“Hold up,” Slim jumped in. “The nurse used to date the opps?”
“Apparently,” Jelani said. “Sounds like he's still trying to see what’s up with her?—”
”Shut the fuck up, Jelani,” I snapped, cutting him off. My stomach twisted at the thought of Jasmine being dragged into this. Even though we were beefing, I meant what I said. I wasn’t getting her involved. I didn’t even want her near Marcus.
Fontaine shifted in the corner. “We could use them hitting the stash houses to our advantage. Once we know which one they’re moving on, we clear most of the product out and leave just enough for them to think they hit a lick. That way, they don’t know we’re onto them.”
“True,” Jelani agreed. “Moving in too soon could spook them. But if we run the play like Fontaine said, we can flip it and hit them even harder.”
I mulled it over. This was a game of chess, not checkers. As much as I wanted to kill these niggas and get it over with, we couldn’t just go in guns blazing. They needed to think they had the upper hand.
“Alright,” I said. “Nai, bug the crib—sooner than later. Fontaine, tap Kyree and Derrick’s phones. Any movement, any meetups—I need to know.”
Nairobi nodded. “I got you, boss man.”
Everyone knew what was at stake. Marcus thought he could run shit in my city? This was my empire, and he wasn’t taking a damn thing from me.
CHAPTER15
JASMINE MILLER
“Hey, girl, hey!”Monica greeted me, but her bright smile faded as soon as she got a good look at my face.
“Hi,” I muttered, stepping inside.
Her apartment was a reflection of her bold personality. Abstract art and colorful wallpaper covered the walls. My favorite part was the pink neon “Happy Hour” sign glowing over her bar cart. She’d rehabbed most of the secondhand furniture with skills she picked up on YouTube.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, trailing me into the living room.
“I got into it with Cash,” I huffed as I collapsed into her oversized bean bag.
“Girl,” she drawled. “Let me get the wine.”
She disappeared into the kitchen and came back with two glasses and a bottle tucked under her arm.
“Alright, what happened?” she said, pouring us both a glass.
I took a huge sip and gave her the rundown of the lunch disaster.
Monica’s mouth was hanging open by the time I finished. “You didn’t say that to him!”
I grabbed the bottle and topped off my glass. “I absolutely did. Like—how’s he acting like my man off one date and a little taste of pussy?”
“He did buy you a Versace dress, though…” she pointed out.
“And? Nobody told him to do all that,” I scoffed.
“You’re not wrong, but calling that man your friend in front of your ex is wild,” she laughed.
I threw my hands up. “I was flustered—what was I supposed to say? And honestly… Marcus lookedrealgood.”
“I mean… Marcus did play in his face, Jas,” she said, her voice dropping a little.
“What? How?” I frowned.
“Now you know damn well what it means when a man does that lil’ hug-and-lift combo. You said he tried to touch your booty, too?Girl….”
I winced.
