“I got my first overseas shipment with the Chinese going out next week and I gotta be there for that.”
Sterling shook his head.
“And I need to liquidate some assets before I can go anywhere,” DP said, and Sterling leaned forward.
“You can handle that shipment by phone, and you can get a lawyer to liquidate your fuckin’ assets, nigga. I can put together a couple hundred thousand and give you the keys to a clean car right now.”
DP shook his head and Sterling sat back.
“Another dumb move. What you need?”
“What I need is some protection from these niggas until I get my business handled. And I was thinking that my boy would be trying to help me out with that instead of telling me what a dumb move it is.”
“You ain’t stupid enough to go back to the bank … are you, nigga?”
“No! Hell no. I swear, I ain’t going anywhere near there or anyplace else I think they might know to look for me. No, I plan to lay real, real low until I get
my business handled and then I’m out. I just need a couple of ready to die, like to pull and blast first kind of niggas.”
“I remember you said them ready to die mutha fuckas usually die quick.”
“They ain’t gotta last long,” DP said.
Sterling laughed. “I got just the two ready to die mutha fuckas you need.”
“Who’s that?”
“Prune Face and Itchy.”
“Who?”
“Prune Face and Itchy,” Sterling said slowly. “You never heard of Prune Face and Itchy?” he asked and laughed.
“No,” DP chuckled. “Who are Prune Face and Itchy?”
“They’re cartoon villains from Dick Tracy. That shit is hilarious.”
“Oh.”
“You only say it like that ’cause you ain’t never seen that shit, but I tell you what …”
“What?”
“Roll you a blunt of that good loud and turn that shit on, I promise you, you’ll be falling out laughing.”
“I’m sure. So why you call them Prune Face and Itchy; one of them got a fucked-up prune face?”
“No, that nigga think he pretty.” Sterling laughed. “That’s why I like calling him Prune Face, but the other one, he an itchy mug. See, the nigga got eczema and he itch sometimes, so they call him itchy.”
“I get it.” DP stood up. “Where they at?”
“On your bicycle, as usual. You need to relax. You’re safe here. Bone one or two of these coked-out hoes and have some fun for a change.”
“I got too much to do. So, put me with these niggas and I’m out.” DP said.
Sterling did as he asked and after introductions were made, DP left with Prune Face and Itchy. As soon as they were gone, Sterling went looking for Venus.
Since she couldn’t stand to be around his crew, Venus had retreated to the bedroom and locked the door. The last time she left the door unlocked, Venus made the mistake of taking a nap. She woke up to the sight of a woman kneeling on the edge of the bed looking at her. There was a man standing behind her, but his eyes were closed.