Page 6 of The Heart Of A Real Woman
The sun beamed when we rolled up to the docks. Wind blew in off the river, carrying the smell of salt and diesel. Shipping containers were stacked high, throwing long shadows across the concrete. I stepped out, adjusting my coat as my niggas hopped out of the other SUVs, falling in behind me.
“Sup, bro.” Pokey stood at my side.
“Not a fucking thing. Another day, another dollar.” I told him, slapping his hand.
This here was a major drop. I had come a long way from standing on the corner with pockets damn near empty, pushing work, and ducking 5-0. Back then, all I gave a fuck about was staying alive and making enough to pay rent, buy my son some diapers and milk, or Mary some new kicks or books just to make her happy.
But I kept my eyes open. Got tight with my OG, who took me under his wing because I reminded him a lot of himself. No family, came from nothing, hungry as fuck. I watched how he moved, learned how real money worked, and how to keep my circle small and my business tighter. By the time I was twenty-five, he had schooled me on every angle of the game. By twenty-seven, he retired and handed me his kingdom, since he had no family to give it to, and I had not looked back since. Fuck an organization. I built a fucking empire. Now, the same streets that used to clown me for not having shit call me boss. These niggas loved Moses… or should I say Casper.
“Casper!” My connect, Ruben, called out as he stepped out from between two containers, wearing a linen shirt open at the chest, like he was on a fucking beach instead of doing business at the docks. “My friend. You look tired, man.” His words came thick with his Cuban accent.
I clasped his hand firmly. “Long nights, early mornings.” I said, partly lying. My heart was still heavy, thinking about Mary, and it showed.
“Eh, I hear that shit. Thatis la vida del jefe, eh? The boss life.”
I just nodded, not in the mood to chat. “You got my shipment?”
“Of course,” he said, pulling out a cigar and lighting it. Smoke curled around his face as he stared at me with sharp eyes. “But before we get into the exchange, I need to have a word with you.”
Pokey eyed me, and I could sense his uneasiness. But me? I didn’t budge. I feared nothing because I was out here moving right. A real one. Solid. No reason for my connect to be on some beef shit.
“Then let us talk,” I told him, gesturing for Pokey to keep his ears and eyes open and make sure the crew remained on point.
Ruben and I stepped off to the side, closer to the water. He took a drag from his cigar, then said,
“I hear your record label is doing great things. I even saw you in the tabloids a couple of times. That is major for someone who just started a year and a half ago.”
I simply nodded as he continued.
“With the most recent news being one of your artists going missing. I read that you were questioned about it, too.”
“Yeah, shit happens, Ruben. It is all good,” was all I said to him, wanting him to get to the fucking point. I knew he had not brought my record label up for no reason.
And it turns out I was right. His smile gradually faded, and his voice grew firm.
“The limelight ain’t meant for men like us, Casper. So what the fuck are you doing?”
“I’m mindin’ my business,” I said coolly. “Stackin’ my paper how I see fit. And as long as you get your cut, that’s all you need to worry about.”
I had the game on lock. Pokey ran the streets while I focused on my legit businesses. That’s what kept everything running smoothly. These days, the only time the streets saw my face was for major drops or major issues. I hadn’t earned the nameCasperfor nothing. He had no reason to be concerned.
Ruben chuckled, low and rough. “No, my friend. My concerns go deeper than just money. That said, your business is yours. But if the day ever comes when your double life catches up to you, remember that I don’t exist. If you bring me into it, you will have more problems than just your wife leaving you,eh?”
“Understood.” I spat on the ground, heated by the threat but not surprised.
Ruben was a man of power, with eyes and ears in places I couldn’t even name. He knew everything. And he’d protect himself at all costs. I respected it. Respected him... until I didn’t. Because if he ever touched my wife, I’d paint all of Cuba red. Without Mary, I didn’t have shit to lose.
“Good. Let us get back to business.”
Once we made it back, I inspected the packages, running my fingers over the seals. My mind kept drifting to Mary, but I forced myself to stay focused.
“Looks good. Appreciate you always.” I said to Ruben.
He grinned, slapping my shoulder. “Pleasure as always, my friend.”
As our men started loading my shipment into one of my trucks, I checked my phone. Jr.’s coach had texted me a video of my boy scoring a touchdown, arms raised in victory. But it was the woman standing off to the side, smiling big, that really grabbed my attention. I could recognize that body and beauty anywhere. It was Mary, with her bodyguard standing a few feet away from her.
I let out a breath of frustration. Wifey was trying to cave in my muthafucking chest for what I had done. She had purposely shown up on a day she knew I would miss because of my scheduled meeting. She knew my schedule like the back of her fucking hand.
