Page 17 of Haze
“I ain’t the type of nigga to take shit back, so find somethin’ to do wit’ it. You gonna answer my question?”
She slowly sat down in her chair. “It’s that easy for you?”
“That easy. How are you?” he asked again with impatience dripping from his tone.
“I’m alright,” she lied. Really, she was terrible, and the fact that she called him with no thought troubled her because now that she confronted him about the money, she remembered her guilt.
“You wanna tell me why you aren’t amazing now or when I pick you up?”
“I can’t go out with you,” she said automatically. The thought of spending more time with him made her heart ache.
“But you are.”
She shook her head as if he could see her. “No, Haze.”
“Look, I know where you work. Don’t make me come back up there,” he threatened.
She snorted. “You gonna keep causing scenes and sending me checks?”
“If that’s what it takes. Damn, Thicka. I ain’t ever had to beg a woman for a little time and attention before. You breakin’ my heart right now.”
She sighed. She knew this was a bad idea.
Or it’s the right idea. You need to tell him.
With tears in her eyes and nerves dancing around in her core, she whispered, “Fine. What time?”
The moment Haze knew he was falling in love with a smart woman was the moment Devyn insisted on meeting him at the compound for their date. She refused to give him her address. He thought it was cute. He could get that information easily if he wanted it, but he played it cool. She knew he could act a fool over her, and she wanted to protect her peace. She could have that for now.
“Prez, we got the two new recruits here. They want to know if they’re workin’ or playin’ tonight?” Rome, the Vicious Kings treasurer, asked. He was the person who took care of all their money coming in and going out, both legally and illegally. Haze trusted that man with their entire empire, and the respect between the men was palpable.
They shook up with their Vicious Kings’ handshake before Haze responded.
“They can take the night off tonight. How they doin’ anyway?” Haze asked as they watched the caterers and party planners set up for the night.
It was casino night, the club’s favorite night of the month. If it was one thing they all loved to do, it was gamble, so Haze made sure they could do it safely and comfortably right from their compound at least once a month.
“They cool people, man. I think they might be ready to come into the fold a little more,” Rome replied.
Haze knew what that meant. Rome thought the new recruits were ready for the illegal side of the club. The part where they bought and sold illegal weapons, from guns to grenades, and even custom shit. Rome thinking they were ready was just the first level of taking that step. The entry. They still had to go through Dame and Gideon before they could get Haze’s final stamp of approval.
“What are their names again?” Haze asked as he watched them from across the room.
“The shorter one with the curly hair is Tommy. The taller one with the braids is Logan,” Rome replied.
Haze watched them for a moment before he nodded. “Get wit’ Dame and have him feel them out for the next couple of weeks. If he gives them the go ahead, I’ll have them shadow G for a bit before they can come to me.”
Rome nodded and walked off to find Dame. Haze’s mind drifted to Devyn as he checked his phone and wondered when she would get here. Just as the thought entered his mind, Gideon shouted out at him from the door.
“Aye, Haze! Ya girl is here!”
Haze’s eyes snapped to his best friend, but he didn’t correct Gideon.His girl.It sounded right to him.
He swaggered toward the door as everyone in the spot stole glances at him. Haze was known to be anti-relationship, so Gideon announcing that his girl was there piqued everyone’s interest.
“Fuck nigga,” Haze grumbled as he punched Gideon in his tree trunk of an arm.
Gideon chuckled and didn’t flinch.
