Page 72 of Gang of Roses: Dice

“Hell yeah.”

Toni knew exactly what was up when she left. Anybody who’d been around me long enough knew Vaga’s little visit wasn’t friendly. He came to show me who he thought he was on this end.

Today I was returning the favor.

When we walked into Sunshine Casino, this seizure-ready ass shit lived up to its name. Bright as hell, gold everywhere, enough lights outside to make a blind man squint.

I wasn’t impressed. I saw inside pictures of every casino on this block, and this shit had to be on the same wave as Shamrock, just tacky as hell.

“This shit is blinding like a muthafucka,” Gwop voiced.

“Yup,” Wallie chimed in.

Oats stayed on my right while Gwop and Wallie followed close behind. The minute we stepped through the doors, attention shifted to us. I didn’t know if it was recognition or instinct, but people knew when something wasn’t right.

We weren’t there to gamble in this raggedy-ass shit, and we for damn sure didn’t want no watered-down drink. And we didn’t need a tour; we weren’t impressed before we came through the gold-glitter doors.

One of Vaga’s men stepped in front of us before we made it far.

“Mr. Maxwell ain’t taking visitors.”

“You sure you wanna halt my steps, big man?”

Oats chuckled beside me.

“But see,” I started. “I wasn’t taking visitors three days ago either.”

The nigga’s expression changed.

There it was.

Recognition.

His hand moved toward his waist, but he never got the chance to finish whatever dumb-ass decision his brain had made. My crew reacted, guns drawn, as Vaga’s security scrambled to respond.

Everything around us froze.

“Now,” I said calmly, keeping my eyes on the man in front of me, “you can take me to Vaga, or we can make this lobby real uncomfortable in this muthafucka.”

His jaw tightened.

I waited, but in just a second, I would be choosing for him.

That was the thing about fear. You didn’t always have to yell to create it.

“Office is upstairs.”

“See?” I adjusted the cuff of my shirt. “Communication.”

“Nigga, I swear I missed yo’ crazy ass in the streets.” Oats laughed.

This dude thought everything was funny until his looney tune came out to play.

“Nah, keep his ass in a suit. We ain’t been here but a few days and he on go,” Wallie said.

I was in a zone, so I was silent. They already knew I wasn’t feeling all this activity. My girl was waiting. That thought alone was pissing me off.

By the time we reached the private hallway upstairs, Vaga’s people had gotten the message. Nobody was stopping shit.