Page 53 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
“Money, we were just playing,” Tonya tried to backtrack. There was no backtracking. The pain pinned in Reign’s eyes was very real and under no condition would he have her in place where she had to be constantly ridiculed or taunted or triggered for that matter. He needed to protect her.
“Nah, you were loud and bold about your shit and your disrespect, stand on that. Pack up your shit and beat it. Take your cackling fuckin’ friends with you.”
Tonya scoffed and grabbed her things. “New month, new bitch. You’ll be calling us back. Just watch.”
“I doubt it. Get out my shit.” He dropped his body into Reign’s chair and watched the trio pack up their booths and then start to leave. “Uh uh, my money.”
He held his hand out, earning another set of grumbles. They pulled out their earnings from the day and placed the percentage owed in his hand.
“Now y’all can get out of my face.”
They left, leaving him alone to wait for Reign to reappear. In his wait, he swept the floor and handled the money in the register. He could sense her before he saw or heard her. She grabbed a towel and wiped down all the areas of the salon before going to her booth to pack her things up.
“What you doing?” he queried.
“Quitting,” Reign spoke avoiding his eyes. “I can’t put myself back in a situation where I lose.”
“Who said you were losing?”
“Life.” She stopped to look at him. “You will suck me into this world and spit me out. I can’t afford it.”
“You doubt your power, Reign,” he spoke, moving closer to her. She took a step back. “Look at me.”
She did.
“You got me sweeping up your floors, checking niggas and these bitches behind you. You got me making time I can’t afford to make to make sure you get here safely and leave here safely. Making sure you eat.”
“I don’t need that.”
“How you know if you never had it. Huh?” he asked, sitting in her chair and looking up at her. He leaned forward. “I can tell in the way you move, you never had it.”
“I’m supposed to trust that I have it with you? After what, a couple weeks?”
“Time is irrelevant, Reign. I’m a drug dealer. I can walk out here right now and get hit,” Markus shared. “I got you that phone because I need to have access to you. Not just to make sure you’re cool but for the sake of my business. You’re about to be running part of my business, you not answering the phone don’t sit well with me.”
She placed her hand on her hips and looked away just for him to sweep them away gently.
“Look at me, Reign.”
She did.
“I’ll make a deal with you. Business first.”
She scoffed in laughter. “You’re a liar.”
He chuckled and sat back. “You right.”
“Exactly my point. I can’t do this. Run your business or your drugs.”
His brows dipped. “I’m not putting you in that position. The only position I want you in is one that you win. That, with or without me, you can stand. That version of you that I met is going to be a distant memory.”
Reign rolled her eyes in protest. “And then I’ll be forever indebted to you.”
“I prefer respect and loyalty. But I’m not going to lie, watching you thrive would be enough for me. But I need you to stay.”
“I need you to give me some space.”
He leaned back and swiped his hand down his face. “For how long?”
