Chapter 98
Gucci
“Where are you coming back from this time of night, or should I say morning?” Aunt Lucy stood in her robe blocking the front door.
“Aunt Lucy, I’m grown. Good and grown, might I add.” I’d just come in from working my first shift at Diamondz, and a bitch was tired.
“Grown people don’t sneak out!”
“I didn’t sneak out. I was working.” Casually I slid past her.
“Working where?” She frowned. “Especially dressed like that?”
“I got a job at the strip club down the way, and there is nothing wrong with my outfit,” I replied while smoothing over the red halter top and miniskirt I’d purchased after my rendezvous with Funky earlier.
“The strip what?” she hissed. “I know my only niece, my dead sister’s daughter, ain’t down there taking her clothes off for the devil.” She was looking at the ceiling. I guessed she was talking to God.
“Chill, Aunt Lucy. I’m the bartender,” I lied. Honestly, I really didn’t give a fuck what she thought about how I made my money. Yet and still, I didn’t feel like one of her long-ass lectures. It was nearly 3:00 a.m. All I wanted was a hot shower and a comfy place to lay my head.
“Whew!” Aunt Lucy blew out an audible breath. “Girl, bartending at the devil’s playground ain’t really no better, but I’m so thankful you ain’t showing folks your cookies.” She smiled. “Look, I know you need to get on your feet. Just find something better as soon as you can, baby.” She locked the front door, then turned and kissed my forehead. “Good night, Gucci.”
“Good night, Aunt Lucy.” With a smirk I went over to the fridge and poured myself some iced tea.
“How did it go?” Rhythm entered the kitchen. I hadn’t seen or spoken to her since earlier when she wouldn’t let me use her car. When I came back from shopping, she was already gone for work.
“See for yourself and tell me what you think.” I slid the dance bag off my shoulder and tossed it at her. She set it down on the kitchen table and unzipped it.
“Holy crap!” she exclaimed. “You made all this money?” Her eyes were as wide as saucers.
“One thousand and thirteen dollars to be exact.” Honestly, I’d made triple, even quadruple, that on a slow night in Detroit, but this was a good start.
“I cannot believe it, Gucci. It takes me almost a month to get this, and even then, Uncle Sam takes most of it.” Rhythm played in the bag of money like a child. “Maybe I need to come up there and get me a bartending job.”
“I dance,” I whispered. She could be very naive at times.
“Oh.” Instantly she released the money like it was on fire.
“Girl, get over yourself.” Grabbing the bag, I rolled my eyes, then headed for Rhythm’s room.
“There are plenty of decent jobs in the city. You should find one.” She followed me.
“I got one thousand and thirteen reasons right here that say this job is just fine.” With that I made a sharp right into the bathroom and closed the door. It was the one place I had privacy in this tiny house.
Buzzzzzzzzzzz. Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz. “Hello,” I answered while taking a seat on the toilet.
“Hey, Gucci,” Nikki whispered into the phone. “I tried calling you earlier.”
“I was handling a few things. My bad. What’s up?”
“Mario was denied bail today.” She sighed.
“What!” I smacked my lips. “Damn.”
“He’s going to appeal it though. Hopefully, he’ll be home soon.” I could hear the sadness in Nikki’s voice. I felt the same sadness in my heart.
“It’ll be okay, girl.” I did my best to comfort her about the man we both loved for different reasons. “You and I know he’s a lucky son of a bitch.” I laughed to lighten the mood.
“You’re right. He is a lucky son of a bitch.” She laughed back. “Hey, I saw Mina at court today. She asked about you.”
“Was Sam denied bail too?” Guilt wouldn’t allow me to acknowledge Mina. She was a good friend when I needed one. I knew the way I did her was foul, but it was what it was now. I never cried over spilled milk.
“Surprisingly, no. He was the only one I saw free today.”
“Are you sure?” I sat straight up.
“Yup! I even called around to see if I missed someone. Everyone was denied bail except for the low-level soldiers,” she explained.
“Then he’s a rat, Nikki!” Just saying the words had me hot, but I knew what it was.
“What?” she asked in disbelief.
“He’s a slimy-ass rat!” I wanted to hit something but didn’t want to wake Aunt Lucy. “Think about it. He was the only one to make bail. That only happens when you snitch!”
“Sam wouldn’t do that.” She didn’t sound confident.
“In the dope game, niggas will sell out their fucking mama. Trust me, I know.” Briefly I thought about Cartier and his “loyalty ain’t shit but a seven-letter word” speech. “Look, I know you don’t want to hear this, but your boy is snitching. You need to tell Mario ASAP. Someone needs to reach out and touch his ass.” I knew Nikki would understand me loud and clear.
“I’ll look into it, and I’ll get back with you.” She sighed.
“He is a loose end!” I reiterated. “Tie his ass up!” Click!