“Where do we start?” Grant asked.
“Before we do anything I think it would be a good idea if all of us beefed up our security,” Doc suggested.
“I think that would be a wise move,” Cynt added.
“I don’t have a problem with that,” Wanda said.
“Okay, after we add some new faces, what then?”
“When Rain comes around for the money, don’t pay her,” Wanda ordered. “And tell her that if Nick has a problem with it that needs to take it up with me. I’ll take all the heat.”
“Agreed,” Cynt said quickly.
“Agreed,” Grant said.
“Doc?” Cynt asked.
“Agreed.”
“Thank you all for coming,” Wanda said and everybody stood. They shook hands on their new alliance.
“Come on, Doc,” Grant said and patted a still reluctant Doc on the back. “I’ll buy you a drink.”
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After that, Doc and Grant got up and left Cynt’s office. Once they were gone, Cynt turned to Wanda. “What are you gonna do when Black finds out what we’re doin’?”
“If we do what we gotta do and do it right, it will be over with before he finds out.”
“Don’t you think Nick will tell him what’s going on?”
“And admit that he can’t handle his business? I know Nick. He would die before he admits to Black that he can’t handle little old me,” Wanda laughed.
“I hope you’re right. I’m just glad that Bobby is still down south runnin’ behind Pam’s crazy ass,” Cynt offered.
“Me too. If Bobby were here, we couldn’t do this.”
Cynt laughed. “Yeah, I know. Bobby would shoot all of us for being disloyal to Black.”
“We’re not being disloyal, Cynt, not at all. The way I see it, we’re doing what is necessary to protect his interests.” Wanda said.
And if she destroyed Nick in the process of protecting Black interests, that was all the better.
CHAPTER FIVE
Nick Simmons got up from behind his desk and left the office. He realized that he was out of Johnnie Walker Black and thought that it would take too long to call the bar manager, to get a barback to go get him another bottle. It would be quicker to go himself, so he headed for the liquor room to get it.
When he got there, Danielle, the food and beverage manager was in there doing paper work. She was what she liked to call sexy skinny; her skin was the color of honey, with long reddish brown hair. Danielle had an infectious smile and a thing for Nick. “Hey, Nick,” she said when he walked in.
“How’s it goin’, Danielle,” he said barely looking in her direction and headed straight for the Johnnie Black. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but Danielle was scared to death of Rain and what she would do if she knew that she was interested in her man. But it’s okay for a girl to dream, Danielle thought and fantasized about her shutting the door to the liquor room and seducing Nick.
“You want me to check that out to your office, Nick?” Danielle asked. Fantasy or not, she still had a job to do.
“Huh?”
“That bottle? You taking it to a bar or your office?”
“To the office,” Nick said as he walked out. He went back to his office. Nick had set up shop at JR’s. A nightclub and gambling spot that used to be owned by Rain’s father, Jasper Robinson. When JR died, Rain took over the spot and promptly turned it over to Nick.