walked off with her tail between her legs.
“Where'd you come from?”
“I just got here,” Jake said, giving Tonk dap. “How is shit going? And how the fuck did this shit happen?”
“Shit is still shaky. I'm not sho what went down. I heard five niggas just opened fire on him with techs while he was on his way inside Jackie's Halloween party. But right now,” Tonk said, “I'm more concerned about my man's health and trying to keep some order around this here place.”
“I feel you,” Jake said, slowly shaking his head. There was an awkward silence between them. “Is Spade up here?”
“Naw, man, he just left him. Had you been here earlier you could have caught up with him.”
Jake ignored where Tonk was trying to take the conversation and continued with his own. “I've been hitting that nigga all morning and he ain't answering.” Jake took a step closer to Tonk. “Spade do got the work, don't he? 'Cause I need to cop. It's the first of the month.”
“I'll let him know that you're looking for him when I talk to 'im.”
Fabiola sat down and began to digest everything that she had seen and heard. Knowing that everybody wanted Casino's money and really didn't care about him made her really want to get in and see him even more.
Roxy came back and handed Tonk a coffee. “Here you go.”
“Thanks, Roxy.”
“Look, Tonk, I need you to get some of these people out ofhere. And we need to make sure for Casino's sake that none of these damn beggars get back there to stress him out.”
“You are so right. I want him to rest, that's all, so he can get himself out of here.”
Fabiola decided that she couldn't expect Tonk or Roxy to help or understand why she needed to see Casino.
She thought for a minute and then finally it hit her:
Aunt Rose!
Her aunt Rose had been working in the hospital's dietary department since before Fabiola was born. She didn't hestitate to give everybody a piece of her mind and her ass to kiss when she felt they needed it. Her coworkers knew how she was, and everyone from the doctors to the janitors loved her. If anyone could figure out a way for Fabiola to see Casino, it would be her aunt Rose.
After a couple of minutes of scrolling through the numbers in her phone—not finding what she was looking for—Fabiola dialed her mother's number. After someone picked up on the other end, she asked, “Ma, what you doing?”
“Looking for you,” Viola said. “I've only been calling you all day.”
“I'd left my phone in one of my other pocketbooks earlier, and been tied up for the past six hours. What's going on?”
“For one, your salsa lessons have to be rescheduled because the instructor had an emergency.”
“Is that all?” Fabiola mumbled under her breath.
“I heard that.”
“I'm sure you did, Ma. You don't miss much.”
“No, I don't. And if I were you I would want to remember how important it is for you to keep up with all your lessons, they'll keep you so much ahead of the game.”
Fabiola joined her mother in unison,
“Because that's what it's all about, being on top of your game.”
“Stop mocking me, child.”
Fabiola laughed. “Mom, just trying to add some humor to your day, that's it. You know I know you all too well. Why else were you calling me?”
“I need you to come by so we can get you prepared for the photo shoot. You know I've never stopped sending your music out, and one of the music execs that I met in New York finally responded. I sent him a package a week ago. He heard you sing, loves your voice, and wants to see photos of you,” Viola said enthusiastically. “You know how they do; they want to see if your look is marketable, and you and I both know that it is.”
“A'ight, Ma, that sounds good, but can you do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
“I need Aunt Rose's number.”
“Did you hear me?” Viola asked. “I have some people lined up that want to take a serious look at you.”
“Yes, I heard you.”
“Aren't you
“Where'd you come from?”
“I just got here,” Jake said, giving Tonk dap. “How is shit going? And how the fuck did this shit happen?”
“Shit is still shaky. I'm not sho what went down. I heard five niggas just opened fire on him with techs while he was on his way inside Jackie's Halloween party. But right now,” Tonk said, “I'm more concerned about my man's health and trying to keep some order around this here place.”
“I feel you,” Jake said, slowly shaking his head. There was an awkward silence between them. “Is Spade up here?”
“Naw, man, he just left him. Had you been here earlier you could have caught up with him.”
Jake ignored where Tonk was trying to take the conversation and continued with his own. “I've been hitting that nigga all morning and he ain't answering.” Jake took a step closer to Tonk. “Spade do got the work, don't he? 'Cause I need to cop. It's the first of the month.”
“I'll let him know that you're looking for him when I talk to 'im.”
Fabiola sat down and began to digest everything that she had seen and heard. Knowing that everybody wanted Casino's money and really didn't care about him made her really want to get in and see him even more.
Roxy came back and handed Tonk a coffee. “Here you go.”
“Thanks, Roxy.”
“Look, Tonk, I need you to get some of these people out ofhere. And we need to make sure for Casino's sake that none of these damn beggars get back there to stress him out.”
“You are so right. I want him to rest, that's all, so he can get himself out of here.”
Fabiola decided that she couldn't expect Tonk or Roxy to help or understand why she needed to see Casino.
She thought for a minute and then finally it hit her:
Aunt Rose!
Her aunt Rose had been working in the hospital's dietary department since before Fabiola was born. She didn't hestitate to give everybody a piece of her mind and her ass to kiss when she felt they needed it. Her coworkers knew how she was, and everyone from the doctors to the janitors loved her. If anyone could figure out a way for Fabiola to see Casino, it would be her aunt Rose.
After a couple of minutes of scrolling through the numbers in her phone—not finding what she was looking for—Fabiola dialed her mother's number. After someone picked up on the other end, she asked, “Ma, what you doing?”
“Looking for you,” Viola said. “I've only been calling you all day.”
“I'd left my phone in one of my other pocketbooks earlier, and been tied up for the past six hours. What's going on?”
“For one, your salsa lessons have to be rescheduled because the instructor had an emergency.”
“Is that all?” Fabiola mumbled under her breath.
“I heard that.”
“I'm sure you did, Ma. You don't miss much.”
“No, I don't. And if I were you I would want to remember how important it is for you to keep up with all your lessons, they'll keep you so much ahead of the game.”
Fabiola joined her mother in unison,
“Because that's what it's all about, being on top of your game.”
“Stop mocking me, child.”
Fabiola laughed. “Mom, just trying to add some humor to your day, that's it. You know I know you all too well. Why else were you calling me?”
“I need you to come by so we can get you prepared for the photo shoot. You know I've never stopped sending your music out, and one of the music execs that I met in New York finally responded. I sent him a package a week ago. He heard you sing, loves your voice, and wants to see photos of you,” Viola said enthusiastically. “You know how they do; they want to see if your look is marketable, and you and I both know that it is.”
“A'ight, Ma, that sounds good, but can you do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
“I need Aunt Rose's number.”
“Did you hear me?” Viola asked. “I have some people lined up that want to take a serious look at you.”
“Yes, I heard you.”
“Aren't you
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