Free Entangled by K. Elliott Page A

spoke. “I haven’t seen my father since I was a kid, and I lost contact with my mother about five years ago,” he said softly.
Not knowing what else to say, the Nelsons remained silent for the duration of the meal.
***
    After Jamal had taken Dream home, he drove around the city reflecting on the evening. He thought about the Nelsons and how they both seemed so phony. He really doubted that any family could be that perfect. The Nelsons made it clear that they would prefer Dream to be involved with someone who had at least attended college. He was not good enough for their daughter. He wondered whether he had made a mistake by telling the Nelsons the truth about his parents. He certainly wasn’t proud of the fact that his parents had not been there for him, and he definitely regretted that he had been to prison. But it was the truth.
    An hour later, Jamal found himself at Club Champagne, a strip club. He was depressed and he wanted something to drink.
Jamal sat next to the stage and was on his third Heineken. A tall light-skinned woman approached. She had a perfectly toned body and hair down to her waist. The stripper was wearing a black garter belt and G-string. She wore a tiny red football jersey with the number 69 etched in gold glitter and a pair of stilettos.
Her smile revealed beautiful white teeth. “Hello, Sexy. My name is Candy. Would you like a dance?”
Jamal sipped his drink before responding. “I didn’t come here for dances. I came here to have a drink.”
Candy frowned and sat on Jamal’s lap before he could say anything. “Why are you so uptight? Relax, baby. I’m here to make you feel better.”
Jamal looked Candy in her slightly slanted eyes and wondered if she part was Asian. “So how can you make me feel better?” he asked.
She blushed. “Well, we can start with a dance, and who knows what can happen next.” Candy grabbed Jamal’s arm and led him to the VIP section for more privacy.
Eight dances and two Heinekens later, Jamal asked. “How much will it cost for me to take you home?”
She laughed, running her fingers through his braids. “What about your woman?”
“What about her?” he slurred.
“Five hundred dollars and I’ll go home with you.”
“Are you out of your fuckin’ mind?”
“That’s my price, take it or leave it.” Candy got up from his lap and pulled a large amount of dollar bills from her garter belt. “I know you got the money. You’ve already spent close to two hundred dollars on dances tonight. Plus, I have to pay the club owner if I leave early.”
Jamal contemplated for a few minutes. He had never outright paid for sex before, but he was drunk and horny. “How long will it take you to get dressed?”
“Five minutes.”
They stopped at the Waffle House to get some hash browns and eggs. Shortly afterwards, they arrived at Jamal’s condo, and he led her to the bedroom where they quickly got undressed.
“Do you have a condom?” she asked.
“No, I don’t.”
Candy smiled “Don’t worry, I’ve got one.” She reached down in her purse and pulled out a small blue-and-white condom packet.
“That ain’t gonna work.”
Confused, she asked, “What do you mean?”
“I got too much for that little condom.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” she said, giggling.
“Seriously, those ain’t made for brothers.”
“I don’t know what else to do. I guess you’re gonna have to go out and get some condoms.”
He stood from the bed, his head spinning. “I don’t feel like going to no damn convenience store.”
“Well let’s get down to business with or without the condom. I need to make this money. After all, I did leave the club with your ass thinking I was gonna get paid.”
Jamal pulled the covers back and stared at her coldly. “I’ll fuckin’ kill you if you give me a disease.”
***
    Mark studied Jamal’s file carefully with Jeremiah staring over his shoulder.
“Looks like this guy just got out of prison,” Jeremiah said.
“Yeah, not even three