Page 11 of Disrespectfully, Relic

Relic hated wasting time,but for the past half an hour, he’d done just that while observing the chick he hoped to sign as he waited for her turn to sing. His eyes dipped to the watch on his wrist and then swept around the hole in the wall lounge that was more packed than he calculated for a karaoke night. He’d made certain to find a cocktail table in the far corner of the room where his back faced the wall, while his shaded eyes assessed the lively patrons coming and going. Relic despised being in a crowd without his favorite shooter—Pierre.

A car full of his young hitters was parked just outside of the wall-length window beside him, and a few more were intermingled throughout the crowd. Even fully aware of that fact; Relic’s hand remained snug around the gun on his hip since he didn’t trust a soul outside of his folks to protect him. His second mentor in the drug game, his uncle Akon, had schooled him to prepare for every possibility. His first mentor, Bishop, had taught him to take a life before it took his. Bishop had been a casualty of his own lesson by Relic’s smoking gun.

His perusal of the establishment slowed after spotting a newly familiar face for a second time. The worker who’d stood on his doorstep the morning prior maneuvered through the thickening crowd with a fresh cut, a drink in hand, and keen eyes scanning the room before stopping short after landing on him. Relic chucked his chin in greeting, and Drish tucked a plastic cup between his lips while crossing the room to stand a few feet away from the table.

“I got word that you were looking for me, big homie. I ain’t expect your fresh lobster tail and lamb chops at the crib ass to wanna meet here with the pork and bean babies, though. What’s up with this?”

Drish initiated a conversation while keeping his eyes straight ahead to scope out the scene, and Relic shook his head. The lil’ nigga reminded him of Pierre—too mouthy but street savvy enough to tolerate.

Relic’s eyes coasted back to his main concern as she finally stood and traipsed to the tiny, square section of floor that they’d designated as the stage. He addressed Drish as she grabbed the mic and picked out a song.

“Just be lucky we’re meeting here and not at a warehouse with industrial plastic on the floor to wrap your ass in. What do you know about the girl singing?”

“Oh, she’s why we’re here.” Drish connected the dots, bobbing his head to her vocals while overlooking Relic’s threat. He’d had that exact thought when his lieutenant sent word that Relic had requested him. “You’re looking to sign Sojourney to yo label. Ole girl can sing, but be careful and keep yo eyes open around her ass.”

“Careful?” Relic parroted the offensive warning like it tasted disgusting on his tongue.

“I’m just telling you what the word is. You asked for me ‘cause you know my ears are to the street, right?”

“Yea, I asked who talked the fucking most about everyone else’s business, and your name came up.”

Drish laughed the slick diss off. “Hey, my nosiness is helping you out, though. They’re saying that her nigga is known for a string of high-end robberies. He’s lowkey, so I don’t know him like that, but I bet her hands ain’t clean if she’s fucking him.”

“Oh, yea?”

Relic slid from his seat and adjusted his herringbone down coat, unmoved by the intel, although he appreciated it. Savvy had done a social media deep dive for pertinent information to scout the potential artist, but there wasn’t much on her. Sojourney was smart and kept her business offline, so Relic was unaware of her sketchy background.

“And the one with her is her homegirl, Mea.” Drish continued putting him on game. “She dated one of the niggas whose spot got hit. He’s the one that thinks it was her peoples, but he’s scared to touch her ‘cause her brother is crazy. She been yelling free him for a minute, so I guess he just got home from a bid. I can find out who both those niggas are for you.”

“Do that, but first, introduce me to Sojourney.”

“You want me to take you over there right now?”

“Nah, tomorrow. When the fuck else do you think? I’m not trying to be here long, so the faster we get this over with, the quicker I’ll debate letting you live. You know TJ put you in a fucked up position, right?”

Drish scratched at his brow with a groan. “Man, I was just looking out for my boy. He asked me to do him a solid, so I did. How was I ‘pose to know not to wait?”

“Common sense, but you wanted to be seen, and it backfired.”

Drish bit his tongue instead of admitting, he’d gone to Relic’s home with every intention of receiving a warmer interaction for his efforts. Had he known the drive to west bubba fuck would end up a waste of time and gas, he would’ve declined helping TJ, who’d chosen to lay up with a bitch versus handling business.

Instead of further reprimanding his worker for seeking a pat on the back for the bare minimum, Relic observed his potential label investment—raking his eyes over the ink coating her bright skin before stalling on red, glossy eyes that made his mouth ball as she sung with a voice that mesmerized the patrons. His baby mother’s eyes had held the same tinge when she played in her nose candy, and so had Pierre’s whenever zoned off his lean. Relic wondered what else Savvy had missed while vetting Sojourney.

Once she’d finished singing and reclaimed her seat beside her friend, Relic shifted his attention to Drish. He studied his soldier that reeked of sheer desperation and decided to kill two birds with one stone.

“Help me secure this artist and get shit squared away with ya boy, then we can call it even. I’ll have a position lined up for you in TJ’s absence.” His loaded request, followed by an incentive, put a frown on Drish’s face.

Relic stared him dead in the eyes, waiting for a sign of fear or hesitancy to bubble to the surface, but he saw neither. His thumb raised to his nose, flicking across it thrice to confirm the unspoken order to snuff TJ out. His most dependable worker had made a grave mistake that’d cost his life.

Drish tossed back his rum and coke and hoped it settled on his stomach better than the task given to him. A simple nod as he set his cup on the table was his mustered acceptance since he knew he’d end up leaking on the pavement right along with TJ if he declined.

Satisfied with delegating one of his ninety-nine problems, Relic strode toward his future money maker with Drish following his lead as his wingman. The girly chatter at the table ceased when he waltzed up and went straight for the kill—holding out a hand toward Sojourney who recoiled at the intrusion. Her face scrunched up while her glassy eyes gave him and Drish a lazy sweep. Relic lowered his hand, but Drish stepped up with a friendly grin to break the ice.

“How y’all ladies doing tonight? We ain’t mean to interrupt, but my boss man wanted to holler at you, Journey.”

“I’m not interested,” she quipped, making her friend giggle.

Her soft voice, that didn’t match the powerful one she’d sung with, made Relic cock his head before bracing a fist on the table. He recoiled when she jumped before her eyes hardened, while her posture stiffened in defense. Judith used to prepare herself in the same manner whenever she suspected a hit from his father was coming.

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