Page 7

“I appreciate you coming to town and helping me restore the integrity and quality of my city. I can’t thank you enough for this.”

Handing Uno his requested bottle of water, I nodded as I took my spot on the loveseat across from him. He’d hooked me up with the penthouse suite at the Grove Plaza Hotel we’d built for the city about two years ago, and it had the perfect view of the city. Milly Grove is beautiful and has plenty to offer its residents and visitors. I’m happy to be a part of it continuing to reach its full potential.

“No thanks needed, man.” I waved him off as I got comfortable. “The Heights is better than ever from what you and your brothers tell me. Not to mention… the youth and senior centers are doing well. I hired a new crew to complete the shopping center near Highland Meadows, and it should be done in about three weeks. My question is, what’s next? You were telling Rosier you have more ideas for us to partner on.”

Once John and I finalized the hiring of the new construction workers, the build was seamless. The guys came back from vacation refreshed and excited to be getting raises, as well as happy about having team members who actually wanted to be there. I personally went to the site to make sure everyone was happy. In the same way we ensured everything was well with the Family business, I adhere to those same principles with Boudreaux Enterprises.

He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, y’all are doing your thing for us here in Milly Grove. I was thinking once we get that shopping center finished, we could canvas the area together. I have some things swirling that could be good additions, but I also want to hear what you think about some other potential businesses being that y’all the experts and shit. I don’t want to just keep building shit that ain’t going to make sense. I also want to revisit the conversation about the casino. I feel like it’s time we bring that to fruition.” He kept his eyes locked on mine as he spoke. “I know there were issues and concerns when the previous mayor made his counterproposal, but this is a new era.”

“I agree…” I leaned forward in my seat, placing my knees on my elbows. “Off the record, are you looking for additional cuts from the revenue it makes to sow elsewhere ?”

When we wanted to work with the previous mayor, his Uncle Carlos, he demanded additional money that we refused to pay. I’ve known Uno for some time now, and I knew he wasn’t that type of person. Still, I needed to know about any potential personal gains so we knew what we were dealing with on the back end. Most people who want a cut at the beginning of a deal usually end up wanting more and more. I was hoping greed wouldn’t be Uno’s downfall.

“I don’t want shit but to see the city thrive.” He frowned at me before adding, “A percentage of the casino’s revenue will go toward the city’s building fund. I don’t want any personal profits, if that’s what you mean by elsewhere .”

With a smirk, I nodded and reached over to dap him up. Uno was a stand-up nigga, and to decline millions, if not more, was commendable. “I respect that.” I waited as he pulled his vibrating phone from his pocket and broke out into a smile. “Look at this nigga grinning like a schoolgirl and shit.”

He chuckled as he responded to his text and tapped his phone before looking back at me. “Fuck you, nigga. Harley talking that shit I like, though, so we gotta wrap this up. Our baby girl is barely one, and I’m itching to put another one in her ASAP.”

“Ain’t nothing wrong with that.” I stood to walk him to the door. “Love looks good on you, real shit. I never thought I’d see you in love like this.” I slapped him on the back and smiled. I liked Harley for him. She was a good person. “Now, if we can get Wild to settle down…”

“Nigga, please!” He gave me a knowing look once we reached the door. “That boy is a lost cause. He just had to blow a nigga’s top back because the man caught him fuckin’ his wife in their house a few months ago.”

“And the wife?”

“Still touching her toes for that nigga every chance she gets.” He shook his head in disappointment. “You think your grandparents will come to town and pray for that nigga?”

Chuckling, I told him I would work on that before letting him know I would holler at him when he came back into town. Closing the door behind me, I looked around my dwelling for the next few months. I rolled my neck as I wandered to the kitchen, hoping to find something to eat before I called it a night. I still needed to unpack my suitcases and get settled in. Deciding to make myself a club sandwich, I heard my phone vibrating on the counter just as I finished. Looking at the number, I couldn’t help but smile my damn self.

“Well, well… if it isn’t my favorite girl,” I mumbled as I bit into my food. “I miss you.”

“It’s only been two days since you left, son.” My granny giggled as her sweet voice flowed through the receiver. “How are you getting settled in?”

Looking around, I took note of the three-bedroom space and nodded. “I like it, Sweets. I might have to get a spot out here for us. I think you and Pastor will love this place.”

“And your mother?”

Sighing heavily, I continued to eat my sandwich piled with everything I could find in the refrigerator. I haven’t seen or heard from my mother since I left her at my grandparents’ house. Neither of us has reached out, and the shit lowkey bothered me. I was her only child. She should’ve been trying to solve the issues between us. At the end of the day, she was my mother, and I do love her.

“I don’t know, Sweets. You know how Mama feels about me.” I sipped my water before I continued, “I love her, and y’all know that. At the same time, I’m not gonna let her keep talking to me like she’s crazy. She demands respect, and so do I. Mother or not, her threatening me is a no-go.”

Sweets sighed heavily. “Andre… She’s your mother. She has a lot of misplaced anger, baby. Give her a chance to speak her peace.”

As I listened to my grandmother plead my mother’s case, I fought to avoid being disrespectful. I was conflicted about it all, but I was clear on my mother and her disrespect toward me and my business being unacceptable. Zoo wasn’t going to let her threats go unheard or unpunished. The extent of her punishment was on her at this point. The best thing she could do was attempt to make amends with me and undo the damage she’d done with her accusations.

“Regardless of what you’re saying, Sweets… I’m a man, and I will be treated like one,” I stated as calmly as I could. “Mama thinks she knows everything when, in actuality, she knows nothing.” I finished off my food and threw the paper plate in the trash. “How y’all doing, though? Do you need me to send Jules by there to check on y’all?”

Although I wasn’t talking to my cousins at the moment, I knew they would never hesitate to check on my people if I needed them to. For them to be older, they got around well, but I still wanted to make sure they were okay in every aspect.

“He checked on me earlier and let me know to call him if I needed anything.” I nodded in appreciation of him for that. I heard the smile in her voice that caused me to do the same. “Your little girlfriend stopped by the church to speak to me on Sunday. You left her in quite a mess, Andre.”

Frowning, I cut the light off in the kitchen as I made my way through the penthouse. The night sky was brightly lit as stars shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows. If I didn’t get a condo out here, I was definitely getting a multi-story house. The view was something serious as the sun faded away earlier, and now the darkness had stormed through making me wonder why nightfall never looked like this in Florida. Focusing back on the call, I sucked my teeth. I knew whatever narrative Sandra told Sweets was a lie before I could even hear the details.

“Sweets, I didn’t do anything to that girl.” I stepped into the room, causing the light to turn on automatically. “She knew nothing was going on with us, and it’s not my fault if she thought she could change my mind.” I placed the phone on speaker and began to undress. A shower and sleep were calling my name. Anything I didn’t do today could be done tomorrow. “I hate that she got her feelings hurt, but that's not my fault. She knew what our arrangement was when we started said arrangement.”

From the time I dropped her off at her crib until the time I had to block her yesterday, Sandra has been blowing my line up. From text messages professing her love for me to voice notes hoping I died, she hadn’t let up, and it was evident she had lost her damn mind. Blocking her number was the best thing for me—and her if she wanted to live. The alternative was cutting off her fingers one by one for talking crazy to me, of all people.

Sweets was giggling again. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. I just want you to be happy, baby. I want you to find a good woman and have me a great-grand before I leave this world. I worry about you, Andre. Who is going to take care of you when I’m gone?”

“You’re going to live forever, baby. Plus… if you go, I go. God knows we’re a package deal.”

Hearing her sweet laugh was enough for me. I hated when she got into her feelings about me being single. This is the life I chose, and I’m happy with it.

“Well, I just wanted to hear your voice, baby.” She yawned, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before she was going to bed as well. “Also, please think about talking to Mattie—for me. I love you, sweetheart, and you be safe out there. Tell my baby, Adrian, I said hello.”

Chuckling, I thought back to how Wild called my grandparents and had my granddad pray for him after witnessing what Jules did to Carlos. Since then, he has called Sweets at least once a week to check on them. After saying our goodnights and me promising to think about communicating with my mother, we ended the call.

I took a seat at the foot of the bed and dropped my head in exhaustion. My mother and I will never be the same, so there was no need to speak to her. I’d entertain a conversation for my grandparents’ sake, but my relationship with my mother was on its last string of hope.

* * *

I’ve been in Milly Grove for about a week, and I was just now settled and ready to see what the city’s day-to-day agenda was. Riding through the busy streets, I was pleased with the hand Boudreaux Enterprises had in restoring the beautiful town. Granted, the city was never busted or rundown, but the landscaping could have improved, and it has. It makes me feel good to know that our company had a lot to do with that.

Uno has been out of the country with his wife and son, so Skip has been my go-to for any questions I have on the buildings and locations regarding new construction. He wasn’t on the council, but he was privy to all his brother wanted to do in the city, so I found no issue with linking up with him.

“What’s up, man?” I slapped hands with Skip as I entered his club. I’ve never seen the nightlife here, so I accepted his invitation to kick it at Club Honey tonight. “This place is a lot different from when I came with Jules.”

The club looked nice in the afternoon, but you could tell it came alive at night. The DJ was doing his thing, spinning classic tunes by Young Dro, and there wasn’t a person in sight who wasn’t bobbing to the lyrics. The bottle girls looked good as hell in their bralette tops, leather shorts, and fishnets. You could tell this was the place to catch a vibe in Milly Grove.

“Any time you’re in my spot, everything is on the house. If you ever need anything while you’re in the city, let me or Uno know, and we got you covered,” Skip said as he led us through the crowd. The way the niggas moved out of the way, and the ladies stopped to stare, I knew he and his brothers had their share of envy and admiration.

“What about Wild?” I asked jokingly as I stepped into the section. I blew a slight whistle because the shit was decked out in black and gold with liquor and champagne bottles everywhere. There was also an entire food spread with wings, sliders, and four different dips with chips. “Man… I know you didn’t do all this shit for me.”

“Why not?” Skip turned and eyed me as he placed his hand inside his pockets. “This is our private section, and you’re my guest. We always take care of our people.” He walked over and patted my back as he headed out of the section. “Let me check on some shit real quick, and I’ll be back.” He peered over the banister and shook his head. “Speaking of Wild… take a look for yourself.”

With a chuckle, he shook his head and left me alone in the section. Glancing over the banister, I couldn’t help but snicker at the sight below. Women surrounded Wild as he wrapped his hand around one of their ponytails and danced like Jamaicans. They were all into it until a man approached them. Wild continued to dance and said nothing until the man pushed him. He didn’t break a sweat or lose rhythm as he removed his Glock from his waist and hit him in the temple, knocking him out cold. The women gasped and scrambled to get to safety. The girl he was dancing with stood in shock, but Wild whispered something to her ear that caused her to take his hand and nibble her lip as he led her through the crowd and toward the restroom.

“That nigga…” I chuckled and walked over to the bar area to fix myself a drink and something to eat. It’s been a little minute since I was out for my own leisure, so I made up my mind to enjoy myself.

A few minutes passed with me eating and sipping on a bottle of Ace as I watched the crowd below. I didn’t want to do too much because I had to drive tonight, and no matter how protected Skip attempted to make me feel, I still had to watch my back at all times. I wasn’t really worried about a nigga fucking with me regardless of what city I was in, but you could never be too careful.

Right as I was about to leave the section and walk downstairs, I locked eyes with the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in person. Simply dressed in high-waist jeans that hugged her ass just right, a wrap top, and a pair of heels, she was the baddest thing in here. Her tawny skin glowed under the club lights, but when she smiled, I swear, I could feel the precum ooze from the tip of my dick. I sipped my drink and stared as she threw her head back and shared a laugh with the people around her. I was so focused on her that I barely noticed Wild when he entered the section.

“Boudreaux, what’s good?” He smiled as he dapped me up. “How’s the city treating you? Skip told me you were coming tonight, but I didn’t know you were already here.”

“Yeah… probably because you’re out there knocking niggas out and gyrating on hoes.” I chuckled as we clinked our shot glasses together and downed the Hennessy. “Sweets told me she wants to see you when she comes to town.”

He scoffed as he eyed me. “As if I don’t already know. That’s my girl, and she pleads the blood of Jesus over me every night.” Coming closer, he whispered over the music, “You know I had to stay at my mama’s house for two weeks after that shit with that witch you call a cousin? That nigga gives me the heebie jeebies.”

Throwing my head back, I couldn’t help but bellow in laughter. The serious look on his face didn’t make the situation better.

“If nobody else feels you, I do.” I grimaced as I wiped my eyes and calmed down. “Say, man…” I nodded toward shorty at the bar, who was now headed to the dance floor. “Who is that?”

Craning his neck to see who I was talking about, he sipped his drink as he crossed his arms and nodded his head in appreciation. “That’s Denim. She was born and raised here but moved away for a minute. I don’t know if she’s back in town or what. She’s a tough one, though.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked as I continued to watch her and her friends fuck up the dance floor. I don’t know what it is about the City Girls that makes these ladies show their ass, but she was out there having the time of her life. “She must wouldn’t give you no play?”

“Nah, it’s nothing like that.” He simpered and looked on as a flock of ladies approached the section. “A few of the homies can’t say the same, though. She’s just a hard one to step to.” The guard at the entrance asked Wild if they could come into the section, and he looked to me for an answer. “What you think?”

Shrugging my shoulders, I sipped my drink and took one last look at Denim before giving my attention to the five ladies who were filing in. Their body types varied in size, and each one was a different shade of brown, but they all looked good as hell. I wouldn’t mind getting to know one or two on a physical level while I was in town.

“Hey, handsome!” One of the thicker girls came over and spoke to me while the others were talking with Wild. The way they were eating him up with their eyes let me know he was going to have a long night ahead. “I’m Tammy.”

“What’s good?” I nodded as I took my seat on the sofa with her following. She tried to sit on my lap, but I stopped her immediately, patting the spot next to me. “Nah, but you can sit right here, though.”

My intentions were never to be rude—only straightforward. I didn’t know shit about this girl for her to be sitting on a nigga’s lap. Granted, I’m not trying to make friends. If she wanted to fuck, that was cool with me, but let’s not make this new encounter something it isn’t.

“Brash. I like that.” She smirked as she licked her bottom lip. “Are you new to the city? I haven’t seen you around before?”

Bobbing my head to the sounds of Tank, I dragged my eyes over toward her. Her breasts and thighs were barely consumed in the scraps she called a dress. She was a pretty girl with light brown eyes and thick pink lips. My dick twitched just thinking about what she could do with her mouth. Bringing my eyes back to hers, I could see the lust she had for me already.

“Just know I’m here for a good time—not a long time.” The tunes of R. Kelly’s “Seems Like You’re Ready” came through the speakers, and the more I looked at her, the more I wanted to see what she was about. “I apologize for being rude moments ago. How about you come over here and show me what you got?”

Sliding the strap of her purse from her shoulders, she stood to her full height before moving in front of me. She wound her hips slowly as her hands roamed her body. The entire time, our eyes never left each other. Turning her back to me, I pulled my pre-rolled blunt from my ear and watched as she bent over. Her ass was playing peek-a-boo, begging to be fucked. Reaching forward, I grabbed her by her wrist, causing her to fall into my lap.

“You feel that shit?” I murmured in her ear as she moaned, grinding against my dick. “You got a nigga hard as fuck, shorty. What you gone do about that?”

“Hmm,” she cooed as she laid her head on my shoulder, draping her arm around my neck. “Let’s get out of here, and I can show you.”

Chuckling, I let her continue to do her dance. I glanced around, and more girls had flooded the section, as well as some of the guys who worked for Skip. He’d given me a rundown when I first came to town and let me know if I needed anything, I could trust these guys. I appreciated it, but the two niggas I trusted the most were back in Florida, so I was good with handling my own.

“You straight?” Skip eyed Tammy with a blank look on his face. “I got caught up in the kitchen.”

“I’m good,” I assured him before I tapped shorty’s thigh and told her to get up for a second. “Let me holla at bro.”

Walking over to the corner of the section, I peered back and saw shorty walk over and whisper to one of her friends that was entertaining Wild. That nigga lived up to his name because he was dry-humping one girl while he made the other two kiss.

“That’s one freaky-ass nigga.” I chuckled as I pulled from my blunt. “Is he always like this?”

“Man, listen… I pray every day for his health.” Skip placed his hand in his pocket while we shared a laugh. “I see shorty is looking to get chosen tonight. I ain’t no hater or no shit like that, but watch your back with these hoes from the East. Grove Heights has some of the shadiest women in the city.”

“My Glock doesn’t discriminate,” I said, giving him a knowing look. “I won’t make no noise while I’m here on business, but there’s not a nigga or bitch alive that can say they played with Dre and lived to talk about it. I saw a hotel up the street that I might take her to. I just want to kick it tonight before it’s down to business tomorrow.”

“You got that.” We slapped hands before I let him know I was about to head out. “Hit me if you need me. If not, I’ll get up with you once Uno lands.”

Glancing over at shorty, I nodded toward the exit, and she wasted no time sliding out of the booth and wide-stepping toward me. Dapping up Wild, I let him know I would get up with him later. As I rounded the corner of the narrow walkway, I bumped into the softest body. I had to grip her waist to keep her from falling.

“I’m so sorry!” The girl Wild referred to as Denim apologized as her purse and phone fell to the floor. “I should’ve been paying attention to where I was going.”

“Yeah, you should have.” I smirked, still holding her in my arms. “You gotta be careful. We wouldn’t want you hurting yourself.”

“Right…” She giggled softly as she pulled away. “I’m Denim… And again, forgive me.”

Smirking, I accepted her awaiting hand. Even her hands were soft, and I couldn’t help but think about how they would feel wrapped around my dick. Peering down into her brown eyes, I felt my dick grow harder than it was when Tammy was dancing in my lap. Speaking of Tammy, the sounds of her huffing and puffing could be heard behind us, reminding me she had been following me to exit the club.

“Um… can we go?” she said with an apparent attitude. “I thought we were going to chill. Why you talking to her?”

I don’t know what it was about this Denim chick but seeing her up close was fucking with me. When I saw her from afar, it did her no justice. Baby girl had a light, feminine scent to her that was driving me crazy. Her body was oozing with sex appeal even though she was fully covered. The fact that she stood there and didn’t run off from the embarrassment of being close to busting her ass said a lot about her confidence. I was ready to say fuck Tammy, but Denim was trouble—I could tell from simply looking into her eyes.

“Say my name…” I barked at Tammy without taking my eyes off Denim. Just because she was trouble didn’t mean I wasn’t going to admire the work of art. She began to pant softly as my eyes drank her in while my words were rough as sandpaper toward Tammy. “I want to hear you say it.”

“Your name?” I could hear the confusion in her tone. “You never told me what it was.”

“Exactly,” I said matter-of-factly, finally giving her my attention. “You don’t know shit about a nigga except how big my dick is. Pipe that hot shit down when you’re talking to me.” Giving my attention back to Denim, I grinned. “See you later, Denim.”

Side-stepping her, I continued my way toward the steps that led to the main floor. Hearing Denim call out to me, I peered over my shoulder and found her still standing where I’d left her. “You didn’t tell me your name…”

Rubbing my hands together, I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and gave her perfect frame one last look. “Dre,” is all I said before I continued toward the exit with Tammy on my heels. Regardless of the attitude she had, I knew she was still going to leave with me. While Denim’s aroma said, “I’m that bitch,” Tammy’s scent was one of desperation.

As I stood outside and waited for the valet, I gave Tammy the details of the hotel and told her to meet me there. She tried to fight me on it, but I gave her a knowing look, and she let it go. Stepping toward my Range as the valet pulled it to the curb, I scanned the lot and locked eyes with Denim. I threw her a wink before sliding onto the buttery seats. Hopefully, I will see Little Miss Denim again. Milly Grove was but so big, so I was sure we’d run into each sooner or later.

* * *