by Mike Sanders
Seeing the look in Lil’ Joe’s eyes, Carlos knew without a doubt that he had heard Preme’s statement. Now it was no secret that they had been the ones that had bodied Dave. Lil’ Joe slammed the bag on the desk as well. He took a step back and glared at Carlos. “Yeah, I’ll see you,” Lil’ Joe said sarcastically while still nodding his head and biting his bottom lip in anger. He calmly walked out of the office and out into the hall where War stood in front of Preme, blocking him from Lil’ Joe. Lil’ Joe tossed the bullet back at Preme and stated, “I’ll see you in the streets, nigga.” He exited the barbershop.
“Aye Unc,” War spoke up from the hallway. “You want me to let this nigga go?” He was referring to Preme. War knew if Carlos said yes, Preme was going to slump Lil Joe immediately. Carlos thought about it for a moment, then told War, “Nah, let him calm down for a minute. Preme, you need anger management, nigga,” Carlos joked. “But straight up, you know that nigga already feelin’ some kinda way about Dave. Now, he know we did that shit. Keep an eye out for that nigga. I doubt if he’d test a nigga’s gangsta, but don’t put nothin’ past that nigga right now.”
“Fuck dat nigga! You need to let me eliminate that problem so a nigga ain’t even gotta worry about it,” Preme stated as he limped back into the office.
“Nah, we gotta chill wit’ the bodies. That nigga, Chief Monroe on his game right now because the crackas from First 48 down here filming. They ain’t slippin’ right now. Shit is tighter than mosquito pussy.”
They all nodded in agreement. It was true, ever since the hit TV show First 48 had been filming in Charlotte; homicide detectives had been solving murders in record time. They all agreed they would chill with the violence unless they felt it was absolutely necessary.
CHAPTER TWENTY- ONE
I can’t believe you talked me into coming to Chicago with your ass,” Sapphire said as she put her carry-on bag in the overhead compartment and sat next to Justice. “And you got me in the back of the plane. You are wrong for that.”
Justice looked up from the Nook she had just purchased. She was reading Shiesty 3 by T.N. Baker. “Girl, stop complainin’. I had to kidnap yo’ ass to take you to Greensboro just so you could get outta town for a little while.” Justice pushed her hair back and took a deep breath. “You wasn’t complainin’ when we was at Four Seasons Mall spending up Carlos’s money or when we went to the Maxwell and Jill Scott concert.”
Sapphire smiled as she looked down at her Red Bottom boots, courtesy of the two stacks Carlos had laced her with earlier. If one didn’t know any better they would have thought that Sapphire was Carlos’s bitch. Sapphire looked at the black business-style blouse and slacks Justice had on, courtesy of the trip as well.
“So you really are startin’ to feel Carlos again?” Sapphire asked.
Before Justice could answer, the flight attendants were doing a song and dance on how to put on the seat belt and how to conduct oneself in the event of an emergency. A few of the passengers were seen pulling out their smart phones so they could put the routine on YouTube.
After the routine, everyone clapped and Sapphire noted, “Lemme find out we stepped on Soul Plane.”
“You would think we did.” Justice looked up momentarily. If Sapphire hadn’t been the chick talking her ear off, she would’ve regretted not bringing her headphones to tune out the distraction. She hated to be talked to during flights.
“But back to what I was saying. Things gettin’ serious with you and Carlos again?”
“We’ll see,” Justice said, looking up from her electronic book again. “It’s not like I let the nigga fuck—we just talked a few times and I hung out with him one more time after Amélie’s. When he gave me the money, it wasn’t like I asked for it. If that nigga think he gonna get some because he was financing that cheap ass trip to Greensboro to get shit I could’ve got in Charlotte or better yet, Chicago, then he got a long way to go.”
Those were the words she told Sapphire but in reality, her and Carlos hung out more than just one time after they all had dinner. In fact, they saw each other four times while she was in Charlotte. The first three times were movies, dinner, and deep conversation, getting to know one another again. It was the fourth date when Carlos made his move. Justice almost fell weak, and as much as she wanted to give in, she stuck to her guns and it didn’t happen. She had forgiven him for the most part and was actually starting to lose her reserve but deep down inside, she could not help but to reflect on how his anger had caused so much turmoil in her life. And for that very reason, she felt as though she was at a crossroad and didn’t know which path to follow.
“Aw, go easy on the brother,” Sapphire teased. She wished she had brought a book to read and was frustrated that she couldn’t see the words on the Nook from where she was sitting. “You done forgave yet?”
Justice nodded her head. Sapphire’s persistence and Carlos’s remorse had paid off. She had forgiven Carlos but she could never foget. However, nothing would change the fact that Monk was still in the ground. And somebody was answering for that.
***
Given the drama that had taken place not too long ago, Justice almost didn’t take Sapphire to the club; but since Sapphire had never been there before, Justice figured she could take the risk.
“Oh shit, this is nice!” Sapphire shouted when she saw the Phire & Ice insignia on the building. A prideful tear almost escaped her eyes. Although she had heard about the club and had seen countless pictures, Sapphire was still in awe. “I still can’t believe you did this.”
Without having to be told, she knew that she was the Phire and that Justice was the Ice.
“I had to do something with that money I got from J.T.” Justice confirmed as she took out her key and proceeded to open the door. “We earned that money and I needed a legal hustle, so this is what it is.”
“Sistah, I ain’t mad.” Sapphire followed her in and proceeded to walk down the hallway. “I know you don’t have this long hallway for the niggas to come through. What happens if a fight or fire breaks out or shit get outta control?”
“Girl, this the back of the club.” Justice looked at Sapphire as if she were crazy. Then it dawned on her that her girl hadn’t been in a strip club before. “Let’s go to my office, I need to change and you can take your nosey ass and snoop around a lil’ bit,” Justice teased.
Justice led Sapphire to the office and allowed her to marvel at the décor. Justice reached into her closet and grabbed a bag containing more casual wear and some sneakers and rushed into her private bathroom and did a quick change. When she came out, she was wearing sneakers and some tight-fitting Robin jeans that showed off her curves.
“Girl, look at you.” Sapphire admired Justice’s figure as she walked out of the bathroom ready to meet and greet with the patrons and the staff. “I ain’t seen you in jeans in so long, I ain’t think you owned a pair.”
“I wear jeans all the time, what the hell you talkin’ ‘bout? Anyway, wait ‘til you see these bitches on the floor. I’on know where these hoes be buyin’ these bodies from but you ‘bouta see some unreal shit.” Justice said as they left her office. She made sure the door was locked and they walked down the hallway that led to the main club area. Justice could tell that Sapphire was shocked to see just as many women in the lounge area as there were men.
“Damn, it’s a lotta dykes in here.” Sapphire turned her nose up.
“Nah, these bitches come in here because they know this where the ballin’ niggas at. Half of ‘em ain’t payin’ these dancers no attention. They peepin’ these niggas, tryna see who got the deepest pockets. It’s all game babe, and I most def can’t knock their hustle.”
Sapphire watched as a thick dark-skinned chick wrapped her ass cheeks around a pole comfortably. Sapphire knew she had a nice ass as well, but there was no way in hell her ass cheeks could wrap around a damn pole.
“Hey girl,” a young dude who looked like he couldn’t have been out of high school addressed Sapphire. �
�Why don’t you get on stage and shake sumpthin’?”
Sapphire laughed and shook her head. “Nah bruh, I don’t work here. I’m with my girl, Justice.” She stated as she pointed at her girl.
“Aww damn,” the young man pouted. “I wanted to see what that fat ass look like outside them clothes. He took out a stack of ones and threw a few in the air towards Justice and Sapphire.
“No this nigga didn’t.” Sapphire stated with much attitude.
Justice felt totally diserespected! This was her establishment and no one was going to treat her like an employee in her own shit. “You wanna see somethin’? How about you see my foot up yo’ ass. Matter fact, see the door nigga.” She turned towards her security guy and motioned for him to come over. As security approached, the young man started pleading with Justice not to have him put out.
She ordered the security, “Twin, put that nigga out or make him pay to stay.”
Twin turned his six-four, three hundred pound frame towards the table of young niggas and asked Justice, “which one?”
“That lil disrespectful ass nigga in the Gucci.” Justice pointed at the young man who had thrown the money at her. Then she and Sapphire walked off.
“Got’cha.” Twin replied, and then motioned with his finger for the young man to come to him. Once he was in earshot Twin told him “I’on know what you did but you just pissed the boss lady off.” He paused, then continued, “Now, she want me to put yo’ lil ass out but I’mma let you stay.”
“Preciate that big dog” The young man replied and turned to go back to his table.
Twin put a hand on his shoulder. “But it’s gonna cost you. Run them pockets nigga.”
The young man sighed ,“damn, y’all some real hustlas up in this bitch” he reached into his pocket and dug out some money and gave it to Twin.
“That’s what’s up.” Twin grinned, and then added, “Next time recognize the bitches from the boss. Now y’all lil niggas enjoy y’all’s night. And don’t make me have’ta come the fuck back over here.” Twin glared at them then made his exit. Twin caught up with Justice and Sapphire and handed Justice all but fifty dollars of the money he had taken from the young man.
“Good look, Twin. And make sure them niggas don’t get outta line.”
“No doubt.” He replied, and then walked off.
Once Twin was gone, Justice handed the money to Sapphire. “That lil nigga said he wanted to see you. Guess he paid to see you walk away, huh?”
“Chile, I ain’t arguin’ with that.” Sapphire laughed and stuffed the bills in the back pocket of her jeans.
As Justice and Sapphire walked past the dressing room, Virgin and Precious were leaving the room ready to perform. Justice rolled her eyes and Sapphire noticed the tension between her girl and the two chicks. Virgin pretended to be cleaning her nails as she walked into Sapphire on purpose, damn-near knocking her into the wall.
“I know that ain’t a new bitch you got comin’ in here on a weekday.” Precious was loud and ghetto as she addressed Justice.
“Yeah, this bitch couldda said excuse me too.” Virgin looked Sapphire up and down and then shoved her into the wall. “Don’t she know who really got the say-so in this bitch? This my spot!”
Sapphire regained her footing and without hesitation, she backhanded Virgin with her left hand. Then she followed up with a fist to the same cheek. Sapphire pulled Virgin by her weave, pulling some of it out and started banging her head against the wall. “Bitch, you must not know who I am!” Sapphire yelled as she delivered an uppercut, landing on Virgin’s grill. Virgin spit up some blood on her white laced Teddy. “My name on the fuckin’ marquee, bitch. You better recognize!” Sapphire’s anger and sudden violent temper shocked Justice for a moment. Justice knew Sapphire had it in her, but she was just astounded to see it come out of her so easily.
Sapphire had set it off and all of the anger that had been built up in Justice for those two bitches came rushing to the surface. Justice turned to a stunned Precious while Sapphire continued to go to work on Virgin. Justice started throwing upper cuts and hooks, boxing Precious as if she were Laila Ali. In between dodging Precious’s windmill-like swings, Justice connected with combinations just the way Monk had taught her. For each time Precious called her a bitch, Justice delivered a fist to her jaw. Justice and Sapphire felt arms pulling them off of their victims as a small crowd gathered in the hallway.
“Get these bitches outta here!” Justice ordered her security team as she shook off the miscellaneous hands that were holding her back.
“Oh, no bitch, it ain’t over,” Precious spewed while spitting blood from her mouth, while a loose tooth hung on by a thread. Then it fell out. “Oh, hell no, bitch!” She bent down to pick it up. “I know all about how you killed that nigga you was fuckin’ and that’s how you opened this place.” Precious struggled to get free from the security team and continued to run off at the mouth.
Virgin chimed in, “Yeah, bitch, we know all about that shit. You and that bitch gonna get y’alls, believe that.” She struggled to free herself from security. “Fuck that! Lemme go. I gotta get my shit outta the dressin’ room.”
Just then, Toni walked up with her hand to her mouth in shock. “Toni, get them bitches shit and toss it out wit’ they asses,” Justice instructed.
Justice stood there breathing heavily with her arms crossed over her chest, shaking her head as her security team escorted the two troublemakers out of the club. She knew she was gonna have to fix her problems with the two of them once and for all. After checking on Sapphire to make sure she was okay, she looked at the dispersing crowd and saw one of the local known jack-boys in the back. Just that quickly, her devious mind began formulating a plan.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Red dipped back in the front seat of the car and watched everyone come in and out of BobCutz. He had hoped he would catch Carlos slipping because he knew that this day was his day to come to the shop. Red wanted so bad to get another shot at that man—he felt the last job that J T, Cross, and he did was incomplete—Carlos was still breathing. His plan was to follow Carlos to his house and he and Chris would murk him and take him for everything he had. He remembered how the plan went without a hitch last time; so good that Monk and D. C. took the fall for that shit.
After he got Carlos out of the way, he would continue his search for Justice. Kim was good for keeping up with what a nigga was doing, but when it was time for her to find a bitch, she was proving to be just as useless as a wet postage stamp. He watched as some of Kim’s friends were going in and out of the shop in preparation for the upcoming night. The Bobcats were playing the Lakers at home and Wale and Rick Ross were performing that same night at Club Lux. Needless to say all the groupies were making sure they were looking their best for a baller or a sucker for sponsorship.
“You see that Mercury Cougar?” Chris had tapped Red on the shoulder, jarring him out of his daze and causing him to focus on the mission at hand. “That belongs to Preme; he drives that up here every day.” Red looked in the direction Chris was pointing and took note of the car. “And the black Taurus, that’s Carlos’s nephew, War’s car. Carlos and that nigga look alike except War got a few cuts in his eyebrows and bigger lips. Now his other boy, Joe, something . . . whatever the fuck his name is, he got two cars. The orange Pontiac he drives when he’s here on business and the blue F-150 he drives when he’s just getting his hair cut. But he ain’t been up here in a minute. Kim said he fell out with them niggas.”
Red looked at Chris as she shook the platinum blonde, bob-style cut wig hiding her locs. The wig was a different look for Chris and almost made her look like Faith Evans when she first came out on the arms of B. I. G.
Red needed to be one hundred percent sure about everything. As bad as he wanted to catch Carlos, he wasn’t looking to fuck up. If he had to, he would abandon the plan, and just get that nigga another day.
While sitting in the car it had begun to rain a little. Then the rain began to
pour for a few minutes, making the visibility undesirable. Red started to turn on the windshield wipers but decided against it, figuring that it would give his position away if he didn’t get out the car.
“Anyway, the white Chevy Tahoe is Carlos’s and no one drives it but him.”
Red smiled. This was news he wanted to hear. “You ready?” He asked.
“No doubt . . . but hold that thought. I gotta go to the bathroom. Be back in a minute.”
Before Red could object, Chris had already hopped out and slammed the door. The light rain had let up again and the sun was once again peeking through the clouds. Red watched the Tahoe like a hawk and then noticed movement from the shop. He saw Carlos exit the building and place a travel bag in the back seat of the Tahoe. Red picked up his phone and started calling Chris.
“Yo, the nigga gettin’ in the car.”
“Okay cool, I’m coming outta da deli in a minute.” Red turned on the ignition and was relieved to see Chris running out of the building. He watched as the Tahoe made a left turn out of the shopping center, and once Chris was inside, they followed the Tahoe out onto W.T. Harris Boulevard.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Justice hated that she and Sapphire had to beat some bitches down during her first trip to Chi-town but they had to set an example. To celebrate, Justice had taken her to see the Chicago Bulls play at a home game and she treated Sapphire like royalty.
After seeing Sapphire off to the airport, Justice met her father Tyson at the Buckingham Fountain. She hadn’t seen him in a few weeks and she was missing him. She also hadn’t been to the Fountain since she was a little girl before she and Monk moved to Charlotte. She appreciated the view of Lake Michigan and the weather was perfect for them to walk around and enjoy the view.
Tyson arrived and she greeted him with a hug and a kiss on his gruffy cheek. “Hey old man.”