Page 132 of Roulette: The Madam

Any time Matías and I crossed his mind, even more of him would fall into the ditch he’d dug for himself. A bullet would’ve been far too easy for Chino. He deserved the slow, painful deathhe was dying. It was suiting. With that thought in mind, I warmed.

“Have you guys decided on a name yet?”

“Aubree.”

“Aubree is cute. Simple. Easy to spell.”

“Yeah. Kiana for her middle name.”

“To Aubree Kiana.”

I raised my shot glass. Chino’s followed.

“To Aubree Kiana.”

His words weren’t as clear, as confident, or as cheerful as mine. While I was happy another girl, who’d one day become a woman, was being born, he was drowning in the reality of the situation. Though I didn’t want any of my own, children were a blessing to the world. Girls especially. They had the power to populate. We needed them. We needed them as much as we needed oxygen to continue life.

My phone vibrated in my bag as my shot touched the counter. I chased the liquor with the cucumber martini. The salted rim quickly lessened the impact of the shot. I dug into my bag in search of my cell. I was silently praying that Malaya hadn’t awakened and realized I’d left her in bed alone.

“Malaya,” I answered with my heart in my hands, waiting to hear her groggy voice on the other line.

Instead, it was the voice that belonged to the man that had helped create her.

“Finish that drink and get up, Princess.”

“Israel?” I questioned, although I knew exactly who it was on the other end.

“Finish that drink and get up.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m where I need to be. But, you, you are far, far away from home, Roulette. Leaving Yara’s home should’ve led you straightto your crib, yet you’re tossing back shots with a motherfucker that doesn’t know if he’s coming or going most days. Get up.”

I listened while scanning the bar for evidence of his presence. He was in Berkeley awaiting a very important introduction. His presence in Clarke made little to no sense. He’d waited for this opportunity. Blowing it to follow me around didn’t seem logical. Israel was a businessman who was about his business. He wouldn’t leave Clarke before his meeting unless he absolutely had to.

“How’d you know I went to N–”

As the words left my mouth, I was greeted with a nod. Across the bar, on one of the couches that lined the wall, was Raquim.

“Of course.”

“You don’t owe that nigga as much as a hello when you see him. Niggas that fuck you over should never have the privilege of speaking to you for any amount of time, especially not in that atmosphere. We both know he’s hoping to get a few drinks in your system, get you vulnerable, and get you home to stick his dick where it doesn’t belong.

“That won’t be happening on my watch. I need you to understand how fucked up you’ve got me right now, Princess. I like my woman unfriendly, untouchable, unapproachable, un-talk-to-able, unfuck-with-able… and, the quicker you understand that, the better our days will be.”

I took the cucumber mint martini to the head and nodded toward the door. With the phone still pressed against my ear, I made my way out of the bar, knowing that Chino would cover the tab. When I made it outside, Raquim was right behind me.

“I should’ve shot you in the mouth when I had the chance to. Bumping your gums to your boss about a woman who is unkept is a sucker move. From this day on, keep me out of your fucking mouth.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

“I’m not your job. Israel is.”

“That was unnecessary, Roulette.”

“So was this call. You do not dictate my life, Israel. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that shit. Chino can’t even fuck me with a ten million dollar dick right now. Neither can he even see my pussy for any amount of money. That situation is done. Seeing him tonight was coincidental. I don’t need you hovering over me to find that out. So, call off your dog or I will shoot the shit out of him so help me God.”

“Calm down.”

---