Hustle Hard

by Saundra

  “Moves being made out here. Major moves. I need you both for a couple days, or possibly a week at the latest. I already had Courtney book y’all flights, so basically just bounce.”

  “Kirk, I got shit going on here with Penny. I can’t just leave.”

  “Aye, just bring Penny; you know that ain’t a problem. But all I’m asking is for you to show up. I’ll hit and have Courtney book her a flight.”

  I thought about it for a minute, but there was no way Penny was getting on a plane with me voluntarily. With the mood she was in, she would flat-out refuse. So that whole idea was dead. “Damn, Kirk, you a last-minute-ass nigga. And what ’bout Isis? You know she gone trip. Hell, she probably say no right off the bat.”

  “Then you got to convince her to come. Don’t get on that plane wit’out her. A driver will be at the airport to pick you two up and will deliver you to me.” With that he ended the call.

  I stared at my cell phone for a minute and rolled my eyes. The nigga was bossin’ up with his demands. I reminded myself to check him later. Now I had to muster up the energy to call Isis. I wasn’t ready for that conversation, either.

  “That nigga say what?” Isis screamed through the phone. “Girl, Kirk can kiss my ass.” She continued without giving me the chance to answer her question. “Does he not realize we run a business here? Hell for him. We just can’t up and leave.”

  “I know all that,” I finally got out. “But he said set it up with Courtney. Either way he need us there.” Between her and Kirk both yelling at me, I was becoming agitated. “Now pack yo’ shit ’cause I ain’t going alone. Plus, Kirk said bring yo’ ass.”

  “I’m grown; he don’t boss me around.” Isis grunted. “What time the plane leave?” She gave in.

  I filled her in on the itinerary and hung up. And just as Kirk had known she would, Isis handled everything with Custom Hot Rides before we boarded the plane. As the plane lifted off the ground, I breathed a sigh of relief.

  The plane landed at LAX airport on time with no delays. We were both surprised to find Kirk at our gate waiting on us.

  “I thought you were sending a car for us? ’Cause you too good to drive down here to pick us up.”

  “Fresh off the plane, and already you tryin’ to start a beef with me.” Kirk laughed.

  “Shut up.” I smiled.

  “Kirk, I swear you got some damn nerve. You better be lucky I suddenly feel relieved to be in California,” Isis said, looking around as we stood outside the airport.

  “I know y’all pissed, but this gotta happen. Nobody else can help me wit’ this. Ain’t nobody else I trust. We gone handle this shit, and I promise y’all will be back in the air on the way back to Florida before you know it.”

  “Better be, ’cause I got shit to handle.” I threw my hands on my hips and twisted my mouth.

  “Well, let’s do this.” Kirk grabbed our bags and loaded them into the Cadillac truck he was driving. Once he was done, we all loaded up inside and were out. Kirk jumped on the interstate, and just like that we were in LA traffic. We rode the interstate for a while, then Kirk got off and we drove until we reached something like a ranch. We pulled in slowly. There was a house, a barn, and a stable. There was also a fence with two beautiful horses running around.

  “Yo, Kirk where the fuck you got us at? Little House on the Prairie.” I laughed.

  “For real,” Isis added. “I can’t front, though, it’s beautiful.”

  “I know, right. It’s peaceful. Clean wind, birds chirping, the whole nine.” Kirk finally came to a stop, then shut off the engine. I almost broke my neck turning in Kirk’s direction. Never had I heard him talk like that, describing things for their beauty and feeling. “Damn, nigga, is California making you soft?” I chuckled.

  Kirk smiled at me. Then he looked over at the horses as they ran around the length of the circular fence. “Nah, never that. But sometimes you start to notice shit, you know.”

  “I can get wit’ that,” I agreed.

  “Kirk, never mind her. You know she always a gangster,” Isis chimed in, and we all laughed. Honestly, it felt good to be laughing and being around this beauty; for a brief moment I could forget about all the drama in my life.

  “But this the spot, though, where y’all gone set up. I’m still trying to find an official spot. I looked at a couple places.”

  “But how you gone store shit at a barn?” I had to ask.

  “See, things ain’t always what they seem. Right there inside that barn is a makeshift warehouse. Trust it’s all legit. Besides, out here shit gone be a lit’ different.”

  “Different how?” Isis jumped right in.

  “Now when I say this don’t panic, Isis. It’s safe, and I will have bodyguards here all day while y’all here. Trusted niggas y’all know from home.”

  “What’s the scheme, Kirk?” Isis sighed. She was clearly impatient to hear.

  “A’ight . . . So deliveries gone go down sometimes right here. I will need you two to take the delivery, weigh the product, make sure it’s on point. And use the testers to make sure it’s legit. I also need help counting the money . . . Well, at least running it through the machine.”

  “Wait, so you want us in the middle of the drug deal, basically?” Isis asked.

  Kirk looked at me almost as if he needed help. “Yeah, sorta.”

  “What the fuck does ‘sorta’ mean?” Isis was becoming upset.

  “What I’m trying to say is, you don’t have to be in the room when the exchange is made. Y’all gone have the money ready and counted when they arrive. Once the product brought in, you will weigh and test. And vice versa: if they picking up product, then you will just count the money.”

  “You know this shit is risky, regardless of what you say. This ain’t what I expected. You said you needed help with starting it up.”

  “I know, and eventually that’s what it will be like here. I just got to get this shit going.” Isis rubbed her forehead like she was in deep thought. “What’s up, Secret? What you got to say?” Kirk asked me.

  “Nigga, it’s whatever. I just want to get this shit done and get home.” I glared at Isis.

  “Whatever, let’s do this. But, Kirk, I swear you better get shot before I do.” Isis sighed and sat back in her seat. I was shocked that she had agreed.

  “Man, thank y’all. We gone do this.”

  Before we knew it, a whole week had passed, and Kirk had begged us to stay three more days. And again to my surprise, Isis agreed. But actually, it hadn’t been that bad: all the deliveries or exchanges were of course done at night. So during the day Isis and I would be out shopping and seeing the city. Kirk had booked us master suites at the Marriott, so we had no complaints. It was the day before we were leaving. Isis and I were out having lunch at this nice Mexican restaurant and having a drink.

  “As much as I hate to admit it, I really have enjoyed myself out here. I’m kinda feeling California.” Isis dipped a tortilla chip into her bowl of salsa.

  “Me too. We gone have to come back out here whenever shit straight. Oh, hell, Kirk will be calling us back out here anyway.”

  “I know, right.” Isis giggled. “But he better have his shit together. I ain’t fuckin’ wit’ Kirk on this level no more. What we do at the shop back home is cool. But I don’t like dealing with the coca this head-on. Touching that shit like that. Nah.”

  “I feel you. And he know that. He gone have it set up like home if he goes through wit’ it.”

  “I get the feeling he ain’t start that up. I think he like this quick way. Plus, the money seems to be greater. Do you realize he made almost a million in less than two weeks?”

  “That’s wild. I was checking that out.”

  “But the risk is much greater.”

  “Yep, that’s a fact.” I had to agree, but I knew Kirk wasn’t worried about that.

  “But Kirk is fidgety; something ain’t right wit’ him. And he gettin’ high on that shit. The other night when we rolled up. Did y
ou notice he stepped away? And when he returned, the cocaine was clearly on his nose. He ran those lines quick.”

  “He straight, though.”

  “Maybe, but you need to check up on your boy. Y’all been tight forever.”

  I shook my head in agreement. But I didn’t want to dwell on the subject. Everything Isis was saying was true. Kirk was getting high on his own supply. And as for him being fidgety, I had also noticed, but I figured it was because of the deliveries; we all had reason to be fidgety. I was sure it was nothing.

  Chapter 23

  Isis

  We had made it back from California, a few weeks had passed, and I still wasn’t exactly sure if the storm that seemed to be brewing in all our lives was over. I hoped it was, but I was too scared to even think that, for fear that something else crazy would jump off. So instead, I just sat back and took each day as it came and thanked the heavens when nothing bad happened. I just wanted to get my head back in the game so I could focus on the business. Secret was wrapped up in Penny, and I had both their backs, but things just were complicated. On a good note, I hadn’t heard from or seen Bobbi, so hopefully he had gotten the message to stay far away from me.

  Today I was feeling good. I woke up feeling refreshed. I had taken off work the day before and pampered myself with a much-needed spa treatment. And I wasn’t done. I took today off as well and went and got my hair done.

  As soon as I got in the house, I went to the guest bathroom and played around, taking selfies of my new sew-in. I was looking too cute. Afterward, I went into the kitchen and pulled out the bottle of wine I had left to chill and poured a glass. It was time for me to sit back and unwind. I wanted to sip and think of nothing that was even close to serious. But no sooner had I sat down in the den and kicked up my feet, my mailbox popped into my head. I had been busy, so it had been a few days since I’d checked. And of course my fidgety mind wouldn’t let me rest until I got the mail.

  Setting my glass of wine down, I slipped outside to retrieve all my waiting mail from the box. Back in the house, I sat back down, picked up my wine, and sipped before I started sorting through the envelopes. Nothing important stood out; as usual it was just bills, the norm. Just as I was about to set the rest of the stack on the table, I noticed what one of the envelopes said. Check. I wasn’t expecting any checks in the mail, so I wasted no time opening it. The last thing I was in need of was money, but money was one of those things that grabbed most people’s attention, whether they needed it or not.

  My jaws dropped as I read “twelve thousand dollars” spelled out perfectly across the light blue paper. As I separated the check from the envelope, a piece of paper fell out. Bending over to pick it up, I read the words over and over again. I’m sorry. Suddenly, without a doubt, I knew exactly where the check had come from. The only person who owed me twelve thousand and would apologize to me was Bobbi.

  “Secret, where you at?” I wasted no time calling her up.

  “I’m at the crib.”

  “Your house?” I asked to be sure. The last couple of weeks she had been at Penny’s house.

  “Yep.”

  “Stay put. I’m on the way.” I ended the call right away; the last thing I wanted to do was discuss the check over the phone. No, that was some face-to-face action. I must have driven eighty all the way to Secret’s house, because I arrived in fifteen minutes tops. She must have been sitting in the window, watching out for me, because before I could knock on the door, it swung open with Secret holding on to the doorknob. Before she could say one word, I placed the check and note in her free hand.

  “What’s all this?” she asked, still looking at me.

  “Look at it,” I instructed. I wanted her to see it for herself.

  “That fuckin’ Bobbi.”

  “Right? He so damn random,” I commented. That was the only way I knew how to describe him and his actions. I couldn’t explain him, because I didn’t understand any of his moves.

  Secret continued to observe the check, then she looked at me. “Well, I say definitely cash the motherfucker, ’cause he owe you that much. Actually, I’m pissed that he didn’t think to add interest, for pain and suffering.” Secret had a serious scowl on her face.

  “Hmmph, I’m surprised he even sent that . . . I’m afraid to cash it, because knowing his snake ass, it’s probably fake.” I had to be honest. I mean, how could we trust him? He hadn’t done nothing that made him trustworthy.

  “You should cash it anyway. And if it’s fake, we will hunt his ass down and kill him. And that’s real.”

  “On some real stuff, forget the check. What I want to know is how he got my address. That is my biggest concern.”

  “That’s a good question. Do you think he ever followed you home? ’Cause what about the other times he showed up in mysterious places you were visiting?”

  “I know, I thought about that. But I honestly don’t believe he ever followed me.”

  “But how could you be so sure?”

  I sat in silence for a moment. I thought about how I had been concerned that he had been showing up in places I was. I just didn’t believe he had followed me, but I couldn’t be sure. “I can’t be sure,” I reluctantly admitted.

  “Exactly. I think we should get Kirk involved. It’s time. That nigga need somebody to kick some fear into his ass.”

  I was still apprehensive about that. Kirk didn’t have talks, he caused funerals. “Listen, I’m not sure about involving Kirk just yet. And besides, I’m not worried. I keep my gun on me at all times.”

  “Ain’t that just like a nigga, though? He think he can say sorry through the US postal mail, and the world will unfold for him.”

  “Yep, they think they are God’s gift to women,” I cosigned.

  “Ha, never.” Secret laughed.

  “What’s up with Penny, though?”

  “She cool, still attending those AA meetings and seeing a therapist.”

  “How did you get her to agree to see a therapist?”

  “For one, I told her she needed to speak to a professional about her feelings. And two, I told her if she didn’t go, I would stop the lease on the apartment. And we both know that got her attention. She loves that apartment, and she will do almost anything not to come back to live with me.”

  “I guess you are right.” I laughed. The thought of Penny refusing to stay with Secret made me laugh so hard. Penny was over Secret’s momma ways. “Are you still staying nights over at her house?”

  “Hell, no, three weeks was too long. I went home three nights ago. I didn’t realize how much I was enjoying my freedom until I had to share space with Penny again. Now I don’t see how I ever done it. We annoy each other.”

  “Poor Penny, I’m sure you are torturing her.”

  “Me, torture? I think you know better. I’m the best roommate ever,” Secret gloated.

  “I don’t think so. Try the most annoyingly compulsive. All that snoring and all those damn sideways rules. I just don’t have time.”

  “Whatever, listen. I’m gone stop by and see her this week. I got to let her see my face and see how she is doing.” I had only been out to see Penny once since the incident. I wasn’t really sure what to say to her. But I missed her smile, which always lit up the room.

  Chapter 24

  Isis

  “When the next time we gone all hit the club like the last time? It was mad fun.” Courtney chopped our ears off. Secret, Courtney, and I were all standing around Courtney’s desk with nothing much to do.

  “Soon. I promise.” Secret gazed at me like she wanted an answer from me. “I need to party.”

  “Y’all just let me know. If I’m free I’ll be there,” I added.

  “Your ass will be free; you ain’t got no more to do than the rest of us. So get ready.” Secret grinned.

  “I went out over the weekend, and it was turned up. Mad niggas wall to wall; y’all should have been there. Because you both need a man, and I mean ASAP.” Courtney laughed.

>   “Shut up.” I playfully nudged Courtney’s shoulder.

  “Yo, I’m good,” Secret declared. “These niggas ain’t ready for me, anyways. I be giving it to them raw. They want somebody they can control they mouth and actions. I ain’t wit’ none of that. Plus, I ain’t committing to no punk-ass niggas.” Secret was cutthroat when it came to her views, and I couldn’t help but laugh. My girl did not play about what she felt.

  “Damn, Secret, you have no chill and no empathy for the male species.” I grinned.

  “Harsh, yes, but I agree with you, Secret. ’Cause for the most part these niggas is dogs. I’m talkin’ straight pit bull. They don’t mean, you know, good wit’ they lies and deceit.” Courtney rolled her eyes. I could tell by the hostile change in her tone that something was up.

  “Let me tell y’all bout Rod’s slick ass.”

  “Rod?” Secret had to think about who he was. “Wait, dude you been talkin’ ’bout for the past six months?”

  “He a cutie,” I added. He was tall, dark, and wore a high-top fade like the Kid from the group Kid ’n Play.

  “Yeah, cute, but the nigga ain’t shit. Tell me why I just found out after six months that I’m his side chick.” Secret’s eyes and mine met; we were a little confused. We turned our attention back to Courtney.

  “What you mean? Be a bit more specific,” I said. I wasn’t generally nosy, but I needed to know exactly what she was trying to say.

  “Well, I just found out that he is married.”

  “What?” Secret stomped her right foot.

  Courtney shook her head for assurance. I was stunned, I could not believe the guy had had us all confused. Never would I have even suspected he was married. “That’s fucked. Nigga just raw.” Secret groaned.

  “Raw and out of pocket,” I commented. I felt bad for Courtney. I knew better than most all about betrayal.

  “I know! Here I am thinking I’m his woman, and all the time I’m side chick status like a motherfucker.”

  “What did you do?” I asked.

  “It was hard, but I kicked his ass to the curb. I ain’t got time for nobody’s crazy-ass wife running my life. No, I’m good on that.”