Page 72 of Hellcat Barbies: Imani
“Let’s get this shit over with,” Dodge huffs.
Good or bad, seeing Amon, Gideon’s right hand, here at the warehouse typically means more work. Something too important to speak over a phone, even on our blackphones, is about to be laid on us.
Since Amon enters from the back entrance, he enters the office first with Dodge about two minutes behind him. We all greet each other and dap it up then Amon gets right to fucking business.
“We’re moving into Florida. Our counterfeit connect there is selling a huge warehouse and other commercial property. The Powers are acquiring that and taking over a huge dealership in Tampa that’s filing for bankruptcy. Our timeline is small as fuck because we want to be up and fully operational by second quarter next year,” Amon says. “Brick and Dodge, I want you there the day we take over the dealership.”
“What day is that?” Brick asks.
“Looks like the first of February,” Amon says. “I’ll have the exact date before Thanksgiving.”
“Next week. Shit! This is moving fast,” Dodge adds.
“When it’s about business, fast is too fucking slow,” Amon says then he looks at me. “Warehouse operations is all you and we need you in Tampa the end of December to check out the space and see what we need to make it work for us. Make a vacation of it if you want but I need you there a week at least to see what’s up with the space. I’ll leave the ready-to-operate date of the warehouse up to you. Gee and I trust your judgment.”
“Thanks, bruh. I got you,” I say, really appreciative of their trust in me.
Imani
“I’m just now leaving DayLux,” I tell Hazel as I slide into my ride. “Since next week is Thanksgiving, I booked it for the first Friday in December, the fifth. I reserved six tables. She says that’s enough for thirty-six. I hope we have that many but I’ll be cool with about twenty.”
“Oh, it’ll definitely be more than twenty. The word has been spreading and the girls are excited. Hell, Presha’s even trying to get Dodge to buy her a corvette. She wants to ride and join. We need something like this in the city.”
“I hope so because car clubs are a sisterhood and we will be able to do so much. I booked from twelve to three. I think three hours is enough for us to discuss the club and vibe with the ladies. We have to all click or it won’t work,” I tell her.
“We will and we can let everyone know the day and time Saturday at the track.”
“I’m getting excited,” I admit.
“Me too but I have to go. My boss is here at the warehouse. I’ll get at you later.”
“Okay. Talk to you later girl. Bye.”
I end the call with Hazel and beam.It’s really happening.I’m starting my own car club here in my new home.Now, I just need to settle on a name.
Since it’s already twenty after two, I head straight to DJ’s school. I don’t have time to swing back to my place and I rather be early than late and caught up in the line. I’ve heard Daymir complain about it too many times to count.
I make it to Little Einsteins ten minutes before three and they are already about ten cars parked in the line leading to the main entrance of the school. I put my baby in park and wait my place in line.
During the forty minutes of waiting, I toy with a couple of names for the club and end up with a solid list of twelve. I also jot a few ideas down about our mission, membership guidelines, and a potential logo. I love what Breezy created with the Hellcat Barbies but I need something unique to my new found sisterhood and this town. Crescent Falls and Diamond Cove are very different.
At three-thirty, I hear a loud bell. Almost simultaneously, engines start to hum and the school doors open. A group of adults walks out, each holding a walkie talkie. Like a well-oiled machine, the line starts moving. Three vehicles at a time, the adults scan codes, kids are escorted out the doors, and kids are loaded into each car. I’m the second car in the fourth set of vehicles.
“Your code please,” the impeccably dressed sista says with a smile.
Holding my phone out to her, I say, “Here you go.”
After scanning it, she calls for DJ on her walkie talkie. Barely two minutes later, DJ is being escorted out by anotheradministrator. She opens the passenger door and DJ gets in. She closes the door then the sista on my side waves me forward and I follow the directions out of the school’s parking lot.
“Where’s my daddy?” he asks as he pulls his headphones out of his book bag.
“He had to work and sent me to get you. It’s that okay?” I ask.
“Yes. I love your car. I want one when I get big.”
“An orange hellcat?”
“No, a black one. Imma be a firefighter and by me two of em.”
