Page 9 of Are You Going to Love Me

Eden followed Priya into the VIP section filled with men in tailored suits who’d clearly come to do business. Why they were here and not at the Silk Lounge in the city was beyond her.

“These the niggas making money moves outside the city so their competition ain’t in their business. The one in the middle is Mac’Roy, he owns Black Essence Daily and a modeling agency. He be in here trying to find the next big thing and some pussy he can keep quiet. The other two are money managers. The cigars and the bottles on the table are about four grand. They’re closing a deal. Get on the stage, look pretty, and don’t say shit.”

Eden studied Mac’Roy. Dark skin, salt and pepper goatee, shades covering his eyes. He indeed looked like a money, a perfect mark, but Eden was trying to get through the night without being involved in any shit. She got on the stage andstarted moving to the music. She noticed the chatter had stopped, and Mac’Roy took his glasses off.

“Babygirl,” he called, and Priya immediately pranced over. “No, not you. Her.”

Eden stopped moving and looked at him. He waved her closer, sensing that Priya’s jealousy could turn this into something more than what it was. She moved closer. “Yeah.”

Mac’Roy urged her closer before silently whispering, “Why are you here?”

Eden drew back, furrowing her brow. “What’s the game? You want to offer me something? A deal I can’t refuse and then end up pimpin’ me out or something?”

Mac’Roy shook his head. “I’m not in the business of managing pussy. I got three daughters, and I couldn’t imagine someone playing them. Our cover model fell through; you look like you can fit the part.”

Eden chortled and pulled away from him. “I’m not buying it. I’m just here to dance, that’s it. I’ve had enough of men trying to sell me dreams.”

three

. . .

The kilos were brokendown and bagged, and Maximus was dividing them up amongst the hustlers. Being in the trap for long hours like this was no longer appealing or appeasing. He wanted out, but he needed to map out a plan. Mama wasn’t going to just let him off the hook, and he couldn’t work a nine-to-five and thrive in that space. He’d tried and failed miserably – cussing out the boss and all the employees who had issues with him and his prolonged breaks.

Rubbing the top of his head, he sat back and let the issues troubling him play on a loop. Priya playing in his face the way she was only made him want to go out and put his fist through the face of the man who chose to disrespect him. Priya busting it wide for someone other than him was on her. She had to live with that. Another nigga in the streets disrespecting him while knowing how Maximus handled disrespect was the issue. Dropping a body in broad day wasn’t a problem for him.

“Aight, MB, we all loaded up, where we meeting you?” Keon asked. Him and Maximus served the same corners coming up, and since he’d been home, they’d been discussing ways to come up off of Maximus’ talent. Keon knew if he stayed close and assisted in the dream, he could get out of this hellhole, too.

“54th,” he replied. “Unload that shit quick. It’s cold as fuck and I ain’t freezing my dick off tonight playing the waiting game.”

“Heard you,” Keon replied, leading the others out the door. “Get up with you later, big dawg.”

“Later.”

Maximus looked around the mess and groaned to himself. He stood, found a trash bag, and started cleaning up. Dirty and unorganized spaces fucked with him. By the time Augustus returned, the trap was nearly decent, and Maximus was mumbling raps to himself.

“Ay, bro,” Augustus called out, grabbing his attention. “Take this. You gon’ need to stay strapped.”

Without thinking, Augustus bore any ill intent toward him, MB took the gun and tucked it in his waist band. “You ready to hit 54th?”

“Yeah. You want to stop by BGC’s? I’m hungry as fuck.”

“Yeah, let’s do that. Hopefully these niggas don’t take all fucking night either.”

The two roamed out of the house, and in a comfortable, ignorant silence, Maximus bobbed his head to the beat only he could hear; writing lyrics amongst the stars as he looked up toward the sky.

At Burgers and Grills and Chills, Maximus blew the heat of his breath into his cupped hands as he stood to the side and waited for his number to be called.

“I didn’t find Wando, but his ass will turn up,” Augustus spoke, scanning their area.

“Send his ass to me, we’ll have the conversation,” Maximus stated.

For a cold night, the space was full. Music blasted from cars, and he took in the liveliness. That, and a nearby car of what appeared to be Trae Way Gangstas, who shouted Augustus’ name and waved him over. They were from 30th, Trae 30’s, the group Maximus associated with was from 80th, 3Way 80’s, and they hated each other. But everyone knew that neither brother was to be involved in the bullshit. If messages needed to be passed along, they went through them.

“Ay, get my shit too,” Augustus stated, tossing him the keys as he walked away. “You driving too.”

Maximus peeped the police cars and didn’t think anything of it. Police were always popping up to either eat or harass someone. Sometimes both. A handful exited their cars androamed over. Being that Maximus hadn’t committed a crime they knew about, he wasn’t worried about them stepping to him. He retrieved their food and headed back to the car. The quiet he was searching for was interrupted by guns drawn and a fist to the window.

“Get your ass out the car!” an officer shouted.

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