Power by Joy Deja King Read Free Book Online Page B

Reggie is here to see you,” Joe the security guard said.
    “Send him up.” Alex tried to pull himself together the best he could before Reggie came up, but he didn’t do a very good job.
    “What’s up, Nigga? You look sad, like you lost your best friend,” were the first words out of Reggie’s mouth when Alex opened the door.
    “I’m good.” Alex lied, inviting Reggie in, wanting to deflect from his solemn mood. “So what’s up?”
    “Just letting you know Deion is fucking up and fucking up bad.”
    “What that nigga do now?”
    “He’s dealing with some Mexicans off Old National. He bought some coke from them a couple of days ago?”
    “What Mexicans?”
    “Some people that 2Glocks introduced him to.”
    “He just met them?”
    “Yeah.”
    “This nigga here…I can’t believe this dude,” Alex said, rubbing his chin.
    “I know.”
    “I’ll call him.”
    “No.”
    “Why not?”
    “He’ll know that I told you.”
    “I don’t give a damn if he knows or not. I can’t be part of somebody else’s drug conspiracy.”
    “I don’t see how him dealing with somebody else can hurt you.”
    Alex stood and walked over to the refrigerator for a small bottle of lime PowerAde. Reggie’s eyes were on the bottle, so Alex tossed him one. “If you really thought that, you wouldn’t have felt the need to tell me what the fuck he was doing. We don’t know nothing about those Mexicans; this ain’t good.”
    “You right, but I really don’t want Deion to know that I told you about this.”
    “I get that, but this is bigger than your need to stay anonymous, Reggie. I sell drugs, but I’m not a drug dealer.”
    “What is that supposed to mean?”
    “It means my life is greater than this.  I’m playing this game to win. Not to lose. This is just a means to an end.”
    Reggie admired how smart and shrewd Alex was. Though he didn’t know exactly what his comment meant, he liked the conviction he said it with.
    “I want a family one day. Not a baby mama, but a wife and a kid,” Alex said wholeheartedly. “And when that happens, I’m gonna be out of this shit for good.”
    “Okay, I understand.”
    “So then you understand why I must confront Deion now before this shit get out of hand?”
    “Yes, but if there is any way that you can leave my name out of it?”
    “Don’t worry, I won’t mention your name.”
    “But he’s gonna know that I told you.”
    “Listen, I got this,” Alex reassured Reggie as he walked him to the door and let him out. Alex then made his way over to the window that had a sweeping view of Midtown. He stared out as he tried to call Tierney once again, but there was no answer.
    *  *  *
    “Damn this She-crab soup is delicious,” Deion said, as he ate the last bite. He loved the soup at Nordstrom’s, which is one reason he’d decided to meet Passion at the Cafe inside the Department store.
    “Don’t lick the bowl,” Passion said, laughing.
    “I know what I wanna lick,” Deion remarked jokingly, while staring at Passion. She wore a low-cut fuchsia blouse with a white designer scarf that gave her the right hint of sophistication mixed with sex appeal. The slight trace of lip gloss only added to her allure. Deion remembered she was gorgeous but he didn’t think she was this damn gorgeous.
    “I thought you were going to be on your best behavior,” she smiled.
    “You right. But seriously, if you weren’t here, I might have licked the bowl. That’s how good this soup is.”
    “Don’t change things up because I’m here. Do what you normally do.”
    “Since we’re supposed to be doing shit normally, you barely ate anything, just nibbled on a salad.”
    “I’m trying to lose weight.”
    “And if you lose that ass, lose my number.”
    “Oh, all I am is an ass to you?”
    “Let’s not forget the thighs, tits, and lips.” Passion looked annoyed by the words coming out of Deion’s mouth. “Come on, girl, you know I’m just kiddin’ wit’