Gutta Mamis by N’Tyse Read Free Book Online

Tandra’s voice sounded heavy. She was wearing herself thin.
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œI can’t find Nora.”
    Breeze glanced over at Lele who was now also looking at the bartender and glancing back and forth between her and Breeze. The vibe was thick, Lele must have sensed it. Breeze pointedly kept her eyes on the bartender, anyway—Lele would have to accept it.
    â€œWhy are you looking for her?”
    She heard Tandra sigh and also heard her heels clicking against the pavement. “I got to meet with Crown. I wanted Lenora there with me. Two is better than one.”
    â€œEspecially when y’all go in looking like a couple of femme fatale divas. That’s always good for business.”
    â€œEither way,” Tandra said, ignoring Breeze, “I can’t find Nora. After last night, I don’t want her out of pocket too long.”
    Lele pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and sat it in the billfold. Breeze eyed it and glanced at Lele, questioning. She had to have some twenties in her purse instead of the hundred-dollar bill. Lele ignored her, standing up and adjusting her dress.
    â€œWhat you have in mind, Tandy?” Breeze needed Tandra to get to the fucking point. Lele was up to something, Breeze could feel it. This wasn’t the time to play babysitter, either; Lenora had better get it together.
    â€œI don’t want to go to Crown’s spot with nobody backing me, Breeze.”
    â€œYou want me in on the meet?” That was a first. Tandra had neverasked before. Breeze didn’t know it had bothered her until just now, when the question had finally been asked. She should have been asked before now. But, then again, Breeze had a clear defined role in this thing. The business belonged to Tandra and the way Tandra ran it had kept their pockets full and their jobs coming in steadily.
    â€œNo.” Tandra didn’t even pause. “Breeze, what the fuck do you think? Yes, I want you there. But not in the meet with Crown. I need you to make sure I get in and out. I was going to ask you to come with us, anyway; I feel like you need to be there. But it’s just gonna be me and you.”
    Breeze was silent. The brief sting of disappointment at not being in the meet was drowned out by Lele, swaying her hips as she seductively moved to the bar and took a seat.
    â€œAin’t this some shit?” Breeze said under her breath.
    â€œWhat, Breeze? I can’t hear you.”
    â€œNothing. I didn’t say nothing.”
    â€œOkay, can you meet me in thirty minutes? At the warehouse. Drive something else, not your joint and not the van. I want you to keep an eye on things while I am in there.”
    â€œNo problem. Thirty minutes.” Breeze slapped the phone closed, her eyes locked on Lele talking to the bartender. Lele slid the bartender a piece of paper and then she held the bartender’s hand and wrote on her wrist. The bartender’s curly hair seemed to bounce along with the vibrant music; her eyes never left Lele’s hips. She reminded Breeze of a black Betty Boop.
    Breeze stood up. Lele pulled away from the bartender and walked to the door. She put her sunglasses on before she stepped through the heavy glass doors. She never looked back at Breeze.
    â€œThis bitch.” Breeze looked around for the waiter. She had to go, but she wasn’t leaving the waiter with that hundred-dollar bill. She needed change and then would give a tip.
    As her eyes scanned the large room, she noticed Betty Boop walking toward her with a huge grin on her face. “You must be Breeze.”
    â€œDepends.” Breeze wasn’t interested in playing games at the moment; the bartender was no longer important. She had to get outside to Lele and cuss her out for how she was acting.
    â€œOn what?” The bartender smiled again. She wasn’t taking the hint.
    Breeze tucked her hands in her pockets and locked her steel-gray eyes on the bartender.