Page 50 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
Reign huffed, “it’s Markus. I’m not answering that.”
Reign stuffed the iPhone into the back pocket of her skinny jeans.
“Where’d the flip phone go?”
“The flip phone was stolen out of my pocket and dropped into the trash can in the subway after being held hostage for hours and then being subjected to a home tour about doorknobs and water pressure. Ugh, anyway, what do you have? Some stuff from the shop? I forgot to bring some new ones over,” Reign asked, sectioning Nia’s hair. She watched as Nia pulled an envelope from her designer bag and handed it over. “What’s this?”
“Your driver’s license, cosmetology license, and keys to your salon,” Nia shared.
“My salon? I haven’t even been here a full month yet. I’m sure there’s someone else who can run it,” Reign protested. “I can’t accept that, just like I can’t accept the house rent free.”
Nia smiled kindly at her in the mirror. “Reign, this is the first time in years that clients are happy and the salon is running smoothly. I don’t know how you do it, but you have a gift of seeing people and making them feel like they can do anything. Hell, the girls at the shop asked the new girl when you were coming back.”
“That’s nice but-”
“But you’re going to run the salon, it’s closer to your house. A shorter train ride and all.”
After the body to body train ride and the sharing of seats on the way home, she determined riding the train wouldn’t do. Markus and his antics would find some way and some time in his day to be around to torture her. Like being outside the brownstone every morning to take her to the café and then tothe shop and being outside the shop after closing for three nights straight.
“It sounds good,” Reign shared. “I just want to make sure that for once in my life, I earn everything I get.”
“You think you haven’t? You’re the first one in and the last one out. I don’t care how long you’ve been here, I’m looking ahead at how much of an impact you’ve made. You deserve this and you have the stripes to prove it.”
Reign took the envelope with gratitude in her eyes. “I would cry but I need to be able to see what I’m doing.”
They shared a laugh and Nia continued.
“You’ll take Tonya, Jania, and Tim and there’s one chair left for you to hire a stylist that fits what the salon needs. You have a private suite in the back and Ms. Jayne has put her appointment on the books going into next spring.”
“Thank you, Nia. You have no idea what all of this means to me. If I had the words,” Reign sighed. “This is more than anyone has done for me.”
“You work hard, don’t let me down.”
“I won’t.”
Reign did her hair, juggled the evening to-dos while assisting other stylists. Before Nia left to run across town to her private client, Reign gave her the cash she’d made throughout the day. “That should cover the hotel and the clothes you bought.”
“Reign.” Nia looked at the money in her hand. It was far more than what she had spent.
“Nia, please. I need to feel like I’m not a charity case.”
Nia stopped and nodded. “Okay, fine. I’ll see you next week at your salon. I’m pretty sure you’re going to need to touch this up.”
Nia’sdesigner boots carried her through the lobby of the opulent,The Azure Orchid. A hotel in the heart of Majestic Heights that required you to spend at least twenty thousand dollars a night. Politicians and entertainers with legacy behind their names frequented the luxury hotel. They were never bothered by the cameras and blogs. Everyone seemed to mindtheir business. Primarily because they didn’t want their own dirty laundry blasted everywhere.
She took the elevator to the presidential suite. Two thousand one hundred seventy-five square feet with panoramic views of the city. Too much space for one woman but when you were hiding in plain sight from your husband and his security detail, it could never be too much space.
Luciano opened the door before Nia could knock. “She told me you were on your way up.”
“Thankful for that front desk observation, hm?” Nia spoke, walking into the foyer of the suite.
“Yeah. I’ve been trying to get in touch with your brother. The Sunset Inn was a money maker for me,” Luciano spoke. “It’s shut down now for what?”
Nia looked up at him and smirked. She could see exactly why the mayor’s wife got involved with him. Luciano was charming, handsome, and clearly putting down dick that had her spending the money from campaign funds to fuel a habit and protect a secret. In return, Luciano was untouchable.
“Now, Lu,” Nia started. “You know I don’t get int the middle of the business you and Money have. He’s not hard to find. But I would suggest that your hustlers learn to keep their fuckin’ hands to themselves.”
Luciano clenched his jaw. “Word?”
