Page 18

NORAH

"W here you off to?" Mama asked, looking up from her daily paper.

"I'm going to the beach. I need to clear my mind." Norah slightly lied.

"Okay, baby. You may need that. And stop worrying, chile. That girl gon’ be okay." Mama spoke confidently.

Norah looked at Mama and knew she held a sort of premonition.

Kinda like last time. If only they had listened to Mama and didn't go to the Dynasty.

The way Mama sounded should have kept them from being so damn naive.

As bad as Norah wanted to confess to Mama that they had gone against her orders, going to the Dynasty when she had warned them, and now Dallas was missing, she knew she would be in a world of trouble.

The night Norah had come home, Mama asked where was Dallas and Norah didn't know what to say.

She made up this lie about Dallas going home and never answered her calls after.

"’Sup, Mama. What’s up, sis." Dragon walked into the room holding a duffle bag.

Norah knew he had come from his trap and was only dropping by to count up his money.

He used Mama's house to shower, shit, and a safe house.

Mama had been living in her home for years and refused to sell it because it was built by the hands of her late husband.

Dragon had a fat crib out in Long Shore, a suburban area that was empty due to his lack of love and company.

Norah and Dallas would often go spend nights to swim or cook and just hang out.

Because Drayon and Norah were the only two grandchildren, it was always them.

Mama had two other children outside of Norah’s mother.

Uncle Elroy, who was doing a thirty-year bid for a RICO case, and Franny, who lived in Texas with her new husband.

Unc nor aunty had any children, so this left only the two of them.

"Hey, Drayon." Norah slid her other arm into her MCM backpack.

"Where yo’ big head ass going?"

"I'm going to the beach." Norah released a breath, expressing sadness.

Dragon knew why the long face and wished he could make things better for her. He had put out an APB on Dallas all over the city but nothing had surfaced. He even had a few of his goons staking out Big Boy’s crib because he wouldn’t be surprised if the nigga had her held hostage.

Dragon was very familiar with Big Boy because they were from the same area, therefore, he knew how Big Boy got down and it disgusted him.

The nigga cheated with the worst or the worst bitches in the hood.

They couldn’t hold a candle next to Dallas and not because of looks but ambition and personality alone.

"How you know Tasim?" Dragon asked, remembering the guy that had purchased the weed.

"He got family over in the Del Raso projects. I been knowing him for a minute now." Norah lied through her pearly white teeth. She couldn't dare admit that he was related to anyone in the Kinglys, and especially in front of Mama.

"Oh, a’ight. Nigga seem cool. He got a couple zips from me. He told me he knew you and he had peoples on the East."

"Yeah." Norah agreed. "A’ight, I'll be by there later to get some green. I got about a half left so I'm good for a minute."

"A’ight, you know I got you."

"Love you. I'll be back, Mama." Norah walked out of the door, and over her shoulder she could hear her brother saying I love you too .

Norah jogged down the few steps and headed to her car that was parked on Mama's front lawn. No matter how many times she was told not to park there, Norah did as she pleased and killed her grannie's grass in the process.

She hopped into her yellow bumblebee Camaro and sped up the street letting her pipes disturb the neighbors.

One thing Norah loved was fast cars that stood out.

Thanks to Dragon, he kept her laced with fly clothes, jewelry, and the cars of her interest. All she had to do was graduate and the world was hers as Dragon insisted.

Outside of Dragon, Norah made a living by niggas trucking in her. Whether she fucked them or not, they paid like they weighed just for company. At times she would ask Dragon to put her on, but he refused to have his sister hustling. Therefore, he chose to spoil her because he was rolling in dough.

Instead of the ’90s R&B Radio Norah had been listening to on Pandora, she decided to go to her YouTube and play some Glorilla. The moment she pressed play, and the beat dropped, Norah began rapping to the lyrics as she thought of Tasim.

“Yeah, I love me a trappin'-ass, dark skinned country-ass

Got it out the mud, 6'1", ol' thug-ass

Talk real slick, big dick, big gun-ass

Pick a bitch up when we fuck, ol' strong-ass, nigga . . .”

Listening to the song made her think of the last time she had seen him.

From his smile to his broad shoulders. The imprint from the barrel of his gun made her pussy jump down to his cocky demeanor.

She knew the nigga got money because he smelled like money.

His appearance was crisp, showcasing neatness with his clothing.

Norah wasn't trying to fall in love, but maybe, only maybe if he found her friend she wouldn't mind giving him some pussy.

She liked the fact that he wasn't from her neck of the woods because those niggas had been ran through.

She wasn't gonna move too fast until she got to know him, and once she found out if he was packing, she wasn't gon’ move slow either.

Norah was one of those, “let’s just fuck and get it over with” types of chicks. She wasn't into dating three months then fuck and be disappointed. From what she could see, he was a complete package deal. All she was lacking was knowing the size of his dick.

***

"Is it possible to fall in love in only seven days?"

"Yes, it is possible to fall in love in seven days.

Some people experience instant attraction or love at first sight, Tasim.

There's no set timeline for falling in love, and it can happen in a matter of days, weeks, months, or even years.

Why, you in love with me?" Norah joked, making Tasim chuckle.

"Nah, I was just curious."

"Have you ever even been in love? You look like one of those player type niggas that hate bitches as y’all call them."

"Nah, it ain't nothing like that, beautiful. I'm a cool guy." Tasim looked out into the currents of the ocean. "Have you?" He then looked back at Norah, trying hard to read her.

"Nah, I don't do the love thing. Not really open to it either. Niggas play too many games. However, going back to your question, I think some people experience an immediate, intense connection with someone they've just met."

"Instant attraction," Tasim added.

"Right."

The question actually came from thoughts of Kasim.

It had only been six days and already the nigga was falling for Dallas.

It wasn't a shock because being locked away in the room with someone for days could lead to a deep attraction.

It was just crazy because Kasim was a hard one to crack.

Many women had fallen for him and chosen love over the money, but now it was as if the tables had turned and it was his brother falling for the winner.

"You got kids?" Norah asked, assuming he had all kinds of babies running around.

He looked like the type that had a wife stashed in a mansion along with a baby mama somewhere busting windows out.

“Nah. None of that. Maybe one day but not right now. How about you?”

“Nope. No kids. No man. Just me.”

“Plan on having any?”

“I don’t know. Right now, the answer is no , but maybe one day. I think having a baby girl would bring some life into me. My broke little bestie.” Norah smiled because she couldn’t wait to call her child such name. Her daughter would be her best friend outside of Dallas with a bond so deep.

“Come here. You look tense as fuck.” Tasim changed the subject, pulling Norah into him before she could reject.

He began massaging her shoulders then going deep into her spine. Norah closed her eyes. With the sound of the ocean, the warm breeze, and the way Tasim’s hands felt, the heat of the moment put Norah at peace. For the first time in a long time, she was able to take everything off her mind and relax.

Since the day she realized her friend hadn’t come back, life been stressful.

Devastating. Mysterious. It was like she just vanished without a trace, and the only thing that led to her was the Dynasty.

Which was why Norah chose to chill with Tasim.

She knew he could grow on her, but right now it was one of those take one for the team moments.

Until she found her friend, she was gonna just use the nigga for as much info as he could dish out.

"Ohhh, shit feels good. Where you learn this? Damnnnn."

"Comes naturally."

"Well, shit, what else comes natural?"

"This dick."

"Boy!" Norah turned around to playfully punch him.

"Nah, I'm just fucking with you. Them zones, ma. I tease the erogenous zones until you let me put this dick on you."

Again, they both laughed.

"Boy, you'll never hit this pussy. And if by any chance you happen to get it, you wouldn't even know what to do with all this.

" Norah rubbed her backside as if she had an enormous ass.

Her slim thick frame was far from anything fat.

This was always just her way of joking around by adding emphasis on her shape.

"Girl, if I got the chance, I’d fuck up yo’ whole life. That's exactly why I don't wanna fuck you. My dick too big and way too much for a little girl like you." Tasim stood his ground.

“Boyyyyy,” Norah replied with a smack of the lips.

She rolled her eyes and began laughing as if everything Tasim said was comical. Granted, his massage was over the top, but she couldn’t vouch for his sex. Most niggas bragged about their dick until it was time for an eye witness.

“I’mma get you one day, so save all that tough shit, Nor.”

“Not ‘Nor.’” Again, she laughed. “Nigga, you don’t know me like that to give me nicknames and shit.”

“I do what the fuck I want. And anyway, I told you you’ll be mine soon, so we gon’ jump straight into that lovey dovey shit. Why waste time?” Tasim stopped rubbing and sat beside her. “Look at you now. You can’t even take these hands. I can imagine what this dick ah do.”

“You just so sure of yourself, ain’t choo?”

“Yep.”

“Well, don’t be, ’cause I can take dick. Trust me, boo.”

"Yeah, a’ight. Well, after we find your friend, I’mma shove all this dick inside of you. I’mma do whatever I can to help, and I’mma do whatever I can to make you fall in love. Speaking of, you wanna roll to the casino and gamble a little?"

"No, not really. I have to get back home."

"Yo’ nigga?"

"Nothing like that," Norah replied because she didn't wanna be bothered with the casino. There were too many memories there that would have her in her feelings. . .

Sensing her mood change, Tasim looked her in the eyes.

"Have you gone to the police?"

"Yes, but nothing."

Tasim only nodded once. He thought of what Rahim had told him about the cop coming to the Dynasty and assumed this was the reason.

Nothing he or his siblings had to worry about because the cops were paid great.

There weren't normal killings except for Kasim when his dumb ass went on ten, and Shyim when her father ordered a hit.

Outside of that, neither Tasim or Rahim were just catching bodies.

They were in it for the thrill that came with the fun. Just like now with Norah.

"Shit, it's like she just vanished. Nobody is helping me." Norah dropped her head and began twirling her thumbs together.

She brought Tasim back from his daze, and again all he did was nod.

"We'll find her."