Page 26 of The Need to Know

“Since when has that stopped you?” Cesar challenged.

It wasn’t far from the truth. In the past, Knox was known to handle bad jams himself. Only recently he fell in line because some asshole wanted to press charges. All I’d had to do earlier when I approached him was blink and he would’ve fucked Nastasia’s ex up.

Pops owned the team, but I was the quarterback. I called the plays.

“Knox be waiting for folks to fuck up so he can do his thing,” I said.

Cesar shook his head at our security guard. “Ol’ sociopath-ass motherfucker.”

Knox laughed and I joined him. Cease was a fool.

Cesar glanced at his cards and I watched as his face brightened with pride. “Straight.” He revealed his hand, an ace, a two, a three, a four, and a five.

Impressive.

“Royal flush,” I said as I exposed my ace, king, queen, joker, and ten of diamonds.

Cesar and Knox groaned together at my luck.

Another reason why I liked Casino so much? Much like De Niro’s character, I never lost. I always played a good hand and my hustles always saw me through.

“I don’t care how many awards Owen got, Remy’s my favorite Dymond,” Cesar said as he took a pull from his joint.

I chuckled as I leaned back, enjoying the weed as well. “Best of the bunch.”

Knox took a swig of his beer. “Where was O tonight?”

“Owen would’ve come, but wifey wanted his attention,” Cesar informed him. “You know how that go.”

It wasn’t a surprise Owen wasn’t in sight. He was married to the baddest Patel of all, Penelope, and I didn’t blame him for never leaving the crib. “Remy got the weed, but Owen got Pen.”

Cesar considered this, angling his head and thinking it over. “I’m still taking the weed.”

We laughed all in agreement.

“Owen solid, though, for sending the bottle, I won’t lie. This shit gon’ be a piece for the crib.” Cesar hugged the box of champagne close.

I liked the Dymond family. I really admired how family oriented they were. How Willie D wasn’t shy about his nepotism and making sure his sons were straight. In a way, he reminded me of Pops.

In the morning, when I stopped being stubborn, I’d go and make peace with my father. I never spent my birthdays alone. At some point, I’d have a meal with my parents, and I’d spend the night with a woman. I didn’t do relationships or serious, but I had a few I could call up for a no-strings-attached hookup, a few who would hit me up when they wanted something simple and convenient.

“I finally got to place a face to Paisley P,” I said. The world was way too small, because what were the chances that she was best friends with Nastasia?

“Yo,” Cesar said, sounding serious as he eyed me. “I did not know she looked like that.”

I blew out some smoke, unable to shake the surprise as well. “Yikes, right?”

Paisley had a nice voice, but I hadn’t pictured the tall brown-skinned woman I’d met tonight. Pretty as could be with a face that said Don’t Play with Me. She was the Pitbull, and Nastasia was the Poodle.

Paisley was thorough, though. All that attitude and mouth wasn’t for the radio. I could tell she was about it in real life as well. It made me respect her more.

“I hope you got the number,” Cesar said.

Knox looked my way, reading for signs of success.

I should’ve gotten Paisley’s info up front, but seeing how I was shooting my shot with Nastasia, it felt inappropriate. Even if my intentions were genuine.

“Nah, I will though. I want her to host a Ladies’ Night for us,” I said.