“And you kept drinking ’em.”
Despite everything running through my mind, a small laugh still slipped out. “Because you kept handing them to me.”
Marv shook his head. “You grown… don’t put that shit on me.”
The valet pulled his car around before I could answer. Marv opened the passenger door and waited until I climbed inside, then closed it behind me and walked around to the driver’s side. I watched him through the windshield as he tipped the valet and exchanged a few words with the security guard nearthe entrance. He looked relaxed now, almost as if nothing had changed between the time I left the table and came back and maybe it did, but still the switch up between paranoia and relaxation was crazy.
Maybe the difference I felt was only because I knew what his cousin had done while Marv remained completely unaware. He slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and turned the music down before pulling away from the curb. The lights from the club disappeared in the side mirror as we merged onto the street, leaving me alone with him and every question I had been too afraid to ask before tonight.
For the first few minutes, neither one of us said anything. I kept my head turned toward the window while the beautiful sight of my city passed showing streaks of neon colors while replaying Lev’s voice inside my head.Eleven days.I didn’t know where I was supposed to get fifty thousand dollars in eleven days, but I knew one thing for sure. E’Levyn Laurent, as it said on his card, wasn’t bluffing.
Marv kept one hand across the steering wheel while he tapped the other lightly on his thigh every time the bass from the speakers hit playing a rapper I didn’t know. The farther we got away from spot, the lighter traffic became until it was mostly us and a handful of cars gliding through the night.
I kept staring out the passenger window, watching nothing in particular before he finally said something again. “You sure you don’t want me to stop and grab you something?” he asked after a few minutes. “Ginger ale… crackers… Pepto… hell, something.”
A small laugh escaped me before I shook my head. “No. I’ll be alright.”
“You don’t look alright.”
“I told you… that liquor wasn’t agreeing with me.”
“Aight.” He smirked without taking his eyes off the road. “That’s what happens when somebody trying to keep up with professionals.”
I looked over at him. “Professionals?”
“Damn right.”
“You call that professional? Y’all was over there taking shots like it was water.”
“It was somebody birthday.”
“I don’t even think y’all knew them.”
“We didn’t.” He shrugged like it made perfect sense. “That’s Miami.”
I laughed in spite of myself, then leaned my head back against the seat. I swallowed and looked over at Marv. “Can I ask you something?”
“You already asking.”
I rolled my eyes. I laughed softly before shaking my head. “What is Empire?”
The grin on his face didn’t disappear, but it definitely changed. “Empire?”
“Mhm.”
“What made you think about that?”
“I was just wondering.” I shrugged.
“Nah.” He chuckled. “You wasn’t just wondering.”
I looked over at him. “Well, if I’m being honest, I noticed your tattoo at the hospital and then tonight I saw the chain around Lev’s neck. I figured it had to mean something.”
Marv rubbed his beard before letting out a little laugh to himself. “It really ain’t your business…”
“I figured.”
“But I’ma tell you anyway….” He said switching lanes before continuing. “Empire a business.”
