looked at Tommy. “She said the feds told her they been investigating you for a while. They probably got photos of all of us. I don’t know.”
“You sure your girl ain’t telling?” Tommy asked.
“Fuck you, Fatboy.”
“Fuck you, nigga!” Tommy said.
“Fat-ass nigga. I’ll hurt you.”
“And your mom will be making funeral arrangements,” Tommy smiled.
“That’s why your bitch ass got robbed,” Twin said as he pointed his finger at Tommy’s face.
“Y’all keep this shit quiet and cut the bickering. We all we got. Remember, we’ve known each other since the sandbox, so we gotta stick together,” JoJo said.
Twin huffed but offered Tommy his hand.
After a few seconds of contemplation, Tommy shook his hand.
“Okay. We need to change our phones and phone numbers,” Twin said.
“There’s a cat in the barbershop that comes around with hot phones; he can get them for us at a hundred dollars each,” JoJo said.
“Cool,” Tommy said.
“Are we all on the same page?” JoJo asked.
“I’m okay. I still don’t trust his bitch, though,” Tommy said.
Twin didn’t say anything. He just stared at Tommy.
*****
Mark and Jennifer met at Dean & Deluca for coffee. She was looking incredible with a black tube dress and heels that revealed her freshly polished toes. Her blonde hair was flowing freely in the light morning breeze. She was unusually tan today—maybe from a tanning booth.
Mark found himself staring at her breasts.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“I don’t know…” He hesitated.
She crossed her legs then took a sip of her coffee.
“So, what’s new with the crew?”
“Nothing really.”
“They got new phones, right?”
“Yes.” She stirred her coffee then placed the little straw in her
mouth. She’d left traces of lipstick around it. “How’d you guess?” “The number you gave me has been disconnected. Happens
quite a bit with drug dealers. They get phones for a month, change numbers, phone companies, and everything. I imagine it must be a
horrible life, always looking over your shoulder.”
Jennifer pulled out a pair of Channel sunglasses from her purse.
The sunglasses covered much of her face. “I guess you’re right.” “You don’t know, huh?”
“I mean, the life is like you’re living on the edge, but it has its
rewards.”
His eyebrows rose. “Rewards? What kind of rewards?” She held up her ring. “Five carats.”
“Impressive.” He sipped his bottled water.
“You think so?”
“Yes, I would have to save for two years to buy a ring like that.” “Two years!”
“Yes.”
“It would probably take me two as well.” She smiled.
“But Twin and the crew could buy it on sight, huh?” Mark said. “Let’s not talk about Twin.” She placed her index finger over his
mouth. “So, why do you do what you do? I know it’s not for the
money.”
“I want to make a difference—for the kids and the elderly.” “Twin, JoJo, and Tommy aren’t bad guys, you know?” “Most drug dealers aren’t.”
“So why do you want to lock people up and take them away from
their family? Now that must be a horrible life.”
“Not really. I take pride in my job.”
Jennifer looked at her watch. “Shit! I really have to be going now.” “So soon?”
“What was the purpose of this meeting, anyway? Why did you
want to see me?”
“Just wanted to see that pretty face.” He smiled.
“Really?”
“Yes. That … and to find out Twin’s new number.”
“Yes. That … and to find out Twin’s new number.”
555-0234,” she finally said.
“Thank you, Jennifer. I will call you later.” Mark scribbled the
number on a napkin.
*****
Nia had reserved a room at the Holiday Inn downtown. As soon as JoJo walked in the room at noon, she unzipped his pants and grabbed his penis. He didn’t resist. After he was aroused he picked her up and carried her to the bed. There he pulled her G-cut undies down with his teeth and trailed her belly with his tongue before tasting