“Right now, as long as we’re makin’ money and nobody’s fuckin’ with us for a change, I don’t see any reason why we can’t do both. But us goin’ legit is where we’re goin’.”
“Fair enough. So what y’all got planned for me in this bold new world?”
“I don’t know. What you wanna do?”
“What Wanda got you doin’?” Bobby asked.
“Goin’ to borin’-ass meetings with borin’-ass people talkin’ a bunch of borin’-ass shit that I only half understand. But the numbers look good, so I ain’t sayin’ nothin’. Wanda is makin’ us a chunk of money that way.”
“Any women at these borin’-ass meetings?”
“Some.”
“Probably a bunch of stuck-up hoes who think they’re better than everybody.”
“Some are, some aren’t,” I said and thought about Meka Brazil. She’s a very smart and very interesting investment banker who Wanda and I met with about a week ago. Sometimes I wonder why I’m attracted to powerful, professional women like her, but gravitate to woman like Maria and Mercedes.
“Well, next time you have one of these borin’-ass meetings, I want to be there. If that’s where we’re goin’ in the future, I need to be a part of it.”
“I got no problem with that. Tomorrow afternoon we got a meeting with some real estate agent. Wanda wants to buy some warehouse and office complex in Long Island. It’s your money too; you should be involved. I really didn’t think you were interested in shit like that.”
“I’m not, but if times are changin’, I need to change with them.”
“I’ll give Kevon the day off. Come get me around noon.”
“Cool.” Bobby laughed. “And you can tell Wanda that I’ll behave.”
“Whatever, Bob,” I said and got up.
Chapter 12
When we got back to the club the first person I ran into was CeCe. She used to be with a baller who called himself Cash Money. He was murdered by Mylo’s hit team. Since then, she has been tryin’ to get with me by making herself useful, which she was, very useful at times. I tell her to do something and it’s done. But I still avoid her ’cause CeCe is a statuesque beauty, who has the type of raw sexuality that makes men fall at her feet, which makes her a very dangerous a woman. “Hey, Bobby.”
“How you doin’, CeCe?”
“I’m good, Bobby,” CeCe said to Bobby but her eyes were on me.
“Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. .” Bobby said. “CeCe been lookin’ for you, Mike.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem,” Bobby said and walked away.
“Hello, Mr. Black,” CeCe said with that sugary voice that always makes me want to rip the clothes off her body.
“What’s up, CeCe? You look nice tonight.”
“It’s a Diane Von Furstenberg lipari dress. You like?” CeCe asked and stepped closer to me.
“Yes, I do. But you look good every time I see you.”
“Which isn’t often enough, but I love it when you like what I wear. You know I pick my outfits with you in mind. You liking what I wear makes it worth the money I paid for them.”
CeCe was in the apartment when Cash and his crew got popped. Before the police got there, CeCe took all the money and dope out of the place and left it with one of her neighbors. She sold the dope and kept the money.
Smart girl.
“How’d you know I’d be here?” I asked.
“I’ve been looking for you, but I know you know that. I know you always show up here sooner or later. But I see you got your woman with you tonight, so I won’t disrespect her and take up a lot of your time, but I do need to talk to you about some business.”
I looked at CeCe for a second and then I turned and unlocked the door that led to the office. I stepped aside to let her pass and locked the door behind me.
“So this is what’s behind the black door. You know everybody wants to know.” CeCe went up the stairs that led to the office and I gladly followed behind her. When we got to the office, CeCe walked to the window and looked out at the club. “I always thought that this was a two-way mirror.”
“See how smart you are.”
“I’m glad you noticed.”
“Can I get you a drink?”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t mind if I do?”
“Of course not,” CeCe said and sat down on the couch.
I fixed my drink and sat behind Bobby’s desk. “What business you need to talk to me about?”
“You still looking for that guy Mylo?”
“What about him?”
“I saw him on the news a couple of weeks ago. His name was really Clint Harris and they said that he was a DEA agent, but it was the same guy. They found him dead in Philly.”
“I heard that too. What about him?”
“Well, you remember when you said you were looking for Mylo and I said I didn’t know who that was?”
“I remember.”
“Well after I saw him on the news, I remembered that he used to come by the apartment to see Cash.”
“But you knew him as Clint Harris and not Mylo?”
“That’s what I’ve been tryin’ to tell you.”
I sat there for a second or two thinking before CeCe said something. “What?”
“If Cash knew his real name, did he know that he was DEA?”
“How could he not know? I mean, it could happen, but I doubt it.”
“How well did you know Mylo or Clint or whatever his name was?”
“Not well at all. I told you I hadn’t been with Cash that long. Clint used to come by the apartment sometimes and they’d talk.”
“What they talk about?”
“They would always ask me to leave, so I never did know or really care what they were talkin’ about, but what I could hear was Clint tellin’ Cash how he could handle things.”
“Why you care now?”
CeCe looked at me like she couldn’t believe I actually had to ask her that question. “Why you think?”
“Enlighten me. This way we’ll both know.”
“You. I’m diggin’ you, Mike Black. I think I’ve made that plain. I know you here with your woman. She’s a very pretty woman and I hear she’s good people, and y’all got your thing, whatever it is. And believe me, I do respect that, but the fact of the matter is I want you. And you know what’s funny?”
“What’s that?”
“I know you want me.”
“What’s funny about that?”
“What’s funny is I can’t figure it out. I know you want me. I can see it in your eyes when you look at me. I can hear it in your voice when you talk to me. I can tell it by the way you avoid me unless you need something from me. And don’t try to say that you don’t avoid me, ’cause we both know it’s true. ‘She'll be all right.’ I believe that’s
She was right. That’s exactly what I say anytime somebody tells me that CeCe was lookin’ for me. When I
