Thugs And The Women Who Love Them by Wahida Clark

that,” Marvin answered. “But we ain’t here to talk about her. Let’s get down to business.” He may have stayed high most of the time, but Marvin still was sharp as a tack when it came to buying and selling dope.
    â€œOf course y’all understand that I want to try your product before I give up any loot,” he told Twist and Shaheim.
    â€œNo problem,” Shaheim answered as Twist slid two small bags across the table. “That there is straight from the main stash.”
    Kyra was squirming in her seat because she couldn’t wait to get her hands on some of that dope. Marvin handed her a bag. She kissed him on the cheek.
    â€œI’ll be right back, baby,” she said. “I gotta go to the car for my cosmetics bag.”
    â€œWhy? You look fine, baby girl,” Marvin told her.
    â€œI have to get my works,” she whispered into his ear as she got up from the table. As she left to go to the car, Marvin was right behind her, headed to the men’s room with his little bag of dope.
    Tyler and his boys were still outside in the van, watching the door of the restaurant. When Tyler saw Kyra come out, his heart went to pounding and his chest felt heavy. He was still in love with her. He’d never gotten over the fact that she just walked out of his life without any explanation. He hadn’t even had a serious girlfriend in the year and a half since Kyra left him. They watched in silence as Kyra shuffled around in the front of Marvin’s car, then went back to the restaurant looking agitated.
    â€œDamn, Ty!” Cochise hollered after she went back inside. “I see why you going all out to get that back. She look like she taste good!”
    â€œHell, yeah. She’s all that,” Tone agreed.
    â€œTy wasn’t hittin’ it deep enough.” Mark was joking. He didn’t know how close to the truth he was.
    Ty ignored his boys. He was too busy thinking about Kyra. Seeing her brought back a lot of old feelings. It’s just something about her that turns a nigga all the way out, he thought. He wanted her back, and he knew what he would have to do to get her. That’s what he was doing in the parking lot with his boys, and now he was anxious to get this shit over with.
    â€œThem niggas will be out shortly. Don’t fuck up!” he warned them.
    â€œWe straight!” yelled Cochise.
    â€œYeah, we got this,” said Tone. He was agitated because Ty kept going over the fucking plan with them. Mark was sitting in the back, pulling on a blunt. He just nodded his head.
    Everyone was silent as Ty started the engine and slowly drove the van around front. He left the engine running and they all put on their ski masks and waited.
    Back in the restaurant, Snail and Rock were still sitting at the table with the dudes from Connecticut, waiting for Marvin to get back.
    â€œDamn, that must be some good shit. That nigga ain’t back yet,” Snail joked.
    â€œMy shit is always Grade A. That’s the only way to keep the East Coast on lock,” Shaheim boasted.
    â€œWhere’s Marvin?” Kyra came back to the table looking mad.
    â€œHe still in the bathroom, baby girl,” Rock told her. “Why don’t you have a seat till he come back?”
    Kyra was pacing nervously, and everyone at the table knew what her problem was.
    â€œYo, Kyra,” Twist grabbed her arm. “You a’ight? Anything we can do to help you, baby girl?”
    â€œNot unless you got my cosmetics bag with you,” she snarled at him, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. “I thought that shit was in the car, but it ain’t there.”
    â€œCan’t help you there,” said Rock. He hated to see Kyra so strung out, but he could never say anything to Marvin about it unless he wanted to get his ass kicked.
    Kyra waited, pacing the whole time, for what felt like hours. Really, it was only five minutes, but she couldn’t take