PROLOGUE
“I’m high as fuck.”Asao dropped his head back on the sofa, focusing on the beat that thumped around him, trying to stay grounded. It was late and he should have been gone hours ago but women filled the studio and with that brought kush and alcohol. That meant Dom was distracted and no work was getting done. They were in for a late night.
Na’Mya was gonna be on his ass because he’d told her he would beat the sun home. Based on how his head was currently swimming and the lyrics pushing through his mind, that shit wasn’t happening.
“I told you not to smoke that shit.” Niles chuckled at his boy and Asao grinned lazily.
“I ain’t no bitch. Fuck I look like passing on that fire.”
“You look like a man whose girl is gonna have his shit in trash bags by the door when he pulls up. My is going to fuck you up.”
“She knows better.” He smiled at the thought.
She for sure would have his shit bagged up by the door. She had done it before. His girl didn’t play and was getting tired of his absence in her life. For years she’d put up with Asao’s shit. He was born of the streets and just trying to make it. She was his hood princess who wanted more for him than he wanted for himself.
Na’Mya loved Asao but she was changing. For the past two years, the money he laced her pockets with had paid for community college instead of designer bags. When she talked about the future, it included marriage and kids. She wanted things that he couldn’t give if he didn’t change his ways. Her growth was beautiful. Asao loved to see his baby hopeful. He would give her the world. Shit, that was what he was grinding for but he needed more time.
Dreams were expensive and running the streets was funding both of their aspirations. He often found himself between a rock and a hard place because punching another man’s clock wasn’t gonna keep a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs.
It damn sure wasn’t going to pay for college tuition and studio time. Na’Mya was patient because she understood the position Asao was in but she was fearful because hustling had an expiration date. Na’Mya would die without her man but knew Asao would die if she took away his ability to be one. He was a provider and a protector, doing things the only way he knew how. Asao needed time and she needed him.
The fuck was he supposed to do with that?
Asao sat up and dropped his face into the palms of his hands. He massaged his eyes and glanced around the studio. The smoke was thick as hell from what they had been blazing. Trees had been burning since they fell through just after midnight once they were done spreading bricks and guns throughout the city.
For the past two years they had been selling in bulk, trying to stack money quickly to fund their next venture. Asao was the investment. Niles and Dom were willing to funnel their money into their boy because he would be their exit plan. Ten years in the streets still breathing with no pending charges was an anomaly where they came from and none of them wanted to push their luck. The bodies they dropped and the dope they pushed would only get them so far. It was time to repent and their sanctuary would be the studio.
“Let me run this shit so I can take my ass home,” Asao mumbled with every intention of getting in the booth, but thick thighs and a sea of brown skin moved between his legs, stopping his movement.
“Or you can let me get you right first.” Brown eyes lowered to his dick, igniting Asao’s irritation.
He frowned and angled his head to the side delivering one word. “Move.”
Shawna licked her lips and smiled through the embarrassment because all eyes were on her. Everyone knew who owned Asao’s heart but that didn’t stop others from trying to get a piece of him. He was fine, paid, and gave good dick to those he deemed worthy. The problem was, in recent years there had only been one woman reaping the benefits.
“There are plenty of muthafuckers in here who will fuck you. I’m not one of them. Move,” he stated in a way that had her shuffling back to give the space demanded. When she was outof the way, Asao stood and yanked his sweats up. With one last glare, his long legs carried him toward the booth with a stride that had all eyes on him.
“If you just want some dick, I got enough to share.” Dom’s animated voice broke the tension Asao left behind. Shawna grilled him hard before stomping back to the corner where she dropped into one of the folding chairs and focused on her phone instead of what was going on in the studio.
“Ay, run that shit so he can take his ass home.” Niles smirked, shaking his head.
In the past two years he had seen his boy go from a man who ran through pussy daily to a man who was only loyal to the woman who owned his heart. Asao wasn’t faithful when she’d first gotten his attention but their status changed with little effort. He fell hard and fast. When she made demands, he became loyal to only one. They respected how he moved, even if they had no plans of following in his footsteps.
Dom turned to the board and cued up the track he wanted his boy to rhyme over. Asao’s voice followed and the words came effortlessly.
Hood’s finest…rep climbing
Muthafuckers clocking…bitches watching
He’s that nigga…finger on the trigger
Weight slanging…money gaining
He got that heat…she’s at his feet
On her knees…soft subtle pleas
Pussy on a platter…that shit don’t matter
