Return of the Cartier Cartel by Nisa Santiago Read Free Book Online Page A

your grades,” Cartier joked. “How are your sisters?”
    “It’s all good.”
    “And your twin?”
    “She still tryna be me,” Apple joked about her twin sister, Kola.
    “A’ight, take care of yourself and tell your fam I said whaddup.”
    “No doubt.”
    Bam was already at the bowl, and Li’l Momma was waiting around like everyone else. The salon was packed, and unless you did like Bam and chose an inexperienced beautician to do your hair, the wait was going to be long. Cartier told the owner, Sophie, that she’d wait for her to do her hair, and then she and Li’l Momma went and sat in the back.
    “What are you wearing tonight?” Li’l Momma asked.
    “My outfit is crazy. Jason bought me a red sheared mink coat for Christmas. That red mink with this skin-tight black and white Chanel dress is gonna fuck everyone’s head up when I walk through.”
    Li’l Momma’s face lit up. She knew Cartier had a shape most women would kill over. And she knew her mocha-colored skin would glow underneath a red mink coat. Before Li’l Momma could reply, she noticed a Spanish chick with a small mole over the top of her lip, and wild, curly, dyed blond hair staring at them. Dressed in the latest gear, she had on all the obligatory name brands—Prada boots, Gucci bag, and Seven jeans. Cute, Li’l Momma thought. But what wasn’t cute was, why the fuck the bitch kept staring?
    “Can I help you?”
    The Spanish girl looked puzzled. “Huh?”
    “You keep looking over here, and I was wondering why, if you needed something from over here.”
    The Spanish girl smiled graciously. “Oh, no, mommie. You look familiar. No worries. I’m sorry.”
    Li’l Momma relaxed. “No problem. My bad.”
    Cartier and Li’l Momma took one last look at the female and then resumed their conversation.
    “So what are you wearing?”
    Li’l Momma wasn’t exactly sure. She knew tonight she could pick up a sponsor—a man who could sponsor her lifestyle—so her looking her best was imperative.
    “I got two outfits, and I can’t decide which one is best. I’m going to bring them both over tonight, so meet me at Trina’s so I can try them on, and you can help me decide.”
    Cartier smiled. “Just like old times, huh?”
    Li’l Momma was confused. It almost felt awkward for her. Usually it was Cartier and Monya who did these things together, like helping one another choose an outfit. She wanted to say something, but she didn’t need to.
    Cartier knew why Li’l Momma’s mood had shifted. Both women sat in silence for a moment.
    Cartier changed the subject. “Damn, Bam, you’re almost done, and we didn’t even get started.”
    The hairdresser had led Bam to the seat to begin roller-setting her hair.
    “Y’all chicks are playing. It’s too damn crowded in here, and I got so much to do to get ready for tonight. I’m going to take a cab back home.”
    “Nah, don’t leave us. Stay. We got hours before the party tonight. You know we ain’t rolling up in there until right before midnight. It’s eleven o’clock in the morning.” Lately all Cartier did was play wifey, so being out with her friends and having girl talk was really important.
    Bam hesitated for a moment, searching for a way to duck out on Cartier and Li’l Momma. “I want to get my nails done and—”
    “We gotta get our nails done too, so you might as well wait for us.”
    Bam didn’t reply.
    An hour later, Bam was gone, which annoyed Cartier. “Damn! Why Bam acting like that? I mean, we all came together, so we should leave together, right?”
    Had Li’l Momma not been bored, perhaps Bam’s secret would have remained just that a little longer. “I know why she left.”
    “Huh?”
    “I said, I know why Bam left.”
    “Am I supposed to get three guesses?” Cartier asked. “Or are you going to just tell me?”
    Li’l Momma looked around before whispering, “You gotta promise not to flip.”
    “Flip? Why would I flip? Just tell me the dirt. You know I