Loso:I’m out front
I abandoned my seat and wandered toward the exit of the center. Flaco peered in my direction, prompting me to add a little pep in my step. I reached the front of the building a few minutes after Loso messaged me and found him outside with two men I knew worked in his auto body shop. The son of Eshu sported a black puffer jacket lined with fur, black Timbs, and diamond chains that made him resemble a rapper more than a mechanic. His six-foot-four statue towered over his entourage though all three men were built like they frequented the gym.
“I didn’t know you were going to bring the goon squad, but I appreciate you coming,” I said as I advanced toward the pack.
Loso pulled at his beanie. “The nigga’s name is Flaco. What did you expect?”
“I suppose you have a point.” My attention drifted to the bag in Loso’s grasp. “You bought a gift?”
His gold studded smile occupied my sight as he lifted the green tissue paper to reveal two large guns.
“Seriously, Loso?”
“I had to. The burners would’ve fucked up my fit. Lead the way,” he demanded, straightening the hood on his jacket.
Once I released my irritation through my flared nostrils, I guided the men into the venue then canvassed the room. It didn’t take long to find the bony bum in the center of the dancefloor. A few of his guests stared at me and the giant at my side, but no one made a move to warn the party animal.
“Wait over here. I’ll be back with your bread.” Loso spoke confidently then walked off with the folks he brought with him.
From a spot near the exit, I rested my back against a wall and watched the scene unfold. The people who blocked Loso’s path dispersed and made a lane for him as if he was the second coming. Loso’s back was to me, so I couldn’t see his face, but judging by those around him, I assumed his mug was sharp. Flaco seemed oblivious to the mood shift until he spun aroundand faced the cause of the whispers. The men exchanged a few words, but when Flaco sidestepped Loso and peeked my way, I flipped him off.
Being the sister and daughter of men who had power in Silk Hills birthed rumors about me that weren’t true, but the tale of me calling my folks to handle my dirty work was a fact. There were a lot of things I had patience for, but a scheming nigga wasn’t one of them. Every job I accepted, I presented my best and was flexible with my pricing since I was focused on building my clientele. That didn’t mean I would allow someone to get over on me, and I would remind people of that anytime they forgot.
“Excuse me. Essen, right?”
My eyes cut to one of the women who had been following Flaco around most of the day. “Can I help you with something?”
“You tell me.” She gestured to the men a few feet away. “You called your peoples up here for my man?”
“I sure the hell did. You should be happy I didn’t call my sisters up here foryou. You’ve forced your way into every aspect of planning this party, but when it’s time to pay you’re on mute.” I scoffed. “I know you can’t make a man do anything, but you damn sure could have tried to influence him to do therightthing.”
The big booty broad spat out a comeback, but her ranting morphed into background noise when my phone went off. The bank notification on my screen carried a smile to my face. Satisfied and ready to go, I checked my surroundings, searching for Loso. An older woman looked him up and down as he stepped away from Flaco, but the charmer didn’t seem fazed. He handed hisgift bagto one of his employees, then took ahold of the lady’s hand. It took a few minutes for our elder to fall into the groove, but a crinkle of a smile graced her lips as she followedLoso’s lead. The scene left me in an open-mouthed daze that lasted as long as their dance.
“Look at you. Always the charmer,” I commented once Loso was done with his new friend.
The brown, bald, bearded man inherited rosy colored cheeks under my playful stare.
“I aim to please. Did you get your bread?”
I waved my phone from side to side. “I did. How much do I owe you?”
He delivered a chuckle that rocked his throat. “You don’t owe me anything, pretty girl. Let’s go get your stuff. I’ll walk you to your car. Flaco knows better than to try me, but niggas like to get testy. I want to make sure you make it out of here as pretty as you walked in.”
I rolled my eyes at the subtle compliment as I went to grab my belongings. Most of the props I used for the party were rentals I had arranged to be picked up, and except for a couple of boxes, I didn’t have much to take home. Loso shadowed me around a dressing room I used as a storage area, and he stayed on my heels until I had everything in my trunk.
“It’s not important, but I have to ask. How did you get Flaco to send the money without having to use your party favor?”
“He claimed he didn’t know you were my folks. As if that makes a difference.” Loso opened my car door. “I’m not into keeping secrets from your brother.”
“I’m not asking you to keep a secret. Shiloh won’t bring it up, so don’t volunteer the information.”
Loso blew a laugh from his wide nose. “I’ve always said you’re a sneaky little something.”
“I’m not sneaky. I’m selective with what I share. There’s a difference.”
Shiloh’s housewasn’t the ideal place to kill time before a date, but he lived closer to Downtown Silk Hills than I did. My date asked to meet a little later than we initially planned, and the longer I waited at home, the more chances I had of getting stuck in traffic. Thanks to the brisk breeze, I put on an off-the-shoulder sweater dress and red bottom boots. The top of my dress wasn’t as fitted as I would have liked, but no cleavage meant I wouldn’t have to hear my brother’s mouth. Shiloh wasn’t the oldest Sharpe kid, yet he was the most protective. I was twenty-seven-years-old, and he would lecture me about my clothes like I was one of his three daughters.
As I checked my appearance in my handheld mirror, Caleb’s name popped up on my dashboard. My relationship with the professor furthered once I started working as a teacher’s aide, and we were forced to spend more time together. I had always found the tall, dark, and handsome man attractive. I just never imagined he would bend me over his desk one night while we were supposed to be grading papers. Only three months into whatever we were doing, I didn’t feel the need to demand a title. Caleb kept me on my toes and kept a smile on my face. That was good enough for now.
