Page 138 of The Need to Know

“I… Y-You… Pops.” I couldn’t speak, something that caused my father to laugh.

“I was worried for a minute there over Tee, but I’m glad you came to me. I’m not stupid, Eazy, I know I owe BLVCKJVCK to you. That’s why for the newest spot I want you in from the beginning, your vision and plans, because it’ll be yours. You open this new spot with a bang and I’ll sign BLVCKJVCK over to you entirely. You got an eye for this, and I’m not going to hold your personal life against you,” Pops stated. He soon held his hand out. “What do you say, partners?”

My whole life it felt like I was waiting for this moment, and I couldn’t imagine it feeling this good. A cool breath passed through my lungs and escaped through my mouth as I reached over and shook hands with Pops. Ownership. I was finally at the owner’s table. And it felt powerful.

“Someday you’re going to own four nightclubs, you know that?” Pops asked.

I couldn’t contain my smile at the idea of owning two. “Come on, Pops. You’re killin’ me.”

“So, what’s next, Mr. Marcuson?” Pops prompted as he looked me in the eye.

My head was already wrapped up in planning out the very real reality of Pawn, or PVWN. New York. The birthplace of hip-hop. With my connections from BLVCKJVCK, I knew I could have New York’s finest emcees and singers coming through PVWN.

There was so much to do and so much to plan. I said the first thing that came to my mind, “I’m moving to New York.”

On my large TV screen, movie credits were rolling as a classic hip-hop track played. In bed with Scorsese, I had just watched State Property 1 and 2. People could say what they wanted about musicians—rappers turned actors—but I loved hip-hop movies, and I really enjoyed the Beanie Sigel films.

With my phone in hand, I typed up a few notes to point out for Nasty Noir for when I did my post. I’d been slacking on my blog and a few of my subscribers weren’t too shy to send me messages. Next up, I was finally going to tackle the Beverly Hills Cop movies. Eddie Murphy didn’t get enough credit and I would be sure to comment that whether I liked the series or not.

Even though I was laid up in bed after having a great breakfast with my parents, my mind still drifted to Ezekiel. I was worried about him. After knowing him for a while, I could see how much BLVCKJVCK was his pride and joy, and how happy he was to work there. Dating Ezekiel didn’t come with weekends, and as tough as that was, I understood his job was important to him. Owning BLVCKJVCK would make him content, but I could also understand why his father was hesitant on just handing over total control.

Ezekiel was mature, smart, and maybe a little too obsessed with making money, but I just hoped in my heart he’d make the right decision in not doing business with a family enemy. All money wasn’t good money. A lesson so few could grasp.

A text came through on my phone just as the doorbell rang below, and I knew he was here.

Ezekiel

Here

Against all logic and reason, I’d given Ezekiel a key to my house. We hadn’t been together that long. With anyone else, I’d still be feeling him out before making it official a month in. But it hadn’t taken long in knowing Ezekiel for me to trust him. To feel safe. Protected. Respected.

What really made my heart shudder was the fact that even though he had a key, he still made sure to text me and ring the bell before he stepped inside as a courtesy. As if he hadn’t already seen me naked or sporting my tank top and panties when I lounged around my house before.

I exited out of my movie and went down to the first floor where Ezekiel was standing in my doorway with a large bouquet of lavender and pink carnations. The biggest smile was on his handsome face and all anxiety went away because I knew things went well with his father.

“Hey!” I said as I came down off the last step.

Ezekiel set the bouquet down on the front table and came over to me. He didn’t respond to my greeting with words. His lips pressed to mine and soon I was airborne as he picked me up.

“Oh,” I managed to let out as I wrapped my legs around his waist.

Ezekiel kissed me with vigor as he walked us to my couch. He set me down and tugged at my yoga pants until they were off me and he was between my thighs. His hot hands on my naked skin made me want him badly.

Still, I held up a shaky hand and covered his incoming mouth. “As much as I love where this is going, for the sake of curiosity, what happened with your dad?”

Ezekiel came and planted a kiss at my neck, making me clench my legs together—or at least try. His hand cupped me and I immediately bit my lip. He was in a good mood and the energy was stifling. Why did I want to talk again?

“Uh-huh.” Ezekiel twirled his tongue at my neck before coming close to bite and suck on it. “It went well.”

My eyes were shutting and I almost didn’t care about his meeting, between his hand rubbing on me and his lips at my neck, I was close to leaving the universe. “What…was…said?”

“It was a test.” His hand slipped into my panties and he reeled back to watch my reaction as he touched me. “He knew about the first run-in and was waitin’ on me to speak up. When I didn’t…”

Oh. Shit. Looking him in the eye while he worked his fingers was driving me mad.

“What?” I whined out.

“He told Tee to up the price, and I still turned him down,” Ezekiel explained. “To reward me for being loyal? He’s offering me eighty/twenty stake in a new club he wants to open in New York.”