Page 11 of All This Love
Fuck!
six
onyx
My father torehis gaze away from the spreadsheet on the computer and looked over at me. “You sure you trying to do this for real?”
I chuckled. “Pops, I still don’t know for sure how long I’ll be here or if I’m moving here, but I don’t mind at least learning the business.”
“You know I used to run with one of the biggest gangs in Charlotte.”
“Yeah. I’ve known that my whole life. Why you telling me that?” I asked with hiked brows.
“Because, I’m far from green. There was a time that I was a stone cold gangsta. It doesn’t matter what I chose to do behind closed doors. Nobody could ever accuse me of not being solid and on top of my shit. I’m not crazy. You get robbed and all of a sudden, you’re in town with your homeboys staying in an Airbnb. You down here on some rah rah shit, huh?”
I had no reason to lie to my father because as he’d stated, he used to be one of the most savage niggas running the streets. He was nice with his hands, and he’d shoot your ass first and ask questions later. Even though he was a changed man, my father still knew the code of the streets.
“I got a few leads on the nigga and his crew that did it.”
My father gave a curt nod. “I don’t have to tell you to be careful. You’ve come this far without going to prison. I’m not telling you this shop will make you rich, but I do okay for myself. I’m giving you a way out, so you don’t have to go the route that causes you to end up off the streets by way of jail or a body bag. Don’t let some sucka ass jack boys take that from you.”
“I hear you, Pops. I’ll be as careful as I can be. It’s the principle. I know you know that.”
“I do. I was one of those men that was ten toes down for the game. I gave everything I had to the game, and I reaped some good rewards. But some of the niggas that I could have and probably would have died for turned on me and beat my ass when they found out who and what I was. They refused to accept me despite all the work I’d put in. That shit was a low blow. And even though I’ll never again ride for people that wouldn’t do the same for me, there are still certain codes I follow. Like not going to the police. Handle those niggas however you see fit. Just be careful.”
“No doubt, Pops. I wasn’t lying when I said Golden Waters was cool. I just know I can’t move here if I make myself hot, and I damn sure can’t move here if I leave enemies walking around.”
My father finished showing me the ins and outs of the shop, and then I left for the day. After getting food, I went back to the Airbnb. Rod was the only one there. He was sitting on the couch with a gym bag at his feet.
“I’m not staying here tonight. Misha’s deranged ass is coming to town. We’re going to get a hotel room for two nights. In order to prove to her that I’m not down here messing with other women, I’m going to have to fuck her silly for the next two days.”
“You might as well go ahead and marry her.”
“Who?” he frowned. “Me? Married? You out yo’ mind.”
I sat down on the couch. “How did it go today?”
“Mannnnn,” Rod drawled. “My phone was blowing up all day. It just slowed down really. They loving the dope I got.”
“And I know Ivan has to be pissed.”
“Pissed is probably an understatement. You were right about ole girl from the club too. Joey caught her rifling through his shit, and he got Lamar’s shorty to snatch her ass bald,” Rod laughed.
“That nigga,” I chuckled while shaking my head. Ivan was really on one.
“Speaking of shorties, how are things with Tatum going? They’re having a big block party out here next weekend. There’s going to be food trucks and different vendors. I’ve seen some DJ’s promoting it on IG. It looks like an event that will bring the city out. Even if Ivan isn’t out there, someone that he knows will more than likely be. Why not take shorty out there? Get people talking.”
I nodded slowly. “I’ll mention it to her. She works a lot, and when she isn’t working, she’s with her kid. It might take some convincing.”
“She cool though?” he asked. “I mean, if you have to spend time with her, hopefully, you’re at least getting something out of it.”
I had gotten something out of it for sure, but I wasn’t the type to kiss and tell. I had a reason for dealing with Tatum but even if I wasn’t trying to get at Ivan, she would have been my type anyway. Even though I had a motive, she was gorgeous, a good mother from what I could tell, and she was about her business. Not to mention the sex was like that. She didn’t rock with Ivan like that, but if I killed him and she found out, would she still deal with me? That question made our situation a conflict of interest. But I knew that when I got at her.
I had no intention of doing anything bad to her but catching feelings for her for real wasn’t in the plans. It would end upmaking things complicated. Once I handled my business with Ivan, the plan was to fall back from Tatum. I didn’t want to completely ghost her or do anything to make her hate me, but all of that was to be determined.
“I need to get an address on him,” I spoke up. “I’m sure she has it, but you already know I can’t ask her for it.”
“If you don’t get the address, you can just catch his ass in the street.”
