Lovely Vines. Tondria Leatrice
them smiling, showing all her yellow teeth. They both looked at Ax because they knew he was about to say something about her.
Ax said, “Look at this shit! The front door has been kicked down a few times. Was that a bullet hole?”
Merch said, “Cuz, chill out! Aww, shit!”
Skinny Stripper said, “Hello, fellas. How can I assist you?”
“You can get your skinny ass out our face and go brush yo teeth,” Ax whispered to the guys. The guys started laughing hard as hell, hoping she didn’t hear him.
Merch said, “Can you please go get Rocky?”
Skinny Stripper said, “Right this way, gentlemen.”
Merch placed a twenty in her G-string, and she swished away.
Ax said, “I hope she gets a steak and comes back for auditions.”
Merch said, “Fuck that! We’re getting all new staff.”
Tee said, “Ax, man, your ass be going in. All this shit about to change real soon.”
Ax said, “Man, these drugs got these bitches looking sick as fuck.”
Merch said, “Right! Look at her, fam. Skinny ass popping pills and hitting the pipe in the dressing room. I’ve been here during the nights, and all the chicks thick as fuck.”
Tee said, “They’re doing it because the owner is allowing this sick shit.”
Ax said, “Look at this fat fucker! He stretched the horse out on the shirt.”
Merch said, “That’s dude fat ass. Looking like he ate all the dough.”
Rocky approached the guys with a big fake smile showing all his gold teeth. His fat-ass stomach was hanging over his belt with a sandwich in one hand, and he trying to shake their hands with the other. “I take it that you’re Rocky? Nice to meet you,” Merch said. “Yes, I am. What’s funny? I want to laugh too,” Rocky replied.
“Nothing. You got something white on your mouth,” Ax said. Merch and the guys shook hands with Rocky then went straight to the business. “He just used his shirt,” Tee mumbled.
“Okay! Now, I see a few ladies we should keep,” Tee said in a jokingly way to Rocky. “Follow me to my office in the back, and, Jill, go get us some drinks please,” Rocky demanded.
Merch saw her at his brother’s spot last week but didn’t realize she worked here because he was picky as hell. “Rocky? Does she come with the club,” Merch asked.
All the guys chuckled because she was fine as hell. Merch was trying to figure out how long she’d been working there because his brother Ishmael didn’t deal with strippers at all.
Rocky said, “Yes, she does. She’s new here. So, back to business. Here’s the number I came up with.”
Merch said, “I see, you went up, like, forty thousand. What’s that all about?”
Rocky said, “A new appraiser stopped from the city, said I own the empty building space on the other side. I’ll show you after we finish here.”
Merch said, “Well, my construction men Tee and Ax here can do the walkthrough with us. They’ll see how much value the extra space adds.”
Ax said, “Let’s do this! Let’s start with the empty side first. Then upstairs, so I can check for water damage before we go downstairs.”
After the walkthrough, Ax gave Merch an estimate on how much everything would cost for renovations and getting everything up to codes. Merch, Tee, and Rocky went over numbers, had a few shots, and flamed until they came up with an agreement.
Merch said, “I’ll have my lawyers look over the agreement when they get here. Then we’ll meet later tonight to finish signing everything.”
Rocky said, “All right, my man. Enjoy the VIP on me tonight.”
Ax said, “Merch…is he serious, fam? Hopefully, they bleach it first.”
Merch said, “Let us get the bottle. Thanks. We’re good on the VIP though.”
Rocky said, “I insist. Let my girls show you a good time.”
*****
Merch called his homey to meet him at the club to handle some business. When he arrived, they met in the VIP room.
Merch said, “What’s up, Swen?”
Swen said, “What’s up, nephew? Baby, go get us some drinks.”
“Okay, Daddy,” the baby said. Swen always had a female with him to make shit look good and not draw attention to himself.
Merch said, “Same ol’ shit! Learning from the best.”
Swen said, “Heard Pops is coming home soon? Are you keeping your hands clean?”
Merch said, “Yeah. You can’t hold a real nigga down for too long. Sorry about your little brother, Unc.”
Swen said, “Thanks! That shit fucked my mom and dad up. He was on some hero-type shit.”
Merch said, “I can’t blame him. I’d do the same shit if someone fucks with mines.”
They flamed a few before Merch made his mind up if he wanted the shit, like always. His baby came back in looking and shit. “Go find some friends,” Swen told her ass. Merch chuckled as he counted out the money for Swen.
Swen knew his best friends’ sons wouldn’t try anything funny because they grew up thinking that he was their uncle.
They were so into their conversation that they didn’t even notice that Rocky peeked in the room and turned around before they could see him. Rocky saw the pistols sitting on the table, a lot of money, and flame. His fat ass got spooked, hoping they didn’t see him because a mission just went through his mind that quick.
When Swen left with his baby, Merch went on about his business with Ax and Tee, talking about a layout plan.
Ax followed Merch out the club to his car, making sure no bullshit happened. Then Tee always walked a distance from them, so it wouldn’t look like he was with them. He would be the element of surprise just in case some shit popped off.
When Merch went to get in his car, he saw Samaya strutting through the back door with her nose turned all up.
Merch said, “What’s up, Samaya?”
Samaya said, “Nothing, nigga! Where Queen at? Ask her what’s up.”
Merch said, “That’s your fam. You should know, smart-ass!”
Samaya said, “Call her! Don’t be questioning me, Merch.”
Merch said, “Bitch! Quit playing with me before I smack the shit out of you!”
Samaya said, “Go on, Merch! Quit playing with me! Go find Queen.”
Merch said, “You got a man yet?”
Samaya said, “‘Do you have a man yet?’ The fuck!”
Merch followed Samaya to the back and smacked the back of her head. He made her lipstick smear onto her slushy cup.
Samaya said, “What the fuck, dude? You play too damn much.”
Merch said, “Bitch! Don’t play with me. Ask your cousin with your stuck-up ass.”
Samaya said, “Exactly! She’s your bitch! Not me…”
Merch said, “Shut the fuck up! Give these packages to Queen and Teresa for me.”
Samaya said, “This what the fuck you followed me for? I’m not a delivery service, nigga.”
Merch said, “Do as you’re told, smart-ass! You smoke the shit? Miss delivery.”
*****