Duke paused, he didn’t look shocked, but he intrigued.
Ace’s smirk appeared slow and vicious.
“I know you heard what happened today.”
“Yeah, I heard you got yo ass knocked the fuck out.”
“Yup, and I need my get back and I need him knocked off his square. His daughters are his weaknesses, especially Diamond. Can you handle it?”
Duke grabbed the bag from his hand without a thought, “Hell yeah, I just wanted some pussy from her anyway.”
“Did you get it?”
“Not yet, but I’m about to work overtime now. How much is this?”
“A stack, I need to see the little bitch walking around distraught.”
“You ain’t said shit, I’ll have her pulling her hair out in a couple weeks.”
“No rush because I gotta make sure I hit that hoe ass nigga over the head.”
Duke took the money and promised Ace an update in couple weeks. Ace was built different; he was coldblooded because he grew up on survival. Remorse, sympathy, and chances were some things he cared nothing about. Rich was on his radar and that was no good place for anyone to be.
14
Duke didn’t touch the money right away, it sat on his dresser for two days straight. He left it there like the shit was going to bite him or something. Diamond’s face crept into his head uninvited, aside from the plot, he actually liked her vibe. The way she laughed with her whole chest when something was funny, the way she never blinked first, her toughness, the way she said his name like she wasn’t scared of what came with it.
“Damn,” he whispered to himself, looking up at the ceiling.
He grabbed his phone and shot her a text, he was going to do his job, but he was going to have fun doing it.
Duke: You busy tonight?
Diamond: Not really, my people want to go eat for my birthday.
Duke: It’s today?
Diamond: Yeah.
Duke: Damn, happy birthday, baby. I’m definitely seeing you tonight. 7 cool? Or you can’t see me no more?
Three dots popped up, disappeared then popped back up again.
Diamond: 7 is cool.
He chuckled to himself, that right there was what he liked. She dodged the bullshit and got straight to the point.
Duke: Bet.
Duke tossed his phone on the empty side of the bed and dozed off, by the time he woke up, the sun had gone down. He hopped in the shower and was out the door, he parked further down from Diamond’s house because he didn’t want any smoke with her father. That punch to the stomach was enough for him, but he had a bullet with his name on it if he ever touched him again.
When Diamond walked to his car, his dick damn near stood up in his pants. It was something different about her that night; it wasn’t the fact that she turned a different age, it wasn’t the fresh fit and shoes she had on, it was the way shelookedat him when she climbed in his passenger seat.
He smiled and reached in the backseat to grab the flowers and bear he had grabbed from Jewel. The smile on her face told him that he knocked one layer off tough ass Diamond. That shit was going to be easier than he thought, she was just like every other female that sat in that seat, puddy in his hands. He watched her as she laughed and vibed to the music playing. He did something he never did; he took her on a real date. Dave and Busters, Home Run Inn, then they rode around the city like they owned it, he even had her drinking Hennessy with him from the bottle. It didn’t take much to get her tipsy, he knew Diamond was there because she was rubbing and caressing his face while singing to him.
They drove slowly and talked more, he couldn’t lie, he fucked with her. He felt like he could be him with Diamond, no flexing, no street talk, just stories, laughter, a real vibe. Even whensilence crept upon them, it felt comfortable, not awkward. Duke pulled in the back of his crib and killed the engine.
“Aye.”
