Page 134 of The Need to Know

I shook my head. “You know I don’t like you eating in my car, babe.”

Nastasia wasn’t a sloppy eater, but I still didn’t want to risk having loose fries in my shit.

“Besides,” I went on. “I thought you were gonna air-fry us some wings?”

Nastasia huffed. “I’ll be good. I only want some fries. I’ll wait ’til we get home.”

She wouldn’t, but I obliged her anyway.

We got in my Acura and hit the drive thru. We hadn’t even pulled off before Nastasia was sniffing her fries and salivating in the aroma.

Seeing that my tank was near E, I found the closest gas station, a RaceTrac, and pulled in.

Nastasia put on her best smile as she turned in her seat to face me. “Get me a couple of strawberry shortcake rolls? I feel like being bad.”

I looked out my window to see what pump we were at. Pump 20. “Okay.”

I got out of the car and took off for the entrance. A glance over my shoulder and I saw Nastasia sneaking a couple of French fries. A smile stole my face as my heart warmed.

Inside the RaceTrac I grabbed a bottle of Fiji water and Nas’s strawberry shortcake rolls. At the register I put money on pump 20 and reached into my pocket to grab my⁠—

A hand came down on my shoulder, causing me to whirl around and come face to face with dread.

We weren’t really face to face, because I was an inch or two taller, but turning around to see Tee Money behind me sent trepidation down my spine nonetheless.

He brandished a smile, revealing a gold tooth on one side. Real old school. “E! Long time no see, baby boy.” His heavy hand landed on my back and almost sent me forward. He was around Pops’s age and still kept in pretty good shape.

I faced the cashier and stuck my card in the reader, needing to get the hell out of dodge and quick.

“What’s up, man?” I responded to be polite.

Tee chuckled and adjusted his gold-framed glasses higher up his septum. “You know me, analyzing the game, Eazy E, analyzing the game.”

The cashier forked over my receipt and I took it and swiped up my things. Behind me, Tee wasn’t budging. “I hear you, good to see you.”

He held up a finger, his hand sporting a few thick rings. “Give me a minute. I need to holla at you about something.”

Shit.

Thumbing a finger over my shoulder, I tried to get out of this. “I got someone waitin’ on me in the car.”

“I’ll only rap to you for a second,” Tee assured as he paid for his own gas. “Time is money, and money’s always worth the time.”

Tee paid for his gas with record timing before following me out of the station. On the sidewalk, we stood side by side, and I kept my gaze at the ground. A stray cat wasn’t too far from us down the sidewalk. It was chubby, clearly not missing any meals with its thick gray Tabby body.

“I been trying to reach you,” Tee started off.

I rubbed at my neck. “Yeah, I’ve been busy, man.”

Tee nudged me. “I see. BLVCKJVCK is the talk of the town.”

Pride had me looking him in his eye. “It’s going to stay that way, Tee. I can’t do business with you.”

He angled his head. “You haven’t even heard my offer.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m happy where I’m at.”

“I’ll do you one better,” Tee said. “Seventy/thirty split. In your favor. A whole new club.”