Page 35 of Gang of Roses: Dice

I looked over at him.

“Nah.”

My voice came out calm, but my mind was already somewhere else.

“Let’s put something on our stomachs first.”

“You sure?” he asked.

I gave him a single nod, but Oats didn’t move.

He just studied my face. Out of everybody standing in that yard, he knew me the best. He knew I wasn’t hungry. He knew I wasn’t alright. But he also knew when not to ask another damn question, unlike the other two.

“Somebody betta tell me some. Bullets, no bullets? What’s the wave, Radar?” Wallie fussed.

“Listen, I’m not opposed to eatin’ first but dammit. I hate when y’all do that secretive shit,” Gwop made known.

“No need to worry. Let’s eat.”

I started toward the house, and they followed me closely. I was still trying to shake the feeling sitting in my chest.

“So strippers, no strippers?”

Gwop was still trying to figure out where we go from here. He never could take my silence.

“Y’all go have fun. I gotta check something out.”

“Muthafucka, we gotta check some shit out. Fuck dem hoes.”

Oats had already made up his mind. Wherever I was headed, he was coming too.

“Listen, how ‘bout we let tonight rock out, then tomorrow see what the hell got this fool ready to say fuck the move. Shit, if it was that urgent, we wouldn’t still be standing here.”

Wallie wasn’t wrong. I’d let tonight play out, but come tomorrow, I was getting answers... even if I had to do some drastic-ass pressin’… like pulling up to every fuckin address connected.

For once...The nigga wasn't talking out his ass.

If that email had required urgent movement, Tom would've said so. The shit I was looking at had been sitting there long enough for him to find it. Twenty-four more hours wasn't gon' change a damn thing.

Tom must have had to move outside of the state. That was the only reason this information didn’t land when he started his search.

“I'll deal with it tomorrow,” I stated firmly, and no one pressed my final decision.

“Bet money on it,” Oats said, walking off to round up these damn folks.

He knew tomorrow...Somebody was gon' answer my gotdamn questions.

I was going to need a few more days off. I was gettin’ answers before the noise returned.

Chapter 6

Global “Dice” Jamerson

My head was tilted on a pillow against the plush mattress, while I flipped my hands in front of my face, wondering what color I was going to paint my nails when I went to get my fill-in. I definitely needed to go to the nearest Ulta because Mac released their summer lipstick collection, and the shade Crazy For Me was in it. It was a beautiful shade of red, and I just had to have it.

“Do that feel good, babe?”

I damn near forgot he was there.