Page 25 of Gang of Roses: Kash

“Uhhh, that’s exactly what it means. We talking 1.5 million dollars as comfort money. D-Row ain’t no stranger to this or his job. Sis’, let him work,” Rebel stated stepping up.

I looked at Dice to see if she was with it as well and she gave me no back talk. Rolling my eyes, I said, “Fine, but don’t fuck us over, D.”

“Fucking over my woman is savage work. I’m a gentleman. I thought you knew that,” he said throwing me a wink.

Declan was a grown ass man, and I didn’t need him babysitting us. Nevertheless, his job was hosting this swell event so using him to our advantage wasn’t as bad as it seemed. If things went left, we had him to cover for us.

D-day rolled around and now it was showtime. Everyone was in position and patiently waiting for this lick to be one and done. Like always, I had more than one plan mapped out just in case shit went left and we needed to make a break for it. This specific heist was far from the usual throwing money bags in our backpacks and cutting through the wind on stowaway bikes.

I adjusted the damn near invisible earpiece while moving through the auction house full of people. Thanks to Rebel, every electronic used on this job was top tier. She was a beast with the tech.

“Roses,” I said softly to get the girls’ attention. I needed to know that I was heard and see how the communication was on each end.

“I’m here, but why is it so thick in this bitch? You said small, ain’t shit small ‘bout this, Kash,” Rebel fussed. She threw daggers at me from across the room. It took everything in me to keep from laughing. She hated when I downplayed details.

“It’s an auction house, Rebel. What did you expect? Don’t trip though, we good. Blend in and look alive. We not losing another sister,” I stated confidently.

“Call me a chameleon,” Dice responded, letting me know she was in position.

Rebel gave a small salute from across the room and moved to the table full of champagne. I was always nervous when it came to jobs. However, I couldn’t stay in that phase. I shoot them nerves loose and got my mind right.

Before another move was made, I came through the mic with, “Aight ladies. Pretty as a flower…”

“Solid as concrete,” they replied in unison. My heart smiled because regardless of what we told each other during a heated exchange, we stood ten toes together on some Thelma and Louise shit. These were my bitches a hunnid times over.

Moving around the room, I tugged at the white suit. It was uncomfortable as fuck, and if the event coordinator came up to me one more time asking for me to fix my tie, I was gon’ hit her in her shit. I’m talking straight deck her ass sending the lick up in flames. She was starting to get on my fuckin’ nerves.

Dice huffed and puffed as loud as she could through the mic. She wasn’t the only one irritated. However, she wanted everyone to know she was. “Can y’all please get that shit and bounce? The heat on a hunnid, this truck engine sounds like it needs some damn oil, and that fuck ass coordinator keeps coming out here asking if I know what’s up. I’m not part of her staff, Kash. I will hit this hoe.”

Breathing deeply, I gave Dice a tight-lipped response. “Bitch, you got one job to do. Do it.”

“Facts,” Rebel chimed in.

“Yo’ point? And I’m ready to quit so....” Dice really was working my nerves. I wasn't about to go back and forth on this earpiece.

When I looked down at my watch, I saw that it was six o’clock on the dot. “Cut the shit and lock in. It’s go time.” The gang ceased all banter without any further back talk.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you all can take your seats, the auction is about to start,” the coordinator announced from the front of the room over the mic.

Conversations started dying down as people made their way to their seats. All I wanted was the fuckin’ pieces. I hated how we had to play the part on certain jobs cause we were so used to going in, wrecking shit, and getting the fuck up out of there without further fuckin’ ado.

Grabbing the extended mic from the aggy ass bitch, the auctioneer began their lil’ whoopty-doo of a welcome speech. “Welcome, everyone. Tonight, we have an incredible collection of rare and highly sought-after pieces up for auction. We would like to give a special thank you to the staff of Ross Savings & Loans for their sponsorship on tonight’s events. You should all have your numbered paddles that was given to you at check in. When you’re ready to place a bid, simply raise your paddle where it can be seen. All pieces will be held in the back until the bidding is over. Afterward, you can claim your item and be on your way. Any questions?”

Looking around the room one final time, he wore a smile glancing at the many faces in attendance. When no one answered, he continued with, “Alrighty, let’s get started with our first item.”

Handing the mic back to the auctioneer, he stood to the side with the clipboard that held the catalog of the pieces coming forward.

“Eyes up, Dynasty,” I spoke lowly as I grabbed the first item.

Dynasty was drop-dead gorgeous and worked weekends at one of Magnolia’s gentlemen’s clubs, Naturals. A dark-skinned goddess of a woman, coming in at five feet, eight inches. She came wearing an all-white dress that hugged the hell out of her curves. She knew her job: look beautiful and hold up her paddle at every hand gesture.

See, every now and again, we used outside help. Tonight, was one of those nights. She elegantly walked over to her seat and threw a wink at me. Denying her entry was like denying salt back in the beach. She commanded a room, and we, for damn sure, needed her to do her thang.

With Dice’s skills on the masks and us filling in for the workers we swapped out, we damn near looked identical to the ones that were supposed to be here. If there was a difference, the planner and attendees were too focused to tell. A beautiful chaos that worked out perfect for the gang.

One by one, the auctioneer called each piece in the catalog and one by one, I walked them out to Rebel, who walked them out to Dice in the truck. Dynasty played her part and caused each bid to rise. This went on for at least two to three hours. When we ran up on our last piece, I let the girls know. Rebel stood by for the last handoff and once it was completed, I gave Dice the okay to get the fuck up out of here.

“Ladies, I’m off the premises and heading to the clubhouse. I’ll see you there,” Dice voiced giving us the confirmation that she was in the clear.