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There was silence on the other end. “You like him.”

I walked over to lean on a building. “Didn’t you tell me I shouldn’t have done this because of the type of shit he’s into? We don’t need to take any more chances.”

She exhaled. “And what about what you already have?”

“Not giving it back. Don’t touch anything else. We got what we got, now we’re done.”

“You sure? Because there was at least another thirty sitting right there and⁠—”

”Jody.”

“Fine. I’ll shut it down tonight,” she grumbled.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

“You sound like Siani.”

“Because we have sense and know you better than anybody in this world. I hope he’s worth it, Lala.”

“Love you, cousin.”

“Love you too.”

The problem with marks is you never actually see them as people. They’ve always just been a means to an end. I was realizing that once they become real to you, the whole thing falls apart.

Cardez had been real to me since the beginning. I just hadn’t been ready to admit it until now.

15 CARDEZ MONTAGUE

Even though we were in a good place, Belle still liked to deflect over text and phone. It gave her control over how the conversation went. She could talk shit all day over text, but couldn’t keep it up when I was standing in front of her.

Which was why I liked randomly popping up on her at Luxe.

Tank, the club manager, went to get her from the back while I sat at the bar and waited.

“You really have to stop showing up at my job whenever you feel like it,” she said as she leaned against the bar.

“Stop fronting like you not secretly happy to see a nigga,” I tipped her chin up and kissed her. “There’s a gala on Saturday for the Harlem’s Children’s Foundation. It’s something my Pops and I go to every year. I want you to come with me.”

She frowned.

“Why would you just spring this on me now?”

“Because I just decided I wanted to bring a date. It’s black tie.”

That was sort of true. I hadn’t planned on bringing anybody this year. After the talk with my father about the Conclave, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d have one of those women waiting in the wings. I wasn’t in the mood for him or the Table to try and corner me when all I wanted to do was make the rounds, write a check, and leave.

I knew what it would look like if I showed up with Belle. I really didn’t give a fuck about who felt a way about it.

“You don’t think it’s a big step?”

“It’s just a charity event.”

She made a face. “That’s not what I mean.”

“I know.”