A few hours later, after Swift had gone back to the house and showered, he grew extremely frustrated when Starlah wouldn't come out of her room. He knew she had to have heard Money since he was naturally loud, but it also motivated him to enjoy his night.
"Damn, it's packed."
Money nodded as he scanned the parking lot. It was packed, which meant entertainment, so the strippers had to be top-tier. He saw a few military men in the parking lot, pre-gaming as they clanked their flasks and tossed their heads back, and the women who walked in groups of three and four, dressed as if they had come to perform.
"It is. I wish I could bring my heat inside, but not too much drinking. Quick knows these people, not us."
When Money locked his truck, they both sauntered toward the front door, watching their surroundings. Money was dressed in a red-and-blue polo, dark-blue jeans, and white Forces, with a huge, Cuban-link chain.
Swift had no interest in being a target, but he'd stepped out clean in all black from head to toe, with his black and gold designer sneakers. He was simple, but his haircut was fresh since Money brought his clippers. He'd been cutting his own hair, but Money had gotten him right.
"He said ask for this nigga named Heard," Money told Swift as they entered the line.
It moved quickly as the security quickly wand searched everyone.
Money grinned when the girls spun around, their asses jiggling as their bodies were scanned. "Country girls thick as fuck. Damn, Swift. I might need to come here more often."
"They're alright."
Swift had fucked his fair share of women, from full-figured, also known as BBWs, to women that were lean but still curvaceous like Starlah. Her breasts weren't hitting on too much, but if Star had anything, it was her stallion-like thighs and round derriere.
"Aye, I'm looking for Heard."
The security looked at Money, his eyes slitted, then at Swift. He was almost Swift's height at six-foot-two, but his chest was broader, as if he lifted weights in his sleep.
"The fuck asking?"
"Money. Quick told me to ask for Heard, man."
Another security guard passed the scanner around them from the front and back, and the one who questioned Money had a broad smile that extended from left to right.
"My nigga. I'm Heard. Quick told me about you." He extended his fist, and they fist bumped while Swift grunted.
Swift felt that a man who desired respect wouldn't receive it without first extending it, so he didn't appreciate Heard's approach.
"Aye, what's up? Don't trip. I have to make sure niggas are not on no bullshit," Heard advised, then motioned for them to come in. "The table's ready in the VIP for y'all. That nigga Quick brought out his entire entourage. Toni will show you."
"I ain't in no entourage," Swift corrected him, "but appreciate you."
"No doubt."
Heard looked at the other security guard, and they both smirked. He surmised that Swift was easily close to three hundred pounds. He wasn't a punk, but he knew he couldn't takehim down if need be, without having his ass almost handed to him.
"Swift, man, stop being so damn mean. I'm ready to see whose daughter I'm about to pull off a pole and make my baby mama," Money asserted.
The beams of colorful lights swirled, along with sparkling bottles, as servers held them high as they weaved in and out of the crowd to serve the patrons. Smoke swirled in the air, along with the smell of the best chicken wings and fried shrimp — from lemon pepper to sweet bourbon to Hawaiian haze. Swift had slid the chili his grandmother had made into the refrigerator since he wasn't hungry, but he knew he couldn't leave without some wings.
When "Slide For Me" by Dread Man came on, the men and women howled and rapped along as Quick introduced the two strippers who appeared on the stage. He was a rapper from Miami who was topping the charts alongside his label mate, Lanky.
"Don't be fucking shy, y'all. Tonight, we have Candyland because everywhere you land tastes like motherfuckin' candy."
Money rubbed his hands together, his tongue gliding across his lip at the buttercream-colored stripper who wore glittered candy-cane-striped patches over her areolas and a red, glittery G-string.
"Nigga, it's Christmas tonight!" Money howled when they reached their section. It was just to the right of the stage. "Got damn, I have a sweet tooth!"
"Oh, I see y'all like Candyland but show my girl Tidal Wave some damn love. I ain't gon' hold y'all, but I heard that pussy tastes like water, and that ass jiggling like a tidal wave. She'll have your entire paycheck."
"Fuck, she will," Swift grumbled, taking a seat. He second-guessed even being there, but because Money had come all theway to Pellum to check on him, the least he could do was pretend to have a good time.
