Chapter 1
I've been free for a little over a month, free from love, free from sex, free from the streets, and most importantly free from a five-year bid I earned for a drug trafficking charge. Sitting in Audrey's nursing a glass of brown liquor, here-after just leaving a job that I was also just freed from. Downsizing was the excuse given to me, but I knew that my background check had returned and that was the true reasoning behind my termination. But hey, it is what it is. I'm a street nigga and I've down before, a minor setback for a major come back. I put the glass to my lips and downed what was left in the glass.
"Can I get you another drink?" Asked my waitress, Layla.
I glanced up at her then.
"It's only a two-drink minimum here, but I'll get you another one if you want it. She said, "It looks like you can really use it."
"Damn, I look that bad?"
"Yeah, I mean kind of." She asked, "Is it a woman or is it, a family member that's troubling you?"
I smirked, "Damn, I must look bad-then-a-muthafucka?"
"Nah, you don't look bad like that... you look good to me, you know, I mean, besides whatever you're dealing with right now."
"To answer your question." I chimed. "It's neither, I'm having job issues... I just lost mine about thirty minutes ago."
"Aww, that's too bad." Layla paused for a moment. She said, "Yeah, let me get you that drink."
She walked away and my eyes took in the rear-view. Even in her Audrey's uniform that ass rumbled erratically underneath those black slacks.
Three minutes later she was back and placing the drink down on the table in front of me.
"Calum "Cece" Cox." A males voice crooned.
I glanced up to see who had called my name. It was a familiar-looking goon that I couldn't quite place where I knew him from. The fact was that I probably knew him from my street dealing days, friend, or foe I wasn't sure and at this moment I hated the fact that I wasn't strapped right now.
"Nigga, you don't remember me, fool?" Barked the goon.
I didn't. My brow deepened as I tried to recall a memory from my past, remember where I knew him from.
"Shawn, boy what are you doing here?" Quizzed Layla. She said, "You know Ms. Audrey don't want you coming back in here."
"Fuck Audrey, that old bitch can suck my dick." Barked the goon named Shawn.
"Shawn Post," I uttered snapping my fingers.
He and Layla both looked at me. Shawn smirked and Layla owned a different look, it was a different one when from when I first engaged her. I was now associated with a criminal and other illegal activities.
"Say, Fam, when did you get out?" Asked Shawn.
"About a month ago."
"You good? Are you straight? I mean, do you need anything... Shit- I'm on now, I can return the favor, give you a helping hand now, but only if you want it."
Shawn slid me his number. "Take that, use it when you're ready."
I took the number, nodded and he walked away from Layla, and I. Layla smiled, moved closer, and leaned over.
She whispered, "I get off in thirty minutes, drink your drink, and wait for me."
Again, I nodded and waited, stayed just like she had asked.
