shouted banging a fist against the wall.
Darien had no idea where to go from here. Both Luke and his mother had always been the brains. They'd always been what he fed off of. Now with Luke snitching and Chetti unable to be contacted, Darien felt lost. He felt alone. But most importantly, for the very first time in his life...
He felt useless.
Chapter 4
The Ritz Carlton suite sat on the 30th floor. Stars glimmered from the night sky outside its picture windows like countless diamonds. A full moon emitted rays of white light. A breath taking view of the Crystal City skyline sat beneath the sky and stars. Along route one, the glow of cars' headlights and taillights flowed in both directions. In the bedroom scattered about were bags filled with Gucci, Dolce & Gabanna, Chanel, and a number of other fashion designers. On the dresser and nearby table were empty bottles of Ciroc and half eaten plates of Chinese food along with several stacks of money which amounted to a little over twenty thousand dollars.
Nessa was lying in the king-sized bed recuperating from a two hour long fuck fest with Brandon. Lying naked, although pregnant, her body was still shapely, no stretch marks, no outward signs of pregnancy. Her feet and hands were freshly painted and her hair was tied back. The newest Chanel perfume radiated from her pours saturating the sheets with its pleasant scent.
Lighting a cigar and laying naked himself, Brandon laid the back of his head on the stacks of pillows and stared up at the ceiling. Taking a puff of the Cohiba, savoring its taste for a moment and then exhaling, he got up, grabbed his pants and reached into his pockets. Pulling out a small baggie of cocaine, he poured the powder out on a table, positioned it into three thin lines and then pulled out a five dollar bill which he rolled up thinly. Moments later he was inhaling the Coke through the bill. As he did, Nessa watched in silence. She hadn't known he had the habit until recently.
"So how much do you know about your boy?" Brandon asked now wiping cocaine from his nostrils and looking at Nessa with his eyes growing glossy.
"Who?" she asked.
"NaNa."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean how much do you know about him?"
"Shit, everything. Why?"
Nessa thought about how far her relationship with NaNa went back. She trusted him with her life. Besides he’d proven his loyalty to her many times before.
"Are you sure he can be trusted?"
"Brandon, that's my homeboy. He’s like a brother to me. I've known him since we were kids…trust the nigga with my life."
"Nessa, I'm just saying that's a lot of work you left with him to cook up."
"And?"
With more skepticism than before, he said, "I'm just saying.”
"Brandon, don't worry about that. He’s good. There's no way I would've given him that much work if he couldn’t handle it."
Brandon wasn't quite assured. “How’s he doing so far?”
“That shit’s selling like crack in the 80’s already.”
“Oh, and what about Luke?"
"What about him?"
"Has he called?"
"Of course."
"What'd you tell him?"
"That I'm getting the money together."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Have you told anyone else about the money and drugs."
"No, just NaNa and Sidra."
"Are you sure?"
"Are you sure Sidra can be trusted? Maybe I should hold onto that five hundred that's left. Where'd you stash it?"
"Look, Brandon, what's with the million and one questions?"
"I've got to know everything. This is real big. Can't be any slip-ups. Folks get robbed or killed in situations like this one if they're not careful."
"And you think I don't know that?"
"I didn't say you didn't. I’m just being cautious.”
Nessa could feel a headache coming on. Beginning to grow annoyed, she said, "There's nothing slow about me. In case you've forgotten, my father raised me on this shit."
"I know but…”
"There are no fuckin' buts, Brandon. I know how damn serious this situation is. I