Page 61 of Maceo

I shook his hand, then he shook Salima’s. He and Deuce dapped each other, and he tickled Darlyn’s tummy before opening the back door for us to climb in. The two of them spoke for a moment before Amp got in the truck.

“A’ight, now,” he said, turning to us as we drove away. “I’ve been given strict instructions to stay with y’all all night. Don’t give me no bullshit.”

“When have we ever been on bullshit, Amp?” I asked innocently.

“Every time you link up. In your words, I’ve known you all your life.”

Salima and I looked at each other and laughed.

“We’ll behave,” I said. “Neither one of our men have a problem coming to snatch us up.”

Salima giggled. “I haven’t been snatched up in a minute. Maybe we should show out a little.”

“Make me turn this car around,” Amp threatened.

Again, we laughed.

“Chill, Amp,” I said, waving him off. “We’re gonna act right. Put on some music. We need to get in our zone before we step out.”

Amp shook his head as he grabbed his phone and went to the music app. The sounds of “Dreams and Nightmares” by Meek Mill filled the car, instantly bringing back memories of the block parties in our old neighborhood. My bestie and I immediately fell into our rapper persona.

This was going to be a good night.

After his placewas burned to the ground, Deuce wasted no time securing a new location for Club Silk. This one was bigger and better than the last. Tonight, the place was packed, and the line was wrapped around the building. Amp parked around back in Deuce’s designated space and led us through the private entrance. We took the stairs up to the VIP lounge and headed straight to the bar. Amp made himself comfortable with the rest of security, a few more of them being guys from our old neighborhood.

Once we had our drinks and placed an order for a party tray of food, Salima and I headed for our reserved section.

“Everybody and their mama is in here tonight,” she said, looking over the railing at the crowd.

“I know, right? Look at us. Two years ago, we would have been down there bumping elbows and throwing dirty looks at bitches for bumping into us. Now we have VIP treatment with free food and drinks. All because your man put a gun to your head.”

Salima rolled her eyes. “Don’t bring that up. I still wanna fight his big ass about that. He traumatized me.”

“You weren’t too traumatized. You married him.”

“I love that man. He’s a handful. He’s rude, aggressive, and he doesn’t listen, but that’s my baby.” She smiled. “I still can’t believe I’m somebody’s wife and mother.”

“If you ever forget, just look at the rock on your finger and that wagon behind you.”

She laughed. My girl was already thick, but Darlyn made her hips spread and her ass fatter. Deuce was forever groping my girl.

“You’re next,” she said, rubbing my flat stomach. “Shoot, as loud as you and Maceo were the other week, it might be one in there right now.”

“No, ma’am. I know my man’s pull out game is weak when it comes to me. I’m on birth control, and I still take a pregnancy test every week.”

“That is wild, Sharina. What are you gonna do when one comes back positive?”

“I guess have a baby.” I giggled. “I think I’m ready, though. I know my baby would be surrounded with so much love, and I’d never have to struggle as a single mother. Senior may have multiple children by multiple women, but he isn’t a deadbeat, and I don’t expect his sons to be one either. Big and all, I know he would get in their ass if they ever tried it.”

“Period.”

The DJ dropped the beat to “Whiskey Whiskey” by Moneybag Yo and Morgan Wallen, and both of us got up to dance. Anybody who saw us would have sworn we were lovers with the way we were twerking on each other while rapping the lyrics. This was just us. We never needed a gang of females to have fun. She had me, and I had her.

We danced to a good five songs before the server came over to bring a round of shots and the food we ordered. Happy for abreak, we claimed our seats and dug in. Amp came over to see if we needed anything before going back to stand watch.

As we were fucking up a plate, I caught a glimpse of someone, or I should say two someones, coming into the VIP section.

Charity and Blane.

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