Sighing, I ran my hand down my face and turned toward her. “Look, I’on want no drama in my place of business. I’m not interested in anything you have to offer. Is that going to keep you from doing your job? If so, I can go ahead and terminate your employment and give you a written recommendation now.”
“No, no, it won’t. I can um . . . We’re good. Promise.”
Mesha gave me a forced smile before briskly walking away. I wasn’t too sure if I trusted her or not, but since I didn’t have the desire to find someone to replace her right now, I’d let it ride. If at any point she made shit weird around here, I’d fire her, with no hesitation.
I was in my own world as I cleaned up the clubhouse in preparation for the meetup they were going to have tonight. I didn’t mind cleaning. Even before I got sat down, I liked having a cleaned and organized space. My cleaning style had intensified while I was locked up, which came in handy now. Just as I’d finished the last of my prospect cleaning for the day, I heard what sounded like trash being dumped on the floor. I inhaled what I needed to be a calming breath before I turned around.
When I agreed to prospect, I knew I’d have to do grunt work. I also knew there would be assholes who tried to make the process more difficult than it needed to be in order to haze me. What they hadn’t taken into consideration was anythingthey called themselves doing to irritate me would be nothing in comparison to what I’d overcome over the last decade. Even with that being said, I didn’t tolerate disrespect. I’d go back to jail behind that shit, so I hoped what I heard wasn’t what I thought it was.
Sure enough, one of the bags I’d filled with trash had been emptied back onto the floor. Rian stood there like he’d conquered the world with a cocky grin on his face.
“You missed some shit,” he said before his two minions laughed like he’d told a joke worthy of a stage.
“Ah shit,” Sonny grumbled, briskly hopping from the bar stool he was sitting on and making his way next to me. Between him and Cole, Sonny was the peacemaker, while Cole was always down for whatever—no questions asked.
“I’on know what you think this is, but I ain’t ya fucking butler,” I told him. “You gon’ have to pick that up yourself.”
“Nah.” Rian dropped the now empty bag. “You’re the prospect, and Prez told you to clean the clubhouse in preparation for our meetup tonight. So like I said, you missed some shit.”
“Mm mm mm,” Sonny muttered. “If you wanted somewhere to sleep tonight, you could’ve asked for help. Preparing yourself for a hospital bed ain’t the move, my boy.”
“More like a coffin,” I countered.
Rian chuckled and looked back at his friends, as if they would be able to help him if I got my hands on him.
“Just clean this shit up, Prospect. I left you a gift in the bathroom too.”
My steps toward him were light, and Sonny was right behind me. I saw him motion for Cole out of the corner of my eye, but I didn’t need backup. If I touched this man, there was no doubt I’d break his fucking jaw. He had one chance to realize how muchdanger he was putting himself in before I gave him exactly what he was looking for.
“I get you being in your feelings because I beat your ass,” I told him calmly, “but if I was able to do that kind of damage to you when we were young, imagine what I’d do to you now.” No one else may have seen it, but I noticed the flicker of fear in his eyes before he scowled and puffed out his chest. “I’m about to go to the bar, have me a beer, and wait until Prez is done handling his business so we can ride out. If you don’t have this trash picked up and whatever you did in the bathroom cleaned wit’cho nasty ass, I’ma give you the problems you looking for. And this time, your daddy ain’t gon’ be able to help you.”
Not fearing him in the slightest, I turned my back to him and headed to the bar. Sonny chuckled as he sat down next to me.
“I don’t know why he playing tough,” Sonny said as Cole sat on the opposite side of me. “He acting like hewantsto get his ass beat.”
Sucking my teeth, I made eye contact with Chloe so she’d know I wanted something as she wiped off the top of the bar.
“He been acting stupid since you got out, bruh. I thought he’d be on his best behavior after what happened the last time y’all went at it,” Cole added.
“Like I told him, I’ma give him exactly what he asking for if he don’t clean that shit up. He got until I finish my beer to do so,” I said, not even bothering to look back and see if he’d started picking up the trash yet.
“Hey, baby. I haven’t seen you around here,” a woman purred from behind me, wrapping her arm around me and rubbing her hand down my chest.
I pulled her arm away, wondering if all women were so handsy these days. That shit was annoying the fuck out of me. I didn’t like people in my personal space to begin with, and I for damn sure didn’t like women I didn’t know touching me. Plus,my body belonged to Jelai, and every time a woman touched me, it felt like a violation.
“Who you?” I asked, turning to face her. She was older but not bad looking. Her face put me in the mind of Vivica Fox.
“Tonya, but you can call me whatever you’d like.”
With a shake of my head, I turned back around as I told her, “I got an ol’ lady. You be easy.”
“Is she here?” Tonya asked, stepping between me and Cole’s bar stools. “If not, I know how to keep a secret.”
Scratching my eyebrow, I sighed and locked eyes with Chloe as she stepped in front of me, making Sonny and Cole chuckle. Let them tell it, I was meaner now that I’d gotten out. I wouldn’t say I was mean; I just didn’t have time for games and bullshit. The only woman I had patience for outside of my family was Jelai.
“Let me get a shot of Jameson,” I said, needing something stronger than the beer I’d originally wanted.
“You got it, Wicked. You three want anything?” she asked.
