Chapter Fifteen
To The Victor, The Spoils
It was still early, seven in the morning, and Melquan was resting comfortably in the bed. His manhood was suddenly aroused once more as soon as he spotted India walking out of the bathroom, just a towel clinging to her wet, shapely body. Melquan fondled her ass when she passed by him. Whether it was pure physical attraction or animal magnetism, Melquan had a thing for India. He couldn’t deny that.
India knew Melquan wanted morning sex from the first touch. It was the normal routine for him. Even though India couldn’t always accommodate Melquan’s yearnings, she tried to satisfy him. She was well aware of the fact that Melquan was the type to stray. Whenever she could help it, India didn’t want to give him any excuses.
“I got to go to work and you’re gonna make me late, Melquan,” she protested in vain.
Melquan’s fingers were already rubbing her clit. It was no use resisting, India opened her legs and gave him more.
“Damn Melquan, you’re making it difficult for me to say no...!” she screamed when he raised her.
She hoisted and wrapped her legs around his waist. India threw her wet hair back and kissed Melquan when she felt the deep penetration. Her ass rose up and down in rhythm with his thrust. Her kiss dragged on long and sweet. Their passion was real and she sucked on his neck. It was the first time. Melquan’s body bucked faster and she did it again and again. Melquan’s mind was reeling from tasting ecstasy. He sucked on her breasts harder, while she bit his neck and earlobe. Her mouth drove him over the edge and he exploded.
“Ooh yeah, Melquan. Give it all to me!” she begged, moving her ass faster.
Melquan crammed his dick to the hilt inside her hot pussy. The friction of their lovemaking set her on fire and she erupted into an orgasm, holding her breath.
“Oh God, oh my no… This feels soo good!” India screamed.
She ran back into the bathroom and Melquan fell against the bed panting. He was ready to go again. By the time he got to the bathroom, India had already taken a quick shower and was getting in her bra and panties. She threw a towel at Melquan.
“Boy, I’ve got to go to work. Will you be here when I get home?” India asked, slipping into her nurse’s duds.
“I’ll probably step out for a few, but I’ll be back. More than likely, I’ll be here by time you get home.”
“Okay Melquan, make sure you lock up when you leave. And be careful out there. I’ll see you later,” India said, kissing him flush on the lips.
“A’ight, see you later. Have a good day at work.”
Melquan could afford to relax. Mike Copeland had the business under control. He was doing a good job of running the show. Still whatever he needed Melquan would always be there to assist, be it physical, maybe just giving advice. Melquan would continue to hold Mike Copeland down anyway he could. When it came to making money, Melquan didn’t have an ego. He knew that Mike’s success was his success and vice-versa.
Melquan was feeling good. His day was off to a good start. It was eleven a.m., and time to get down to business. He smiled at the prospect of counting money with Mike Copeland. He was on his way and Melquan chuckled not knowing which one made him feel better. Was it pussy or money?
He pondered this question in the cab, riding from Co-op City to Edenwald projects. The ride went by quickly and Melquan was still pondering. He paid his fare, hopped out the cab, and entered his building with money on his mind.
Inside his room at his mother’s apartment, Melquan and Mike Copeland counted out money. They sat on Melquan’s small bed, dividing the loot. His mother knocked periodically on the door, pretending to be checking on them. All she wanted to do was be nosey.
Melquan ordered that the bulk of the money was to be kept out of sight. He knew that his mother was a money hawk. She would continuously spy on them and if she saw too much money she wouldn’t hesitate to ask for some. On cue, Ms Tina walked into the room unannounced. Melquan shot Mike Copeland a smirk.
“You know this room has not changed one bit since you were a boy, Melquan,” Miss Tina noted.
“Ma, what’s good?” Melquan asked. “Don’t you see we takin’ care of bizness up in here.”
“Boy, lemme tell you a thing or two. First of all, ain’t nobody think about y’all. And secondly, I’ve seen lots of money getting counted before?” Miss Tina asked.
Miss Tina had tried to unsuccessfully quell her son’s suspiciousness, her eye betrayed her. They were continually drawn to the bed, where stacks of money were being counted and stacked.
“Okay ma, it’s not that serious. We just tryin’ to handle our bizness and be out.”
“Well, ain’t a damn soul stopping you,” Miss Tina said.
“You are!” Melquan insisted. “Talkin’ to us while we doin’ this can throw off the count.”
“Anyway, now that you getting big money don’t you think it’s time you buy some new furniture,” Miss Tina said, walking out the door.
“Ma, I gave you more than enough money for yourself. If you really wanted to you could have redecorated this room a few times.”
“That money was for me! Not no furniture, boy.”
The room went silence for a moment. Melquan and Mike Copeland continued to take their individual money count as Miss Tina looked on.
“Ma, do me a favor, please?” Melquan suddenly asked.
“What?” she answered.
“Could you get me and Mike sumthin to drink? We a lil thirsty, back here…”
“Oh okay. I got some Pepsi or some Orange juice. Which one y’all want?”
“Pepsi sound good,” Melquan said.
He winked at Mike Copeland when Miss Tina exited the room. The two shared a private joke. They knew that Melquan had purposely made the request to get rid of his mother’s domineering presence. Continuing with the divison of money, they quickly packed most of it away. Melquan stashed it in a Nike shoebox and closed the closet door.
“Yo Mel, you know ya mom’s is right, right? You do need some damn new furniture up in dis piece.”
“Oh yeah…? Then why don’t you buy me some, huh?”
“I may damn well have to…”
“Right now, none of this shit matter to me. I don’t even be up in here that much no more. You musta forgot that I lay my head at India’s crib. Besides, I ain’t doin’ my mom no more favors than I have to. Shit, all that money I done gave her, she should buy it. It’s about ten years overdue!”
“No question. That’s your mom’s my dude, break bread!” Mike added.
Miss Tina suddenly reentered the bedroom with two tall glasses of soda in her hand.
“That’s right Mike tell him a thing or two. Melquan is too tight with his money. I don’t know where he get that stingy habit from? Must be his father’s side of the family… Cause it sure ain’t mine.”
Mike Copeland stared at the gorgeous older woman and nodded. He looked over at Melquan and said, “You gotta learn how to enjoy this money while we gettin’ it like this. And start takin’ care of Ma Dukes a lil better.”
Melquan listened, but wasn’t about to change his mindset. Not to accommodate his mother’s strong craving for money.
“What about them rainy days? What about puttin’ away lawyer and bail money? Funny I ain’t hear nobody mention that.”
“My dude, we seein’ way more than enough cake to cover all that...”
“You think…?”
“I know my dude, c’mon. Look how much dough we just finish countin’?”
“And if the man run down on us right now, it could be all gone. Bottom line is, we don’t know when this run gon’ come end,” Melquan fired back.
“I hear you, my dude and I’m a sum it up like this, let’s live until we die.”
“Amen, Mike. That’s sure saying a thing or two,” Miss Tina cheered. “Well put, Mike.”
Mike continued, “I don’t know about you, but I’m a take a few stacks and make a trip to the car lot. Why don’t you grab a few and hang with your boy. I’m tired of havin’ a closet full of money and no riches. I think it’s time to let niggas know. We gettin’ crazy dough...”
The trio jumped in a cab and headed to National Auto Sales on Boston road. This car lot wasn’t big, but had lots of fly whips on the lot. Melquan, Mike Copeland, and Miss Tina fanned out in different sections of the lot. They were searching for the vehicle that appealed to them the most.
“Yeah, my man, this me all day, right here,” Mike Copeland said to a salesman.
“Sir, this is a two thousand and eight Porsche Cayenne. It goes zero to sixty in six point four seconds and can go up to a hundred and fifty-five miles per hour. It’s got dual airbags and rear entertainment system and the girls love it…”
“Yeah, say no more. I want to test drive this bitch right now,” Mike Copeland said excitedly. “I’ll look good in this shit. Huh, I’m a lil’ nigga too…”
“This vehicle will definitely make you popular if you’re not already… The fellas on the block will hate on you for sure,” the salesman laughed.
“They already do… Fuck ‘em though! I’m a really give ‘em a reason to hate. This one for my bitches…” Mike Copeland said. “Yo Melquan, peep this!”
Melquan was busy checking out a black Range Rover Sport. He smiled when he saw Mike Copeland hop in the Cayenne sport and take it for a test drive.
“Yeah Mike, get that. It’s a good look for you,” Melquan said, barely able to take his eyes off the Range Rover Sport.
Melquan now officially had succumbed to the pressure of his peer. Watching Mike actively car shopping made him want get himself a nice whip too. Totally disregarding what he had said earlier about saving money for a rainy day, Melquan joined the fray. He was about to wear out some major dollars.
“Yeah, this really me right here, you feelin’ me Mr. Salesman…? Let’s go test drive this bitch. If it drives as good as it looks, you just might have a sale.”
The sales man smiled and ran off to retrieve the keys to the Range. Miss Tina, not to be outdone, also found a convertible Nissan 300ZX, a ride she liked. She sat inside and slammed the car shut. Taking a deep breath, she soaked up the new car scent. A car salesman came by, and began to seriously stroke Miss Tina’s ego.
“This is a sophisticated car for a classy woman like yourself. Damn Miss, you’re a really fine woman but you driving this car, now that would really stop traffic.”
“Thanks,” Miss Tina said with a toothy smile. Turning her head, she shouted. “Melquan, come here I found something I like. Come over here for minute, boy.”
Melquan walked the short distance over to where Miss Tina sat in the red convertible.
“I thought you wanted to get the X5 over there?” Melquan asked.
“Can’t a girl change her mind? Don’t I look better in this though?”
“Yes, ma,” Melquan deadpanned.
“This the one I want. Melquan, so you gonna get it for me, huh?”
“Yes ma. But lemme do me first. Before I get your car, I need to get mine.”
“Okay, I’m ready. And I promise not to change my mind again.”
Melquan nodded and walked away with the salesman. Miss Tina followed closely behind them. They all walked into the business office and began to negotiate.
About twenty minutes later, Mike Copeland returned. He walked into the business office, singing the Cayenne’s praises.
“That shit is no joke, Mel. I took that shit for a test run and I was out, my dude,” he exclaimed. “Zero to sixty in six seconds, purring like a cat. Man, I’m coppin’ that bitch.”
The others looked at him smiling. All were pleased and looking happy. Melquan was visibly pissed. He didn’t like the fact that Mike Copeland was showing the car dealers just how much he liked the car. He on the other hand was the complete opposite. If the numbers weren’t right, Melquan was prepared to walk off the car lot without the car he liked. To him this was nothing more than business, an investment.
“Mike, lemme holla at you for a minute,” Melquan abruptly announced.
They both walked a few feet away, just out of the earshot of Miss Tina and the car sales people.
“Look, Mike you gotta be easy. Be hyped about coppin’ a whip later. Right now I’m tryin’ to bring the sticker price down on all three of ’em whips. They keep hearin’ you holla about how great da car is, then I ain’t gonna have no kind a leverage. So fallback and start hittin’ these cats with your best ice grill.”
“No doubt…” Mike Copeland said, nodding in agreement. “Say no more…”
Melquan went back inside and began to negotiate vigorously with the big boss, Joe. He drove a hard bargain and the dealers pushed back. Then he produced cold hard cash, and the dealership relented. They agreed to accept the numbers Melquan proposed.
When the agreements were signed and money was paid, it was time to enjoy the lifestyle that came from hustling drugs. Melquan, Mike Copeland and Miss Tina entered their vehicles that had been issued temporary tags.
“Good lookin’ Joe,” Melquan announced. “We gon’ do bizness again. Just as long as ya continue to show me love like that…”
“Love is love, fam.” Joe said. “Money talks and bullshit walks.”
“Meet y’all back in the ‘jects,” Mike Copeland shouted.
“Y’all…? Just keep ya cellphones on I’ll hit on ya da jack,” Melquan suggested.
“A’ight,” Mike Copeland said. “Cuz, I’m about to blow it.”
“Drive safely,” Miss Tina said, pulling off. “I tell you one thing. Get back to the projects in one piece now.”
One by one the luxury cars exited the car lot. Mike Copeland was a blur in his new Cayenne. Once he merged into oncoming traffic, he put every ounce of his car’s horsepower to the test. Melquan tailed him closely for a few seconds testing the power of his Range. It had power but he decided to fall back. Miss Tina took her time deciding to slowly style, and profile in her new 300ZX convertible.
By early dusk all three vehicles were parked in Edenwald projects. Shiny and new, the cars were attracting a lot of attention. Miss Tina went upstairs and called all her girlfriends to brag about her new car. Melquan and Mike stayed outside in the public eye, soaking up all the admiration.
“Let’s go to Smitty’s tonite, my dude,” Mike Copeland suggested. “That a nice spot from all I hear.”
“Bet, I heard the same thing…” Melquan added. “I heard they got plenty ho’s up in dat piece too.”
“You already know my dude…” Mike Copeland laughed.
“A’ight, that’s what’s up? I’ll meet you out front in a couple hours.”
“Get fly my dude, you know I gotta look good in da new ride.”
