by Saundra
“Is that enough for you?” I asked.
“Yeah, because I ain’t about to let no bum bitch like Buffy ruin my life. And trust, Quincy will pay. I will make him pay in my own way. He’ll wish he never met that bitch.” She smirked.
“What about the baby?”
“Precious, Buff is a ho and full of lies. That baby could belong to anyone in the free world. The bitch is a sperm bank; it ain’t a nigga within a ten-mile range that ain’t ran up in her.”
And with that I knew her mind was made up about Buffy and Quincy. There were no more questions for me to ask and nothing else left for me to say. I would leave well enough alone.
“Now what I gotta focus on is getting this club business back on point for the grand opening. I want that to happen in two weeks tops, if possible. I’m about to boss up this money and shut this motherfucking city down. You watch ya girl work.”
“Aye, I’m here for that.” I smiled. I would sit on the sideline and root her on while I ran my own life and business.
* * *
“These floors are nice,” Clip complimented as soon as he stepped through the doors. I had asked him to stop by Promise’s new salon so we could chat a minute.
“Yes, they are. They just finished them last night. That’s why I wanted to come by and see them. So listen, I called you by here with a concern of mine. That concern is ya boy Quincy. I know you heard about his and Keisha’s problem.”
“Mane, who ain’t heard? I think ya girl Keisha took out an ad in the paper or some.” Clip chuckled.
“Maybe. But they problems is risky to our operation. Just like that”—I snapped my fingers—“Keisha is taking him back. And saying shit like she gone pay him back in her own way. I couldn’t care less to be involved in their relationship drama, but I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Me neither. I’ll talk to Quincy and make sure he keeps a lock on her. And I’ll keep a lock on him.”
He was speaking the words I wanted to hear. “That sounds like a plan.”
Clip started looking around the place again. “So what’s up with Promise? When you gone hook us up?”
“Boy, if you don’t stop, I don’t have nothing to do wit’ that.” I laughed.
“Hello, hello,” Promise sang as she entered. I had given her the address and told her to stop by.
“Hey, Promise.” I greeted her with a smile.
“What’s up, Promise?” Clip wore a huge grin. I couldn’t help but smile at him. He had it bad for Promise. And it was clear Promise didn’t have a clue.
She looked around the empty building. “So what exactly is this place anyway?”
I wondered how long it would take her to ask that. “This place is your new hair salon. I mean, new once it’s done being remodeled, of course.” I handed her the keys.
Promise looked at me with her mouth open for a full minute. Then she stared at the keys in her hand. “What?” finally came out of her mouth. Tears ran down her face.
“Why are you crying?”
“Because no one has ever done all that you have done for me before.” Promise fell into my arms and I hugged my sister. Tears stung my eyes, but I fought them back.
“What about me? I would like a hug,” Clip joked.
We both looked at him and laughed. “Shut up,” I said. I turned my attention to back to Promise. “This place belongs to you now. I want you to decorate it how you wish once the remodeling is done. So you better get those ideas together now.”
“I am so on it.” Promise looked at the keys in her hand and gripped them tight.
“Listen, if you need me to paint or something, I got you,” Clip threw in.
“Nah, son. I’m good.” Promise laughed.
“Besides, I would not pay you,” I added.
“See y’all got jokes. It’s cool . . . For real though. Promise, your place gone be dope. I’ma support you when it’s done.”
“Thanks, Clip.” Promise smiled.
I had to stare for a second; I had never seen Clip’s soft side. It was pretty sweet.
“A’ight. I gotta bounce though.” Clip excused himself.
“Aye, my stomach just growled. We need to eat. Besides, the food gone get cold.”
“Bring your starving self on in here.” I grabbed Promise by the hand and made a dash for the food.
Chapter 39
“Damn, Sis, I’m really feeling your new Bentley. This shit is all the way tight. You gotta let me keep it for a whole day.” Promise babbled as we pulled into the parking lot at Quincy’s and Keisha’s new club. Tonight was grand opening night, so it was going down. I had recently purchased a Bentley as a fun gift to myself and I too was loving it. And already Promise was trying to rob me of it. But I could not blame her. I smiled.
“How about baby steps? You know I let you drive into the driveway of my house and park.” I laughed.
“Whatever. So controlling.” She played at being mad.
“And you know it. Now let’s party.” We climbed out of the Bentley and made our way around to the front.
“Damn, I think everybody in LA up this piece,” Promise said. The line was wrapped around the building.
“Follow me,” I instructed Promise. “Mark.” I addressed the bouncers in front of me. They all knew who I was.
“Precious.” Mark smiled at me and removed the rope. “Come on in.”
“Thank you. Remember her—this is my twin sister, Promise.”
“Trust me, I won’t be forgetting.” Mark flirted.
“Nice meeting you, Mark.” Promise giggled.
Inside, we headed straight for VIP. I looked up and saw the balcony, and it was shining like diamonds. True to her word, Keisha had made the place come to life. “This place is nice,” Promise said as we stepped in VIP. “And the DJ lit.”
“Aye!” Keisha sang over the music and swayed her hips. I had to pause a minute and take in the whole room. The seating area was classy and everybody looked the part. “What’s up, bitches?” Keisha was hype; she came over and hugged both of us.
“Congratulations,” Promise and I said in unison.
“Hey, this place is on point. I’m loving’ it,” I said.
“Yo, this gone be my new hangout. You gone have to put me out.” Promise was now moving her hips to Gucci Mane’s verse. “And this my shit. I swear, your DJ on fire.”
Keisha smiled. “Yeah, that nigga lit. But you gone really turn up later. Quincy got 2 Chains coming through later; he gone do a walkthrough. Quincy says this should boost celebrity attendance.”
“Keisha, you got to tell Quincy to put me on.” Promise was ready to jump 2 Chain’s bones. I had to laugh.
“Girl, you got Ryan coming through,” I reminded her.
“Damn right I do. And that means what?” My sister was a daredevil. But hey, I couldn’t hate. She was not married or in a committed relationship, so she was free to do what she pleased.
“What’s up, ladies?” Quincy came over. “I bought a ill something over for y’all to celebrate this special occasion.” The waitress who was standing behind him passed him the bottle she was holding.
“Don Julio.” Keisha chuckled. “You really must be trying to get us fucked up.”
I laughed because I so agreed with her. “Quincy, ain’t no way I’m fuckin’ wit’ that tonight.”
“Come on, ladies. This is the time to get lit. Do this shit the boss way.”
Promise grabbed a shot glass off the tray the waitress holding. “Fuck it. Pour up.” She extended my glass at Quincy just as “Mask Off” by Future came on.
“Shidd, fill my shit too then. I ain’t no prude.” Keisha snatched her a shot glass next.
I was not changing my mind. That damn Don Julio was a beast. I’d had my share. Plus I was in the Bentley and no one would be driving except maybe Promise. And she would be toast after the shots. “Quincy, send ya girl a bottle of that Patron. I’m being a lady tonight.”
“Aww.” Keisha teased me.
&nbs
p; “I got you.” Quincy smiled before walking away.
“Keisha, these designs you used for the club are nice,” Promise complimented. “You gone have to hook me up with your designer so I can use them for the salon.”
Keisha’s head seemed to jump off her shoulders as she turned to face Promise. “What salon?”
“Oh, you didn’t know. Precious surprised me with a salon.”
“Yep.” I jumped in. I wasn’t sure why I had not mentioned it to Keisha. I guess so much other stuff was going on until it slipped my mind. “Bout to let her put her touch on LA,” I said proudly. I could not wait to see Promise’s success in the hair business.
Keisha, on the other hand, seemed a bit stunned. “Well, that’s what’s up.” She smiled but it seemed forced. “I thought about opening up a salon. But Precious wouldn’t go in with me.” Keisha looked at me.
“I found out that Promise was a licensed beautician, even competing in hair shows. I had to help her fulfill her dream.”
“Thank you again, Sis.” Promise hugged me again.
Keisha eyed us and took another shot. “I’ma have to come through.”
“Ladies and gents, ya man 2 Chains just stepped in the building,” the DJ announced.
“Aye, I need you to walk to the front with me.” Quincy approached Keisha and they rushed off.
“Ya girl seem a bit in her feelings about my salon,” Promise announced. I guess she had noticed it too.
“I noticed it too,” I admitted. “But she gone be okay. She just really wanted me to go in with her. She cool though.”
“I didn’t know she could do heads.”
“She don’t. She was going to hire some stylists.”
“Hmmm . . .” Promise said, but looked over my shoulder. “There is Ryan down there; I’ma go meet him.
“What’s up, Precious?” Clip approached me as soon as Promise wondered off.
“Sipping’ this Patron and chilling’.”
“Yo, when you gone hook me up?” He was back on that again.
I couldn’t help but grin. “Clip, brush, her dude is here.”
“That wacky-ass nigga that she down there talkin’ to? Please, I don’t take that shit seriously.”
I laughed so loud and hard my stomach hurt. I saw Ryan and Promise approach. Clip stood stone-still in his spot.
“Ryan, you already met my sister, Precious.”
“Yes, I remember. Hi again, Precious,” Ryan said.
“And this is Clip.” Ryan extended his hand for a shake. Clip put his hands in his pockets, nodded, and walked away.
Promise looked at me with a question in her eyes and I just smiled. “Ryan would like to try one of these Don Julio shots, courtesy of the owner.”
“Sure.” Promise reached for the bottle and poured up four shots. I watched as Ryan tossed back one shot and then another. Clip had been wrong, my man was not wacky. Promise took a shot.
Keisha stepped up. “Where the Don at? I need it.”
“We got you faded,” Promise said and filled some more glasses.
Keisha tossed back two shots and from there we all turned up.
Keisha raised her glass in the air. “Let’s all toast to a successful grand opening.” Everybody toasted except me and Promise because we didn’t have a drink in our hands.
Suddenly, I saw Keisha’s eyes land on Promise. “And let’s all toast to Promise and her new salon.”
Promise smiled at the mention of the salon. “Hell yeah, that bitch bout to be on fire.”
A smirk spread across Keisha’s face. “Girl, it must be nice to have a sister with the golden ticket.”
Promise looked at me but no smile was on her face. She turned her attention back to Keisha. “What does that mean exactly? Because it sounds to me like you throwing shots.”
“No, sweetheart, not shots, just observation.” Keisha chuckled with sarcasm.
“See, Precious, this shit right here is called jealousy. Take it from me, Sis, this bitch right here is not friend material.”
Keisha’s whole face dropped. She jumped up from the seat she was sitting in.
“What you gone do, bitch?” Promise kicked off her heels.
Quincy stepped in front of Keisha and asked her to be quiet. “If you wasn’t Precious’s sister, I would beat your ass,” Keisha said.
“Bitch, bring it,” Promise said. Clip stood in front of her and tried to hold her back. She said, “What you need to be worried about is how yo’ nigga fuckin’ yo’ ho-ass friend and making bastard babies.”
Keisha went wild trying to break free from Quincy. Promise tried to push past Clip. I grabbed her, but she yanked free. Somehow, she jumped over Clip and past Quincy and punched Keisha in the jaw. Keisha tried to swing back, but Promise’s fist landed against her face again. Quincy had been knocked down. Finally, Clip got his balance and snatched Promise back. I yelled for Clip to take her out of the club and I followed. The night was fucked and there would be no getting it back. Grand-opening fail.
* * *
The night had been long and the last thing I was looking forward to was my phone ringing so early in the morning. I glanced over and saw Keisha’s name. Not ready to be bothered, I sighed. “What’s up?” I answered groggily. I was truly sleepy.
“Precious, listen. I was so fucked up last night. My bad bout all that shit. It was them Don Julio shots. I don’t know why Quincy bring that shit up in VIP,” she declared.
What she said may have been true, but I didn’t care. “You fucked up, Keisha, and just went too far. She ain’t fucking wit’ you no more. And I don’t blame her. That shit you said seemed personal.”
“But it wasn’t. I told you, it was the liquor.”
“Maybe. Either way, that shit was petty, and I for one don’t have time for it. I got an empire to run.” I kept it all the way real.
“I know and I’m sorry. Quincy was mad at me too for starting that shit and fuckin’ up the grand opening.”
Promise beeped in on another line. “Listen, I gotta go. We can chat later.” I ended the call.
“You up?” Promise asked.
“Yeah.” I was sure she didn’t care one way or the other.
“See, Precious, I told you that Keisha’s ass was jealous . . . Augh, fuck that bitch. She messed up my good time. Petty ass. I just can’t seem to get a break from these bitches. Now some female calling’ my phone talkin’ bout she Ryan’s wife and they got three kids. Bitch accusing me of breaking up they happy home.” Promise started laughing.
This information was a shock. Ryan had fooled me. “Hell no. I thought his ass was legit.”
“Legit as his ass could be, I guess. I swear these niggas a trip. But anyway all that bullshit aside, what about my budget for the salon? I got some designers coming through today. Can you make it?”
“What time?”
“Later, around three.”
“Yeah, I can be there. I have a meeting with some people around one, then I’ll stop through. And there is no budget. Get what you want, like I said before.
“Thanks, Sis.”
Then I heard a voice coming from the background that sounded familiar. “Ain’t that Clip I hear?”
“Precious, I gotta go.” Promise rushed me off the phone. Making myself comfortable again, I prayed for sleep.
Chapter 40
I had no time to help Promise work on the design for the salon because I had been making a few runs with Clip on business. We had new moves on shipments and I wanted to see for myself that it was working. So I was dog tired and getting sleep whenever I could.
“Hello,” I answered my cell. It was seven o’clock in the morning. Why I was answering a call with a number I didn’t even recognize this early in the morning was a mystery to me, but it was too late now.
“Is this Precious?” The voice on the other end sounded shaky, like someone had been crying.
“Yes.”
“Precious, this is Susanna. One of Maria’s daughters. I was wondering if m
aybe she stayed out there last night?”
That question woke me up and I sat up in bed. “Uh, no. I made it in late last night and when I got here she was gone. When was the last time you or Rebecca talked to her?”
Susanna started crying. “I haven’t talked to her since yesterday when she left for work. I started calling her last night but her phone just rang. Now it’s not ringing at all, it’s going straight to her voicemail. I haven’t heard from Rebecca either.” All of this puzzled me. I wasn’t certain about Rebecca, but I couldn’t see Maria not calling her daughter if she wasn’t coming home. “I’m going to call the police.” Susanna concluded.
I thought that was a good idea. “I’m going to come over.” I ended the call. I dialed Promise and asked her to meet up with me at Maria’s house.
* * *
When I pulled in I saw two cop cars parked out front. I decided to wait a few minutes to see if Promise arrived. She barreled around the corner minutes later.
I knocked on the door and a young woman answered. She resembled Maria a lot. “Hi, I’m Precious. This my sister, Promise.”
“I’m Susanna. Come on in.” We followed her inside. The cops looked at us. “This is Precious and Promise.” She introduced us to the cops. “My mom works for Precious.”
Susanna sat down to finish her conversation with the cops, explaining that this was unlike her mother and sister. After the cops left, we all sat and talked. Susanna shared that her brother Jose was on his way up from San Diego.
“Precious, my mom is always saying good things about you,” Susanna shared. “She loved DaVon like a son too.”
“DaVon loved her too,” I said.
“She really likes that Cadillac you bought for her. She has so many rules; the biggest is no eating in it.” Susanna gave a slight laugh.
“I was glad to buy it for her. I wanted her to have a safe, dependable ride.”
“Well, thank you again.”
Jose finally arrived, and Promise and I decided to go for tacos.
“This is so messed up! I just can’t believe Maria is missing. The crazy part is, I been working so much I didn’t even see her yesterday when she came in.”