let that shit ride. It’s the principle. We gon’ go find them pussies and give ’em the business,” said Krazy.
“We don’t even have a gun, Krazy. They do. A big chrome gun.”
“Shit, we can ride to the hood, and I’ll snatch my grandfather’s twelve-gauge.”
“We’ll see them again. I need to worry about how I’ma explain this shit to J-Bo.”
As soon as Wink said that, J-Bo came walking through the door. Wink’s stomach dropped, and his heart started beating a hundred miles per second.
“What the hell is that smell?” asked J-Bo as he bent the corner into the living room. “It smells like booty, dick, and pussy up in here.” J-Bo stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of Amy and her friend, lying across the carpet, ass naked and smoking crack.
“What’s this?” J-Bo waved his hand at the two snow bunnies while looking at Wink.
“They, uh...” stuttered Wink.
“They spending some money, or are y’all up in here trickin’ off?” asked J-Bo. From the strong stench of pussy, he already knew the answer. He handed the two women their clothes and politely sent them on their way.
“J-Bo, I can explain, man,” Wink said as the two women left.
“Ain’t no need to explain. Let’s just not let it happen again. I keep tellin’ y’all this is a place of business, not a chill spot. Now, let’s count that money.” J-Bo walked into the living room and took a seat on the sofa.
Krazy handed J-Bo the seven hundred dollars he had made while Wink was gone.
“Okay, where’s the rest of it?” asked J-Bo.
Wink took a deep breath, then looked up at the ceiling.
“Just tell ’im,” said Krazy.
“Tell me what?” asked J-Bo.
Wink gulped, then told J-Bo what had happened in the parking lot. Silence lingered between them for a few moments. Wink couldn’t tell whether J-Bo was mad, because his face showed nothing.
“What does that have to do with my ends? I’m sure that I told you to always separate mine’s from yours. So, what you tellin’ me? You had mine’s with yours?” asked J-Bo.
“I went home to change clothes and forgot that I had the money on me,” said Wink.
“But that’s not what I told you. Now you sittin’ here givin’ me a sob story about how some niggas robbed you.”
Wink just stood there with the shit face while J-Bo continued to scold his ass. “You’s a spot worker. You don’t do shit like that. You was probably flashin’ all my money in the store, and some niggas laid on you.”
“The dude did say he knew you,” said Wink.
“That could be anybody. The whole city knows who I am. But that’s not my concern. I’m concerned with my ends. Ole boy didn’t rob me. He robbed you.”
“J-Bo, man, I’ll make it up. Just give me another chance,” pleaded Wink.
“You damn right you gon’ make it up, and it can never happen again, ’cause then I’ma feel like you playing on me.”
“It won’t happen again. I’ll die first before I get caught slipppin’ again.”
“You owe me thirty-three hundred still. I’ma deduct the grand you would have been gettin’ tomorrow, so you owe me twenty-three hundred,” said J-Bo.
“What?” snapped Krazy. “Some niggas robbed my man, and you want us to work that shit?”
“I keep tellin’ y’all this is a business. I gave y’all clear instructions. You didn’t follow them, so now you owe up. It’s the game,” said J-Bo.
“Just say when,” said Wink.
“I’ll be through tomorrow around two. Be ready.” J-Bo stood up and walked around the table into the kitchen.
Wink was at his heels. He held the door open for J-Bo. “I was gon’ ask you if I could bring my other niggas with me,” said Wink.
“The more, the better. But I’m holding you responsible for any losses,” said J-Bo. “A’int gon’ be no more losses.” J-Bo pulled back a smile, then said, “Young dawg, in this game, there’s always gon’ be losses. You just gotta hope your losses don’t outweigh your wins. Tomorrow,” He said, then turned to leave.
Wink watched as J-Bo’s head got small. That was his first lesson of the game. Many more were sure to follow.
Chapter Five
“This like some gay shit for real. I don’t think I can do it,” said Trey. He set the cucumber-size baggie on the bathroom sink. He and Wink were locked in the bathroom at the spot.
“Y’all hurry up in there! We gotta be hittin’ the road!” yelled Gator.
“My nigga, they all waitin’ on us. It ain’t no gay shit. It’s some money shit,” said Wink as he pulled the shower curtain back and stepped out the tub. He stepped over to the sink and washed the lotion off his hands.
“It didn’t hurt?” asked Trey. He was talking about the four and a half ounces of cocaine Wink had just boofed up his asshole.
“Nah, that’s what the lotion is for. It just feels like you gotta shit, that’s all. Hurry up and get that shit missin’ so we can be out,” said Wink.
Trey picked up the log of cocaine and smeared lotion all over it. “Here goes,” he said, climbing into the shower.
“I’ll be out front,” said Wink as he opened the bathroom door and stepped out into the living room, where Willie, Gator, and Krazy sat.
“You get it up all right?” asked Gator.
“Yeah, but I don’t know how long it’s going to stay put,” said Wink.
“What about what’s-his-face?” asked Gator.
Trey came walking in the living room, looking like he just got off a bull. Krazy and Willie were in tears, laughing.
“Fuck both you niggas. Next go ’round it’s y’all turn,” said Trey. His asshole and manhood felt a little violated. But to Wink, it was all about the come up. J-Bo always had his workers boof the coke when hitting the highway. A police dog can’t sniff the inside of a man’s ass, was J-Bo’s logic, and so far, it had been working.
* * *
J-Bo had rented a conversion van for the trip, and he paid Gator a nice little something in crack to make the trip. He had been working with J-Bo for a few years now and knew just what to expect at every turn. J-Bo was a real calculated nigga, always plotting and thinking. He made it to the level in the game that he was on because he understood that most niggas, you have to think for them
