Chapter 5
Hawk
It was that smell. That soft, sweet, grown woman scent drifting through the bar that made my head snap back like I got tapped on the shoulder.
Perfumes overlap, and bitches share fragrances the way they share lip gloss, so when I smell a scent that sticks out, I know it means something to me.
I can say that it wasn’t just the scent that got me. It was her body, her shape, and the way she moved through the crowd like the music was playing just for her.
All day, I’d been aggravated as hell thinking about that masked woman from last night. I didn’t know her face, didn’t even know her voice besides the short things she would say while she moaned, but my body remembered her. My mind kept running laps around the way she felt wrapped around my dick.
Never in my life had I had pussy once, and I couldn’t go right back to get it again and again until I got bored or tapped out.
Unfortunately, that was the agreement I made with Nina after the threesome.
She knew exactly where she had me, so she made me agree to keep things as a one night stand.
Now I was regretting the shit. I need more time with the masked woman with the tight grip, and I think I just accidentally found her.
“Boss, you ready to roll?” Sergio’s voice cracked through the haze in my head, snatching me back into reality.
“Nah,” I muttered, eyes still stuck on the direction she walked in.
“Open up the Presidential booth for me. I’m staying here for a minute.”
“What about the meeting with Escobar about the new club?”
“I’m staying here for a minute. We can leave when I’m ready.” I made sure he knew I wasn’t about to budge on shit.
He nodded and pressed his earpiece closer to his ear, handling shit from where he stood. Proctor was my head of security for enforcement, but Sergio was often the brains of my operation. He is what I used to be to Kansas years ago. Shit, when I think about it, Proctor and Sergio both are.
“Alright, Boss. Everything is in order. We can head up that way now.”
“Cool, lead the way.”
Truth be told, I know I should’ve left here.
I had shit to do. Sticking around this pool party was nothing but trouble waiting to happen.
But I needed to know if that was really her or if my mind was playing tricks on me, because I wanted to see her again just once.
Maybe that is causing me to chase a scent and a silhouette like some weak-minded ass nigga who didn’t know how to let shit go.
Sergio led me up the stairs to the president's booth overlooking the whole party.
From up here, I could see the cabanas I rented to guests, the dancefloor, the bar, the whole vibe.
Even in winter, the place was packed because there aren't too many pool parties in Vegas this time of year. I opened the pool today on a “why the fuck not” type of thought. People love experiences, even when they are cold. Shid, folks go to Alaska to jump in ice water just to say they did this shit. Nina told me I was tripping, wanting to open the pool in the winter, but I had ideas, and now look. God showed me I wasn’t tripping by putting the sun out bright as ever to send a warm glow over the rooftop today.
It was one of the many signs I got to show my intuition is never fuckin wrong.
But even on cold days, I could still keep the pool open and put plenty of heat lamps out here. Cover up the pool, put fire pits over them, and keep that whole vibe going outside while still making revenue on the inside.
My phone was always on silent when I was out handling shit, but it’s like the universe told me to look at my phone just in time to see Nina’s call.
I exhaled before I even answered the phone because I knew her ass was being dramatic about something.
She will turn the simplest shit into a big fuckin ordeal if it doesn’t align with what the fuck she has going on.
“Yeah,” I answered.
“Baby, where are you?” Her sniffles and cracked voice already let me know how this conversation was about to go.
“I’m at the club checking up on shit. What’s up?” I asked, preparing myself for whatever she was about to throw at me.
“I’m stuck in fuckin Colorado, and I am about to miss my dress appointment! They said they had to land here because of some dumb ass mechanical issue.”
“Well, aren’t you glad they did?”
“What!”
“I mean, isn’t it a good thing they landed the plane willingly instead of crashing?” I said without thinking.
“That’s not funny, Hawk!” she snapped.
“It took me forever to get this private appointment at Galia Lahav. That’s why I told you to let me take the private plane here, but you don’t listen!”
I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly because I knew the wrong words would have her flipping her shit.
Nina loved luxury. And not small luxury.
She wasn’t the type to be happy with a purse or dinner at a nice spot.
She liked big shit like private jets, overseas venues, five-star everything.
And because of that wedding she planned overseas at the venue I couldn’t even pronounce, she had already run up a million dollars on the ceremony.
No matter how much money I have, I’m not into blowing it, so I've been telling her we can cut back on unnecessary spending.
Flying first class is just as good as a private jet with headphones on, and a good airline.
Nina continued to ramble about the flight, the dress, the appointment, the private plane, with her voice climbing higher by the second.
And normally, I’d shut her up immediately and stop her bitching, but right at that moment, my attention was focused on the girl down in that cabana sitting right in my eyesight.
Laughing with her girls, tossing her head back, letting the sun kiss her skin like it had a crush on her.
Every curve, every angle, every damn movement was like she was being slow-motion directed for me only.
Even from up here, she stood out in the crowd like she was dipped in a whole different kind of light.
“I’m so fucking mad, and you’re not even saying anything?” Nina snapped in my ear, and I didn’t answer right away.
“Hawk?” Nina said again, louder this time.
“Hello, are you even freaking listening to me. What is going on over there?”
I inhaled slowly, trying to keep my cool.
“Nina, calm down.”
My voice came out deeper, flatter than I meant, but I didn’t fix it.
“No, because you’re not listening! I’m stuck here, and my whole family is literally waiting for me! This shit is not fair at all, and I need your ass to care a little more.”
“Nina!”
She shut up instantly.
“Answer a question for me. You safe, right?”
“Yes, Hawk, but”
“It shouldn’t be any buts as long as your ass is safe. Let me handle what I am doing right now and call the dress shop to see if you can reschedule for tomorrow.”
“But Hawk.”
“Nina, what did I just say? Crying about it isn’t going to help with anything. Find a fucking solution and get to New York the fastest way you can. See if there is another airline flying out sooner.”
“Whatever, Hawk, bye.”
“Bye.”
I hung up.
I let my phone drop into my pocket and kept staring down at that cabana like it was the only thing in this whole damn city worth looking at.
I was in my zone, watching, until I heard heavy footsteps creeping up behind me.
“What you doing up here nigga? I didn’t know you planned on coming to the party today,” Proctor said, joining me at the rail.
“Shit, just scoping the scene. Seeing how the club was vibing today since we doing something new.”
He adjusted the chain around his neck.
“It’s been successful if you ask me. I did have to bust a nigga in his shit earlier, but other than that it’s been pretty calm.”
I laughed through my nose because Proctor couldn’t end a day on duty without some bull shit happening.
When I first hired him, I was worried about his cutthroat security methods, but he kept the rest of the guards in line, and my clubs always felt safe to guests.
Even the underground casino was run like one that was supposed to be open.
My father been doing this a long time. So long that he was barely able to be a father to me at times because he spent his time securing clubs and shit.
“Yo, do you have the guest list? Who is in Cabana 6?”
“Uhh.”
Proctor looked out at the cabanas leaning in for a better look.
We had the cabanas numbered, one through ten, and number six was one of the ones with the best location, so we often charged more for that one.
It could run you anywhere between five and ten thousand dollars so baby must have a little money to be in there.
“Oh, yeah. Those are some chicks that I upgraded for free. Nigga spilled a drink on one of them on purpose, and I felt sorry for the girl. I moved the people who rented it out to cabana eight and booted eight to the line for a refund. It was some lame dusty ass niggas, so I didn’t feel bad about it. ”
I nodded my head, slightly pissed off at the idea of a nigga disrespecting a female in my shit. I didn’t go for men disrespecting women at all.
“But what’s your concern about number six, though? It’s because of them fine ass bitches in there?”
“I don’t know, man.” I stood up from my lean over the railing.
“It’s just this girl that’s in the cabana looks like someone I’ve dealt with before.”
He chuckled because I’m sure he knew me better than anyone in here.
“So, you're reminiscing about a memory or an itch you need to scratch?”
“Both.”
Proctor smiled from ear to ear. The idea of me getting married never sat right in this nigga head.
I’ve only seen Proctor settle down once before in my life, and that was with this chick named Unique when I was a kid.
She ended up being the mother to my sister, Chelsea, and the reason Proctor went away for some time.
He shot up their house when he thought a man was in there, and my sister was with our grandmother.
Now that I’m older, I get where he's coming from, but then again, I don’t believe in disrespecting women. I love my mama too much.
“So, what do you want me to do? You trying to call her up here?”
“Nah, because I’m not sure that it’s her I’m looking for.”
“Fuck you mean? How is she a memory if you don’t remember the bitch?”
I shook my head.
“It’s hard for me to explain.” I scratched in my beard, running my tongue across my grill.
“Look, just go tell them they have a pass to come to the new lounge tonight, and they have a free section. It’s darker in the club. Less eyes that can run back to Nina and tell her shit.”
“Got you.” Proctor nodded his head and then left me at the rails, still staring like a dumb ass. I just know that’s her, but I need to ask her to confirm it. After that, whatever happens, happens because I’m feigning for her fine ass.