Prince of the City by Jason Poole

asked, turning her smirk into a hard frown.
    â€œHow did you know I was married?”
    â€œCome on, Mike. I may have left D.C., but I still got family.”
    â€œWell, Connie is doing good. She’s happy.”
    â€œI bet she is. You have a son, don’t you?” she asked with a devilish smile.
    â€œYes, I do. His name is Malik, and he’s eight years old now.”
    â€œSame age, huh?” She folded her arms
    â€œSame age as what?” Michael asked, quickly putting his drink down. He was curious about Chevece’s antics, yet he was also ready to put a stop to it.
    â€œNever mind, Mike,” she said, putting up her hand as a gesture to stop. “Anyway, it was nice seeing you. Hope you enjoy your stay. Have fun,” Chevece said, walking away from the bar
    â€œI will,” he responded, shaking his head.
    â€œDamn, Mike, who was that fine-ass broad?” Frank asked, looking back at her as she walked toward an exit.
    â€œOh, she was a girl I used to mess with back in junior high.”
    â€œYou mean to tell me you stopped messing with her?”
    â€œI left her for my wife.”
    â€œYour wife must be a goddess, ’cause that broad is straight-up bad!”
    â€œYeah, she might be bad, but that bitch is crazy.”
    * * * * * * *
    On the flight back home, Sam and Michael discussed their future. “Look, Mike, it’s gonna take us only about three months to get to our two-million mark.”
    â€œWhat are you saying, Sam?”
    â€œAll I’m saying is that since Big Luke stepped off and now our prices are extremely low, we can do this for one more year and come out with four million.”
    â€œWe agreed on two million.”
    â€œYeah, I know. But I’m telling you, two million more won’t hurt us, and you know if we move it with no problems, it’ll come overnight.”
    Michael thought about Sam’s proposal. Big Luke was gone and they had all the pumping strips in Southeast, plus a few of Big Luke’s customers in Northeast and uptown. An extra two million would be cool. He and Connie could relocate and buy into a few businesses, get their dream house, and raise Malik in a better environment. Michael did want enough money so that his family could be secure.
    â€œOkay, you got me, but on one condition.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œWe quit after six months. That’s my word, and I’m not going back on my word for you anymore. I did it this one time because you my nigga and we came up together.”
    â€œGood then.”
    Black Sam and Mike shook on their decision.
    â€œAy, Sam?” Michael reached over and tapped his friend to make sure he had his full attention.
    â€œYeah, Mike?”
    â€œThere’s something I’ve wanted to ask you since we got the time, and I want you to be straight up with me.”
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œMan, have you developed a habit for gambling?”
    â€œFuck no! I just do it every now and then when I got some play money.”
    â€œDo you be winning?”
    â€œSometimes I do. Sometimes I don’t.”
    â€œWell, tell me this. What’s the most you won?”
    â€œAbout seventy-five thousand uptown at the pool hall. I be bustin’ they ass.”
    â€œYou gotta watch those uptown niggas. They real smooth with that gambling shit. They’ll let you win just so you’ll come back and get your head cracked for triple of what you won.”
    â€œNah, I’m too sharp for that. I know when to stop.”
    â€œI hope you do.” Michael paused briefly. “So tell me this.”
    â€œWhat?” Sam asked, hoping his friend wouldn’t ask another question that would make him lie.
    â€œWhat’s the most they ever got you for?” He then looked at him sternly, studying his face for the truth.
    â€œNot as much as I won. Believe me. I’m a dice shootin’ mothafucka.” An arrogant smile beamed