Chapter 17

"So let me get this straight. You want me to go on a man-hunt for a weed connect 'cause you wanna' mind another man's business?"

I can't help but to roll my eyes to the back of my skull. I knew asking Caese for help wasn't gonna' be easy. Him and I haven't passed more than a few words to each other since Reese and I made it official. For the most part we been staying out of each other's way since I made it clear that I wasn't gonna' let him control me. Just because Ace left him in charge of his business, did not give him license over me too.

Now, I need his help so all that extra shit gotta go out of the window. This was Simon we were talking about. I know I'm not the toughest bitch there is but I know a lot more than Simon does about the streets. Sure, Caesar, Reese and Ace could probably do a much better job at putting him on game than I will but I'm the only one willing to step up. I mean it makes sense, though. Nobody's gonna go as hard for your people as you will. So, as much as Caesar is getting on my nerves right now, I gotta do what I gotta do to look out for the last brother I have left.

"He's not just some nigga, Caesar. He's my brother. And if I can recall correctly you said my brothers were yours too. You always talkin' like we one big family so now's the time to prove it."

Caesar looks up from the fold-up chair he's sitting in. Stacks of money covers the white table in front of him and until now, that's the only thing he's been focusing on since I walked into the room.

He wraps a rubber band around the stack in his hand. I'm trying to stay patient while he handles his business since I am the one who showed up to his Algiers trap spot without a head's up.

After he snaps the last rubber band around the stack of money in his hands, he calls over one of Ace's men to bag it for him.

"Aye make sure you don't put this with the rest of the money we got from this spot. Bring this to the Loft. Rico should know where to put it," Caesar says.

The dude who looks vaguely familiar to me nods his head at Caesar. I watch as he slides the rest of the money into the black duffle bag.

"Aight, Candyce," The man greets me as he slides past me.

"Bye," I mumble, since I still don't know his name.

Caesar spends the next few minutes handing out orders to everyone else. When the back room is cleared out, I'm left with Caesar, two stacks of money, and a rinky-dink ass file cabinet. There's no door on the hinges since Reese, who's in charge of this particular spot, likes to keep his eye on the girls who cook and bag the shit. The house ain't even that big so with the door gone, he can see every move everybody makes without moving from his seat.

"So why isn't he dropping off all the money in one spot?" I ask.

Caesar sighs, "There you go, minding other people's business again."

"Well you said the shit right in front me like it wasn't no secret so I figured I'd ask."

"Nah, Red. You heard what I wanted you to hear. If I wanted you asking questions I woulda sent you to drop the shit off, not Daz," Caesar says.

I let it roll of my shoulders since I didn't really give a fuck one way or another. It's about time we get back to the reason I really came here.

"Whatever, Caesar. Are you gonna' help me or not?"

"Oh, we still onnat? I thought you was done messing around in other folks business," Caesar says.

He leans back in the chair with his hands in his lap, being as petty as can be.

"And I thought I told you Simon is my business. I thought he was yours too."

Caesar brings one hand to his head to smooth down the waves in his head. His hair is starting to curl up. As busy as Reese has been, I can only guess Caesar has been twice as busy which means he ain't have time for a haircut. Not that it looks bad. I've always preferred him with a low head of curls.

I find myself staring at him so I stare down at my black and orange 1s to keep him from noticing. I don't think I was too smooth about it, though, since a small smile is dancing on his lips when he starts talking again.

"Last time I checked, you said your family wasn't my family. Which makes Simon's hustling your problem, not mine."

Our conversation at Jonah's funeral plays back in my mind and I mentally curse myself. I would've never said that shit if I had known Simon was gonna spiral as far as he did cause with Ace gone, Caesar's the only one that can help me reel him back in.

"You really gonna' hold that against me? I was sad. My brother was dead and you refused to tell me where Ace was," I try to reason with him.

Caesar sits up in his chair. His playful nature is gone and the somber look on his face lets me know the next words out of his mouth are gonna' be serious. I just hope they're what I wanna' hear.

"Yeah, you right. I did do that shit down bad. I shouldn't have ran up on you trying to play both sides. I shoulda kept it real with you but that's a lot harder to do when I was moving on behalf of Ace and still tryna look out for y'all."

Even though he says he was looking out for the whole family, those gentle shoulder rubs he was giving me at the funeral tells me something different. It's funny cause even with all this tension between us, I still feel that familiar spark fighting to shine through. So, I know before he agrees, that he'll do what he couldn't do back then, which is look out for me now.

"Aight son. I'll help you find the la' nigga that's been fronting Simon. But just to let you know I'm not forgetting what you said about us not being family. So know that I'm only doing this for you, Red."

A smile slides onto my face with an ease it hasn't had since Jonah died. The possibility of saving Simon from the danger that's sure to come makes losing Jonah an easier pill to swallow.

If I wasn't gonna learn something from all that's happened in the last few months then it makes everything I lost feel worthless.

"I appreciate it, Caesar," I say.

On my way out of the room I realize that I forgot to key him in about what I know about the plug. I was so busy tryna convince him that it almost slipped my mind.

"Oh, and I have a lead. I went through Simon's phone and saw a text from someone named RJ. I didn't have time to read through the thread but it ain't look like much either. Just a text to meet up or something," I say.

"Aight, cool. I'ma check it out. But before you leave I wanna talk to you about sumn'," Caesar says.

I raise my eyebrows at him. Like I said, me and Caease ain't been crossing paths so I have no idea what he would wanna talk to me about.

I slowly walk back into the room. I prop myself up onto the table with my legs dangling off the sides. Caesar sits below me in the chair off the edge of the table.

"Wassup?" I ask.

"How you like it at the car wash?"

The nervousness subsides momentarily. Working at the car wash has been dull as hell. Knowing this gives me a little satisfaction since I cant be blamed for anything since nothing goes on there.

"Um, assistant manager has been cool, I guess. I don't do shit but write down tips and count the register. I leave all the extra shit to Cam, but you know that so why you asking?" I say.

"Cause I figured that shit was a lil below yo paygrade but everybody gotta pull they own weight around here."

"Well you don't see me complaining so wassup?"

Caesar stares at me for a minute. Then, he picks up the two stacks of cash and hand them out to me.

My eyebrows shoot up again, "For me?"

He laughs a little, "You didn't really think I was paying you those $400 checks right? The Wash 'N Go ain't like other business and you not any employee. I write those checks so shit can look decent on paper. You played your role, now you get your cut."

Shid. He ain't have to tell me twice!

I take the stacks of Benjis and stuff them into my black Chanel purse. Earning this kind of money would make me stop missing stripping in an instant.

"Wait, what you mean by 'played your role'. You tryna say I don't have to work there no more?" I ask.

Now, Caesar stands from his chair and walks to the other side of the table to lean against the space next to me. He's propped up with his arms stretched behind him. I'm staring at him trying to figure out where this is going.

"That's only 5k, Candyce. You can make so much more than that if you willing to put in the work."

"What kinda work?"

"The drug dealing kind."

"Oh my god," I say as I hop off the table.

Caesar grabs my arm before I can leave the room completely. I allow him to pull me back only cause his touch sent a shiver down my spine. He let's my arm go as soon as I'm back at his side.

"I ain't tryna force you into it. If you still dont wanna fuck with it after my offer then by all means. Just hear me out first."

I shake his words free from my head. How is it possible that my brother's best friend was trying to recruit his sister into hustling?

"How you expect me to start selling drugs when I'm asking your help to stop Simon? Make it make sense."

It's only one of the thousand reasons why that shit isn't even an option but I'm fully armed with more reasons if this one doesn't suffice.

"Nobody asking you to stand on corners, Candyce. Didn't you just hear me say you too cut out for that petty shit? I wouldn't even send you out there headfirst like that, c'mon now."

Caesar's face is screwed up like he's honestly disrespected that I didn't put it past him. But, what else am I supposed to think? I worked at one fake ass car wash, how the hell did that qualify me to be a trap queen?

"Then nigga how about you stop beating around the bush and just ask what you wanna ask!" I say.

"Do you see me standing on corners? No. I get people to do that shit for me. I'm just tryna teach you what Santana taught me."

This still wasn't making any sense. And it was bothering me that this proposal was coming from the one person my brother left to look out for me. Teaching me how to end up like my daddy or Ace didn't feel as generous an offer as he was making it seem.

"But why, Caesar. That ain't never been me," I say.

Caesar scoffs, "Oh really, Miss Kandi Redd?"

I laugh despite myself. It's only been a few months but it feels like ages ago since anybody called me by my performance name.

"Stop frontin' like half a stripper's job ain't finessing," Caesar says.

Now the wheels in my brain were starting to turn. Shit was starting to make sense about his request.

"So you want me to get a group of bitches to sell for me? For what?"

"Cause I ain't no dummy and I know somebody in there gotta pay the bills while Ace gone."

I weigh the pros and cons mentally. Those past due bills were turning into a stockpile on Mama's dresser. Simon had no guidance to actually bring back some real money so once again it's up to me. Thanks again, Ace.

"Just until Ace comes back," I decide.

"I hear you. As long as you don't recruit those simple bitches to work for you," Caesar says.

I scrunch my nose up, "I don't hang with simple bitches."

"You know who I'm talkin' bout. Those hoes Max and whatever her name is."

I laugh, "Max and Phor are not simple bitches. They my Day1s."

"Lesson number 1: never mix friends with business. If y'all ain't fresh out diapers together, don't put nun past em. Besides, never put yo trust in a stripper bitch. That's just a rule of life."

I roll my eyes at him, not even bothering with an answer. I was open to some advice but if I was gonna' do this, it's happening my way. I collect my purse and hop down from the table. Caesar walks around the table at the same time that I land on my feet.

Once again, he stops me before I can leave.

"Candyce!"

I turn around to see him pushing one of the file drawers closed with his foot.

"Happy birthday," He cooes before tossing me another stack of cash.

"Thank you" is barely off my lips when I feel a presence beside me.

"What you doing here?" Reese asks me.

My words get caught in my throat only cause I feel a little guilty at being caught alone with Caesar. It's not like we had complete privacy with the door being gone and what-not but I feel bad nonetheless.

"I uh--" I start.

"I told her come through so I can tell her happy birthday face-to-face," Caesar says.

We both look over at him. My eyes send him a silent 'thank you' while Reese mugs the shit out of him. I'm glad for the interruption by Caese cause something tells me Reese wouldn't like me selling under Caesar's wing one bit. I could have explained that I came here on Simon's behalf but then he'd want to know why I came to Caesar instead of him. Of course, that would lead to us arguing about him forgetting my birthday. All of which, I don't want to do in front of Caesar.

"Happy birthday, huh?" Reese says, eyeing me and Caese.

"Yes, nigga, her birthday. But I'm guessing you forgot which explains why she here without you knowing," Caesar smirks.

Okay, now I'm done. The last thing I need is these niggas throwing jabs at each other, using me as the punchline of their jokes while they toss them back and forth like monkey in the middle. I roll my eyes at Caesar for the final time before pulling Reese outside of the trap by his hand.

The street is filled with parked cars. Q93 is flowing through one of the screen doors of the neighbor's. Some younger guys are outside one of the porch stoops shooting dice. The street is as lively as street in the hood should be. Although I'm sure the boys would like to work in silence, all of the foot traffic from neighbors makes the trap house stand out a little less. Dope feins were holding post outside almost always. But how suspicious of a crackhead would cops be if they rolled through this side of town?

"The fuck you doing here, Candyce?" Reese says when we're far enough from the house.

I turn my attention away from our surroundings to focus on Reese. He's calm as he speaks but his face is contorted, making the "Loyalty" tattoo above his eye waver.

"Caese told you. I came--"

"I didn't ask you what Caesar said. I heard him man-to-man but I'm asking you now. What you doing here?"

I twist my neck back to mug him, "First of all, you can stop with all the suspicions. I thought we were past this Caesar shit."

"Me too. But then I come to put in some work and see you blushing at this nigga."

Reese is too busy watching the cars behind us to pay attention to what I'm saying. But I need him to hear me loud and clear on this next part cause I am sick and tired of Caesar coming in between my relationship. No matter what sparks fly between us, I know for a fact Caesar ain't letting me destroy his family. So, it's beyond time for me to nip this shit in the bud.

I grab Reese's face by the jaws and make him look at me.

"This deadass my last time saying this, Tyrese. I'm with you. I wouldn't disrespect you by going behind your back to mess with your potna, no matter where y'all stand at the moment."

He doesn't look convinced so I decide to add in a few half-truths to ease his mind.

"Caesar's like family, son. I count on him the same way I did Ace. That's all it is between us and I put that on my life," I say.

The muscles in his face start to relax under my grip. I smile up at him to get him to calm even more. With him going back inside the trap to work with Caese, I didn't want his attitude to be open season for more jokes about me. The last thing I want is for Caesar to know that he can get under Reese's skin by bringing me up.

"Alright, son. Consider the shit dead from now on. But next time you meet with that nigga, tell me beforehand," Reese says.

I stand on my tippy-toes to kiss his soft lips. When I get close to him, I wrinkle my nose at his scent.

"Now that we got that out the way. You wanna explain to me why you out here smelling like like a girl?" I ask.

The smile I have grown to love finds it's way back onto his face.

"I can tell you but I'd rather let you see for yourself. I hope you ain't really think I forgot your birthday, kid."

Now, I'm fully cheesing at my man.

"Lowkey," I laugh at him.

He wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me in close. Down by his chest, he smells like himself. I inhale as much of his cologne as I can, suddenly too happy that we were back on track.

"Ain't no way I was forgetting my get-out-of-jail free card. I told you, I ain't going to jail for you," He says.

"And I told you that you had bigger fish to fry."

"Speaking of, I got business to handle right now. I should be done by tonight so I can slide then. Wear something nice for me too, Reese says.

I untangle myself from him.

"Why? All you gon do is take it off anyway," I smirk.

"Girl please. When you see what I got you, you gon' take it off for me," Reese says.

One kiss to the forehead and off he goes. I watch him climb the steps back into the trap before calling my friend, Chantal for a ride. After talking to Caesar, I know I should hop straight on it. We maybe had a few weeks left before the lights were out in our house. As I watch her green jeep pull into view, I think, Here goes nothing.