“Next time came quick,” I teased before I had the door all the way open. However, my lively energy morphed into repulsion within seconds. “Chaz, what the hell are you doing here?”
“I came to get my things, like you said. I’m not giving up on us, but I need my shit.”
Before Chaz could continue his speech, Ishmael stepped off the elevator. His loose limbs turned rigid when he recognized I wasn’t alone.
“My keys?”
“I was waiting on you,” I replied after tossing them into his palm.
“Do we have a problem?” he asked with a pointed brow.
“Like you said, I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”
Chapter 5
Ishmael
Same Time
“Aww, hell nah!” Durk’s gold grill sank into his bottom lip as he rushed to his feet. “This is your last game. You can’t play no more!”
I laughed. “See, that’s why you’re losing. Poker is about strategy and patience. Your temperamental ass always shows your hand on your face.”
“Don’t study me, nigga. Run that shit back!”
Today, the Sons of Eshu were hosting a casino-themed party for one of our high-ranking members, and from the moment I sat down, I had been whupping ass and taking Durk’s money.
Before the dealer had the chance to start a new game, I checked my phone and saw I had two missed calls from Isabella.
“Hey. Y’all can play this one without me. I’ll be back for the next.”
“You damn right,” Loso exclaimed. “You’re going to give me the chance to win my money back.”
“That’s my money now, meathead.”
As the losers complained, I walked away and found an empty table amongst the partygoers.
“What’s good, little one? What do you need?” I quizzed once Isabella answered the phone.
“Ugh. Don’t make it sound like I’m always begging.”
I tilted my head from side to side. “I mean . . . ”
“Whatever. Can you send me some food? I only have cash, and the place I want to order from won’t let me pay once the food gets here. I don’t want to use my debit card.”
“Spoiled ass,” I muttered. “Are you home alone?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Annoyance tightened my jaw. “I’ll have one of the ladies that hangs out at the clubhouse drop your food off. I don’t want some weirdo delivering anything to you. What do you have a taste for?”
While Isabella ran down her order, I massaged my forehead to keep from spazzing. It was pointless to question my sister about Mariah’s whereabouts. I was sure she left without saying a word. Still, it pissed me off to know Mariah hit the streets before she made sure her kid was taken care of.
“Izzy, text me what you want, and I’ll pass it along.”
“Appreciate you!”
Though good vibes and deep pockets packed the clubhouse, I checked my watch to see if it was too early to leave. The black-tie birthday party was invite-only, yet the guest list included close to eighty people. Most were members of the Sons of Eshu, and the rest were big names from Silk Hills. After watching Church heal from gunshot wounds, then watching him enjoy life despite losing part of his hearing, my brother’s life was worth celebrating. Next to Durk and Shiloh, the professional clean-up man was who I called when I had to get my hands dirty.
