Power Read Free Page A

Deion twirled around on the barstool, not really wanting to listen to what Alex had to say. Deion was a grown man so lectures weren’t his thing. He had a strong urge to tell Alex to shut the fuck up, but he knew what Alex was saying was on point.
    “I’m telling you, man, this is the kind of shit that can get you sent away for a long time,” Alex warned Deion, hoping to reach him with reason. Deion turned away, not wanting to make eye contact with his partner and friend. “Are you listening to me?” The tension was quickly building between the two men.
    Deion stopped twirling on the barstool and stared at Alex for a second before speaking. “All he had to do was pay me my fuckin’ money, simple as that. We wouldn’t be having these issues if that nigga would’ve handled his business.”
    “Okay, money is one thing but why did you have to slice his girl’s face?” Deion was silent.
    “You can’t tell me slicing his girl is about the money.”
    Deion stood up from the barstool, but his eyes were still locked on Alex. He walked towards him and as he approached they were now almost nose-to-nose, because Deion was slightly shorter than his friend. “You’re right. Fuckin’ up his girl’s face wasn’t about the money.”
    “Okay, if it wasn’t about the money, then what?”
    “Principle. It’s about motherfuckin’ principles.”
    “So slicing up a woman for no reason represents principles? You need to explain that to me, ‘cause I’m lost.”
    “You know what, Alex? You too soft.  Sometimes it starts out with a motherfucker owing you ten thousand then a hundred thousand then more than that. Next thing you know, you working for that motherfucker.”
    “You fuckin’ up, homie.” Alex paced, then turned to Deion. “So what happens when she files charges against you for assault with a deadly weapon? Then what are you going to do? Will you still think that principle bullshit you spittin’ was worth it?”
    “It’s not gonna happen.”
    “Oh, you know that for sure?” Deion was quiet again.  Although he tried to sound confident in his response, he knew Alex was right;  he didn’t know that for sure.
    “And why the fuck is you selling coke anyway?”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I’m not trying to get indicted over your fuck ups! I told you we was gon’ fall back on the coke for a minute until we know for sure our shit ain’t hot.”
    “What I do don’t have shit to do wit’ you.”
    “Really, nigga? See that’s where you wrong. It has everything to do with me; we partners.”
    “I would like to think of it like that, but the fact of the matter is, you have more than I do.”
    “And who fault is that? It’s your lifestyle. Wasting money on every pretty bitch in Atlanta and the strippers too. You also have to be the first to buy the new body style before the shit hit the streets. I mean fuck, you can only drive one car at a time.”
    “It’s my money. I can spend it the way I choose.”
    “True, but don’t act like the paper in this partnership is lopsided just because you choose to throw money away and I don’t,” Alex shook his head as he stood on the spacious balcony, taking in the Buckhead & Midtown views. “The bottom line is, I’m not tryna win at this drug game just to end up losing anyway and get locked up ‘cause you can’t keep yo’ temper in check.”
    “Nothing is gonna happen to me and nothing is gonna happen to you.”
    “Look, man. These real estate investments are gonna make us look legit. At least legit on paper.” Alex’s face became serious. “If we don’t get locked up first.”
    “Quit saying that.”
    “Then you quit doing dumb shit. If things go my way, by this time next year we won’t even have to touch any type of drug if we don’t want to.”
    Deion grinned and thought of the day he would be legit. Hustling was the only thing he’d ever thought he could do. He was envious of anybody that had made his or her money legit. Deion put his elbows