Free Street Chronicles Girls in the Game by Nikki Turner

nothing but his Kenneth Cole boxers. We walked through the kitchen to the family room, which was furnished with leather furniture, a plasma TV, and a custom-built pool table. He sat on the oversize sofa and pulled me onto his lap.
    “I need you to do something for me,” he said, looking me in the eyes.
    “Of course, anything, baby,” I said, rubbing my hand down his face.
    “One of my connects told me the police are out to get me. They came over to the restaurant and started asking me a lot of questions about Li'l John's disappearance, but I thought that was all they wanted. Apparently they're trying to get enough information to put a murder case on me.”
    “But Li'l John was classified as missing, right? What makes them think he was murdered?”
    “Li'l John's friend Skeet was pulled up on a conspiracy-to-distribute charge and started telling the police that he could give them info on a murder if they would reduce his charges. He started running off at the mouth, saying he saw Li'l John the same day he went missing, and Li'l John told Skeet that I was after him.”
    “But I thought Li'l John didn't have any idea you were onto him?” I asked.
    “Yeah, me too. This shit is fucked up. I've been getting away for so long, handling my business without getting dirty. Now this!” Tank snapped.
    “Well, what is it you want me to do?” I asked.
    Tank took my hand into his. “Before I ask you, promise me you'll think about it first, before you give me an answer.”
    “Come on, Tank, what is it?”
    Tank sighed heavily, then grabbed both of my hands. I had no idea what he wanted me to do, but I was willing to do whatever it took to keep my man out of trouble.
    “You know that new commonwealth's attorney? That young nigga?” he said.
    “Christian Hall is his name, I think. I don't know him personally, but I've been in his presence at a couple of city functions.”
    “I need you to get to him.”
    “Get to him and do what?” Now Tank had totally confused me.
    “Baby, I need you to hook up with him, you know, get in his head and shit. I want you to make him want you bad enough to do anything you ask.”
    I jumped up. I couldn't believe he would have the nerve to ask me to do something this crazy.
    “Tank, what the fuck?”
    “I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out. This nigga is young, and word on the street is, he's single. I've been in the locker room at the gym with him a couple of times, and the motherfucker is cocky as shit. Niggas like him can be pussy-whipped in no time.”
    “Wait a minute, you want me to fuck him, too? Oh, hell, no! This shit is crazy!” I said, throwing my arms up as I began pacing back and forth.
    “Baby, listen, just think about it. He's gonna think he hit thejackpot with you. You're beautiful, smart, plus you have a prominent position with RRHA. You two can go to different functions together, you know, start to become a couple. Throw the pussy on him and he's gonna be down for you. Get him to trust you—trust you enough that you have access to his office and his home. That's when it's gonna get grimy. We're gonna set his ass up, you know, blackmail him. Then, the only way he'll come out of it clean is to get my case thrown out.”
    I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Not only was he asking me to cheat on him, but he wanted me to get involved with blackmailing a city official. I didn't know if I could go through with something like that. I mean, I knew what I did at work was wrong, but there was no way to tie me to any type of illegal activity based on the information I gave to Tank. Forcing approvals on Section Eight applications is one thing, but this?
    “Renée, look, I need you to do this. Can't you understand? If you don't do this for me, I could go to prison for murder. They might try to tie me to some other crimes, too.” Tank rubbed his hand across his brow, wiping the sweat.
    “Look at everything we've built. Think about our future that we've been working so hard to