Around the Way Girls 9 (28 page)

 

“Come on, Cori, let's be out.”

“No doubt, here I come.” Once I made sure the makeup I'd stolen earlier was flawlessly laid onto my honey brown skin, I slid on my earrings, bracelet, and imitation Rolex before meeting her walking out of the front door. We'd already bagged up a few grams to slip sale to a few people at the party so we'd always be making money. The truce has always been made for us not to smoke up our entire supply.

Mike owned more than a couple of houses in the neighborhood. A few were occupied by small low-income families he allowed to stay rent free, no upkeep included but reinforced, and others were reserved for his drug cook-ups, transactions, or like tonight's gambling party. He made money and spent money in the hood. But when it came to calling it a night and laying his head down, he drove more than forty-five minutes outside of the city knowing the D was too gritty for even a hustler of his caliber. I'd only been there twice.

Even though me and Nique walked the few blocks to the party, we had no intentions of getting back home the same way. I didn't know what my girl had up her sleeve for slick Vic, who I hadn't seen around the house lately, but I was planning on throwing it so heavy on Mike that he wouldn't let me out of his sight. That was my game plan and I was sticking to it. Dressed in a blue sleeveless crop top, stonewashed high-waist jeans, and matching blue studded sandals, everything about my style tonight was cute and simple. Nique had revamped both of our hairstyles so let me tell you I was rocking the hell out of this jet-black layered bob. Looking over at my girl, we both had our A games on. Neither one of us had a worry . . . well, from the looks of it. Nique was rocking a pair of galaxy leggings, magenta crop top, jean vest, and custom studded Chucks. I loved her punk rock look and the fact she could truly pull it off.

The block was crowded. Everyone was out in numbers trying to floss and be seen. Old-school Monte Carlos, Grand Prix, and Cutlass classics decked out with rims, TVs, and custom paint jobs were lined up the street like a car show was going on. Wasn't nothing like a black man being boss. Mike knew a lot of cats getting money in the streets, east and west, and tonight it seemed like they were all in attendance. Switching up on the porch so I could clearly peep the scene, I was looking for Mike's truck but a cherry red Benz stood out amid all the outdated revamped vehicles.
Damn, somebody in here working with a big bank!

Inside of the house was no different than outside. As always Mike's gambling party was shutting even the club down. The speakers were blasting Young Jeezy's “Lose My Mind” and automatically, I started gigging getting hype. “Been at it all week, time to unwind.” Jeezy's verses blared out as everyone sang along. I sang, dancing, throwing my hands up letting the crowd know the party had entered the building. I got everyone's attention, even Mike's. He gave me a low-key smile and nod and I kept doing my thang knowing he was caught up in watching my body move. “I'm out my mind; I just blew a thousand swisher sweets!” Dudes were starting to flock toward me for dances or to simply feed off of my energy. I was soaking it all up, enjoying even the hating-ass chicks who thought I was trying to pull cards with their men. Caught up in myself and the chase I had going for Moneymaking Mike, their lowball niggas weren't on my mind at all, not one bit.

“Let's grab a table so we can get to work. I'm seeing money drizzling all over the place,” Ta'Nique screamed over the music then snatched at my arm leading the way.

Mike was watching everything go down. I blew a kiss and winked at him letting him know he was heavy on my mind. The party was slapping. For a neighborhood festivity, no one came slacking without a bottle or bag of Kush to contribute. Cups were overflowing, blunts were in full rotation, and guys pulling out large rubber banded wads of cash to bet against the next man in an attempt to triple their pockets' worth were all over the place. Me and Nique worked the crowd as usual. It was a lot of people who needed their bills paid, hookups on gift cards, or my daily moneymaker: no-fault insurance certificates. People who knew us for getting down with every hood scheme connected us with more people who wanted the luxury of scamming the system. Word of mouth went a long way with the type of business we were in; and since our hookups always worked, people didn't have a problem highly referring us. I'd passed out my minute cell phone number to over twenty people in twenty minutes. Business was about to be major and I was more than ready.

Never losing eyes with my main focus, I watched Mike's every movement with a keen eye. Standing firm in his Jordan Retro '89s, denim Levi shorts, and matching green glow Nike shirt, I loved everything about his style and swagger. My wannabe wife eye was lurking. You couldn't tell me this sexy brown man wasn't mine. He had juicy lips, deep dimples, and a killer smile. My panties were getting moist just looking at him. Up from the table now cleaning up in a dice game, he was scooping piles of money off the floor, ripping niggas a new asshole with his pop off the wall technique.
Yeah, baby, get that chedda.
I was his number one fan.

“I peep you all up Mike's ass and all, but can you get your head in the game to get this bread?” Nique was annoyed but it wasn't because of me. I might've been watching Vic and his entourage of groupies staring hard, but Vic ignoring Nique stood out amid everything else. Her secret wasn't safe. Actually, it had been exposed.

As I continued to sip from my own personal bottle of Coca-Cola mixed with Hennessy, the liquor had me feeling myself. I turned back to the game, tossing out my play, winning the book. “And I peep Vic.” Blast for blast. If she wanted to call me out for Mike, she had hers coming of course.

Tossing her own cards onto the table, she automatically lost the game, costing us the twenty dollars it took to sit down. “Yup, you're right, Cori, and he ain't shit.” Marching straight over to Vic, my girl was like a Tasmanian devil going nuts on him. Pushing him into the pool table, exaggerating each point with her hands, yelling and crying; I didn't know what was up between them but that was my best friend cue to get my girl up out of here or at least from causing any more of a scene. Usually we stayed out of each other's personal affairs, but Vic was playing her mad low by shaking his head no, giving her the dumb boy expression. He had no reply to her rants and to me he seemed colder when she fell to her knees in tears. Vic was an antagonist who got off on Nique being weak for him obviously.

“Whoa, get the fuck up, Ta'Nique. This ain't even about to go down like this.” Mike got to his cousin before I did and roughly snatched her up by the arm.

I put more fire under my feet wanting to be close to him and I jogged over letting Nique know I had her back, too. “You okay?” I whispered.

“Naw, I ain't okay,” she yelled. “I hope you die in your sleep for what you said to me, Vic.”

A hush fell over the room. Those who weren't aware of the yelling match between them were definitely on alert now.

“Let's go, babe. Whatever he did, fuck him. Let's just go so you can get yourself together.” I was trying to be a good friend. Plus I didn't want her to make more of a fool of herself than she'd already done.

“Yeah, cuz, g'on and cool out. This clown was about to bounce out of here anyway.” Mike grimed Vic up and down letting him know his pocket money and presence was no longer necessary or wanted. It was family over foe this way.

“Yo, Mike man, your cuz is crazy tripping on some other shit. I'm trying to flip these dollars.” Pulling out a wad of bills, Vic was stunting hard, or at least trying to.

“Go ahead and drizzle on us you ol' broke-ass bum,” Nique shouted with bitterness. “Still staying in ya mom's basement with a house full of lowlife–ass nigga.” Each word she shouted was laced with venom and hate. My girl was going hard in the paint.

“That's why you trying to trap me huh? Get the fuck up out my face, li'l girl,” Vic spat, shooing Nique away with his wad.

Single dollar bills flew everywhere as Nique knocked his money from his hands. “You ain't working with shit,” she screamed, twisting her lips up giving him much attitude.

“You ol' thirsty, nothing-having-ass trick.” Vic degraded her and me too with each low-down word. Within a blink of the eye, he grabbed Nique by the throat and leaned her across the pool table. From the look of it, he was attempting to choke the life out of my best friend in front of everywhere here. Letting go but still leaning his weight over her, his cold, callous threats could be heard clearly. “Like I said, I'll abort the bastard myself.”

“Hey, man, get your hands the fuck up off my cuz.” Mike yoked Vic up from on top of Nique with one swift motion. “Get up out my spot, dude; I ain't even trying to repeat myself.” By now Mike's goons had popped up ready to reinforce anything he was demanding. He worked efficiently alone but his team was always willing to step in to handle his light work.

“Shit, bro, fuck ya cuz with her dehydrated rat ass. I should've worn a rubber,” Vic spat, looking Nique directly in the eyes. I saw her feelings go numb. Ol' boy was doing too much.

Mike's eyes widened as they looked from me, to Nique, to Vic acting cocky. “You doing some real big shit talking for me to already have dismissed ya ass.” I could tell it was about to be trouble. Mike landed his fist directly into Vic's nose twice, completely catching him off-guard. “Get this chump-ass nigga the fuck up out of here.”

Screaming threats as they dragged him out, Vic made sure he let Nique know she'd see him again. She stared at him with tears in her eyes but trying to play the big girl role. The party was starting to continue as the crowd moved on. Arguments around here happened twenty-four-seven. Everyone was a prime candidate for World Star.

“Oh my God, baby, are you okay?” Running up to Mike with the concerned voice only a mother could have, my face immediately ripped.
Yeah, it's my turn to clown now, if it ain't the breakfast broad.

Mike turned my way to see if I was watching. Indeed I was. I twisted my mouth up raising my brow questioning him every nonverbal way I could. He knew I wanted to know who this girl was. He'd already ignored me all day for her and now she was on my territory. I felt the blood in my veins boiling. Smiling, throwing me for a loop, he grabbed her arm and started marching her my way.

“What is he doing?” Nique questioned, out of her trance now that Vic was gone. Still with a face of dried-up tears, she was still on guard for me.

“I don't know, but we're about to see.” I had to keep my fronts up. If nothing else, I was looking good. In the short time of watching ol' girl, she wasn't much to look at. She was bone thin and unexciting—no competition for the thickness Mike loved to grab on with me.

“Corielle, this is Alyssa. Alyssa, this is my ride or die chick Cori.” He let her hand go.

She had the nerve to raise it up to shake mine. Nique giggled.

“Nice meeting you, Cori.” She smiled, not knowing I'd knock her head from off her shoulders. Obviously she didn't know any better so this would be her pass.

“Yeah, whatever, same to you. Mike, can I holla at you please?” Cutting my eyes hard, I was letting him know that no wasn't an answer he could give.

“Sure. Alyssa, baby, g'on and get up out of here. I'll meet you back at your crib when I shut the trap down.” He then smacked her on the ass making me want to smack him across the face. The blatant disrespect was uncalled for. I saw a lot of that was going down around here tonight.

“Okay, Mike baby, whatever you say. Nice to meet you again, Cori.” Not waiting for a reply, she walked away with confidence not knowing a cold-hearted bitch who wanted revenge off rip was watching her with evil intentions.

“So who is homegirl? And since when do you call the girl you're sleeping with a ride or die chick? You've got some nerve nigga.” I wasted no time going in on him. We might've not had a title to what we were doing but he wasn't about to flaunt girls in my face either. I might've liked Mike but he was trying my tolerance like I was some type of lightweight powder puff girl.

“Chill out, C. You and my cousin are both amped up tonight.” He laughed then took a swig from his Corona like it was nothing. “That's Alyssa, like I said. I introduced y'all so you should've asked her when you had the chance.” Mike was talking with a smirk. He wasn't taking my anger serious enough.

“I'll go stop her and see for myself then.” I turned around quickly, ready to go chase Alyssa down and make good on my word, but he grabbed me back.

“Your ass stays feisty unless you blowing. That's just a shorty I've been hooking up with; you know a nigga be down for whatever. Ain't nothing serious like wedding bells, Cori, so calm your hype ass out. The turn up ain't needed. It's been enough heat surrounded around me for one night.”

“Boy, bye, whatever nonsense you talking, I ain't trying to hear it. You keep that stank-breath bitch out of my face or else. You've got a lot of nerve to come at me about keeping the heat off of you when you invited her here. This is my turf.”

“Don't threaten me, baby girl. You know I don't take well to threats.” Mike's dimples disappeared. He was all the way serious.

“And I don't take well to people tempting me. So we're even.”

“Get your ass to the back, Cori, now.”

I wasted no time doing as I was told. Moments later I was in the back bedroom with Mike's tongue stuffed down my throat. As his hands roamed my body, rubbing on my exposed stomach, up my spine and unclipping my bra, he lifted my shirt then sucked each nipple like a starved child. I was moaning loudly in pure bliss and heat. I didn't care who heard plus hoped Alyssa had crept back in and was listening outside of the door. I was serving Mike my milkshake and he was loving every drop.