Page 2 of Into the Blue
Terrell Lafayette Jr. is a smug little piece of shit who rides the wave of his daddy’s success like it’s the fucking state fare Merri-go-round. He’d been snatching strip clubs and turning them into something I didn’t want to happen to Off Topz. Didn’t want the smack, snow or pixie dust in here and I didn’t want to see more of his men when I was here to chill. Where there’s snow, there’s addicts and crack heads were just annoying. He’d have to get more of Fayes in here to control them. All in all, annoying and I’d rather take this place instead.
Junior fucked up somewhere along the way and couldn’t afford to keep the place in whatever partnership he wanted with Manel. Like I give a fuck. Junior can keep losing and I’ll keep scooping up more and more for my empire.
After my split from working with the Lafayette Family, the Fayes, I knew he was the first to feel the disdain I held toward the whole family.As he should.It’s because of him I made the decision and I stand by it one hundred percent.
Off Topz is one of the best strip clubs in town, so I’ve been here more weekends than I can count. The food isn’t half bad and the drinks are strong. Hell, the women they employ are some of the best in the state, I’m sure. It was neutral ground for everybody who does business in this area. You didn’t have to worry about being shot at while you had a drink after a long day. And the days get to be very long doing what we do.
For the Duponts, to be in charge of this place, reaping the benefits of clean money and knowing the Fayes will still patron it is… frankly, good business.
Nothing makes me happier than good business.
Allen attempts to make space in the neckline of his polo shirt, pulling at the fabric as his throat works. I cross my arms over my chest and let the full weight of my impatience press on him before he splutters, “Ye-yes. Makes sense. I will let everyone know you have taken over operations. Will we have a ceremony or so-somethin’ for Manel?” I don’t respond quickly enough and he continues rambling. “He was a good boss. The girls loved him. He kept them safe. Made this club what it is. I—”
Manel Corolla was the late owner of Off Topz. He was a jovial man who laughed too much for my liking. However, I’d never fault him for the way he handled business. He kept the cops out of this place and made sure the underbelly of Clayton Terrace had a place to call home. Many deals were brokered and alliances were formed here. But most importantly, his untimely death led to solving a problem I had.
“Look. Don’t care about any of that. If it don’t interfere with the money, do whatever you want.”
Allen swipes a hand over the back of his forehead again. “Okay.” He looks over to the door where Redd and Marcell watch and wait for any signal from me to step in.
Benefits of being King.
But where there are benefits, there’s plenty of drawbacks.
The biggest one right now is the inconsistency I’ve seen in my business. Money is moving weird through my ranks and runners are encountering more and more attempts to take what’s mine or pinch a little for themselves without my say-so. The drawback of cutting ties with theFayes who previously handled all that business before. Now, it’s solely my responsibility until I can figure it out.
The only ones who know about my growing concerns on the issue are in my court as king. Redd, my first regent or second in command, Vert and Geno, my second and third regents, respectively. Top tier and tight lipped. While there hasn’t been a pattern to the way everything is going, I know I’m only as powerful as my power seems. If anyone gets wind they can come up on me, then there will be plenty others who think they can follow suit.
Hence, my acquisition of a proper… laundromat, if you will. My money is dirty and a typical accountant is out of the question. I had too many hands on my dough. It was too easy for mistakes to be made. Don’t have time to chase down every little problem or dollar when moving green in the South has enough risks piled up against us.
Allen here might be sweating through his dry-fit polo, but he does good work. Manel talked about how he was never worried about the cash flow because Allen kept him on top.
Now, Allen is going to keepmeon top.
I give him a smile, but from what I’ve been told, it does nothing to assure the person on the other side of it.It shouldn’t.It’s not meant to. “I’m not your point of contact from this point forward. My man will contact you with the details of the next drop.” He’ll deal with Vert and find out if things are the same or different between dealing with club owners and real criminals.
I grab the papers that have been signed and stand. “Cool, I’m out.” I tuck my knife away and nod to my men.
Now, I’m gonna have a drink and see exactly how good it is to be King in another domain I now own.
Chapter 2
It’s a good night to make some money. Benito has a sack and I’m sure these boys wanna smoke a lil’ somethin’ while they kick back and throw some money on these asses shaking.
A server passes by me with some wings and a steak on her tray and I consider getting something for myself. I decide against it because I don’t want to wait on the food. I might be ready to go once the green’s all sold.
I’m about to say as much to Redd but something catches my attention instead.
Six inch heels lead up to the smallest skirt I’ve ever seen. The lights bounce off of the stretchy fabric as it hugs onto her curvy hips for dear life. The string that’s holding her fishnets up disappears under the little scrap of black and sparkles.
I manage to rip my eyes away from the intoxicating sway of her hips to the blingy gems dangling from her belly button ring. It moves in time over her brown skin with her steps, just as tantalizing as her hips. A thin silver ring loops under her round nose, highlighting how cute the size and shape of it is. Another set of thin strings cross over her healthy waist to a set of titties that make me lick my lips. The same sparkling black fabric stretches impossibly tight over them creating an opening at the middle, begging for my face to be pressed between them. Mentally, I’m running my tongue between them, up to a juicy set of heart shaped lips and—
Fuck me, her sharp brown eyes arealready on me.
The gloss on those lips shimmers as her mouth hikes up on one side and she winks at me. Winks.
I’m done.
Never been one to give two fucks about a stripper in this club. I’ve seen them all, and had my fun with more than I should have. None of them deserved my time, my attention, or my money. But fuck it, when you’ve got money to blow and a stack is the difference between you andyou-plus-one fun—I’m gonna blow a stack or two.
