“What’re you talking about, Cos?” Duce asked.
“You know what I’m talking about. She’s a sho-nuff fox, but off limits. She belongs to Cowboy.”
“Is that right?” Duce asked sarcastically.
“Yeah, that’s right. Duce, you’re a good dude, but poking your nose around another man’s woman is a sure way to get yourself killed.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Duce mumbled.
Duce was silent for the rest of the ride, because he didn’t trust his mouth not to betray his soul. Cos made small talk, but Duce only half listened. He occupied himself by looking at the passing scenery and tried not to think about Frankie. After about an hour of driving, they pulled the car over on 147th between Lenox and 7th in front of Espinard Gardens. Duce and Cos walked into the lobby of the building without a second glance from the security guard and boarded the elevator. They got off on the 8th floor and made their way to an apartment at the end of the hall. Before Cos even got a chance to ring the bell, Thor opened the door and waved them inside. The apartment was nice. Not too flashy or overly decorated, but just nice. There was a sofa, love seat and an entertainment system in the living room and four folding chairs, two of which were propped against the wall. Sitting on the love seat in front of the balcony was Cowboy. He had traded his black on black outfit for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. On the table in front of him were stacks of money.
“Looks like we hit pay dirt,” Cos said, taking a seat on the sofa. Duce didn’t take the empty chair next to Thor, but leaned against the far wall watching Cowboy and the money.
“Nigga, we caked off. Between what we ripped off from the Doll House and what we got off the suckers in it, there’s about 90 grand. That’s over $18,000 a piece. Not bad for a few minutes work.”
“Shit, I’ll take jacking niggaz over a job any day,” Thor said in his gravely voice. He was perched on one of the folding chairs with his hammer resting against his leg. The poor metal chair looked like it would give at any minute under the behemoth’s weight.
“You and me both,” Cos said, eyeing the money.
“Yo, kid,” Cowboy turned to Duce. “You did good in there,” he tossed him a bundle of money.
“I only did what you brought me in for,” Duce said, fanning through the money before stuffing it into the inner pocket of his bubble coat.
“Spoken like a true G,” Cowboy smiled. “Not for nothing, kid, that’s small potatoes compared to the job we’re gonna pull off on Christmas Eve. Them armored trucks are always lousy with cash.”
“Bout how much you think we’re gonna make off with, Cowboy?” Thor asked greedily.
“They’ll be rounding up the bread from at least four check cashing spots, plus the stores in the shopping area that night. I’m guessing there’ll be at least a half a mil or better.”
“That’s what the fuck I’m talking about!” Cos gave Thor a pound.
“Duce,” Cowboy turned to him. “This was a test to see how you handled yourself, the next run will really determine if you’re built like that, or if I’m kicking you the fuck outta my gang.”
“Don’t worry about me, son. When the time comes my hammer will ring the loudest,” Duce said seriously.
“I told you my nigga was the real deal. Cowboy you should’ve seen this nigga on his Rambo shit inside the joint!” Cos said proudly.
“Why don’t you say it a little louder, I don’t think the neighbors heard you,” Frankie said coming out of the bedroom.
She too had traded in her black on black outfit for something more becoming of her. She was now dressed in a tight fitting black sweater that drew attention to her ample breasts. She strutted across the room in a pair of gray wool slacks that hugged her ass and hips, but were cuffed at the bottom. Frankie had worn a wig and a wool hat for the robbery, but now her real hair was visible. It was a chocolate colored mane that she wore wrapped around her head with pins holding it in place. Her eyes lingered on Duce for a minute, but not long enough for anyone to catch the exchange her soul was making with his. For as much as she wanted to rush to him and embrace him, it would be a death sentence for both of them.
“Frankie Five, what da deal, ma?” Cos winked at her.
“Doing my part and then some,” she replied.
“Yo, this is my boy Duce, the one Cowboy was telling you about,” Cos introduced them.
“Nice to meet you,” Frankie said, not looking at him. She didn’t trust herself not to fall apart.
“Lighten up, baby, we nailed a big score,” Cowboy pulled her down onto his lap. “We’re gonna party our asses off!”
Frankie pushed herself up and looked at him, “After we come back, right?”
“Come back from where?” Cowboy asked, having no idea what she was talking about.
“Come on Cowboy, I know you didn’t forget that I have to go to my brother’s house in Mt. Vernon tonight so I can watch my niece in the morning? We were supposed to spend the night up there together.”
“Tonight? Come on, baby we just pulled off a score. Don’t you wanna enjoy the spoils for a while?”
“Cowboy, you know I can’t shit on my brother like that. Unlike some of us I follow through when I say I’m gonna do something,” she said with an edge to her voice.
“Frankie, you better watch your fucking mouth,” Cowboy said in a deadly tone.
He didn’t take kindly to her trying to style on him in front of his crew, and wasn’t above slapping a female around to remind her of her place, but he knew with Frankie it would be an all out brawl.
Duce watched the exchange on edge. He hoped that Cowboy didn’t get crazy, because if he did then he’d have to be put down sooner than expected, fucking up his whole plan. Thankfully he didn’t.
“You know what, forget it,” she stormed back into the bedroom, making a point to shoot Duce a nasty look as she went.
“Fucking females,” Cowboy huffed.
“You better be careful, Cowboy. Frankie might fuck around and try to kill you in your sleep,” Thor joked.
“That bitch is crazy, but she ain’t stupid. I’m trying to party and she’s on some old Adventures in Babysitting shit.”
“You a cold dude, Cowboy,” Cos teased him.
“Ice cold, my nigga!”
Cowboy got off the couch and walked over to the makeshift bar in the corner of the living room. He grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels and filled four shot glasses. Moving back into the center of the living room, he handed each man a glass. “Yo, I wanna propose a toast. Here’s to new blood in the family. Duce,” he looked at the young man, “may your pockets be forever lined with cash and your hammer never jam.”
The four men clinked glasses and downed the liquor.
Before the burning sensation from the drink had completely faded, Frankie came out of the bedroom. She was wearing an ankle length bubble coat and a wool hat with the brim flipped up on one side. Over her shoulder, she was carrying a gym bag. On her way out she kissed Cos and Thor on their cheeks, but shot Cowboy a scornful glare before slamming the door behind her.
“Well fuck you, too,” Cowboy mumbled. “Well, since Frankie’s ass is gone for the night I might as well call up some entertainment,” he pulled out his cell phone.
“What we getting into, son?” Thor asked.
“We, is French, nigga. I’m gonna call that little freak bitch I met at the club last week.”
“You mean the big butt hoe from 114th?”
“Yep,” Cowboy said, grinning. “Shorty has been practically begging to come through here and suck me off.”
“Ain’t you worried about your girl doubling back and catching you?” Duce asked, hoping that he sounded more concerned than mocking.