Vega assumed he was being cautious by dropping her off before he handled business, but somehow, he still got knocked. It had to be her. Other than his team, she was the only one who knew he was dirty that night. And where was she now? To this day, Vega nor any of his people could locate her. Most said it was because she knew she was a dead woman walking for how things played out and others said it was because she had set Vega up. Either way, she was gone, and no one had heard a damn thing from her or about her since the night the cops took Vega away in handcuffs.
“What’s good, fam?”
“Shit, you tell me.”
Dix dapped Vega before the two shared a brief hug. They were close, partners in crime, and Dix missed his brother. Dix, Timmy, and Brink were the only three besides Ace who kept in touch during Vega’s bid. He appreciated them for that.
“It feels weird as shit knowing your pops not gon’ come through that door talking shit about us.”
Dix followed Vega’s line of sight to the door that led to the back of the pool hall where the offices were. He missed his dad but was dealing. This was Vega’s first time here since his pops passed, so he allowed him to have that moment. Dix didn’t like speaking about his pops. It was still hard for him to move on, so he changed the subject.
“You good, though. What’s been up with you? I haven’t seen you since the night of your party and you were lit the fuck up.” Dix grinned, remembering the night. He had shared one bottle of Henny with Vega before he finished one on his own. At that point, Vega was lit and enjoying himself a little too much.
“Ain’t nothing. Just trying to get back into it. You know how that goes. That night was wild, and I needed a little recovery time, but I’m good now. Just trying to find my rhythm.”
“Yeah, I feel you.” Dix was all too familiar. He had done two years in the county himself over a domestic violence charge.
He had gotten into with his girl. She had blacked his eye and knocked one of his teeth out. All he did was hem her up to restrain her from coming at him, but he got two years. To this day, he wouldn’t say shit to her. His mom and sister were now the go-betweens so he could see his son. He made sure his shorty had everything he needed, but his mother was basically dead to him. He could have beat the charge, but the day she showed up to court, she basically testified that he beat her all the time. She fucking lied. He knew it was because she was in her feelings about him dicking down her homegirls, but the fact that he lost two years was not an even exchange. After that, he was done.
“But you’re home now, so we need to get shit moving again.”
“Vega is in the muhfuckin streets again. Damn, I missed you, bruh. Glad to see you back in this bitch.” Timmy was next to approach, followed by Brink.
The men dapped and hugged before heading to the table where Brink and Timmy were finishing a game.
“You’re fresh as hell like you never missed a day out here.” Brink chuckled at Vega’s relaxed gear. He had always been one to keep his clothes and shoe game tight and not much had changed. The Bally set up he had on was simple but still on point.
“You know me. Nothing has changed. ButIneed to change a few things. I know y’all have been holding it down for me and reporting to Ace, but I’m back and ready to handle things.”
The men shared a l0ok that Vega quickly read into. “Fuck what he told you. This my shit. It’s always been mine. He looked out while I was gone, but I’m home now.”
Dix nodded first, followed by Timmy.
Brink made his shot first, then responded. “Ay, it’s whatever. Long as the money flowing, I’m good with it.”
“You better be.” Vega chuckled and looked around.
It wasn’t until then that he noticed another familiar face. She was sitting with her sister and they both had eyes on him. He smirked, already knowing the deal, so he leaned against the pool table and waited. She would be in his face soon enough. It was inevitable.
“You know we stand by you. There’s never a question about that. We did what was necessary while you were down, but you’re home now. Just holla at your brethren. Clear it up with him. I have respect for you both, but if a decision has to be made…”
Dix and Vega shared a look of understanding. Dix had respect for Ace, but his loyalty lied with Vega.
“I’ll handle it. We cool, no love lost, but he wants me to do my own thing. I can’t do that if he’s in the middle of all my shit. I am about to change a few things, though. I need my name on something legal, especially now. My name is in the system. I’m a target. I have to move different, so I need you now more than ever.”
“Come on, Vega, it’s as good as done.” Dix didn’t so much as hesitate.
Vega offered him a nod just as Nene eased between the two men and stepped between Vega’s legs. She pressed her lower half against his and smiled when she felt something familiar. Nene missed him. Others were cool, but Vega was Vega. His personality was charismatic with a smile to match. The man was sexy and sex with him was always intense and nasty. She couldn’t wait to be in his bed again.
“Why you in my face, Nene?”
Dix chuckled and stepped off to the side to give the two a minute. He had just fucked Nene last night but had no feelings one way or another about her being in Vega’s face. She belongedto him first, and truthfully, she never belonged to Dix at all. They just had sex. Vega actually kicked it with her before he went in.
“Because you’re home, and I missed you.”
“You missed me?” he quizzed with his eyes on her, arms folded across his chest and a blank expression on his face. He wasn’t with the shits and Nene could sense it.
“Yes, you know I did.”
