Page 78 of Deuce

Salima leaned over and kissed my cheek. I hated the way she could make my grown ass blush when she did that, but I couldn’t help but to smile.

“If I’m wearing you down, just say that.”

She playfully slapped my arm. “Shut up.”

Reaching over, I gently grabbed her chin and pulled her face to mine. With a careful eye on the road, I kissed her lips, slipping her a little tongue. The next thing I felt was a slap to the back of my head.

“Eyes on the road, Stanley!” my mother chastised.

Salima giggled as she relaxed into her seat. “You heard your mama. Stop being fresh.”

“I got something for your ass later,” I warned her.

She smirked. “I might have something for you, too.”

I chuckled to myself. She better not tempt me with a good time.

After hours of shopping and thousands of dollars spent, my girls were ready to eat so they could start all over again. As I carried fifty-leven bags to the car, I made a mental note to never shop with both of them together again. If they wanted to go, I’d finance it, but fuck being a bag boy.

We headed for one of my mama’s favorite restaurants in the downtown area called The Forty Niners. It was one of the most expensive restaurants in the city and I hated coming to this bitch. It wasn’t the money, because I had it to pay. It was the looks we got from white people that hated to see a nigga eating as well as them.

Ten minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot. I got out of my car and helped both my mama and Salima out. My mother smirked as I reached for her hand.

“What, lady?” I questioned.

“You’re being courteous. That’s new.”

Salima giggled. “Don’t worry, Ms. Larkins. I’m working on turning him into a gentleman.”

My mama laughed. “Yeah, I like her for you.”

I shook my head as I reached for Salima’s hand and offered my mother my arm. We strolled into the restaurant and were immediately seated. I made sure they put us next to a window because they weren’t about to sit my black ass in the back. After ordering a round of drinks, we were left to look over the menu. It was quiet at the table until a tall shadow standing over me interrupted our peace.

My hand went to my waistband as I looked up to see Mirron Hayes, one of the city council members who was a pain in my ass. I wanted to put a bullet in this nigga for years now. He was as corrupt as they came and one of the main reasons I bought up the block of black owned business. I knew all of his dirt, yet he was adamant about trying to do business with me.

“Mr. Dillinger, how are you?” he asked, touching my shoulder.

“I have a bullet for your ass if you don’t stop touching me.”

He chuckled as he raised his hands in mock surrender. “No need for all that.” He smiled at my mama and Salima. “How are you beautiful ladies doing today?”

I placed my gun on the table. “You trying me. Don’t speak to my mother or my woman. Ever. The fuck you want, Mirron?”

“Stanley,” my mother said firmly. “Take it outside.”

I decided to oblige her. If I had to shoot him, she didn’t need to see that shit. I stood from the table and tucked my gun away. Grabbing Mirron by the back of his collar, I led him out to the parking lot.

“Speak,” I said, shoving him away.

“No need to be aggressive, Mr. Dillenger. I just wanna talk business.”

“Here’s the thing, Mirron. You and I have no business.”

“Oh, but we do. You hold the deeds to several properties the I wish to acquire. I’m willing to up my offer by twenty-five percent.”

“Twenty-five percent ain’t shit. I wouldn’t care if you doubled or tripled your offer. Those properties aren’t for sale. They will stay with their rightful owners. The fuck I look like displacing people who helped build their community?”

He chuckled. “You don’t really give a fuck about these niggas, and you know it. You like the power you hold in owning them. It’s modern day slavery.”

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