Not really.
“You did ask fi see the business, so mi a go show yuh now and mi hope yuh ready,” he says after a while, surprising me. “Yuh cya be mi fiancée and nuh know dis.”
The word fiancée just roll offa him tongue sweet, like candy. I look at him intently. “Of course mi ready,” I say.
He glances at me again, face serious. Now him mek mi nuh even feel ready again.
“Make sure enuh and nuh bother wid the foolishness. Cause yuh did say yuh understand seh mi a bad man, and when yuh see mi kill a man, yuh freak out. Now yuh say yuh ready fi the business… so when mi bring yuh deh, yuh betta nuh freak out.”
I nod slowly. Why him sound so serious? “Mi nah go freak out,” I say quietly. Even though mi probably will.
No badda wid dat,my subconscious warns.
“Mi nah say this fi scare yuh,” he continues, “But yuh aware seh once yuh get serious wid mi, yuh a go be part of this world, right?”
Aumm… scary. But I know.
“I want to be part of your world, babe,” I say.
He nods. He goes silent for a few minutes. “Mi a go mek yuh meet the gang… not just the inner circle weh yuh meet already,” he finally says, and I nod, a little anxious. Mi nah lie.
“Okay,” I reply, and he turns off the main road.
I look out the window, mentally preparing myself. The car comes to a stop, and I realize we’re at the back of a business place. Nickoi gets out, then opens my door and holds my hand, leading me toward a metal door. The more we walk, the deeper we go under and the more nervous I get.
Just breathe.
“Free up yuhself, Mami,” he says, and I inhale deeply, following him. He pulls out a key, sticks it in the lock, and pushes the heavy door open. Jesus. I step in and gasp.
Mi raatid! Den nuh big drugs business dis?
There are people in lab coats stacking drugs in parcels like it’s just another day at the office. The place actually look… luxurious. There’s a desk at the side, probably for the boss and the work area is neatly set up beside it. There’s even a stairway, and up top, more gang members are packing drugs.
Wah kinda operation dis?
What a way dem look professional.
The workers pause when they realize we’re at the door. I glance around and spot Gutta walking over, with Juaqína trailing behind him. I quickly look away and focus on Gutta instead.
“Yuh reach early, man,” Gutta says as he gets to us.
“Yah man,” Nickoi replies casually.
Gutta gives me a warm smile. “Welcome, Zara.”
“Thanks,” I say, still scanning the place. This really look like a professional drug lab. And trust mi people would never find it.Babe really trust mi fi bring mi in here enuh, cause this place a nuh joke.
Maybe him a test yuh.
Could be.
“Mi decide fi mek she know the place,” Nickoi says, talking to Gutta. I look over at him and smile.
Gutta nods. “Mi overstand, mi G.”
After Nickoi finishes talking with Gutta, Juaqína walks over to him and he gently pushes her away. As I start to walk off, I catch her glaring at me from the corner of my eye. Or a mi mind?
No sah… the gyal give yuh bad eye fi real, Zara.
