Page 27 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
“Yeah.” Reign picked up the stack of money and recounted it to verify the amount. She wrote the number down before stepping back.
Markus pulled the key out his jacket pocket. “Here’s the key for tomorrow, we’ll lock up.”
Reign nodded. “Okay.”
Markus studied her a little longer than he did before. “You need a ride?”
“No,” Reign stated and offered him five final words. “I know where I’m going.”
She took the key and took the long way to the door. She didn’t know where she was going, not with the sun disappearing anyway. As she walked out into the coolness of the night she tucked her hands into the pocket of her hoodie and braved the brisk night. Reign had to trust herself and remember the landmarks. Once she saw the illuminated hotel, she pushed out a sigh of relief.
Hoodie over her head, head down Reign maneuvered through the lobby full of people checking in, enjoying dinner and night caps. She got on the elevator groaning happily at the ache of her feet. The ache represented freedom. It represented that she was finally going to be able to stand on her own without worrying about what the next minute would hold.
She found her room refreshed from housekeeping and a bag from the boutique attached to the hotel. Attached was a note, “work clothes, welcome to the team – Nia.”
If Nia didn’t offer an assuring energy, Reign wouldn’t have accepted any of this. She would have taken her chances on a parkbench. But like Camden, Nia offered her support. She needed support.
In the bag were pajamas, underwear, hoodies, sweatshirts, leggings and a couple pairs of jeans. Reign swiped a tear from her cheek and nodded to no one. Just herself.
“You’re going to be okay, Reign. You’re going to be okay.”
“What the fuck was that about?”Svyn asked, placing a box in his trunk.
Markus shrugged one shoulder and chuckled to himself. He was confused yet amused all at the same time. “You know Nia likes doing charity. I guess she went out and hired a mute.”
Svyn offered Markus an amused smirk. “A mute? ‘Cause she ain’t say more than fifteen words to you?”
“Thirteen. I counted,” Markus stated, sliding into the passenger seat.
Svyn snickered. “What a change. You step on the scene and these bitches can’t shut the fuck up.”
“They love Money. Clearly she ain’t from around here, she didn’t even look at me,” Markus said, making Svyn laugh as he pulled off from the curb.
“You hell, boy. We on the brink of a street war and you’re confused that some girl ain’t talking to you.”
Markus relaxed in the seat and grumbled. “Nia talking to you?”
“We both know Nia doesn’t talk, Nia shouts and cusses. And no,” Svyn shared. Whatever space this was he was in with Nia was his to navigate. It was the only part of this life that wasn’t exposed to the brutal world around them. Regardless of how she appeared to everyone around them, whatever they had was his to keep.
Markus grunted. His mind lingering on Reign longer than it needed to. It was a handful of things – her avoidant gaze, the fading bruises over her face, her distance, the way her body flinched when he made a sudden movement. Then there was the lack of engagement. She studied him, not in a lustful way, but as if she were looking for an inkling of safety. Trust even. No she wasn’t from Majestic Heights. No he didn’t have space in his world right now to figure her out. Yes, none of that mattered.
Close to thirty minutes later, they were pulling up to a shop still full of clients. From the curb, Markus and Svyn could see Nia fussing and two other stylists running around trying to get the remaining clients in and out. The two shared a look before getting out and retrieving the things she said she needed and walked in.
“An hour ago,” Nia huffed, taking the box from Svyn. “I needed this an hour ago. Do you know how long it takes to do color?”
“I’ll assume longer than you’ve had that fuckin’ attitude,” Markus huffed. “Where all these people come from?”
“Your little girlfriend fucked us again. The three stylists who were actually worth a fuck, she took with her.”
Markus curled his lip. “Considering she don’t have nowhere to go without me, where the fuck she take them?”
Nia ripped the box open and huffed. “Shit, this isn’t what I need. I’ll go get it tomorrow.”
“Have the mute girl bring it. How much are we paying her anyway? Is she even talkin’ to people for real?” Markus asked, causing his sister to stop rifling through the box to cut him a sharp look.
“Are you stupid every day of the week? You have to refuse to be a dumbass,” Nia huffed. “Of course she speaks, goofy.”
“Ain’t say more than thirteen words to me,” Markus stated, the interaction still at the front of his mind. It was a distraction he couldn’t afford. He grimaced. “What the fuck happened to Fawn?”
