“What are you doing?”he asked.

  “Drinking smoothies with my girlfriend. Do you want one?”

  “Can we talk?”

  “We’re talking. She’s outside.”She could tell something was troubling him. “Where you been?”

  “In Houston for a few months laying low.”

  “You couldn’t call?”

  “I didn’t call anyone. Not even Q.”

  “You haven’t talked to Q?”

  “No, I went to his building. They said he wasn’t there and they didn’t know when he would be back. They were acting all weird and shit.”

  “He was arrested for conspiracy to commit murder.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah. They locked him up for Trey’s murder.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Damn.”

  “So you haven’t heard? There has been a lot of shit going on since you were gone.”

  “Like what?”

  “Black is dead.”

  “What do you mean, dead? How did he die?”

  “He was murdered.”

  “Please tell me you’re lying.”

  “No. I’m not. I wish I were.”Jada’s eyes were misty.

  “Damn. What happened?”

  “Nobody knows. Some people think it was some Detroit niggas. Some say it was dudes out of California. His body was found on the side of Roosevelt Highway in College Park. What did you want to tell me?”

  “I’m running.”

  Jada’s eyebrow’s squished together. “Running?”

  “On the run. On the lam.”He paced.

  “Oh my God! For what?”

  “Double murder.”

  “Double murder? You’re kidding, right?”She scanned his face but his eyes were telling and she knew that this was not a joke.

  “It’s a long, complicated story, but the short version of it is I copped some work and some dudes tried to take me out. They killed my homeboy and they were going to kill me. I got them before they got me.”

  “Damn.”

  He paced and stopped and turned to her. “Nobody is to know about this, Jada.”

  “Why did you tell me?”

  “I trust you.”

  “This case sounds like it is self-defense. Why don’t you just turn yourself in?”

  “It is self-defense. But you don’t know what it’s like in Texas. I ain’t exactly got the best record, Jada. I can’t go down for two murders. I’ll never get out.”

  “So, you need my help?”

  “If you can. If you can’t, I’ll understand.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “I need you to get in touch with this Mexican named Gordo. He’s in Houston. I’m going to buy you a ticket. I want you to go down there and I’m going to give you the address of a restaurant. Leave word there for Gordo to call me.”

  “Why didn’t you do it when you were in Houston?”

  “When I tell you I was laying low, I was laying low. I was actually at my grandma’s house out in Port Arthur, which is an hour away. There was no way she was going to do that shit for me. It was me and her and I didn’t think I would need to find Gordo. I thought Q would help me, but he’s not here, is he?”

  “Yeah, you’re right.”

  “I need Gordo’s help. I need to make some bread. I’m going to need a dream-team defense team. I have two bodies. I’m turning myself in Jada. I know I can’t run forever. Somebody saw this and PoPo is probably looking for me, but meanwhile, it takes money to live.”

  She hugged him and she thought about the time Shamari was on the run.

  “Fresh, I know you have money for an attorney.”

  “I do, but I don’t know what my bond is going to be. Or if I’m going to even get a bond. And I want a defense team, not just one lawyer, and that’s going to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.”He paused. He said, “I love you, Jada.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “You still with that Tank dude?”

  “No. But my ex got out.”

  “What do you mean, he got out? How did he get out?”

  “Informant recanted his statement.”

  “So damn! You’re going to get back with him?”

  “No, we’re friends. He’s my best friend and you’ll have to understand that. And he’s going to understand about you.”

  “What about me?”

  “I was just telling Starr the other day that I wished it could have worked with us.”

  “I want it, too.”

  “Are you saying that because you’re going to jail?”

  “No. I thought about that when I visited you and that clown-ass Miami dude was over here.”

  She kissed him just as Shantelle burst through the door. Jada introduced Fresh to Shantelle.

  “Damn. You look familiar, shorty.” Fresh said.

  Shantelle looked surprised. She knew who he was, too. She didn’t know his name, but she’d seen him a few times with Q when she made pickups for Trey.

  “Yeah, you were a runner for Trey, right?”Fresh said.

  “You knew Trey?”

  “I did, but not well. I’m from Houston.”

  She smiled. “I’ve been down there a time or two.”

  He kissed Jada and said, “I’ve got to be going.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Later that night, Shamari came over to watch Narcos on Netflix with Jada. Though she had seen all of the episodes, she was happy to be doing this with him. She was happy that he was out. Midway through a show, his hand crawled up her thigh. Though she had fucked him once since he had been out, she didn’t want to lead him on. She didn’t see him like that. Truth was that she hadn’t seen him like that in a long time. Even before he had gone away. She would always love him, but there was no need for them to do something that she would regret. Sure she fucked men for fun, but she did have feelings for Shamari and she knew those feelings could easily get mistaken for love.

  “What’s wrong, Jada?”

  “I don’t want to do what we’re going to regret.”

  “But you’re my woman.”

  She sat up on the sofa and said, “Mari, I’m not your woman. You know I love you but the truth is that we wasn’t on great terms before you left.”

  “Why, Jada? Why don’t you want me?”

  “I can’t explain.”

  “What’s wrong with me?”

  “Nothing is wrong with you. You just don’t do it for me anymore.”

  Hearing her say this infuriated him. How in the hell could she say he didn’t do it for her? He had been there for her and with her for years and now she was saying that he wasn’t doing it for her?

  “That’s bullshit and you know it, Jada. Just tell me. You still with that dude that you were fucking with when I was inside?”

  “I’m not with anybody.”

  “When was the last time you saw him?”

  Silence.

  He laughed. “So you’re not going to answer the question?”

  “I was with him today.”

  “You fucked him?”

  “No, but if I did, it’s my business.”

  “You probably did.”

  “Look, Mari. You need to leave. Get the fuck out of my house right now.”She marched right over to the door and opened it. “Get out!”

  “I ain’t going.”

  She huffed. “What’s wrong?”

  He said, “Look, I’m sorry, Jada. The whole time I was inside, I couldn’t wait to get out because I thought there was a chance for me and you. I thought you would be happy that I was out and we could make some babies. I don’t know. I was just dreaming, I guess.”He laughed, not because anything was funny. He was dying inside.

  “I’m sorry. I know how hard this must be for you.”

  “You’ve been trying to tell me. I get it.”

  “Good. Look, whatever you need me to do, I’ll do. You know I’ll always be here for you, but just not in that way.”

  “I got you. Hey, how can I get mad when you are keeping it real with me?”

  She held the door as he strolled toward the exit. He stopped and said, “Jada, there was an FBI agent that came to my sister’s house the other day.”

  “What?”

  “He said he used to work with Black. He said that they were partners. Do you know anything about that?”

  “TeTe was just talking about that today. She said that this guy was taking drugs from drug busts and splitting the profit with Black.”

  “So that’s where he probably got the money to give me.”

  “Yeah. I think, but I don’t know.”

  “What did he want?”Jada asked.

  “Wants to partner up with me.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t want no part of that guy.”

  “That’s right. So what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. Sooner or later, I’m going to have to get off my ass though.”

  “I’m sure.”

  She hugged him. He squeezed her ass and she slapped his hand.

  ***

  The girl named Ava that Jada had met at the gym had DM’d Jada about sixteen times before Jada finally decided to meet up with her for lunch and cosmopolitans at Joy Cafe in Buckhead. Ava wanted to know where Jada lived and how did she live so fabulous. She also wanted to know where she was employed. She was just getting too damn nosey, so Jada lied to her and told her that she was a high-class escort. Jada hoped that would deter Ava’s thirsty ass from sweating her so much, but instead, she wanted to know how much it paid, so Jada had made an arrangement to meet up with TeTe. The three ladies met for dinner and Jada told TeTe that Ava was interested in learning the business.

  TeTe looked Ava over. She had a nice body and a gorgeous smile and TeTe asked where she was from.

  “I’m from Charlotte, North Carolina.”

  “A country bitch,” TeTe said.

  “Excuse me. Atlanta is the country too.”

  “Sweetheart, don’t get offended. I’m from South Carolina. I love being country. It’s not where you’re from, it’s the game that you have.”TeTe laughed.

  “Where in South Carolina?”

  “A little country town called Chester.”

  Ava said, “My grandmother was from Chester.”

  “Small world.”

  “Yup.”Ava smiled.

  TeTe said, “You ever did something like this before?”

  “I’ve dated men for money.”

  “This ain’t dating, baby. This is hoeing. There is a difference.”

  “Every woman has sold ass. Maybe not directly, but they’ve done something sexually for a favor.”

  TeTe sipped her drink and said, “Exactly.”

  “How much does it pay?”

  “Depends on the client.”

  “I want the top-of-the-line clients.”

  TeTe laughed and said, “You see, honey, it doesn’t work like that. We don’t always get what we want. You’re a cute girl and all, but who’s to say that the top client might want you. We got some clients that want white bitches, some that want fat bitches, ugly bitches, Hispanic bitches, Mexican bitches.”

  “Mexican falls under Hispanic” Jada said.

  “Who gives a fuck?”TeTe said.

  “So how do the clients decide?”Ava asked.

  “Your pictures. I’m going to need some pictures to go on the website and if they want you, they will let me know and I’ll send you out to meet them.”

  “What do top clients pay?”

  “I just sent a girl to Abu Dubai for fifty thousand.”

  “What did she have to do?”

  “I don’t give a damn what she had to do. I got fifty stacks and she got fifty stacks.”

  “Fifty stacks? What did she have to do? Let somebody shit on her or something?”Jada asked.

  “What?”TeTe said.

  Jada said to TeTe, “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard about those thirsty-ass Instagram hotties flying over to Dubai and letting men shit on them for shopping sprees?”

  TeTe said, “Oh fuck no. I have established clients. Ain’t nobody shitting on nobody unless I do the shitting.”

  Ava and Jada laughed. Ava liked TeTe. TeTe was funny but she could tell that she meant business. Jada couldn’t believe she was sitting here listening to all this.

  TeTe said, “So when do you want to start?”

  “Now.”

  “What is your name?”

  “Ava.”

  “I need your full government name. I need to do a background check on you.”

  Ava and Jada frowned.

  “I gotta make sure you ain’t been busted for something and trying to bring me down with you.”

  “Ava. Ava Harrell.”

  “So what brings you here? Why’d you pick Atlanta?”

  “Kind of running from someone.”

  TeTe’s eyebrows rose. “What do you mean, running? Are you running from the law?”

  “No, nothing like that. I am running from a crazy man. You know when it was over, he didn’t know when to let go.”

  “He loved you?”

  “Yes.”

  TeTe began to cry and when Jada noticed it, she embraced her. Then Jada removed a Kleenex from her purse and passed it to her. She knew that she was thinking about Black and how much she missed him.

  Ava looked confused.

  TeTe got herself together and said, “I’m sorry.”

  “What happened? What did I say?”

  “I lost my boyfriend two months ago. I was just thinking about him.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  “Not your fault.”

  Ava smiled. “I’m so anxious to start.”

  ***

  Starr and Stunna had taken the kids to the Skyzone trampoline park in Roswell. Stunna had only brought his son. His daughter’s mother had taken his daughter to Disney World and though T.J. was a few years older than Stunna’s son, they bonded. T.J. demonstrated to little Elijah how to play the video games and he liked having him around. Elijah was like T.J.’s little brother that he didn’t have. They were jumping on the trampoline and when Elijah leapt off the trampoline, he sprained his arm. He began to cry. T.J. began to cry with him.

  Starr said, “T.J., why are you crying? You didn’t get hurt.”

  “I know, but he’s just a baby. I don’t want him to hurt.”

  “Aww.” Starr rubbed her son’s head.

  Stunna said, “It’s okay, T.J. He’s going to be okay. He falls all the time. He’s a tough little guy.”

  Elijah was bawling so loud that people were literally covering their ears. Stunna kneeled and said, “If you don’t stop crying, there will be no ice cream for you.”

  Elijah fought hard to bring his tears to a halt, and they all started laughing.

  Later that evening, they ate pizza with the kids. Elijah and T.J. were playing with action figures.

  Starr turned to Stunna and said, “Looks like the kids are getting along well.”

  “They are going to make good step-brothers.”

  She smiled. “Slow down.”

  Stunna grinned. He was attractive and charming, and he was masculine. She loved that about him. A man that could handle her. Put her in her place if he needed too. She loved men like that. He seemed sincere.

  “So you’d rather get locked up?”Starr asked.

  “You know my daddy went to prison. Three of my uncles went to prison. Two of my aunties and my mom did a stint and even me and Micky did a year each. I’m not trying to go back.”

  “Everybody says that.”

  “Your point? It’s all in my cards. I might make it out. I might not.”

  “But you can make it out. You can quit right now.”

  “What if I don’t wanna? Why should I?”

  “Hey, you’re a grown man.”

  He eyeballed her tiny waist. “And you’re a grown-ass woman.”

  She laughed.

  “Let’s just enjoy the moment. Let’s enjoy each other. You said you didn’t want a D-Boy. I respect that. We’re having a good time. The kids are having a good time. Let’s just leave it at that.”

  “You’re right, sir.”

  “Besides, what’s normal? Name a person that has a normal life. We gotta look at TV to see this picture-perfect shit.”

  CHAPTER 5

  TeTe had received a call from a long-time customer Lanny Michaels. Lanny’s job was to be a liaison for famous people that wanted to spend time with high-class escorts and wished to remain anonymous.

  “Lanny, where have you been?”

  “Month long vacation to Europe. Me and the missus.”

  “Sounds nice.”

  “So what you got for me?”

  “The question is what you got for me?”TeTe said.

  “I have a high-profile client that wants some company from one of your beautiful girls. One of those deals where the girl shows up at the room and only then will she know who he is. He doesn’t want cell phones or nothing like that. This shit has to be totally discreet. He wants one girl.”

  “What is his preferences, black, white, Asian, Hispanic? Short, tall, medium build, lots of ass, no ass, wide hips?”

  “He’s an athlete so he wants them to be in shape but still feminine, you know what I mean? The kind of woman that goes to the gym but doesn’t live at the gym.”

  “Toned in the right places?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What ethnicity?”

  “Doesn’t care.”

  “What? Athletes like exotic. Usually they don’t want black girls.”

  “He loves black girls. He’s black.”

  “That’s a damn first.”

  Lanny laughed and said, “Quit generalizing people. Everybody is not alike.”

  “You’re right. Okay. Have you been to the site?”

  “I have. There are some new girls on there. I like that black girl Ava. I think he would like her as well.”

  “She is a cutie. He would be her first.”

  “Cool.”

  “What’s his budget?”

  “Thirty thousand for three nights.”

  “Okay, I will see if I can work that out. Where is she going?”

  Lanny laughed and then said, “I’ll send you the information.”