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what’s
good.”
    “I didn’t know you had
kids, lil’ mama,” I said.
    “I don’t,” she
countered.
    “Well, act like it. I
ain’t cha boy,” I quipped.
    “Okay, whatever. Can I
see you soon?”
    I tested her. “I’m wit’
my chick right now. I’ma call you later.”
    “Oh, so you have a
chick?”
    “Is that a problem?”
    After a long pause, she
said, “Uh-uh, just call me later.”
    We hung up. It was
about six-thirty in the evening. Duece and Ace had to meet Kutz’s people at
eight. I knew Nicole was going to pick up Sonya so that end was covered. Maria
eventually came downstairs to join me in the living room. I told her to go to
her house and wait for my call. I was taking five of the ten bricks over there.
    My shit was running
smooth. I had $230,000 put up in cash. After Duece made that move, I’d have and
additional $180,000 liquid. The five bricks I was taking to Maria’s were going
to be gone Wednesday. The other five would be gone by Friday morning.
    My plan was to re-up
two more times for ten bricks each. I’d have a little over a half a ticket. I
would let Duece and Ace run the drug shit and I was going to focus on my
legitimate business.
     
    ***
     
    When I walked in Duece’s spot, him and
Ace were separating the bricks. As I made my way to the couch, I noticed Jamie
going from the bathroom to his bedroom down the hallway. This nigga got this
bitch here while we gettin’ this shit together?
    I tried to hide my
frustration. “What’s good, fellas?”
    “You already know,”
Duece said, unusually excited.
    “Yo ten in the duffle
bag,” Ace told me.
    “Right on, lil’ bro.
You ‘bout to bust a move?” I asked. It was more of a hint than a question. He
knew I wanted to holla at Duece.
    “Yeah, bro. I’m up.” He
left the house.
    My nigga Duece was a
grown ass man but he was slipping. I couldn’t let his foolish decisions
interfere with my op.
    “So what’s the deal,
cuzz?” I asked.
    “Tryna keep this money
rotating,” he said.
    “That’s what’s up. So
what happened at the club Friday?”
    He looked surprised.
And his tone bothered me. “Nothing I couldn’t handle, nigga.”
    “That ain’t what I
asked, bro.”
    “And who the fuck is
you? My pops or somethin’!”
    “Calm down, cuzz. I’m
tryna make sure you on yo toes.”
    “I stay on my toes,
nigga!”
    I got irritated, and
just as loud. “I can’t tell, nigga! We don’t fonk over hoes, nigga.”
    Jamie walked in to see
what was going on. The bitch was out of pocket. She looked my way, smiled, and
sat next to Duece.
    “Give us a minute, lil’
mama,” I said.
    She started to rise to
her feet.
    “Nah.” Duece grabbed
her leg. “We done talkin’.”
    Something else was on
that nigga’s mind. I just didn’t know what. We grew up together, I broke bread
with him—I was winning, he was winning. He was on some other shit right now.
    I left the house
without another word.
    After I secured the
bricks in my truck, I dropped five off at Maria’s. The other five would go to
Sonya’s.
     
    ***
     
    I pulled up to Sonya’s pissed. That shit
Duece was on had me hot. I know he wasn’t stunting for Jamie.
    I’d deal with that shit
at a later time. Nicole’s car was parked behind Sonya’s car. That bitch was
stopping by a lot.
    Grabbing the backpack,
I headed in. As usual, they were in their night attire watching TV with cups in
their hands. They were some vodka-drinking bitches, I swear. Straight up.
    I nodded my head to
acknowledge both of them, then headed upstairs. I put the bricks in the safe
and headed back downstairs. I went to the kitchen to fetch my Remy. My bottle
was kind of light in the ass. I went back in the living room and sat on the
opposite couch from Sonya and Nicole.
    Nicole smiled and spoke
before me. “Who drunk all my shit?” she teased.
    “You know I don’t drink
that shit,” Sonya said to me.
    “I’ll buy you some
more, damn.” Nicole rolled her eyes.
    I scrutinized Sonya
with