Dope Boys and the Women that Love 'Em (8 page)

Lance was awakened by his cell phone ringing. “
Who in the hell is fucking up my Saturday morning sleep?” He asked reaching over and looking at the caller ID. “Oh,” he said answering it. “This better be good Bro. I had a long night.”

“Maaaan, wake your tired ass up! Damn right I got some good news.” Russell stated.

Lance sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Talk then, kid.”

Russell jumped right in.
“I have a new connect.”

“Who?” Lance quickly asked.

“Malcolm’s connect.” He informed him.

“Talkn’ ‘bout ol’ girl?”

“Yeah, it’s her and she actually needed me because she lost one of workers. You know my boy spoke up on my behalf and she found it to be beneficial.”

Lance smiled.
“Damn, that’s alright right there.” He said getting out of bed. This was the best news he’d heard in days.

“I don’t go see her until two weeks from now, but I’ll come back with the goods. This means that I’ll be able to run the blocks as usual and I can get back on my feet.”

“You meant I’ll be running the blocks for you.” Lance said, still wanting in on his piece of the pie.

“You’re right, because all I’m gonna do is make sure that you and Cash are good in the streets and I’ll just make the trips to pick up the product.” Cash was his r
ight hand man who lived in Statesboro, GA. He’d been running the streets with Russell since he started slanging dope.

“Oh you know I’m ready.” Lance excitedly reported.

“Bro, this is going to mean some late nights sometimes; especially if you don’t want the traffic coming to and from your house.”

“Now, kid
you know I ain’t having that.” Lance stated to his younger brother by ten seconds. “It can’t be no worse than me staying in the streets hustling up this money by gambling.”

“It’s gonna be a lil worse than that, because when a bitch finds out that y
ou got that uncut shit, they’ll hound the fuck outta you. That’s why I started trying to get off most of my weight to Cash at one point because Tammy was tripping about the late nights and shit.”

“Nigga, that’s because your ass was creeping too.” Lance laughed.

“That too, but watch the streets and them women because it’s easy to get caught up in the fast life.”

“Kid
, I’m not new to the streets.” Lance reminded him. “Plus, if nothing else, I’m used to pussy.”

“A’i
ght then,” Russell said already knowing that women would follow a man to the ends of the earth to fuck with him on that tip if he had it going on; especially in the streets.”

“I got this man,”
he confirmed. “I’m clean, I’ve never felt better, and I’m ready to make this money.”

“Well, that’s all I wanted to hear. So you can go back to sleep now. I got plans to make for my wife today.”

“I don’t know about going back to sleep after that news, but I’m certainly going to enjoy a nice day kicked back with my girl.” Lance stated then after a few seconds of bullshitting some more they ended their call.

Two weeks had passed quickly as Malcolm and Russell made their way to Atlanta
going up I-20 West. The trip seemed strange, for one, because the last trip they’d made together to get some work they were set up and robbed; for two, they never had the same connect. The only thing, at the moment, that could settle their ill feelings were to make it back safely with the product in hand.

Russell looked over at Malcolm. “Aye man, what is the broad like? What is she about?” He asked wanting to get some kind of feel about Amara before they met. “I mean, damn. I know you’re tight lipped about her, but at least tell me her name.”

“Her name is Amara.” Malcolm stated. He was so used to keeping Amara a secret until he didn’t know what to say about her, but he figured that he should at least give Russell some information.

“Amara
, huh?” He repeated. “What is she with a name like that?”

Malcolm grinned. “Her Father is Black and her mother is Armenian. She’s a mixed breed, but a
sister
all day long.” He explained thinking that Amara acted more of her black decent than anything else.

“Damn,
as soon as you said Armenian I thought about Kim Kardashian with her round fat ass and cute face.” Russell said thinking immediately with his dick head.

“She is one of the sexiest women I know.
” He commented thinking about Amara’s round fat ass and cute face. “I can’t lie about that, but don’t let her looks fool you. She is one of the most intimidating of women I know, as well. She don’t play at all and she is always about her business.”

“Well, I take that as a good thang, because all I wanna do is handle my business and get the fuck on.”

“I don’t blame you, because that’s exactly what I do.” Malcolm stated thinking back at the time when he used to chill with Amara until their being together became too risky for the business and Amara was asked to cut her feelings short and end their love affair after she’d given birth to their son. This definitely hurt him, but soon after their break-up he met Diamond and was able to accept Amara for the cold-hearted bitch that she was and moved on.

Malcolm
looked down at his wrist. The time on his expensive black dial stainless steel Cartier watch confirmed that he would make it to Amara’s house right before ten o’clock as long as there were no more traffic delays. He knew that being on time was always critical because Amara always had other shit going on. No telling which of her other dope boys had to re-up and when.

“Is there anything else that I need to know about her?” Russell questioned just wanting to get a feel
of his new connect. Malcolm drove quietly for a moment as he thought about it. He seemed to be zoned out as the exit 87 sign appeared ahead. Still without saying a word, he merged onto GA-400 North going toward Buckhead/Cumming.

“Well, she may be dressed in a robe, which usually stops right under her ass and whatever color that robe is, you can bet she’ll have on the matching wig and expensive heels.”

Russell laughed. “Are you serious man? That shit sounds fabricated.” Malcolm looked over at him with a serious face.

“I’m about as serious as I’ll ever be,” he confirmed. “She’s not at all like th
e average chick you’ll ever meet. She had a sweet side once upon a time in the beginning, but over the years she’s grown harder and colder. It’s like her hustle controls the person she is and at times that ain’t good.” He said thinking of their son and how little time she spends with him because she’s too busy caught up in the life of luxury, fast living, and taking care of her dope boys. “I tell ya,” he mustard up a grin. “No telling how many nigga’s work for Amara.”

“
You ain’t never lied.” Russell uttered. He knew when he had his own connect that he was doing the damn thang but it never felt like he was a part of nothing as big as Amara’s operation.

“
Since you’re working with her now you might know shit before I do, just depending on how she’s gonna set up our visits.”

Russell lightly scratched his smooth shaved head.
“How she’s gonna set up our visits,” he said a bit confused. “What do you mean? I figured we’d probably ride up together every other week or when it’s time for us to re-up.”

“Oh nah,” Malcolm quickly interjected
as he swerved over in the left lane then stopping at the red light. “Amara won’t conduct any business that way. I’m almost sure of it. The thing is that whatever y’all have going on is going to be between y’all. Just like whatever we have going on will be between her and me. You’ll learn the ropes real quick fucking with Amara and trust me you’re gonna learn today.” He stated while turning on the road that led to Amara’s house.

“Damn, the more I ask the
less I wanna know.” Russell commented then turned the dial up on the air condition control. For some reason he’d started getting nervously hot all of a sudden.

Finally,
Malcolm pulled up to the enormous sized gate and let his window down at the voice box. He reached out his truck and pressed the speaker button, simply stating, “It’s me,” then sat for a moment. He stared at the huge house which sat on the opposite side of the gate.

“Damn man,
is this her crib?” Russell asked admiring the mansion that sat on the hill.

“Yep, this is where you’ll be making your rounds.” Malcolm confirmed as t
he gate slowly opened. He followed the road that led up to Amara’s house. Russell sat staring out the window admiring the view of the open land.

“You can tell who’s sitting at the
top of the food chain.” he joked as Malcolm parked his truck around the back entrance of the house.

Malcolm nodded his head in agreement. “You know what to say.” He commented thinking that
they lived good, but Amara lived like the rich and famous in one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Buckhead. Her house was easily a million plus.

A
n edgy feeling hit the both of them at the same time and they looked over at each other.

“Aye man, are you sure you wanna be using the same connect? It’s not too late for me to back out now. I’m sure that in due time I’ll find another connect.”

Malcolm shook his head. “Listen fam, you’re like the brother I never had and trust me when I say that I have no problems with us having the same connect. Plus, no telling how long it would take you to find another one.” He stated already knowing that any chance of Russell getting his grind on in the streets and making money like he was used too would be cut short with Amara in the picture. He felt bad about being in the mist of the situation. If only Amara had just come to him without revealing what she’d done to Russell; he’d be conscience clear and all the way cool with it. Everything Amara did or let him in on had consequences behind it and he couldn’t help but wonder what the costs for this deal going down were going to be.

“So we
’re good?” Russell double-checked.

“We’re better than good. We’ve already discussed this and it’ll still be like we have our own connect. You’ll do you and I’ll continue to d
o me. You’ll hold down your fort and I’ll hold down mine.” Malcolm assured him. “This will not come between us. We’re brothers no matter what.”

“That’s all I wanted to hear,” Russell responded with re
lief. “Well, let’s go in this big ass house and see what Ms. Amara is up talking about.”

“Yeah let’s do that,” Malcolm said opening
up his truck door and cutting off the engine.

Russell paused for a moment still needing to get over that uneasy feeling. “You sure there is nothing else that I should know about this broad?”

Malcolm thought about Amara setting him up. He wanted to say something but he knew he couldn’t then he thought about Marco. Russell didn’t know that his connect was also his son’s mother too. Shit was starting to look shadier by the minute on his part, but his back was against the wall and there was nothing he could do about it or say to make it better.

Malcolm grinned a little. “Quit being so uptight man. I told you all you need to know from me. Amara will fill you in on the rest.” Russell smiled feeling pretty good
inside. He knew his boy wouldn’t steer him in the wrong direction. They both got out the truck and as they approached the door Amara opened it with a friendly smile on her face.

“Hello gentleman,” she softly spo
ke. “And you must be Russell.” She said immediately acknowledging him.

“Yes
, I’m Russell. How are you?” He politely asked extending his hand for hers. She gripped it firmly with the soft touch of a handshake.

“I’m glad you could make it.” She said then
openly winked at Malcolm with a satisfied smile. He was not the least bit amused by her overly surprised attitude as if Russell wasn’t going to show, but he was surprised that she actually had on clothes. She knew he would from the moment she asked Malcolm to recruit him for her. “Follow me.”

Russell was the last to enter Amara’s house as he closed the door behind him. Walking inside the immaculate ho
me already felt like a dream as they entered a room modernly decorated with a posh white leather sofa, two white leather chairs, two ottomans, and a grand mirrored bar displaying any kind of liquor he could think of and some. Amara turned to face them.

“I’ll speak with Malcolm first and then you, Russell.” She said with a smile.

“That’s cool with me,” Russell said giving her a friendly smile back. He admired Amara’s pretty smile and the way she rocked the hell out of a black Catherine Malandrino strapless jumpsuit and a pair of Tibi Amber heels. Her black hair was pulled up in a sophisticated bun. She had a sassy, but very sexy look that spoke business.

“
Do you drink?” She asked him. He nodded his head indicating that he did. “Well, please fix yourself a drink and take a seat until we return.”

“Thanks,” Russell said walking toward the bar as Amara then directed her attention to Malcolm.

“Are you ready?” She asked.

“I’m always ready,” he casually responded then
looked back at Russell before leaving the room. “Are you good fam?”

“Oh yeah, soon as I fix this drink.” He commented reaching for the
Stolichnaya Russian vodka.

Mal
colm grinned. “Cool,” he said with Amara leading the way out of the room as they headed toward the front of the home. Passing through the entrance hall, Malcolm gradually looked upward toward the ceiling at the main attraction of the immaculate home. The elegantly centered Casablanca 1chandelier always caught his attention. Even if it was dark inside, the bright 24k chrome plate outlined the dazzling Spectra crystals that always brightened the place. The grand chandelier was absolutely gorgeous, showcasing power and abundance in money.

Malcolm stopped directly behind Amara waiting patiently for her to punch in the private code to the room.
This was the room where all the business was handled and most importantly, where the product exchanged hands.

Malcolm sat down on the rust colored leather chair
, leaning up against the arm rests. He looked over at Amara and smiled. “You look stunningly beautiful today with your black hair and nice attire on,” he spoke.

“Thanks,” she said knowing that it had probably been years since he’d seen her fully clothed.
She attempted to crack a pleasant smile eagerly wanting to rush the visit so they could be on their way. “So, how much does Russell know?”

“What do you mean?” He quickly asked.

“Meaning, have you told him anything about our visits?”

Malcolm shook his head. “He did ask a few questions, but I only told him that anything he needs to know will come directly from you. I also informed him that my business with you is mine and that his business with you is his.”

“Good,” she responded. “From this day forward you will continue to make your trips alone.”

“That I already figured.”
He stated. Amara smiled on the inside, looking over at the father of her son. She was proud of him for becoming the man that she’d groomed over the years. He was the type of man that girls dreamed about. He was a handsome hard worker and loyal, but more so, loyal to the game; not her. She’d made it that way over time by becoming the woman who broke his heart then turned her back on their son. On top of that, she was also the mastermind behind the set up of his best friend. She shook her head with distasteful thoughts of being so conniving and heartless as she gracefully made her way over to the safe.

“I’m giving you five bricks for your nex
t three trips.” She cautiously stated while punching in the code to the safe.

Malcolm scratched his head. “Five bricks,” he said. “Why am I getting five bricks? I normally get ten.”

She glanced back at him already knowing that he wasn’t going to be pleased. “I’m sorry, but there are consequences to your actions or have you forgotten about that since it’s been so long ago?” He reluctantly nodded his head having remembered six years prior that he had sold three bricks to an untrustworthy person, but had he spoke with her first it would’ve saved him a hard lesson to learn.

“Amara I went to school with the man.
Besides Russell, he was one of my closest friends. All I know is that he’d moved away and when he came back he was making power moves and so was I. He had the money for the bricks and I had the bricks for the taking. I never had a reason to think that he was a snitch. Hell, he was boy, my nigga from back in the day,” he explained.