Page 2 of Chemistry: The Chemist

Oh, baby.

I swiped my nose with the back of my hand, still holding the hot tool as I did so.

“You’ll find another one.”

With a roll of her eyes, she nodded. The gnawing of her bottom lip was evidence of her flared emotions and tampered feelings. There was no place for them here.

“Pull it together.” I snapped two fingers.

She nodded again.

“I have.”

In an instant, Range was void of emotions and ready for the task ahead of her. Rolling the nigga she was fucking in a body bag wasn’t on her schedule this evening, but shit had changed.

“And, avoid fucking the help, baby, so you won’t have these types of problems.”

With the butt of the gun, I tapped her temple.

“Bosses. Bosses. Ummkay? Bosses. The biggest or no one at all, baby. The best or no one at all, baby. The b–”

“Okay.”

I’d tried countless times to program it in their heads. Certain niggas didn’t deserve their presence. The nigga sitting – that was sitting – before me was one of them.

Fucking a nigga on the rise was the quickest downfall of a woman who was already seated on her throne. I’d seen it too many times before. It was rare, very rare, a queen entertained a peasant and it turned out in her favor.

“Do better, baby.”

I left her where she stood, returning to the men who knew how to follow directions. Diverting my attention was not a smart move; neither was attempting to put a face to my voice. It was pointless because the second you became a liability was the last one you’d breathe.

“Personalized formulas have been distributed. Please remove the solution from the bag inside of the folder you retrieved.”

Carefully, each man removed the vial from the small bag before sealing it and closing the folder. I gave them time to observe the amber-colored glass that held the key to their future inside.

“Before your kilos are bricked and sold, increase your profits and its potency by incorporating this very strategically formulated solution. This will give you a safer strand that is undeniably solid, pure, and unique.”

Nods from the duo let me know they both understood exactly what was being explained.

“More instructions will come. Take it to the field. Track its performance. That will last you a full week. There’s no need to give us a call. We’ll always reach out to you. This meeting has concluded. Your vehicles are waiting.”

The brown fabric would cover their faces before they had a chance to identify much of anything or anyone in the empty space. However, I allowed them to stretch their legs and prepare for the journey ahead. Unfortunately, shaking the hand or looking in the eyes of the man who would be responsible for their rapid success still wasn’t an option.

“There are only two rules.”

Their bodies halted right in front of their chairs as if the music had stopped during a game of musical chairs.

“Keep your mouth closed and never… I mean never… cut my shit.”

Without another second wasted, I pushed through the double doors that led to more emptiness and light. The shell of a building had its purposes and comfort wasn’t one of them. I tossed the jute bags into the burning fire. New ones would be distributed. Those, however, carried identifying elements that were to be discarded.

“Pop.” A gentleness I was all too familiar with released with a sigh.

“Rome.”

Without readjusting my line of vision or position in front of the fire, I breathed the name of my youngest sibling. Though not much changed visibly, parts of me softened that only she had access to. And, my heart, the rate sped as it became increasingly heavy.

Fucking girls. I gritted.

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