Carl Weber's Kingpins by Clifford “Spud” Johnson Page B

matter how good I do or how much money I make, it seems like my past always comes back to haunt my ass.”
    â€œStop talkin’ in riddles and tell me what’s up.”
    He stared at Tippi for a few seconds and then said, “Nothin’ is up. It is what it is. So, you tryin’ to roll with me to the club or what?”
    â€œMight as well. I ain’t got faded in a minute. The Patrón and Grey Goose is on you, nigga,” she said and started laughing.
    â€œFa’ sho’.”
    * * *
    Shayla sat down on the bed and stared at her cell phone as she held it tightly in her hand. I could have met him somewhere. It would have been harmless. Just as she was about to call King back her cell started ringing. She checked the caller ID and saw that it was Taj. “What’s up, girl?”
    â€œNothing much, bored as hell. Let’s do something we haven’t done in a long time,” said Taj.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œLet’s go to the club. I heard that Club Déjà Vu is off the chain on Saturdays. They always have someone performing and the drinks are right from what I heard.”
    â€œYou know what, I’m with it. I don’t want to be up in this house all night bored outta my mind.”
    â€œThat’s right, you need to get your mind right anyway.”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?”
    â€œCome on, Shayla, I’m your girl. I know you have the wrong man on your mind right about now.”
    â€œIs it that obvious? Damn.”
    â€œOnly because I know you and I know how much you still care about dude. Don’t trip, we gon’ get our drink on and have a few laughs tonight, and hopefully you can get back focused on the man who’s currently holding you down.”
    Shayla sighed. “I hope you’re right, Taj. I hope you’re right.”
    * * *
    King was dressed in his normal thuggish attire: saggy black True Religion jeans, a wife beater under a fresh white tee with some butter-colored Tims on his feet. Since he hadn’t been out in a while he decided to pull out some of his jewelry. He put on his twenty-four-inch platinum chain with his diamond crown pendant hanging from it. He then added a platinum and diamond ring on each of his pinky fingers. Last, he put on his Hi-Tek platinum and diamond watch around his wrist. After one last look in the mirror he smiled at himself. Satisfied, he left his home.
    â€œWhere you at, nigga?” asked Tippi over the phone as she sat inside of her truck smoking a blunt. “I’ve been here for close to twenty minutes waitin’ on your ass.”
    King laughed. “I had to make a quick stop. I should be there in like five minutes.”
    â€œA’ight, I’ll see you when you get here. I’m parked right in front of the entrance to the club.”
    â€œIs the line long to get into that bitch?”
    â€œKinda.”
    â€œGo get at one of the bouncers in the front and let them know that the King is on his way and I’m not tryin’ to be waitin’ in no damn long-ass line. Slide that nigga a note if you have to.”
    â€œWhatever, nigga, just hurry yo’ ass up!” She hung up, hit her blunt one last time, and put it out in the ashtray. She checked her appearance quickly then hopped out of the SUV. All eyes were on her as she walked toward the club’s entrance. Tippi wasn’t dressed in her normal tomboyish way. She was in a feminine mood and was definitely looking good. The low-rise jeans she was wearing fit her like a glove, and her cropped wife beater exposed her tight stomach and the piercing in her navel. Her hair was braided straight to the back, hanging way past her shoulders. On her feet were a pair of D&G sandals. As she stepped to the front of the club, two of the bouncers smiled at her as they inhaled her scent. She smiled because she knew that they were loving that Goddess by Kimora Lee Simmons she was