A Dangerous Love 2: Can't Let Go

by J Peach

  “Look, B, I’m trusting and believing you’re not fuckin’ with that chick. But if I find out otherwise, then I’m done. Blaze, I’m trusting yo word on this, so don’t make me regret it.”

  “You not, because I ain’t fuckin’ her no mo.” His gaze fell on me and he rubbed his chin. “While we on this shit, that little sneaky thing you was doing with Sam, dead it. His ass know what’s up, now I’m letting you know. It’s dead. Whatever like you might’ve caught for him, get rid of that shit.”

  “It wasn’t a like with feelings, it was just head no nothing, attachment whatsoever. The moment we decided to do this it was done. So you don’t have to worry about Sam and I doing anything.” Blaze hummed, staring hard at me. “It was never nothing, I promise. And it was only once—”

  “Shut the fuck up, I don’t wanna hear that bullshit. I know how many times it was and where the shit happened at. Try to be slick though, I’ma fuck both you mothafuckas up. Like I said, Sam know what’s up, I’m just letting you know. You saw what I do to mothafuckas who try to be slick.” There wasn’t a doubt in my mind he wasn’t serious.

  “Oh, so you gon’ shot me in my arms and legs then make me drive myself to the hospital?”

  “Damn, right I am,” he spoke drily.

  Nodding my head, I turned in my seat to look at him.

  “You don’t have to worry about it, I promise. Oh shit! Blaze, give me my phone, Kimmy ass probably going crazy right about now.”

  “She was, I talked to King when he called looking for you, they know where you at. Red Lobster, right?” He asked, pulling into the plaza.

  “Yes, I am starving. When we leave here we’re going home, right?” My black ass was tired and hungry.

  “We gon’ stop by mine, then I got to meet King at Magic, then to yo place.” Blaze meeting up with King with us together? I was going to insist he dropped me off first.

  I know my brother said he was going to step off, but he was sometimes flaky as hell when it came to me.

  “What’s that face about?”

  “No reason.” The thought of King had me staring at Blaze. “Blaze, if we’re seriously doing this, I’m not to be played, whether we’re officially together right now or not. I’m not going to be treated like some hoe. Just like you said, I’m trusting you not to hurt me. But if you do, I don’t give second chances. Same goes for me, I won’t play you. If it ever comes to the point that we feel like messing around with other people, then this wasn’t for us to begin with. Be honest with me and I’ll do the same,” I told him, because in the end I didn’t want to get hurt. And truth be told, if anyone could hurt me, it would be Blaze hands down.

  “I already told you I got you. If that was the plan, I wouldn’t be doing all this shit. I ain’t even on that. Now let’s go,” he said, opening his door.

  “You gon’ open my door for me, daddy?” I licked my lips seductively.

  “When I have that ass bent over in the backseat, don’t say shit.” With that, he got out the truck, coming to my side. “Come on.”

  I turned in my seat. Wrapped my arms around his neck.

  “I don’t know, daddy, that backseat thing sounding like a plan to me.” I took his bottom lip into my mouth and began sucking on it before going to his top.

  Blaze yanked me to the edge of the seat. He stepped between my legs. His hands slid up my dress, lifting me, he pushed my dress over my hips.

  A tap on the open door had me opening my eyes to see a man standing there and I pulled away.

  “You gon’ quit playing with me.” The man tapped on the window again. “Get the fuck away from my damn door, nigga. I hear yo ass,” Blaze snapped at him.

  “Blaze, chill. It ain’t that serious, for real. Come on, lets go.” I done seen enough of him beating some random dude ass for the day.

  “I was just tryna get in my car,” the man explained.

  “It’s cool, it was my fault. No problem.” I gave him a friendly smile and closed the door. My hands slid into Blaze’s large one and I led him to the entrance.

  A fifteen minute wait was all it took before we were shown to our table.

  Sitting down, I looked at Blaze and shook my head as I let out a soft laugh. “Somebody gon’ beat yo ass one day. How you gon’ get mad and snap at that man because he was tryna get in his car?”

  “I ain’t worried about nobody beating my ass, bet that. Yo ass bet not let nobody beat my ass with as much shit as you carry on you. I bet not ever get my ass whooped when you around,” he joked.

  Laughing, I rolled my eyes. “Oh, I see. Yo ass ain’t tough, Booney!” I said the B in his name hard as I pursed my lips together, adding a slight pout to them.

  “I’ma fuck you up, keep playing with me, Peaches.”

  “I like that name though. What you getting mad for, Boon—” He got out his seat. “Okay, I stop, damn. Sit down.” My hands fanned toward him, motioning for him to sit. “What are you getting?” I asked, grabbing my menu, already knowing what I wanted. “I’m getting the snow crab legs, corn and red potatoes with a Mai Tai.” I told Blaze.

  “The Lobster tail,” he was saying as the waiter came.

  Chapter 29

  Peaches

  We were leaving Red Lobster, the food was good and our conversation was never ending. Overall, we had an amazing dinner. Even so, truth be told, I was beyond tired. Not even that damn Mai Tai could liven me up. How the hell Blaze was still going was beyond me.

  “Magic’s closer, so we’ll stop there first. You cool? Look like you about to pass out,” Blaze said, while pulling out the parking lot.

  Lazily, my gaze fell on him. Comfortable in my seat, I crossed my legs, sliding down a bit more. “I’m good. They asses did not put enough Rum in that Mai Tai.” My eyes were watery and I kept blinking to try and stay awake. That shit wasn’t helping.

  “We here, come on.” He turned off the car then got out.

  Damn that was fast!

  Sighing, I did the same. I met Blaze in front of the truck. I came to his front, wrapped my arms around his waist, slipped my hands into the pocket of his jeans.

  “What I tell you about touching my ass?”

  “You said I can if I wanted to. Mmm, you have a nice ass,” I finished with a nip at his chin.

  Blaze moved my hands from his pockets. “I’ma knock you out, keep playing.” He turned me around and pulled me into his chest so my back was to his front. “Yo ass short as hell, a nigga can’t attempt to fuck you like this without having to pick you up.”

  “Oh, my God. Why would you say that?” I laughed, elbowing him.

  “It ain’t like I’m lying, my dick in middle of yo back.”

  “Move! Let me go.” Laughing, I tried to get out his hold. “That shit ain’t funny, I’m average height for a woman,” I stated defensively.

  “No five-eight is average.”

  “You a bitch, get off me. Blaze, stop!” A scream left my mouth. He suddenly picked me up. “Put me down I have on a dress—”

  “Ain’t nobody looking at yo short ass,” he said, walking into the pool hall.

  “Blaze, put me down!” Blaze placed me on my feet, then took hold of my hand.

  “Don’t play like you ain’t like that shit.” Was I gon admit that I did? Hell No. Not after he insulted me about my height. “Don’t try and act mad now,” he said, leading me toward the back of the club.

  “I could’ve waited at the bar,” I told him.

  “N’all, you good. I can’t have you sitting at the bar alone. I’ll fuck around and have to beat a mothafucka ass in here. Niggas crazy nowadays.”

  My head nodded in agreement.

  “I know! Shid, I been with one all day, dude is stupid crazy.” My voice rose dramatically.

  “Make me slap yo ass.” He stopped at a door, twisted the knob, but it was locked. His fist hit it loud and hard, doing a double knock three times. “Come on.” We walked down the hall, to the last room. Blaze took out a pair of keys and unlocked the door to an of
fice. A nice, big office, kind of like the one at the car lot.

  “Let me guess, this your place to?” I asked, walking to the big mahogany desk while Blaze locked the door.

  “Yeah, I have this one and two more,” admitted Blaze.

  Now I was confused.

  “Can I ask you a question?” Sitting in the big black chair behind the desk, I went to open a drawer, then another and another ,but they all were locked.

  “You can ask whatever you want,” he said as there was a knock on his door. “Hold up.” Walking to the door, he opened it and I groaned as King walked in.

  “Fuck you doing back here?” He asked, not even seeing Blaze by the door. His eyes fell straight on me. “Where the fuck yo phone at?”

  “Um, I’m with Blaze and he got my phone.”

  “And he let you back here?” King asked the dumb question.

  “No shit, dumbass. How else would I have got into a locked room? And he’s right there.” I Pointed to Blaze who was right beside him. King looked over then jumped.

  “Oh, shit! I ain’t even see yo ass right there, fuck she doing back here?” He asked him.

  “She with me.” An older man, maybe in his early forties came to the door. “Jonas, what’s up?” Blaze shook up with him. Looking down, he handed him two green bags. “Damn, both these?” Blaze asked him.

  “Yeah, for two weeks. Shit leaving.” Jonas’ eyes finally landed on me and he glanced at Blaze.

  “If another mothafucka do that I’ma beat the shit out of him, damn. She cool, talk.” The man looked at King who shrugged before his eyes slid to me. “You looking too damn hard nigga, I’m over here. Talk.”

  I groaned as he snapped at the man, making him look at me. My hands went up before finding a paper clip, tryna break into his drawers. That didn’t mean I succeeded.

  “Damn, y’all niggas been pushing hard up in here. But check this, I’ma close this down for a minute. The bar and shit will still be opened, but no serving in here for a while. I’ll let you know when you back up, until then the back’s closed. What you got now, sell. Give ‘em a little extra until its gone. Come tomorrow, it’s done,” he told Jonas.

  “It’s almost gone anyway, so that’ll be good.” With a nod, Jonas turned and walked, out closing the door behind him.

  “Why you closing this spot?” King asked Blaze.

  “Because Red—”

  “Red Envy out in Marshall Town? That’s yours?” Blaze stopped talking as I spoke excitedly.”

  “Yeah—”

  “No shit? Wow, it really wasn’t meant to be then. I swear me and my bitches used to sneak in there when we were like fifteen. Angel use to talk to the bouncer there. I think his name Ri—”

  “Rico?” Blaze finished for me and I snapped my fingers.

  “Yep, that was him. We use to be in there lit. That’s how Sly and I started messing around. Every other weekend when my daddy wasn’t home and I was able to climb out my window. Our asses would be on the city bus going to Red Envy, drinking and playing pool. That was my spot.” I boasted about the bar and a smile was plastered on my face as I thought back to the old days. Playing pool, drinking and dancing on top of the pool tables. “Yeah, we use to have fun.” A laugh left my mouth before a sigh soon followed.

  “No shit? Y’all hot mothafuckas. I’m ‘bout to beat yo yellow ass fah that time. That’s why I told you to stay away from them hot ass girls. Fifteen, Peaches?” King started snapping, making Blaze laugh.

  “Yo, chill the fuck out. That was what? Nine years ago? Fifteen though, and you was at Red? Damn. And we ain’t ran into each other not once. Fate, right?” Looking away from a mugging King to a wondering Blaze, I started laughing.

  “Yeah, fate, with your silly ass.” Shaking my head, I looked to King smiling. “Sneaking out wasn’t bad, King. We didn’t get into trouble, we didn’t get hooked on drugs, and we finished high school without getting pregnant—me especially. No vaginal sex, drugs, or anything else. So chill, take a breather. Standing over there looking like D’mitri and the hulk.” That made King laugh.

  “Yo yellow ass gon’ get whooped. Ebony ass too.” My lips pursed at that, thinking about how Ebony was back then.

  “Okay, King. Whatever you say.” With that, I started back on trying to open the damn drawer with the pin.

  “I’ma fuck her ass up. Now why you closing?” Biting into my bottom lip, I shook my head at King. He just couldn’t let me grow up.

  “Red ‘bout to open back up. You know I can’t have all three running at the same time, stupid shit start to happen. I done already closed The Shack yesterday,” Blaze finished with a shrug before nodding his head. “You got that for me?” He finished and King reached in his back pocket, pulling out a manila envelope.

  “That’s the only thing that was in the box, here.” Handing Blaze a key, he put the bags and envelope on the desk.

  “I’ight, good looking. We’ll be out in a few,” he motioned toward the door and King looked at him then me.

  “Nigga, you putting me out?” King asked him.

  I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t. I just looked around the room.

  “Yep, nothing personal. You know that my nig—”

  “This shit serious?” King motioned between us.

  Both Blaze and I looked at him.

  “Is what serious?” Ignoring me, King and Blaze shared a look.

  “Hell n’all, B. Peaches I should beat yo ass.” King said, looking at me.

  “What I do?” I did not wanna fight with King, especially over something I didn’t do. Well, I don’t know if I done it or not.

  “Man, get the fuck out here. It ain’t even like that, and if it was, so what?” Blaze told him.

  “Nigga, it is. You got her back here, that’s serious whether you wanna believe it or not.” Oh, now I get it! That stupid giddy feeling started to form in my stomach once again and I couldn’t stop the—

  “Fuck you smiling fah?” Blaze asked, cutting off my thoughts, making me laugh.

  “Boy, don’t start with me. I didn’t say nothing.” Laughing at his stare, “Whatever. Blaze,lLet me see yo keys.” I didn’t think he thought about what he was doing before he threw me his keys.

  “Hell n’all.” King just started laughing. “I can’t believe this shit. Blaze, damn. I’m out man.” He shook up with Blaze before coming to me, kissing my cheek. “Peaches, yo ass no what you doing, right? This ain’t what I want for you, but I’ma I fall back and leave you be. Don’t play no games, Peach,” he said, not whispering at all. “Blaze, that’s my sister. Don’t fuck it up my nigga. This blood shit gets real when it comes to her.”

  “I got you. Nah, get the fuck out.”

  Shaking his head, he walked toward the door. “Just keep my sister away from yo crazy ass momma.”

  Blaze started laughing at that. “I told Peaches to watch her back, moms know who she is too. And Peaches hung up on her,” Blaze stressed.

  “You told me to!” I defended myself.

  “I’m gone, Ebony calling. Peaches, stay away from his momma,” he stated while taking out his ringing phone. “I’m on my way, damn,” he answered saying that, then hung up. “She gon’ make me beat her ass man, boss,” King said, making me roll my eyes.

  “I’m telling her that too.” Giving me the finger, King walked out the office, closing the door. Blaze locked it behind him.

  “You ready to work?” Blaze asked and I groaned, making him laugh.

  “No. What you want me to do, Blaze?” I watched as he picked up one of the green bags sitting it in front of me, then took his keys, opened the bottom drawer and took out a bill counter as well as a counterfeit detector.

  Staring at him, I rolled my eyes. Not long my ass. Grabbing the bag, I went to open it, but it was locked.

  “Do this bag in fives and whatever’s left sit it to the side. I’ll start on the other,” he said, sitting a stack of brown currency straps next to me.

  But he don’t trust me, though. Blaze
should slap his damn self.

  “How does this work? I mean, with them selling and you, I don’t get it,” I asked him in disbelief as I held the last stack in my hand. This was just two much money made in a two week time.

  “I don’t understand yo question.”

  I glared at him, but then again, maybe I wasn’t making sense. I just didn’t get how you could make two hundred twenty thousand in a two week time period. “I mean, I know this little ass bar ain’t pulling in that many costumers to make this much in two weeks.” Looking at him, I pointed to the money.

  “The less you know, the better,” he said, putting a strap on his last stack.

  “No seriously, how the hell do this little ass bar make this much money?”

  Blaze laughed and shook his head. “Damn, you nosy as hell, man.”

  “So—”

  “I don’t push little shit, I only sell pounds, kilos, or eight balls. In my pool halls I only sell eight balls. If yo shit good you can sell it for two, which is what I do. So two hundred, plus five hundred fifty people a week, times that and what do you get?” he asked.

  “Give me yo phone.” Blaze burst out laughing. Hell yeah I was about to times that shit. If Blaze could make that much in two weeks, shid, I was in the wrong mothafuckin’ business. “How you know how many people coming in?”

  “I keep a list of everybody I sell to. What you have on the side?” That was smart.

  “It’s two hundred twenty thousand even,” I told him and he handed me the bag that I’d just notice had the word Magic on it. “The bag you had is it from here too?” I asked because what I counted only include the one bag.

  “N’all, it’s from The Shack. I had Sam drop it off earlier,” he told me.

  “So, how much was in your bag?” Yes, I was nosy. I damn sho’ wasn’t gon’ feel bad about spending the money he told me to hold earlier. I wondered if King made that much. If his ass did, why the hell was he always tripping over fifteen dollars? Cheap ass nigga, I swear. Looking at Blaze, he was giving me a weird look. “What?”

  “Yo ass ain’t heard shit I said, did you?” He was talking.