The Diamond Syndicate

“Well, then you are gonna have to understand that I have to spend a lot of time with him.”

“How much time?”

“Trey, I gotta spend a lot of time with him to watch our investment. I need to make sure it’s going smoothly.”

“Yeah, a’ight.” Trey didn’t sound convinced.

“You are gonna have to trust me, baby.” She leaned over and kissed him on the lips.

“Trust you, huh?” He looked at her sideways.

“Yeah, and speaking of trust, I have been spending a lot of time with you and neglecting the others. You knew the deal with me when we started sleeping together. I gotta pay some attention to the others.”

“Yeah, I been meaning to talk to you about that. Them niggas getting paid, so why you gotta fuck with them? Let them get their own broads to fuck.”

“I’m not going to go through this with you, Trey. Like I said, you knew the deal from the rip, and I ain’t gonna change.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, really. I’m a grown-ass woman and old enough to be your mother, so let’s not forget that. Lately you have been real comfortable with manhandling me and telling me what to do. I ain’t that bitch, Trey.”

“Whatever, Diamond. Do you.” Pouting, he turned his head away from her.

Diamond lay back and turned her back to him.

Within minutes, Trey got comfortable and drifted off to sleep, while Diamond lay there thinking about how much money she was gonna make on the new hustle.

FIFTEEN

No Time for Me

2001

Dante walked into the apartment and shut the door behind him. The first thing that hit him in the face was the aroma of food cooking in the kitchen. He set his book bag on the floor by the door and pulled out the gun he had begun carrying, which he kept in his waistband. He crept along the floor and peered into the kitchen, his gun raised.

Diamond was standing there looking toward the entrance of the kitchen. She heard him come in and had been waiting for him to come into the kitchen.

“What the hell are you gonna do with that?” She laughed at Dante when she saw him holding the gun.

“I ain’t know who was in here.” He put the gun away.

“So you really think a robber is gonna cook himself something to eat before he robs you?” Diamond doubled over with laughter.

Dante didn’t say a word. He didn’t think it was funny.

When Diamond finally recovered from her laughing fit, she noticed Dante’s serious expression. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked.

“Nothing. You finished laughing at me?” He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, come on, Dante. You can take a joke, right?”

“Sure, I can, if it’s funny.”

“Stop being like that. I came to cook you a decent meal. I know you haven’t had one in a good while.” She turned to finish preparing the meal.

“Yeah, I wonder why.” Dante turned on his heels and went to his bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

Diamond turned off the pots because the food was finished. She wiped her hands on the dishcloth, walked to his room, and knocked on the door. He didn’t answer. She knocked again, and there was still no response.