in his bed reading a magazine. The man was rather exhausted and had just gotten home from work and needed a nap desperately. But, it was the first morning Tess actually looked somewhat okay.

"It's just a thought because this...this is some real hell. And seeing Warbucks will be even more hell." Two blankets are on top of Tess with a washcloth on her forehead, and she was miserable as all get out.

"I don't think he knows anything yet. Too wrapped up in OTHER things. So don't you worry about that. You just get some rest. You know your girl, Lena, has covered for you."

"I hate that, Julius. I hate that she has to do that. I just need to get myself together. She should have let me die. You should have let me die," Tess groans again as she tries to relax, her teeth chattering together now, dark circles under her eyes.

"Oh, Tessy, you need to stop talking that nonsense! You'll get yourself together with time, but you gotta stop killing yourself with these drugs.  Tell me you like getting high like this?" Julius looks over his magazine at the woman who is struggling to find a comfortable position.

"I don't know. I guess." She shrugs turning her head to face the man. "I was on some new stuff this time, and I think that messed me up more!"

"I don't know if I believe you, Tessy.  I mean we all have issues, baby, but this ain't the way. Frankie-boo is  going to rehab, and you might need to go with him," He waves his magazine as she tries to sit up in the bed.

"Frank is?" She says turning to look at him confused as she grabs the ginger ale off the nightstand and sips it feeling the nausea return as her brain continues to be clouded.

"Oh honey can you even understand anything I tell you? Your brain is cooked, you know. What in the hell were you doing in the South Bronx, baby? Trying to end yourself?"

"I don't know. I'm already dead, Julius. I'm dead. I died with..."

"Dead? I don't talk to no ghosts, honey," he cuts her off as he puts his magazine down and takes her hand in his. "And I'm sorry about Fannie."

"What?" She whispers now as she tries to pull her hand away, and Julius won't let her as he tries to look in her eyes.

"We...we didn't know where to look so we read your journal. Hunny, why didn't you tell us you had a daughter?" He whispers loudly as Tess won't look at him.

"We wouldn't hate you! That's too much for you to bare alone, and I'm sorry...I didn't let Lena or Callie read. They don't know. Your secret's safe with me, but Tessy...." He trails off as Tess wipes her eyes and sniffles.

"She's all I got. That two hour window of time? She's my family. And I lost her," she says so quietly as the man leans forward to listen.

"Oh my lord, Tessy," he pulls the woman in his arms as she clings to him and cries softly.

"You don't understand, Jules. Warbucks will find out I ran again, and when he does I might as well be gone. He will strangle me or make Bruce or Sherman kill me. I've fucked him over royally this time. I really have," Tess cries into the man's neck as he tries his best to soothe her and kisses her cheek softly as they both lay down and he rubs her back.

"He won't kill you. I'll...I'll do everything I can to protect you and so will Lena. I promise," he whispers as Tess holds onto him tightly until she falls asleep, leaving the man to be more heart broken than ever.

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LENA POV

"You just about finished with all the money?" I hear Warbucks ask as he comes out of the bathroom freshly showered and with his silk bathrobe on. When I came a few hours ago after spending all night taking care of Tess, I didn't really expect him, for he hadn't notified me that he'd be here collecting money. Yet when I came, he assured me that I should still collect and he'd just be in the adjoining room observing.

Then again I did hear Stef come home at some point very late last night, and I had avoided her the entire night. I didn't want to see or talk to her, and thankfully, she let me be. Thank god. But I had no idea what Warbucks had been doing all week, besides watching Frank and fucking that blonde, for it was very obvious by now that he was quite smitten by her. The funny thing is, he has no idea how she can be, and all  I can do is sit back and watch this entire scene play out.

Turning to look his direction, I watch him put his cologne on and light a cigar as I walk up to him and smile. "Yes honey. I have. How you doing, baby? Sleep well?" I place my hand on his naked back as he seems rather cold and distant, almost stiff, but I knew better than to question it as I watch his jawline tighten, his eyes not meeting mine.

"Good. Everyone behaving?"

"Yes. Some girls came up short and I made them work extra. You know how it is. We have to make the money," I say softly as I back up some and he finally looks at me with a stern expression, one I refused to allow to phase me.

"Yeah? Who?"

"Olive and Amber. You know how they can get, and they must have gotten wind that I'd be collecting and tried to play games. But I got their money for you, suga." I wink at him as I walk over to place the rest of the money in his safe before turning back to him.

"Yeah? You take care of it?" He doesn't look at me as I wonder what is up, even if I partly know. I just have to play this game right or I'm toast.

"You know I did, baby. Pixie doesn't play any more than Warbucks does," I sit on the chair directly across from him, my legs open seductively as he looks at me this time.

"No more issues then?" He presses as I smirk and pull out my lighter and smoke.

"A couple more. But they're taken care of. You don't have to worry, sweetheart. Like I said, Pixie doesn't play."

My heart hammers in my chest as he walks towards me, his expression softening some, and I wonder what he's thinking. I bite my lower lip as he finally breaks a smile and sits on the edge of the bed, not even five inches from where I'm sitting seductively.

"Who else?" He asks softly as I sit forward, my tits showing as I watch his expression change to lust, and I grab his cigar and take a puff.

"Callie didn't show one night. I should have beat her ass is what I should have done, but I didn't. She's been working tirelessly, and you'd be proud, suga," I say as I hand him his cigar back and he reaches over to set it in the ash tray before pulling me into his lap.

I wrap my legs around him as I play with his hair, and he smiles back up at me. "I knew I could trust you, Pix. I just knew it," he says in a hoarse tone, and I can tell that he's turned on big time, and my heart is hammering even more, for I don't know if he knows about Tess or not. Should I lie or even mention it? My mind is going a hundred miles an hour as I feel him lift my shirt, and bury his face between my breasts as he moans and I throw head back and moan as if on queu.

"Fuck, you feel so good, Daddy," I moan as I begin grinding down on him, trying my hardest to stay alert and not fall away to oblivion. He could kill me if he wanted to, and the last thing I needed was to be on his bad side, especially since he had his sights on someone new.

"Do I? Do I feel good? Tell me, baby," he moans again as he kisses down my flat stomach and swiftly picks me up to lay me on the bed. I look up at him as he swiftly yanks my pants down and panties before opening his robe and burying his face between my legs.

I am losing it big time as I feel his tongue deep within me, and I can barely take it as I grip the sheets and begin to cuss. "Shit! Daddy! Don't stop! Fuck me!!!!!" I groan louder and louder as he bites the inside of my thigh and begins licking again. It doesn't take long for me to explode as he grins and picks me up and flips me over.

I cry out as I feel him entering me, and I can tell that he doesn't have a rubber on this time. I try not to think about it as I feel his hot breath on my neck as he reaches around and grabs my breast in his hand, and begins sucking on my neck.

"Fuck you feel good, Pix," He grunts as he pushes in and out hard, and our bodies rock together. We both explode together as he moves to pull me into his arms as he shoves his tongue inside my mouth, my legs wrapping around him and he enters me again.

We haven't fucked like this in so long, I forget what day it is as we finally take a break and lay beside each other out of breath. Looking over at him, I reach for his hand and link our fingers as I whisper. "I bailed Tess out of jail. She's currently detoxing now. Don't worry. It's all under control, baby. Pixie has it, baby."