Page 24 of Gang of Roses: Kash

I picked up the box and opened it. I didn’t have time to pussyfoot around. There was a face staring back at me that looked so real. Dice carried a smile that went from ear to ear letting me know she was proud of whatever this was.

“No more sheisty’s bitches. This is a realistic silicone mask. I made one for each of us. We needed something that could get us in and out of places without automatically having people ready. You get what I’m saying? When a muthafucka see bitches running up in the place with sheisty’s on, they drawing weapons and calling twelve. This an auction house we ‘bout to jack. We need to be as cool as a cucumber, ya feel me?”

Dice was absolutely right. Them sheisty’s were going to set it off before we could get through any door good. “Who wore this?” I asked.

“I did. As a matter of fact,” she snatched the mask from me, grabbed up her tote, and disappeared in the bathroom.

“This says there’s over fifty pieces. Kash, how the fuck are we supposed to get off fifty pieces?” Rebel questioned.

“I told you that my father had someone that owes him a favor. Tarrie Rodriguez, the lady that owns⁠—”

Rebel cut me off, finishing my sentence for me. “Radiant Relics. I mean, I knew Pops was running shit, but damn. He got so many favors owed to him in these streets it’s crazy.”

“You should see the list he left me. It’s a fuckin’ CVS receipt, I’m telling you. How you want to do this, Rebel? We got two days to get our shit together.”

“I say we stick to what you mapped out. I can handle the waitress. I prefer being on the ground where I can shake and bake. Good looking out, sis’.”

Nodding, I went to respond when Dice finale emerged from the back. The face that stood in front of us was not the face that walked to the back. She’d changed clothes and put the mask on giving her a new identity. As much as I wanted to talk shit when she first presented it, she had me on mute now.

“Dice, this is big,” I said. I got up from the love seat and went to inspect her work from a closer angle. Touching her face, it was warm and coated in makeup. “Sis’, this is fuckin’ brilliant!”

Rebel was right behind me ready to assess the mask as well. The way she absorbed this mask into a product of herself… yeah, she had some shit up her sleeve that was gon’ make jobs easier.

“I want to clown you for this but damn… you did yo’ big one. Respond so I can see how it moves with you,” Rebel instructed.

“It does get a lil’ sweaty but I’m telling y’all now, this the real deal. I know them sheisty’s were getting old to y’all. I been working on this for a minute. I did a lil’ stick up at a gas station to test it and sure enough, I pulled that shit off. It was this bitch face all over the news, not mine. If y’all really fuckin’ with it, I can give y’all yo’ shit now. Oh, and I cooked up some fake fingerprints, too. I been working.”

“Hell yeah. Where mine?” I inquired looking around. Dice really did do her big one this go round.

“In my suitcase. And if you think driving the truck is the best place for me then it is what it is. I’m really not trying to fuss and fight with my sisters. Y’all all a bitch got,” Dice chimed, lowkey choking up.

I caught it and so did Rebel. I knew Rebel’s mean ass wasn’t gon’ acknowledge it, but Dice been my bitch longer than anybody. I would never make her feel like I wasn’t in her corner. Throwing my arms around her neck, I gave her a sisterly hug. Even though she needed one, this was more for me than it was her. I really did miss my bitch.

“Glad to see the gang is back together,” Declan stated catching all of our attention.

“If it ain’t Mr. Saint. I see you locked in with my girl again,” Rebel commented first.

Dice offered a laugh as she removed the mask saying, “He never could stay away from yo’ ass. He such a sucka.”

“Okay, okay. Leave my nigga alone. Y’all knew what I was coming to do. It’s me that can’t stay away from him, not the other way around.” I wasn’t ‘bout to let them gang up on my man. This love wasn’t one sided on either end.

Turning around, D-Row wore a proud smile on his face. I never hid him and I never denied what he was to me. When everyone else picked a side or strayed from me, he stayed and loved me regardless. This was who I wanted forever with., However, that feeling of jinxing our forever weighed on me heavily.

Walking over to him, I placed a kiss on his lips as his arms snaked around my waist. He was in love and vice versa. He really ain’t have shit to worry ‘bout when it came to me. He was all my body knew, and I took his word for me being the only woman he gave intimacy attention to.

“What do you need honey?” I asked sticking my hands into his pants pocket.

“A nigga was only coming home to see my woman… and tell you that the Saints are ready to step in if you need us,” he said offering his assistance.

“No, no, no, no. You know how I am. I’m not risking anyone else’s life or freedom. Them two heffas over there already know what time it is. Stay away from this, D. This is your job on the line,” I advised.

He scrunched his face up before saying, “I don’t give a fuck ‘bout that job. A nigga there for one reason and one reason only.”

“D—”

Waving me off, he stepped around me saying, “I know how this shit go ladies. You need me believe it or not.”

“Just because you’re the host doesn’t mean anything, baby,” I voiced.