My response to the truth wasn’t visible on the surface, but on the inside, I was fuming. In a split second, men I had heldin high regard had fallen from their pedestals. We had always been carefulabout howwe moved, and I felt the partnership was reckless.
Pluto groaned. “All these years, we’ve only dealt with guns, pills, and money. Why’re we risking everything for a fucking favor?”
“I never thought I would see the day.” I chimed in. “You want to know where we standonthe situation? Weain’t going for it.”
The elders continued to speak their piece, but I contributed nothing else to the conversation. No matter what the Denver family handled on our behalf, I wouldn’t agree to adding a tail to a business I was soon to inherit. Once the conversation was done, I waitedoutsideof the roomuntil my cousins joined me.
“The story they’re telling sounds flawed,” Echo suggested.
“Yeah, it’s more to it, but Iwon’t press it. No matter the reason, I’m not giving my blessing for the next man to move work in my shit, especially when I’m not getting a cut.”
Pluto playfully jabbed his brother in the chest. “Fuck all that. It’s our fucking birthday. I’m ready to get fucked on and fucked up.”
I laughed when the round man two-stepped around his brother and me. My cousins knew I wasn’t a fan of being on the party scene, but they also knew I would show up for them. The twins were turning thirty-three, and with the trouble they used to get into, I thanked God they would be around to be my business partners in a few months.
When I returned to the casino floor, the twins went to change clothes. The guests haddoubledsince we’d stepped away, and most of them were women. Just for the night, The Sinner’s Spotwent from a casinotoa strip club. Tables we made millionsoff ofwere still on the floor, butwe added stripper polesto the room. A long, curved stage reached from one side of the room to the other, separating private sections from the restof the crowd. Since Pluto insisted on a theme, theserversand most guests were dressed like they were at the Playboy mansion. I didn’ttake partin thetheme,though I was spiffy in my Tom Ford pieces. I tried not to drift into work mode when I walked through the club, yet my eyes hunted the room like a hawk.
Along with Pluto and Echo, a trail of big-booty bitches entered the reserved area. About ten of our cousins and the twins’ best friends filled the area, and a stripper flocked to each one of us. I relaxed on the couch with a drink in my hand and watched the ladies earn their money. Naturally, my eyes roamed to the section across from us, and to my surprise, Kannon was there. I would never say a lap dance was a form of cheating, but I felt guilty having another woman’s ass in my hands. I didn’t push the dancer off, but I moved too quick for her to question me. Kannon didn’t seem shocked when I approached her. As if testing me, Kannon didn’t come to me until I reached out and helped her off the couch.
“This is an invite-only establishment.”
“Good thingsomeone invitedme,” she slurred, sending the scent of alcohol to my nose. “Your cousin invited a friend of Nola’s, and she invited me. What’s wrong? You not happy to see me, Tune?”
A small laugh rocked my chest. “Stop playing with me. You should’ve told me you would be here.”
“Aww, you’re mad.” She pranced around in a circle like a ballerina. “I guess you don’t like my costume.”
I soaked in her red one-piece, sheer robe and clear heels similar to the strippers. She wore bunny ears like most of the women in the casino, but she exchanged the bow tie for a diamond choker.
“You’re beautiful but bold. You think the family ties don’t matter? This function isn’t like the Delano’s party.”
“I’m fucking the boss. I think I’m good.” Her head slanted to one side as if her thoughts were too heavy to carry. “Are you mad I’m here because your other bitches are in here?”
“You’re my only bitch. I thought I made that clear the last time you questioned me.”
She shrugged. “Sometimes a girl needs a littleextrareassurance.”
“Yeah, okay. You’re questioning me when you got all that ass out. I’on like that. If you piss me off by having somebody in your face, I’m going to ruin your night.”
I snatched Kannon to me by her neck. When she stuck out her tongue, I covered it with my lips like I planned to dowith herclit. I could feel folks watching us, so I didn’t let her pull away when she tried. I wanted anyone mindingourbusiness to know, Kannon belonged to me. It took us a second to part ways, but when I returned to my cousin’s section, I wished I’d stayed where I was.
“What the hell is Levi doing here?” I quizzed, watching him walk in our direction.
“No fucking clue,” Echo said, gripping his gun. “He’s about to come over here with the bullshit.”
Levi stumbled over with a stack of dollars in one hand and a bottle of 1942 in the other. Nothing about his demeanor resembled a wanted man, and the flashy jewelry made me believe he was still up to no good. I swallowed a mouthful of liquor to busy my lips. The burn in my chest distracted me from the insult on the tip of my tongue.
“Y’allnot gon’speak to me?” He jabbed his finger in Pluto’s direction. “I popped out just for you and your stuck-up-ass twin. Happy Birthday,Cuzzo!”
Pluto nodded. “I’m surprised. We ain’t talked to you in months.”
“Yeah, I needed a break from the streets.” Levi’s jolly demeanor went chill when he glanced my way. “What’s good, Neptune? You ain’t speaking?”
I grilledhim,then zeroed in on my phone. I wasn’t playing nice with somebody I didn’t like, and knowing how foul Levi could be put me on guard.
“All right then,Nep. We’ll talk later.”
“Indeed.”
