No Justice No Peace by Brenda Hampton Read Free Book Online Page B

downstairs for some privacy.”  She stood up, and all he did was snicker as they both headed downstairs.
      I felt as if I was fighting a battle that couldn’t be won. As I replayed the previous last three days in my mind, Desmon had been raised in chaos.  It was obvious Ginger and her men kept up drama. She didn’t support him in anything he’d attempted to do, and as long as we smoked weed and had sex in front of him, what else could he know?  My irate behavior wasn’t helping either.  I’d damn near killed two people in the three days I’d been out.  Three long days that made me feel as if I were better off in prison.  Maybe leaving wasn’t a bad idea.  Maybe I was better off in L.A. with Rufus and his boys.  I didn’t see any light at the end of this tunnel, but I knew I had to make some serious plans and make them soon.
    I waited and waited for Ginger to get ready. When she came out, she was dressed in a short black skirt that hugged her hips and a white silk shirt.  The buttons were undone and her cleavage was enough to invite any man to her.  She looked nice, and the longs braids that flowed down her back really set her off. 
    We didn’t have much conversation in the car, and it was a short ride from her place to the club.  While inside, Ginger introduced me to a few people and seated me at a table near the dance floor. 
    “So, what can I get you to drink,” she said, placing a napkin on the table.
    I shrugged. “Shit, I haven’t had nothing hard to drink in a long time.  Just give me a beer for now.”
    She walked away and I noticed her getting real chummy with the bartender. The club wasn’t very crowded yet and it was somewhat small. The walls were painted a loud red and the floor was covered with dirty black and white checkered tile. Numerous four-seat tables were scattered throughout, but I couldn’t complain about the music. The DJ was kicking up Hip Hop, along with R&B.  Ginger came back with two ice-cold beers. She placed them on the table. “I’ll see you later about my tip, okay?”
    I nodded and picked up the bottle to take a sip.  Ginger walked away, serving another table close by.                                       
    At first, the place wasn’t packed at all.  But by eleven o’clock, everybody started making their way in.  Two of Ginger’s friends sat at the table with me, bugging the shit out of me with questions they had about our relationship.  I said very little to anyone because after what had happened to me in the past, I learned to keep my mouth shut.  They were cool company, though, and cracked me up with how much they talked about people and dissed the brothas who asked them to dance. 
    Several women, however, caught my attention.  I didn’t know if being locked up for so long had me checking out everything that walked by, or if there were simply some badass gals in the room.  Either way, I had my eyes on plenty, they had their eyes on me, and so did Ginger.  When one came over to ask me to dance, I saw Ginger from a distance shake her head from side to side.  When I stood up, she headed my way.
    “Uh, no, no, no,” she said, twitching her finger from side to side, and looking at the chick who asked me to dance. “He’s busy right now.”
    The chick awaited my response.
     “Ginger, it’s just a dance. It ain’t like she came over here to ask for some sex.”
    “Tell me about it,” the chick said, rolling her eyes.
    Ginger placed her hand on her hip and smiled. “Go ahead and have your fun, Kiley.  And watch yourself because I have my eyes on you.”
    We made our way to the dance floor, and the chick mumbled, “some women” while shaking her head. The whole time we danced, I could see Ginger and her girlfriends watching us.  I wanted to get close to the chick, but in order to keep down confusion, I didn’t.  And when the DJ kicked down a slow song, Ginger stood close by, clearing her throat.
    The