Chapter 12 #2
“Yeah, she’s already in it, ain’t enough room for both of you,” Cairo replied, before taking a bite of his slice of supreme pizza with extra cheese.
“We’re just friends,” Kamilla stated, and both Nate and Dania grunted and shared a look. “Don’t do that.”
“You know, I like you, Kamilla, you seem real innocent. Like never been kissed innocent. And I know my brother, he’s not a man to lie. So, you two can drop the act. You might not be together today, but next week,” Dania’s words trailed off as her and Nate chuckled.
“Anyway,” Cairo huffed. “Found a job yet? You might be able to find something with the Feds the way you in everyone’s business.”
“No call back,” Dania groaned. “Looks like I’ll be going to the clinic until I can get some real money.”
“Oh shit, that reminds me,” Nate interjected. “Fredo said we can get in the studio tomorrow night. But the catch is, it might be fucked up.”
“Fucked up?” Cairo asked. “Fucked up how?”
“Like Shy had a party and the nigga nor his crew is coming back to clean it up,” Nate shared.
“I can clean it,” Kamilla spoke up.
Dania curled her lip up. “You sure? Shy and his niggas are nasty.”
“Can’t be any worse than cleaning up behind rich people after their swinger parties,” Kamilla shared. “Is he paying?”
“If I tell that nigga to pay he is,” Cairo spoke up. “You sure that’s what you want to do?”
“I got to do something. I told you I know how to do that. I just gotta get some supplies,” Kamilla said before looking at Dania. “I’ll split it with you.”
“And she’s considerate?” Dania gushed. “You better treat her right, Cairo.”
“I’m not having it no other way,” he quietly stated, not taking his eyes off of Kamilla. “I’ll make it happen.”
As she nodded, his phone dinged. QaMeesha was handled and the gas valve was left open. He read the text, replied with a meet spot and time and pushed it back in his pocket.
“You got to go?” Kamilla’s question was soft.
Cairo swayed his head. “I’ll handle it later. Eat, relax.”
For the next forty minutes, they ate; Nate and Cairo exchanged jokes while Dania and Kamilla got more acquainted.
The budding friendship between the two eased him.
Dania might’ve been more on the inquisitive side but she had a good heart and she moved with his best interest in mind, which meant she’d do right by Kamilla.
Hell, from the looks of it, she probably would’ve chosen Kamilla over him if it came down to it.
“Cairo,” Dania hummed in a sing-song style. “I like her.”
Cairo watched as Kamilla went to get another lemonade.
She was so hellbent to do something for herself, he let her, only for her to turn her back and shoot Pepe a look.
She do anything she wanted but spend her own money.
The men shared a silent gesture so when Kamilla pulled her money out of her wallet and Pepe refused it, she shot him a look over her shoulder.
“You don’t need to say it. I know you like her too,” Dania added. “You don’t get caught out with no one. This is new for you. So am I to assume you’re going to get serious about producing?”
“I mean I got to have someone to produce or sell a beat or something. But yeah,” Cairo said. “The itch to get out of this shit is becoming harder to ignore.”
“A good girl has that effect. Don’t hurt her.”
“What about me?” Cairo asked jokingly.
“Oh, please. Nothing hurts you. You’ll be fine. Get her back to wherever you’re keeping her stashed away. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Dania hummed and nudged him with her hip before walking away. “See you later, Kamilla.”
Kamilla waved and smiled. “See you.”
Side-by-side, the two walked back to the car. “You good? They are a match made in hell.”
She laughed and slid inside. “And they’re your best friends so that says more about you than them.”
“Damn, you right,” he said with a snap of his fingers.
Inside the car and heading back to his corner, he looked over at her. She wasn’t fidgeting with her phone or blocking out the noise.
“How you feeling?” he posed.
“Better,” she admitted. “I know you don’t want me thanking you. But really, thank you. I didn’t realize how much I was holding onto.”
“That shit has made me hard. Holding onto shit. Your heart is too good to turn cold. So you’re welcome. Just say the word and I’ll take you back. Whenever you want.”
She nodded and then yawned. “Okay.”
In the house, Cairo eased into his room while Kamilla was in the shower. Changing into an all-black outfit, he headed out being sure to send her a text.
C-Ro: lock up and get some sleep
With that, he slipped out and headed over to the traphouse only to be met by Nate.
“Oh, you thought you were going alone? Nah,” Nate spoke up. “And after that shit with Tiny, I moved everything out of here. Your shit is in my trunk.”
“You weren’t going to tell me that earlier?”
“Nah. We don’t mix business and pleasure,” Nate recited Cairo’s rule. “Plausible deniability.”
“Thanks, bro,” Cairo muttered, heading to the trunk to retrieve the duffle bag of money. “Any word on Tiny?”
“I think that nigga still licking his wounds. Niggas said he hasn’t been by here,” Nate replied. “Do I think he’s going to lay down long? Hell nah.”
“He’s going to do some shit. How stupid it is, is to be determined. Nigga can’t keep shit quiet, either,” Cairo grumbled. “Good thing is we’re removed from it so let the nigga sink.”
“Hear you.”
“Good, take that to Sapph and get home,” Cairo directed.
“Ohh shit, you got something fine in your bed so you gonna handle this quick, huh?” Nate joked.
“Yeah, she’s in the bed. I’m on the couch.”
“Oh, you were being for real,” Nate posed. “She a virgin or something? All this self-control and shit.”
“I’m on her time. It’s that simple. Unlike you, I’m not ruled by my dick,” Cairo said with a pointed expression.
“You real in-tune with yourself. You cut that hair off, I’ll know something then.”
“You won’t know a muhfuckin’ thing. Go. I’ll see you tomorrow at the studio,” Cairo spoke. “Be on time, nigga.”
“You act like I’m rapping or something.”
“Never that, you just need to know how to shop this shit. Clubs, DJs, something,” Cairo responded.
“Oh yeah,” Nate buzzed. “She something special. Got you back in your bag.”
Cairo held her secret that was so fatally tied up in his own all he could do was nod. “Too special for me.”
The two parted ways. While Nate was dropping Sapphire her payment, Cairo stood in the manager’s office of Loco’s Tacos emptying the safe and deposit box.
He’s already emptied the register. The way he saw it, ten fifty an hour wasn’t enough for Kamilla, so whatever they grossed belonged to her.
When he was done he walked out, lit his blunt and rigged the wiring on the side of the building.
While he inhaled the Azul Kush into his lungs, he silently counted down for the moment when it all went up in smoke.
Nothing was salvageable. That’s how he operated when it came down to arson. Leaving the scene of the crime, he drove a couple blocks and parked. Deposit bags were ripped open with gloved hands, discarded and counted. From there he met up with Pepe for an exchange.
“‘Preciate it,” Cairo offered, taking the stacks of bills from Pepe.
“Ain’t shit. You look out. I got you. Tell your girl whenever she comes through, it’s on me,” Pepe shared, earning him a look.
“What you tryin’ to do, nigga?”
Pepe chuckled. “You got her marked. Off of that alone, I’ll look out.”
“Yeah more like it, nigga. I’ll see you.”
With the business of the night done, Cairo was back home. Clothes removed, showered, and peeking in on Kamilla who was sound asleep, holding his pillow, hair sprawled over her face. The sight of her that comfortable made his heart beat double time. It was time to get serious.