Free Hell's Diva by Anna J.

“She wasn’t the only one who wanted what was best for you. You were blinded by greed and lust.”
    Lou posed with his hands on his waist like a female posing for a photo shoot and said, “You were a diva in the streets. You were invincible, right, Mecca? Nobody could touch the Queen of New York.” Lou laughed out loud, then, just as quickly, his expression turned serious.
    “You were wrong though, but it’s my job to show you what you failed to see. Let’s carry on,” he said, clapping his palms together to continue Mecca’s journey.

Chapter Nine
    For she hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
    Psalms 7:26
    Hundreds of people convened in the Brownsville funeral home to pay their respects to Monique. Monique’s oak wood casket was surrounded by expensive wreaths and flowers paid for by Ruby and Mecca. Ruby paid for the funeral, the casket, and the mausoleum that Monique’s body would be laid in to rest.
    Ruby had Monique’s body dressed in a white pants suit with gold buttons down the front of the jacket. She made sure Monique was made up beautifully. She almost looked more elaborately dressed and made up as a corpse than she did alive. Some people commented on that fact out of earshot. When people tried to hug Ruby, offering her their condolences, people she didn’t know or had ever seen Monique associate with, she verbally assaulted them.
    “Who are you? Did you even know Monique?” To some of Monique’s family members, she growled as they walked by.
    “Stop being phony, when was the last time y’all saw her? What you do, chew an onion to get them fake-ass tears in your eyes?” she asked as they came up to view the body, causing everyone to avoid her.
    She paid her workers to keep their eyes open. If they find out who killed Monique, she wanted to know. She offered a $50,000 hit for the person who found the person. She had a plan for Stone’s ass too, who showed up at the wake high off crack, and smelling like he hadn’t bathed in months. He went up to view Monique’s body, and Ruby gave him a look that he missed. He was definitely going to pay.
    “Ruby, I’m gonna find out who did this. I swear to God, someone is gonna pay!” Stone whispered in her ear before he walked away. Little did he know he would have to pay for this too.
    Damn near every killer in Brownsville tried to cash in on the hit. There were thousands of rumors about who did it. When the rumor of Tah’s involvement spread around the streets, Mecca quickly put an end to that, letting everyone know that Tah was with her that night.
    It was the most memorable night in Mecca’s life. After she and Tah dined at Red Lobster, Tah rented a room at the Ramada Inn near LaGuardia Airport. Mecca sat in the passenger seat of Tah’s Porsche feeling the wind blow against her face as Tah sped down the Van Wyck Expressway. She tried to mentally prepare herself for the physical act of sex. She had never been this nervous, except when she first felt the flow of blood leak from her vagina. Instead of running to talk to Ruby about her period, she confided in Monique.
    “Monique, come here,” Mecca whispered from the bathroom, standing behind the door and sticking her head out.
    “What’s up, girl?” Monique asked, concerned.
    Mecca opened the door all the way and pulled Monique into the bathroom by her hand. She showed her the drops of blood on the panties she held in her hand, and Monique started laughing. Mecca was confused.
    “Why you laughing, Mo? I’m bleeding!”
    “Girl, ain’t no reason for you to be scared. It’s your period. It’s all a part of being a woman. It’s going to happen every month, so get used to it,” Monique said, opening the door. “Stay right here, I’ll be right back.” When Monique returned, she handed Mecca a Maxi pad.
    “Put this on your pussy, and change it throughout the day until you stop bleeding. It usually takes three to seven days. Here is a bag of pads. I’ll