Heart of the Hustle

by A'zayler

  “You better watch your fucking self. You keep doing all that stupid shit if you want to, and see what happens,” he threatened her. Snow smirked at him as she crossed one of her legs over the other. “What you gon’ do?”

  Angel glowered at her before checking his watch and snatching her from the chair she was sitting in. “Bring your ass on.”

  “What did I just tell you about putting your hands on me?”

  “I don’t give a fuck. You don’t run me.” He looked over his shoulder at her like she was some sort of disobedient child. “And I hope you clean them damn blades you’re always whipping out.”

  Snow snickered at him. “Don’t insult me. I don’t use the same blade over and over. You think I’ll cut people and stick the same blade back into my mouth?” She scoffed in disbelief. “I have bags and bags of blades. I get new ones as soon as I use one. Thank you very much.”

  “I don’t give a fuck what you do, you just better watch yourself when it comes to me.” He spoke to her just as nastily as he’d been doing all day while continuing to pull her behind him.

  Instead of continuing to fight him, Snow allowed him to pull her from the building. When they got outside, there was a large, black SUV waiting near the curb. It was shiny, and the tint was so dark she couldn’t see through the windows. The closer she got, the more she could feel her heartbeat speeding up again. She didn’t know what Angel called himself about to do, but she hoped he knew she was going to fight his ass back if it was stupid.

  She was prepping herself for battle when a short man dressed impeccably in a black suit with a white undershirt came around to open the door for them. His warm smile and familiar face eased her nerves just a tad as Angel released her hand and shoved her toward the open door. When she stumbled, reflexes made her turn around and swing toward Angel’s face, but the man grabbed her hand and helped her into the back seat of the truck instead, while Angel’s dumb ass stood there watching.

  “You’re lucky he grabbed me,” she hissed before getting completely into the truck.

  As soon as she was inside, every breath she took was filled with the intoxicating and familiar smell of some sort of male cologne. It was mouthwatering and had her breathing a little deeper with each breath. As she continued to inhale, she realized where she knew it from. It was Angel’s.

  This was his truck and Vinny’s driver. She watched intently as Angel moved around the front of the truck to get in. When he and the driver were both inside, she tried her best not to look at him. His whole little “take charge” tantrum was turning her on, and she refused to let him know it. Once they were in, the driver pulled away. She looked around, anticipating something rude to come from Angel’s mouth, but it didn’t.

  He hadn’t spoken to her, nor had he looked her way since they’d been in the truck, so she would give him the same treatment. She kept her head straight, only looking out the window as they passed her truck to make sure she’d locked her doors. Once she’d stuck her key fob back into her small gold wristlet, she made herself comfortable.

  As the ride grew more and more uncomfortable, she tried her best to be discreet as she looked over at Angel. Vinny, Mack, and all of the rest of the men she’d grown up around were nice and doted on their women. The love and adoration they showed their wives was out of this world. She didn’t know what the fuck happened to Angel and D’Angelo.

  Maybe it was that ho Genesis. She probably had his trust jacked up. Then again, maybe it was just that nigga’s blood, because D’Angelo was even worse than his ass. Snow turned her nose up when she looked at him again sitting there looking all extra sexy in his expensive suit. Why couldn’t he wear street clothes like everybody else?

  The black-on-black suit he was wearing was tailored to fit his frame. She eyed the way his body poked out in certain spots; muscles across his chest and filling out his long arms. The way his legs were stretched out showed how tall he was even with him sitting down. Making him even sexier, the long curl of his eyelashes rested comfortably over his eyes, guarding the low pupils she could hardly see due to the scowl on his face.

  The full reddish pink lips weren’t too big, but they stuck out in something similar to a puckered-up pout. As if he was waiting for someone to come along and kiss them. A small task she wouldn’t be opposed to completing if he wasn’t such a jackass.

  Snow subconsciously licked her lips when she noticed the dark black hair that lay down around his face and down near his ears. How had she missed all of that sexiness before? She could bet it was his attitude. It had probably blocked her vision.

  Snow rolled her eyes at herself, because even with her not being able to see his full face and take in his full appearance, she was weakening. Angel was such a panty wetter, and it was irritating, because he didn’t need to be, for two reasons. The first one being she didn’t want to crave him that way anymore, and the second was because he probably had hos coming out of the woodwork. Snow was possessive and didn’t have time to be killing bitches every day for fucking off with Angel.

  Even having been with Genesis, Snow could bet Angel had more women than he knew what to do with. She could tell by his appearance alone. He was so beautiful from the side, she could look at him forever, but she was sure his mouth wouldn’t allow it.

  “Nigga, don’t be trying to kidnap me,” Snow said to ease the sexual tension she felt building.

  They had been driving for a good bit of time and still hadn’t gotten anywhere. The abruptness of his departure from his office had been startling, but being tossed in the back seat of his vehicle with him was even worse, especially since he wasn’t saying anything to her. It didn’t make Snow nervous or anything, but she still wanted to know where she was being taken to.

  “Shut up,” he hissed.

  Snow chuckled and was about to hit him with something else smart but changed her mind. He was clearly still pissed off, so she’d leave him be.

  “Mr. DeLuca, would you like to stop by the house first?” the driver asked.

  “No. Go ahead to the spot,” Angel asked.

  Snow wanted so badly to fan herself. She wasn’t sure if it was being stuck in the back seat with him, or the fact that she hadn’t had sex since the last time he’d touched her, but everything about Angel was killing her. It was as if she was seeing him for the first time again. When she thought about it, she realized she was.

  Before his birthday party, she hadn’t seen him in years, and he was still somewhat of a child back then. Totally different from now. He was now a delectable grown man, and she was tired of ignoring it. He had been nothing more than a friend, and even an enemy over the past few months, and that left no room for a lover. But in that moment, he was all of that. Snow couldn’t understand how one person could ooze so much sex appeal without even trying.

  He moved over a little in the seat and cleared his throat. Snow wanted to spin completely around and just stare at him. She wanted to watch him do absolutely nothing, just talk and be sexy. Even the way he cleared his throat made her body yearn.

  Angel. His name surely was fitting. He was indeed an angelic fixture to gaze upon. Snow covered her face. She was getting carried away, and she was embarrassed for her own self. He obviously hadn’t thought about her like that again, so she needed to stop.

  “So, you’re really not going to say anything?” she asked.

  He kept his gaze forward but pressed the towel wrapped around his hand down a little more, and she smirked. Clearly, he wanted to remind her that he wasn’t dealing with her right then. Snow tried her hardest but couldn’t stop the laughter that vibrated from her chest. She laughed a little while before Angel cut his sexy eyes at her. She stopped that time.

  They remained quiet until they got to their destination. When the truck stopped, Snow began to get anxious again. She cleared her throat and touched the top of her bun where her blade was resting before sliding her hand to the base of her back where her gun was and patting it to be sure it was secure.

  A few second
s later, her door opened and the driver helped her from the back seat again. Once she was on her feet, she turned toward the truck and checked her appearance in the tint. She made sure her clothes were still fitting her right before looking around. They were at some expensive-looking hotel.

  Snow smirked to herself as she instantly became a little more relaxed. Sex with Angel was something she could handle. Maybe it would even get them on the same page and they could stop fighting. She waited near her door but began to get impatient when it took Angel too long to come around the car.

  “Angel, come on so I can get back to my day,” she yelled through the glass as she tapped on it.

  The driver standing behind her chuckled before wiping the smirk from his face when Angel rounded the car.

  “One day, you’re going to learn to respect the position that you’re in.” Angel looked down at her.

  “Position I’m in? You have clearly lost your mind.” She waved him off dismissively.

  Before she could even utter another word, Angel walked up on her so that their chests were touching. He frowned a little, causing his thick, black eyebrows to connect, giving an illusion of a unibrow. Snow stood her ground, not budging an inch. Angel didn’t intimidate her.

  “Yeah, as a woman,” he clarified.

  For a moment, Snow was taken aback by his verbiage. “Excuse me?”

  Irritation and annoyance leaked from every word he said. “You heard me.” He was just as short as he had been with her lately.

  Snow didn’t appreciate his belittlement at all. He was always trying to pull rank on her for being a woman, and she despised it. True enough she was a woman, but she’d put in just as much, if not more, work than men. Him especially. His condescending remarks about her being a woman were two minutes from getting him cut from his throat to his forehead.

  “Angel, this is my last time telling you to respect me and to stop treating me like I’m one of these other women.” Snow’s eyes pinched in the corners as she frowned at him. “I won’t say it again.” Snow meant that from the bottom of her heart. She looked at him only a few seconds longer before looking at the driver. “Are you coming along?”

  “No, ma’am. I’ll be in the car,” the driver answered.

  She nodded at him before looking back at Angel, who was wearing his same frown from a few moments ago. “Lead the way, rude ass.”

  “Learn to follow, and I will.” His voice held the familiar sternness she’d been hearing all day.

  Instead of arguing with him or saying anything that might stir up any more ill feelings between the two of them, she gave a curt nod and motioned her hand in front of them for him to lead the way. He gave her the once-over before grabbing the bottom of her arm and pulling her up next to him.

  Chapter Eleven

  I don’t want to need you

  Although she could think of a million things she’d rather be doing, Snow stayed close to Angel. His attitude was annoying, and really irritating her, but she needed to focus on the matter at hand. She hated he was taking her somewhere she had no knowledge of. She never allowed that. Snow prided herself on being aware of her surroundings at all times, and thanks to Angel, that wasn’t happening today.

  Angel was moving up the sidewalk with purpose, leaving her a few steps behind. Though he wasn’t going too fast, she wasn’t sure she wanted to catch completely up to him, so she fell back and took in her surroundings. When they got inside, he walked straight past the front desk and over to the elevators. Once they were on it, he pressed the button for the eighth floor.

  “When we get inside, just be quiet and pay attention. I want you to give me your take on these characters,” Angel said.

  “Yes, sir, Daddy,” Snow sassed sarcastically. He didn’t have to tell her to pay attention, she was going to do that anyway.

  Angel cleared his throat and crossed one of his ankles over the other but kept his gaze straight ahead. When the elevator dinged, Snow stood to the side to allow him off before her. Once he’d exited, she followed closely and stopped when he stopped.

  There was no noise on the other end of the door he’d stopped in front of, but he knocked once anyway. A few seconds later, from behind the door, they heard a quick shout. Someone was telling them to come in.

  Snow looked at him. “You familiar with these people?”

  Angel nodded and opened the door. He stood to the side so that she could walk in first. Once Snow stepped seductively in front of him, he pushed the door closed behind them. There was a small table in the center of the floor with two men seated at it. Upon seeing Angel, they both smiled and extended their hands for a handshake. He walked to the table and shook both of their hands.

  Before sitting down, Angel pulled the chair next to him out and turned toward Snow. Surprising her, he held his hand out toward her, and she took it. Giving a warm smile to both men, Snow took the seat that Angel had pulled out for her. She made herself comfortable as the three men took in her presence, clearly enjoying it, being that they hadn’t taken their eyes off her since she’d come in. Angel shot Snow a smile that had to be the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, and he grabbed her hand.

  Holding it in his, he turned to face both of the men. “This is my business partner, Snow.” He looked at her. “Snow, say hello.”

  Snow wasn’t sure whether the last few months of his growing irritation for her had been all a figment of her imagination or if he was really that great an actor. The way he was talking to her right then, one would assume he had sugar dropping from his lips. Even the simplest thing sounded sweet.

  “Nice to meet you.” Snow greeted the men.

  “Good to have you,” both men said before returning their gazes back to Angel, while his lingered on Snow for a little while longer. Once he’d taken her in enough, he turned to handle business.

  “Shall we get started?” Angel asked.

  The larger of the two men nodded and jumped from the table to grab a briefcase. He fumbled with a few folders before pulling out two manila ones and laying them on the table for everyone to see. Angel, still holding Snow’s hand, leaned forward and examined the papers that had just been placed in front of them.

  Snow wanted so badly to look over the paperwork as well to see what the meeting was about, but she chose to stay upright in her chair. With Angel leaned over reading the documents, there was no one to watch the men except for her. Which she had no problem doing, especially since they were both still ogling her. Snow glared at them both for a moment, hoping to let them know that she wasn’t there for their viewing pleasure, but obviously they completely missed that memo, because they continued to stare.

  “Is there something I can do for you gentlemen?” Her eyebrow raised in question.

  The larger one smiled and looked away while the smaller one shook his head. “No, ma’am. You’re just very beautiful. Excuse me for not being able to look away.”

  A small chuckle left the other one’s throat before he returned his gaze back upon her.

  “Are you two here to do business or to lose your lives?” Snow scooted forward in her seat.

  Both of their facial expressions changed. One looked angry while the other apparently thought she was a joke. A small smirk rested on his lips as he licked them at her. Angered by their lack of respect, Snow reached behind her back. If her words hadn’t showed them how serious she was, she was more than positive her gun would.

  Before she could remove it from her holster, Angel’s hand that had just been holding hers now rested on the top of her hand. His grip tightened, stopping her from pulling her gun out. Snow’s eyes went to his momentarily, only to find out that he wasn’t looking at her, but at the men instead.

  “We’re here to set up distribution to the lower region of your country, correct?” Angel’s voice was low and calm as always.

  Both men looked to him before nodding once.

  “Disrespect Snow again, and our meeting is over.”

  Snow wanted to kiss all over Angel’s s
exy face for defending her like that, but she had to remain professional. That would be all the three men needed to further disregard her presence as if she wasn’t just as important as they were. “Along with any future hopes of connecting with the DeLuca Cartel,” she added instead.

  “Our apologies, ma’am,” the larger one said. “We’re not used to doing business with women. In our country, women aren’t allowed to be involved in this type of thing.”

  “Well, Snow is the queen of the DeLuca Cartel. It’ll do you both well to remember that from this day on,” Angel warned.

  The men nodded feverishly at Angel before darting their eyes back to the paperwork. Snow’s chest relaxed some as she felt Angel’s grip on her hand release. She assumed he was about to put it back in his lap but was surprised when he grabbed and held her other hand.

  Although she’d never tell him, she liked holding his hand. It felt good. Safe, even. True enough she felt safe wherever she was, being that she could protect herself. Angel’s grip on her was different. The type of different that she’d done her best to avoid for many years, but had no desire to right then. He could hold her hand until the sun set, and she’d be just fine with it.

  “Will it be you two every time?” Angel sat back in the chair and rested his and Snow’s hands on his thigh.

  Oh Lord. Snow’s chest sank. She wanted to snatch her hand away so badly, but remained calm. It was way too close to the bulge in his thin suit pants for her comfort, and she couldn’t be sure that she wouldn’t reach out and grab it. With her top lip tucked between her teeth, Snow concentrated on her breathing and not the warmth coming from Angel’s lap.

  “Yes, sir,” the smaller dealer replied as he shuffled all their paperwork back into the black briefcase in his lap.

  “Cool. See y’all next month.” Angel went to stand up but was stopped by the man that had been smiling at Snow.