“Luna, my usual?” My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice.
When I turned around, I spotted one of my regular customers. His name was Cole and from what he told me in passing he ran some tech startup company. He was handsome, but way too quiet. You never knew that he was in the space until he was standing right in front of you. I mean I literally had a bell and everything on the door, but he never made a sound when he came in.
“Coming right up. How’s it going today, Cole?” I made small conversation as always. I didn’t have to take him all the way in to know that he was wearing all black even in the mid-ninety-degree weather.
“Long day ahead, beautiful. How long you been here?” he asked.
With him it was always those specific questions that made me wonder just who the hell he was. I didn’t worry myself because one night I actually googled the business card that he gave me. He was a tech guy like he said, I mean unless he could cheat google. That was crazy though, right?
“I don’t know yet. Here’s your coffee.” I rang him up and went about my day. I need to stock a few things and make sure all of my store ordered baked goods are good. I hated to find out that I was out of something when I was down to one or two left. That to me was a big ass inconvenience and cost the most.
The funny thing about life is I never wanted to own a place like this or even run it. My Nona did. She loved to make sweets and people smile with her treats. I had a different life in mindfor myself, one that never required I put on an apron or stand at an oven. Yet here I am doing everything that I never dreamed. At a point in my life, I wanted to be just like my father, but even the things that are so close can be considered so far away. Life is life and it was as close to a deck of cards that we’d ever know. The life I foresaw for myself was definitely not the one I was living, but one thing I wasn’t going to do was live in a life of regret. Everything was what it was and there wasn’t a decision I’d change if given the chance to.
North
I glanced down at the last four messages that I’d sent Omyia. They all went with no responses which had a nigga confused. Usually, I didn’t really give much of a fuck about females and that type of shit, but I fucked with her vibe. The sound of somebody walking into the kitchen made me look up from my phone. Niema had entered the kitchen with her purse in hand ready for me to take her to work.
Then I glanced from her to our idiot brother who was borderline whispering into the fucking phone. This nigga was lowkey trying to kick it to somebody.
“Yo’ boss good or whatever?” I directed my question toward Niema.
“Yeah, I love her. She’s great.” My sister smiled brightly, totally oblivious to the real question I was asking her. Seconds later she walked her bubbly ass out of the kitchen leaving just myself and Mari.
Immediately his dumb ass started laughing.
When I looked up, he was looking directly at me with tears in his eyes still laughing. Apparently, I had done something funny to this nigga. “The fuck is so funny?”
“You, that’s what. You mean why she isn’t answering your calls and shit, right?”
I just looked at him waiting for an answer. It was obvious this nigga knew something that I didn’t.
“I’m sure that has to do with you sending Toy to pick up Niema that day. She introduced herself as your girl. I mean that’s what I heard because Surah cursed me out about that shit.”
I shook my head because this was news to me. I mean I remembered sending Toy up there, but as far as I know shorty didn’t even get out of the car. She didn’t even mention meeting Omyia
“See look at ya’ dumb ass. You done let that broad implant herself in your life all because she’s somewhat pretty. As a matter of fact, Toy ain’t even pretty. She looks like a trusty steed or a stallion of some sort. Shorty doesn’t even look human, as a matter of fact the only thing she got going for herself is her brain. She knows how to make money, but that’s about it. Other than that she’s a fucking dud.”
Even though Namari’s wording was fucked up he was right. Toy and I had been messing around for years, but what we were lacked anything that made it seem like we could be any more than sex. I couldn’t say her brain wasn’t big enough because it was more than that. Toy wasn’t for me, and that shit was obvious, because we barely conversed. It was purely business related and or physical with us.
“That look on your face lets me know I’m right.” My brother had to be on that know it all shit.
I waved him off and exited the kitchen. At some point I’d get with Ommy, but I wasn’t really feeling that childish shit. If we had beef, then she should’ve picked up the phone and gave a nigga a right. Toy knew what she was doing too, because Omyia was fucking beautiful. A blind man could see that. She probablylooked at Omyia and knew what was up. I was going to talk to her about that, though, because that messy shit was for the birds. By the time I reached my room I was ready to go. I had a meeting with Gunz about some money that he didn't collect. I hate it when things can't be done without me. If anything, people needed to do more to ensure that they got their jobs done. I didn't employ niggas so I could do their jobs for them, I employed them hoping they could be self-starters. Gunz was no exception regardless of the fact that he was my auntie's son.
About two hours later I met up with Gunz and one of my lieutenants, Lucil. I kept him around because he had proven that he was unlike my cousin and could handle things without me. He wasn't one of those niggas whose hands I had to hold. He had his stuff together and I was grateful for that. He was young and about his money so that meant he was willing to do the necessary to make sure nothing got in the way of him in his paper.
“I told you to go in there and bust that nigga in his throat,” Lucil grumbled.
Gunz looked from me to the steering wheel before shaking his head. I wasn't about to disagree because Lucil was right. That talking shit was cool until somebody learned your patterns and tested you. Gunz was forever trying to be nigga’s friends, talking about respect. Seconds later he sucked his teeth. “I told you everything doesn't have to be physical. Sometimes you have to build a rapport and people will be good. Niggas can tal?—”
“Where did talking get you this time?” I decided to nip this shit in the bud.
“Man, he was probably having a bad day.”
“A bad day? What are you? That man's psychologist or his fucking friend? Get out of here with that. Either he pays up on his debt or he loses a limb,” Lucil spoke.
I don't think I could have said it better myself, so I didn't say anything else. It was clear that my cousin wasn't set out for this business or any business that had to do with my money. Maybe I'd give him a job behind the bar or as a busboy at the lounge because this was over. As a matter of fact, I was going to send his ass Mari’s way. The funny thing is I knew early on that he wasn't cut out for this life, so I purposely put Lucil on. Lucil was street smart and had no problem doing the absolute necessary when it came to anything. I asked he moved, and I fucked with the fact that he didn't question my decisions or look confused when I said things. He just acted and that's exactly what I needed, less lip and a little bit more movement
It didn't take long before the sound of a broken man filled my eardrums. I played the background watching Lucil do what he was instructed to do. When we pulled up to Perry's house Lucil didn't even flinch. Without so much as a word he hopped out of the car, grabbed the nigga, and tossed his ass in the trunk. All of that was done within five minutes, then before I knew it we were headed to my warehouse to handle business. I rarely got my hands dirty unless it was absolutely necessary. I mean why would I be out here getting my hands dirty when I had people who would do it for me in a heartbeat? I got out of the game, and I planned on staying that way because these streets were addicting and there were a means to an end. That's why I told Mari when this shit got tiring, he needed to keep it moving and not hold on to what was no longer for him.
