A Hustler's Queen

by Saundra

  “Come on, Maria. These leather seats in here are to die for.” Promise opened the left rear car door.

  “Maria, I warn you, take your whip before she does,” I joked.

  A single tear slid down each of Maria cheeks. “Guess I have to get used to riding in style. Cruisin’.” She laughed. Walking over to the car, she checked it out. “I will never get used to driving this car. I love it . . . Thank you so much, Precious.”

  “No thanks needed. Just enjoy it. All you have to do is get the insurance put on it. Let me know how much it costs, and I’ll add that to one of your checks each month.”

  Crying, Maria walked over and hugged me. It felt good doing something nice for Maria; she was good people and DeVon would have done the same thing.

  * * *

  “So what’s up for real? No more bullshit.” Promise grabbed a seat at the bar. We were at the house after all the excitement with the new cars, and I had sent Maria home early. I gave her a stack and told her to hit a few blocks to get used to her new whip and shop. But now here I was under Promise’s thumb and curiosity, yet again. “I mean, I can’t front, what you did for Maria was mad cool. But I gotta know.”

  Pulling out a bottle of Moscato, I poured us both a drink. “You, my sister, are as persistent as they come.” I sipped my drink and glared at her.

  Promise grinned. “Stop stalling and just tell me what’s up. I mean, I been in the streets, Precious, since forever . . . and I see the way DeVon lived. The way it’s set up for you to live now.” She hunched her shoulders. “It ain’t hard to figure out.” She downed her drink.

  I nodded my head in agreement but didn’t speak. Instead, I took a free moment to fill our glasses. I knew Promise was smart, that was clear from the first time I met her. The lies were dead in the dirt and no use. So I told her everything.

  Promise’s mouth popped open. Shock would be an understatement. “You mean it? You in charge of this shit, now?” I lifted my wineglass and emptied it as an answer. Promise nodded her head up and down and I could see that she was proud. And honestly, I didn’t know how to feel about that. “Damn, my sister is a motherfucking boss! These basic bitches ain’t even ready . . . fill my shit up.” She pushed her empty wineglass over to me. “You have made my day. My big sis the queen of these LA streets.”

  And that was the last word spoken on it. I pulled out another bottle of wine, we talked, laughed, turned on the music, and twerked. Surprisingly, I had Promise beat, hands down. All that practicing in the mirror had paid off. I was tickled with laughter.

  Chapter 34

  It was hot and LA was looking good and I was feeling even better. People were out and everyone seemed to have a smile plastered on their face. That too made me feel good. It always felt good when I didn’t see any cops chasing someone, or the ambulance with its blinking lights and loud siren blasting, while some poor mother stood screaming over her bloodied, bullet-ridden child. I turned onto South Main and pulled into the parking lot of Keisha’s and Quincy’s new nightclub. It was under renovation, and she had asked me to stop by to check out the place. And I was happy to do that; supporting my friends was also a must. Adjusting my Gucci eyewear, I made my way inside.

  I immediately saw that work was still needed for the entrance area. It looked like some drywall had been pulled down and the floors were dated. Keisha had told me they were going for a modern, upscale look, so I knew this wasn’t it.

  “What’s up, chic?” Keisha stepped out from behind the bar area, which was completely remodeled.

  “I see you had your favorite part of the club remodeled first,” I joked.

  “Shidd, you better know it. I need to be able to take a drink before I do anything.” Keisha chuckled. “So what you think? They put this in two days ago. They had to pull up the floor and everything.”

  “I like it. What all is being renovated?” I questioned. From just a quick glance at the place, it was apparent that a lot had to be done.

  “Just about everything you see in here. They starting on the entrance part tomorrow and the bathrooms. New flooring going in every inch of the place. The balcony area is up there.” She pointed up over my head. I turned to see a circular area high in the air. From the design, I could already see the potential. “Up there gone be the VIP area, of course.”

  “I’m excited to see it once it’s all done.” One thing I knew for a fact was that if Keisha was opening a nightclub, it was gone be off the hook.

  “I know, right. Shit bout to be ignorant off the hook.” She cosigned my thoughts. “Come on, let’s go to my office. I have a bottle of Hennessy. We can have a shot.”

  “It’s too early for all that. What about a margarita? “I suggested. But I knew Keisha was not hearing me.

  “Precious, get yo ass in here and celebrate wit’ me.”

  I stepped into the nicely renovated office.

  “This is nice.” I glanced around in awe. The office was big. She had it painted off-white with a brownish-green accent wall that was beautiful. A plush couch with two accent chairs to match, and carpeted. “I see this was the second part you remodeled.”

  “Damn right. A bitch gotta be comfortable. I want to be able to sleep in this motherfucker if I have to.” Keisha smiled.

  “And thanks for the snacks.” There was a table with a spread of fruit, cheese, and turkey—you name it. And of course that bottle of Hennessy and two margaritas set up. I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Yeah, I knew you would cry for that weak-ass ladies’ drink.” Keisha giggled. It was good to have a friend that knew you.

  “Well, thank you.” I stuffed a strawberry in my mouth and grabbed one of the margaritas.

  Keisha wasted no time pouring herself a shot; she downed it in two seconds flat. “A bitch needed that,” she commented and poured herself another.

  “Well I guess since you have two areas done, I can say it’s coming along?”

  “Thanks to me. I have been picking floor coverings and ordering shit day and night. Dealing with the contractors, which is a pain in my natural ass. But Quincy been so busy he hasn’t been around much. At least not when it really counts. I ain’t trippin’ though, as long as this shit get done for the grand opening.”

  “When do you anticipate that to be?”

  “Couple weeks, a month at the most. I still have to choose a date, but I will by week’s end. Once the contractors get in here tomorrow shit should be done pretty quickly.”

  “Well, besides the business part of it all, how is your relationship with Quincy going?” I didn’t want to ask that question, but I had to. Them opening up a nightclub was cool, but if they were not together, how would that work?

  Keisha popped two bite-size pieces of cheese into her mouth and chewed. “It’s cool . . . we good. Things are getting better and I’m glad, because I didn’t want to have to fuck Quincy’s ass up. Sometimes I just get pissed when he ain’t around for this shit. But I chill because I understand why. Because if he don’t hustle, then some of this shit won’t be possible. We good though. I love that big-head-ass nigga.” Keisha smiled.

  “That’s what’s up. I just want to see y’all win,” I added. And I meant that. Black love was important. I missed DaVon so much. I sipped my margarita. “This is good. Did you make these?” I referred to my drink.

  “Girl, hell no. One of my potential bartenders came in for an impromptu interview. I had him make them. He just left before you arrived.”

  “Hummph, I should have known you couldn’t make them this good.”

  “Bitch, and you was right.” We both laughed. “So how about you? How is it going with all this new responsibility you have with the operation?” I should have known she would bring that up. I still didn’t like to talk about that with her. “You know ain’t shit changed, I’m here for you,” she once again insisted, as she had in the past. “I’m willing to help out anytime, always available to travel wherever, whenever. You know that DaVon was like family to Quincy, and when y’all started dat
ing that instantly made you the same. So we got you.”

  I knew Keisha just wanted to help out, and I could appreciate that. But having her friendship was enough. I didn’t want anything else coming in between that. The drug game could be really complicated and it was safer if our friendship didn’t come into contact with that. “Listen, everything is in place with the operation and it’s all good. Now we just waiting on this club. It’s gone be a good look for the hood.” I swiftly, and hopefully successfully, changed the subject.

  I sighed inside with relief when she asked about Promise; my plan had worked. We could talk about anything but the drug game. “What’s good with Promise?”

  “She straight. Gettin’ herself together in LA. You know it’s different out here if you ain’t from here.”

  “Hell, yeah it is. But she’ll be a’ight. I seen her new whip though. Shidd, she lucky.”

  “That’s my sister, you know I got her.” My cell phone started ringing. Clip’s name lit up, which meant it was business. “I gotta take this,” I mouthed. “What’s up?” I said into the phone. I got up to step away and walked out toward the bar. Clip filled me in on a late shipment. He told me he’d call me back in a couple hours once the shipment was in. We ended the call. I turned with the intent to join Keisha back in her office, but to my surprise she was standing close. I almost got the feeling she was trying to pry. I wasn’t sure, but I hadn’t even heard her approach.

  “Everything good? Everybody a’ight? Promise ain’t get lost, did she?” She gave a slight laugh that I didn’t think was sincere. But maybe I was just trippin’ off the fact that the shipment was late, because that pissed me off. Either way, I didn’t like nobody sneaking up on me.

  “Nah, everything all good. Listen, I have to get going. Keep me posted on the renovation.” She agreed to keep in touch and I bounced back out into the LA heat.

  Chapter 35

  Promise had been staying with me for a while, but she was a grown woman. And while she had never said anything and seemed quite content living with me at the Bel-Air estate, I felt she would be quite happy with her own place. So I called a Realtor and set up a meeting to look at some condos that she might like. It didn’t take me long to find some potentials. I called Promise up and had her choose one and sign the paperwork. She was overly excited and couldn’t stop thanking me. Once again, I had to remind her that she didn’t owe me any thanks; she was my sister. We were getting to know each other more and more each day. I loved her. And would always make sure she was okay.

  Today was the day that she was moving in, and even though I would miss her and I hated being in that big house alone, I was excited for her. She had reassured me that she would stay with me several nights a week or whenever I wanted her to. But even I knew once she got her freedom I would have to push, drag, or pull her to my house. Keisha and I pulled up to the condo at the same time. Even though she was still busy with the finishing touches on the nightclub, she had insisted that she come along to help out.

  “I love these condos,” Keisha said as she climbed out of her sports Mercedes.

  “I know, right. Wait until you see the inside. Is that a bottle of wine?” I questioned the bags in her hands. And if I knew Keisha, she had alcohol on her hands.

  “Bitch, you know it is. And I brought glasses just in case. You can’t move into a place without christening it with alcohol first. It’s rules to this.”

  “I’m sure you believe that.” I smiled as I led the way.

  “Hey, y’all.” Promise was all smiles when she let us in.

  “I love your new place, Promise,” Keisha commented. “And I brought wine to break the place in.” She handed her the bags. “Oh, and there are glasses too.”

  “Well, let’s pour up and toast.” Promise set the bags down on her counter. I was shocked to see a tall, dark-skinned guy with a neatly trimmed goatee come from the back. Keisha and I both glared at him. “Oh, this is Ryan. Ryan, this is my twin sister, Precious, and a friend, Keisha.”

  “Hey, ladies,” Ryan said in a deep, sexy tone.

  “Hi,” I said. Promise had recently told me she was dating a guy named Ryan. I just hadn’t expected to meet him this soon.

  “Umm-hmm,” Keisha followed up. I could see the lust in her eyes for Ryan. I tapped her shoulder.

  Promise giggled.

  “Are you done?” she asked Ryan.

  “Yeah. All the boxes are where you wanted them. I’ll hit you later.”

  “You do that.” Promise smiled at him.

  “It was nice meeting you ladies.” He nodded at Keisha and me before making his exit.

  “Damn, he fine, Promise.” Keisha wasted no time.

  “Always. If I’m dating him, never expect nothing else.”

  “Where he from?” was my concern.

  “Say he grew up in Inglewood. But he graduated from USC and is now pre-med.”

  “Damn, bitch. You pullin’ doctors.” Keisha seemed surprised.

  Promise smirked. “He ain’t a doctor yet. And what you think, I only like gutter rats?” Promise was still wearing a smile, but her tone said different.

  I was glad he was not in the life. However, I still didn’t know him, so I would keep my eyes on him if they continued to date. “He fine, Sis. I didn’t know you had invited him over today though.”

  “He asked if I needed help, and since I had those boxes I let him. And that strong body came through.”

  “Where did you meet him?” Keisha continued to ask questions.

  “I was at the gym bout a month back.”

  “The gym.” I was stunned again. The house had a full gym. “Why not use the gym at the house?”

  “Precious, I care a lot about this body. I need guidance while I work out; it motivates me.”

  “Shidd, I can only agree, especially if they got eye candy like Ryan,” Keisha cosigned.

  “Maybe you should join me sometimes. I mean your body already tight. But maybe you’ll find a man.” She eyed me.

  “Nah, I’m good.” I shut that down quick.

  “Yeah, you could do better, Precious. Besides, you lookin’ for street niggas. Them niggas who hang out at gyms be soft and shit. They could not handle a boss bitch like you, Precious.”

  I was confused about Keisha’s comment. Not five minutes before she was praising fine niggas at the gym.

  “Either way I ain’t got time for a man. I’m good.” I left it at that.

  “I’ll drink to that. Promise, go pour up them drinks and show us this crib before we start slaving for you.”

  “The liquor right, let’s get to that.”

  After pouring up the drinks, we toasted to Promise’s new place and started on the tour. I, of course, had seen it, but still tagged along. Keisha seemed to take in everything. Her eyes roamed the place as if it was guilty of something.

  “Yo, I wish I had a sister to hook me up like this when I was out here struggling. Promise, bitch, you lucky. Shidd, I bet you feel like you hit the lottery since you ran up on Precious.” Keisha tried to chuckle with her statement, but neither Promise nor I cosigned. For some reason, the comment didn’t seem innocent to me. It felt slick and I wasn’t feeling it. Apparently, Promise wasn’t either; I could tell from the way her neck rolled around to Keisha. Thankfully, my phone rang.

  “What’s up?” I answered. Quincy was on the other line, so I knew something was up. “Right,” I said to his comment. “I can be there in twenty. Text me the address.” I ended the call. Both Promise and Keisha eyed me. They knew what was going to come out of my mouth.

  “What’s the deal?” Promise asked first.

  “That was Quincy. I have to meet up with him.”

  “What’s wrong?” Keisha’s tone was demanding.

  “I don‘t know, but I have to go. Promise, I’m sorry but I’ll come back if it’s not too late.”

  “Nah, you good. Handle your shit.” Promise understood where I was coming from.

  “A’ight, Keisha, I’ll catch up to y
ou later.”

  “Aye, I’ll follow you to make sure you straight. Shit be crazy,” Keisha volunteered.

  I turned around to tell her that was okay and almost bumped into her, she was so close. “You can’t go, Keisha. This is business.”

  Keisha gazed at me like I just said the dumbest shit she ever heard. Twisting up the corner of mouth, she sucked in her bottom lip. “Girl, that’s bullshit. What do you mean I can’t go?” She had an attitude.

  I thought I had made myself clear with her in the past about the operation. Clearly, she did not get it. And at this moment I didn’t have the time nor was I in the mood. “Keisha, check this. This right here ain’t friend business, this crew business. Now I gotta go.” With that, I turned to leave before I said something I could not take back. I didn’t know what was up with Keisha, but her sticking her nose in my empire was pissing me all the way off.

  * * *

  As soon as I got to my car, my phone started ringing. “What’s up, Clip?” I answered.

  “Aye, I’m on my way to meet up with Quincy right now. I told him to call you because I was on another call.”

  “He did. I’m on my way. But what is up now?”

  “I don’t know. Quincy just told me shit gettin’ ugly and he needed me to get over there.”

  “I’ll see you when I get there then.” I ended the call. With a rapidly beating heart and uncertainty, I balled down the interstate. I still had bad nerves when it came to dealing with the business, because deep down I knew what came with it. Pulling over, I went into my trunk and into my secret compartment and got out my gun. I just felt safer with it on me.

  The ride took forty-five minutes, but soon I pulled into one of our abandoned spots. Thankfully, Clip pulled in at the same time. I felt much better when I saw Clip. I always felt safer when he was around. Not that I didn’t trust Quincy, but Clip and DaVon had been closer and I knew Clip had me no matter what because of that. Clip led the way up to the door. He gave the secret knock and Quincy opened the door.

  There were only a few chairs in the room, but no one was there. “What’s this bullshit, man? Why the fuck you got us out here?” Clip demanded. Clip didn’t beat around the bush. He was serious and anxious at all times.