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The first night before the club was to open, Cutty and Chucky was setting up. The DJ was messing around on the 1’s and 2’s, while the bartenders stocked the bar. A black on black Hummer with dark tinted windows pulled up and three burly men in black suits exited the truck. The man in the front passenger side got out and opened the back passenger side door and an older black man stepped out adorned in a deep wine Canali suit with matching Paciotti Lizard claw loafers, and Tom Ford glasses. He stopped to admire the structure before him. Surrounded by his bodyguards, Click, Bird, Nick and Beast stayed in the car.
Luke “Battle” Kent was raised by the streets of Detroit. He went to live with his Uncle Pee when his mother died when he was ten years old and started running drugs for him. Pee was a petty hustler that never really came up in the game. He sold heroin back in his day but became his own best customer. He got desperate and robbed his dealer, when he caught up with him he killed him right in front of Battle. Uncle Pee was smart but unmotivated, but he taught Battle the game. Battle lived on the streets with Nate, Click, and Bird, his now bodyguards, they know each other since they were hustling to eat. They were the only ones he trusted. He left the United States years ago to protect his family from the drama that he created in the streets, leaving Sinister to manage the club, The Lion’s Den. It was a little hole in the wall that he used to clean his money. Sinister turned the club into a lucrative strip club and kept Battle’s drugs flowing through the city of Detroit. He met Sinister at the club at the age of 22 when he hired him to manage the small club just to earn a little money. Sinister slept in the back room of the club and performed various duties around the club. It wasn’t that he trusted Sinister but he liked his willingness to serve him, he knew he could control Sinister. Sinister was a gangster wanna-be, he wasn’t a leader, he was soft but cocky. Battle never worried about Sinister betraying him because Sinister didn’t want to run things, he was satisfied with the appearance of power. This is the first time he had a problem with his money or his drugs out of their 15-year relationship that required his presence, but getting beat out of eight millions dollars and 30 kilos of coke demanded his personal attention.
Cutty recognized him immediately, fear filled his belly, he nudged Chucky and whispered “That’s the Man!”. Cutty was warned by Sinister that he would show up. Battle wanted his money and drugs accounted for. Cutty greeted Battle and directed him to Sinister’s office. He watched from the big window in Sinister’s office when there was a knock on the door, his security pulled out their guns as he shouted, “Come in!” Chucky stuck his head in the door first to make sure it was ok to enter. Battle waved him in and offered him a seat. Chucky sat down.
Battle stared at the young man, it was as though he was looking into his own face. “How may I help you?” Battle asked in a baritone voice.
Chucky had rehearsed his lines a million times but once in front of Battle, he became tongued tied. He stammered, “I’m Chucky, ummmmm, I wanted to talk business…!”
Battle cut him off, “What business could you possibly have with me?” Chucky cleared his throat but before he could speak there was another knock on the door. The body guard went to the door and slowly opened it. A smile spread across his face, he turned to Battle and said “Yo Bossman you ain’t never gonna believe this!” In walked Ro. Chucky slumped down in his chair and covered his face, “I knew I shouldn’t have called her when Battle entered the club, DAMN!”
“What‘sup B?” Ro said with a bright smile on her face.
Chucky uncovered his face, “B? What da?” Battle looked at her and his face soften. “Ro, is that you?” He stood up and grabbed her so tight he lifted her off her feet and swung her around. “What are you doing here?” Battled asked, please don’t tell me you still stripping.
“Hell naw! You wish! What, you wanna lap dance, Daddy?” They laughed. She hugged the other three men in the room and turned to Battle.
Battle and Ro had a little history together, she was his side chick back in the day. Battle really dug Ro but he was married and Ro had other options as well. Ro had a baby at 14 years old, she was always a wild child, Ro was always about money when it came to sex. Having many suitors, she wasn’t sure who Chucky’s father was but Battle took care of her and her child as much as he could because at the time he was just a small-time hustler himself, plus he had a family already. When Ro settled down with Le-lo she became pregnant with her second child, they parted ways with no drama.
“Ma?” Chucky said bringing their attention back to the fact that he was sitting there, Battle looked down at him and back at Ro.
“Is this your son Ro, this is lil’ stinka man?” Battle snickered.
“Yea, that’s my boy.” She walked over and hugged Chucky.
Battle went back behind the desk, unbuttoned his jacket and sat back down. He cleared his throat as though he was suddenly nervous.
“What can I do for you?” Battle said, not making eye contact with Chucky. Chucky glanced back between Ro and Battle.
Nick broke the ice by asking, “How’s Money?”. Ro looked down with tears in her eyes.
Chucky answered, “Money died.”
Nick gasped, “What? How?”
Chucky put his arms around his mother as she wept, “She fell from the pole, the last night she was retiring from the club and broke her neck.”
“This club?” Nick asked.
“Yea!” Chucky said, and it wasn’t no accident!”
Battle walked around the desk to comfort Ro, “I’m sorry to hear about your friend, I know yall went way back, but why do you say it wasn’t an accident?”
“Sinister killed her, he told me.” She gritted her teeth.
He patted her shoulder and said, “Sinister will be taken care of for more reasons than one!” Battled exclaimed. “Now what can I do for you, son?”
Chucky explained to Battle what went down with Sinister. He revealed that he had removed all the drugs from the club before the police raided it and wanted to return his product back to him. Battle’s eyes lit up.
“Imma street nigga and I know how to get paid, I could’ve taken your drugs and came up and no one would have never known I had those keys, but I’m not that kind of dude I believe in honoring the game. I would like to be your Man. I would like for us to go into business together.” Battle kept his game face on but was really digging how Chucky was coming at him. Chucky continued “You can trust me, I wanna be rich and I can make you richer. I wanna change the game!
Battle finally responded, “The drug game is cut throat, why should I believe you, how do I know you can be trusted?” Battle asked taking a cigar out of his pocket and gesturing Nick to pour him a glass of scotch. He offered Chucky and Ro a drink, Ro accepted but Chucky declined. Battle smirked a little bit, “You don’t drink?”
“Not while I’m handling business.” Chucky said to Battle, looking him in his eyes.
Chucky answered his earlier questions, “You can trust me, I just returned 30 kilos of coke to you and in good faith ….” Chucky got up and left the room. He called Kelso earlier and told him that “The Boss” was there. Kelso drove to the club and parked behind the club in the alley and brought the money. Chucky exited the back door and retrieved two suitcases from the trunk and nodded for Kelso to leave. Chucky returned to the office and handed the suitcases to Nick and Click. “I’m returning your money as well; those two suitcases contain your 8 million dollars.” Chucky said. Nick and Click open the suitcases and thumb though the money. Battle took a sip of his scotch, leaned back in the chair and started laughing, “Ok Man, you proved your point, what do you have in mind?”
Chucky left the office feeling like a real G, his set up had worked better than he expected, thinking to himself as he wrapped his arms around Ro, “Imma show these niggas how a real nigga run shit!” Already having a plan in mind Chucky started to strategize to take over the city with Battle’s blessing. Battle gave Chucky t
he club as a token of his appreciate for returning his money and drugs. Battle kissed Ro on the forehead and gave Chucky a hand shake and said “I’ll be hearing from you soon, right!”
“Yes, sir!” Chucky responded.
Feeling that his business was finish, Battle left. “Beast! Let’s go!” The men left as easy as they came. Pulling off Click asked, “So you think that little nigga can handle all the responsibility you just gave him?”
“He better.” Battle said.
“You know he had something to do with our lil’ mishap in Toledo?” Bird said.
“Yea I know, but that was something personal between him and Sinister but he chose not to screw me over, and that speaks volumes. Did you see how that little nigga came at me!” Battle laughed. He got a lot of balls though, I like him, he kinda remind me of myself when I was that age!”
“Yea and kinda look like you too!” Nick said waiting for a reaction from Battle. Battle leaned back in his seat and pondered.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Nightmares
Chrissy sat in bed with her knees to her chest trying to calm herself down from a recurring nightmare she began having since her mother died. This nightmare would wake her up in a panic drenched in sweat. Chrissy always had a dream that was so vivid it was as though she was physically there. It would stick to her for the whole day and nag at her. It began as it always did, her being asleep in her bed, awakened by screams and crashing sounds, she would tiptoe out of her bed and peek out of her bedroom door. Shadows could be seen dancing off the walls and a blurry silhouette that appeared to be a man hoovering over her mother like a ghost. The vision would make her feel eerie, sweaty and pee would run down her leg. Quite a few mornings she woke up to soiled sheets. Hearing her mother beg him to leave she would inch out of her room to try to get a better look, than a gunshot would rang through her body and she would wake up. Once she calmed down, she would will herself back to sleep.
The one other time she felt that eerie feeling in her life again was the night she met Sinister. There was something that was familiar but unidentifiable about him. She shrugged it off and tried to enjoy the night, a night she couldn’t truly recall. She remembered waking up to a blaring phone and feeling sick as a dog. She felt nauseated, her head was spinning and her mouth was dry. The night Sinister came over unannounced, the glare in his eyes, his persona and his mass that stood over her made her body sweat and her bladder feel like it needed to be released. She felt danger whenever she was in his present or the thought of him. Once Sinister went to jail she relaxed but continued to have nightmares that seemed to be getting worse. The shadow that she dreamt about showed up in her nightmare but the violence was against her.
Chucky and Chrissy always been close. One night while chilling at the house she told him about her nightmare. He could tell that she was becoming very emotional while telling him about her dreams. Her body shook and her voice cracked. Chucky pulled her into his mass to comfort her and he told her, “Losing your mother was very traumatic for you, as well as for me. Money was like a second mother to me and it hurt me to my soul when she died so I can imagine how you feel. We have to just take it one day at a time. The hole that’s left in our hearts will always be there but time will heal all wounds. As far as Sinister is concerned, no need to fear him, he will never see the streets again.” Chucky smirked as he reminisced about his flawless plan that was perfectly executed to get Sinister put away, and the bonus he received by getting into business with Battle. Chucky enjoyed having Chrissy in his arms. She grew into a beautiful woman. He always had a crush on her since he was 14 years old, but refused to cross that line. He broke the ice by tickling her like he always did when they were kids and instantly Chrissy grabbed a pillow off the couch and the pillow fight was on.
~~~~
Chucky dove in to the game head first, he was determined to build an empire. He opened up trap houses all on the west side of Detroit. He recruited trap niggas that been in the game, but never quite got the game on lock, to join him to run the city. Fronting them the capitol and product, they were indebted to him. Chucky continued to supply Battle’s clientele and build his own. Chucky and Battle build a great working relationship as well as a friendship, they connected on so many levels. He was very pleased with Chucky’s performance. Chucky adorned his life with his riches, buying expensive cars, clothes, jewelry and bitches but he still crushed on Chrissy. He wondered, now that he has come up in the game and was that boss nigga, would she take him seriously. He promised himself he would find out.
He hadn’t seen Chrissy in a while and decided to stop by to kick it with her. He called her from the car and said, “Let me in, Girl!” Chrissy opened the door as Chucky was getting out of his Gold-colored Escalade with gold and chrome rims and dark tinted windows. Chucky stepped out Prada from head-to-toe, when he saw Chrissy watching him he started prison posing acting silly. Chrissy stood in the door unbothered and said, “Boy this ain’t no fashion show! Get yo big ass head in the house!” She laughed as she walked away, shaking her head. Chucky stepped up in the cut still playing “Big Man!” Chrissy was in the kitchen getting her popcorn out of the microwave. He watched her reach up in the cabinet for a bowl and licked his lips. Chrissy had on some booty shorts, short tank top with her hair hanging down to her butt. Chucky relished in her beauty. He walked closely behind her, reached up and retrieved the bowl and said, “Here you go Shawty!” Chrissy turned to take the bowl. Only reaching his chest, she inhaled in his scent. Looking up at him their eyes met and their stare lingered a little too long for Chrissy. The butterflies she got in her stomach when she was younger when he would stand by her bedroom door and gaze at her, returned. Chrissy punched him in the stomach and said, “Move Boy!”
“I got your Boy!” Chucky smiled. “Imma grown ass man” standing in a “My nuts hang down to the floor” stance. Chrissy rolled her eyes and walked out the kitchen. She went and sat on the couch with her legs curled up under her, Chucky took a seat across from her on the love seat. Getting comfortable he gazed at Chrissy, getting into his own thoughts of how he could make her look at him differently. Chrissy broke the silence, “So what you been up too, I see you shining.” Chucky blushed and rubbed his hand down his face trying to hide it, “Nuthan much just putting in work. I just stopped by to see what you are up too. You been a’ight?”
“Yea, I been keeping busy.” Chrissy said nonchalantly.
“Oh you been under some dude, Huh!” He said hoping it wasn’t so.
Chrissy blew out air in frustration and sat the popcorn on the table, “Naw! I ain’t been busy with some dude. When you gonna stop being so over protective?”
Chucky relaxed, “When you stop dealing with these bustas and deal with a real nigga!”
Chrissy rolled her eyes and stood up to go back to the kitchen, as she passed him she popped him in the head, “Well when you find one send him my way.” Chucky grabbed Chrissy by her wrist and pulled her back, she stubble onto his lap. He gazed in Chrissy’s eyes, she stared at him like she was daring him to make a move. She inhaled his scent again and felt his manhood vibrate. It kinda aroused her but she was thinking, “Nahhhhh this can’t be happening.” Chucky let her wrist go and held her around her waist, he looked at her and licked his lips as though he was daring her also. Chrissy’s eyes caressed his smooth skin and sexy lips. She always thought Chucky was attractive, but he was like her brother. She never considered him as a love interest, they grew up together. Her skin got hot and her thoughts got a little scrabbled. Realizing that she hadn’t moved, she got nervous. Chucky continued to hold his stare, gave her the “LL Cool J lip lick and side smirk. Chrissy gathered herself together, pushed herself up, and walked into the kitchen. “You want something to drink?” She asked. Chucky could never figure Chrissy out. She could switch up on you in a blink of an eye. She could go from sex kitten, to sweetheart to cold in 2.2 seconds. Chucky cleared his throat, “Yea! A shot of whatever you got! His palms had started s
weating so he rubbed his hands down his pant leg. Chrissy came back with a shot glass and a bottle of Ciroc, she decided on a Cooler for her choice of drink, sat back on the couch and picked up her popcorn. Chucky’s phone rang, “What’sup Ma?”
“You! When am I gonna see you, Daddy? I miss you.” Chrissy could hear the female cooing on the phone.
“Right now, but give me about 30 minutes.” Chucky smiled thinking about the loving Vanity was about to put on him.
“I’ll be waiting!” She cooed. Chucky hung up and threw back his shot. Looking over at Chrissy, he noticed she looked pissed, ignoring her attitude her walked over, kissed her on the forehead and said, “I’m out!”
“Tell your little T.H.O.T, I said Wha’ up!” Chrissy said sarcastically. Chucky threw up the deuces and walked out the house.
Chrissy was shocked that she felt a tinge of jealousy. She was enjoying the cat and mouse game they played. Him leaving her to go have sex with a random didn’t sit right with her, she felt confused about what she was feeling.
Chucky didn’t come around for a couple more weeks, it never bothered her before but now it did. Chrissy wanted to see Chucky, so she decided to pay him a visit at the club. She walked in the club with her Dolce Cabbana mini swing dress with Louboutin strappy four inch heels. She was adorned with the matching diamond necklace, bracelet and earrings set he bought her for her birthday. Her hair was pinned up on the top of her head and hung in long spiral curls down her back. She spotted Chucky in his VIP getting a lap dance from a Beyonce look alike. She was gorgeous. Chrissy boiled in the inside but she kept it neat. She walked pass security, sat down next to Chucky and took a sip of his drink. Caught up in the stripper he didn’t notice her sitting there. Chrissy watched the stripper ride his dick and Chucky loving every minute of it. He grabbed her hips and met her ride. Chrissy couldn’t take it anymore, she stood up, grabbed the bottle of Ciroc on the table and poured it on him. Coming out of his daze, he looked up and said, “What da fuc…..” Chrissy said very calmly, “Obviously you need to be cooled off!” She said as she walked out of the VIP and out of the club. Confused about what just happened, he jumped up knocking Vanity off his lap and went after Chrissy.