DIVA: FEMALE HUSTLER

chapter 1

Queens, New York

" You need us to come in with you?" I look out the window of the backseat. People wait in line to get in the club. I look at my brothers," I should be fine. Just need to grab the money." Chris turns in his seat," here just in case he tries to test you." He hands me a 45. I grab it putting it in the back of my dress pants.

" We'll be two streets over," I nod opening the door. I step on the curb and straighten my black blazer. I walk to the door stopping at the bouncer. He looks me up and down before opening the door. Body blast through the club. I step in watching the girls grind on boys. I go straight to the bar sitting on a stool.

" What can I get you?" The bartender leans on the bar," shot of tequila." I turn around looking at the balcony spotting Travis on the railing. We make eye contact and he leaves," here's your shot."

" Thanks," I threw it back.

" Another," I drop twenty on the bar. I grab the shot and turn around in the stool. A dark skin, lean man stands in the center of the floor dancing with two girls. I raise my eyebrow before downing the shot. I put the shot glass on the bar still watching the man. He walks over leaving the girls dancing. He stands next to me," circo." I look a little closer, his fade is crip with little curls. Brown eyes and his lips brown not black.

" What you staring at, ma?" We make eye contact," you," I stand up. He smiles showing his white teeth.

I look at him one more time before leaving. I walk up the stairs to the second level of the club. I walk past the sections to Travis's office. His bodyguard Buzz stands at the door.

" What are you doing here Dominique?"

" I need to speak to Travis. Move out the way." He stares at me for a few seconds before opening the door. I walk in as Travis sits behind his desk.

" What could I get you Dominique," he stands up and walks around the desk.

" I want the money that you own us."

" Technically I don't owe you nothing but your grandfather. Just call him up and let us handle manly business." I chuckle as he stands across from me," what type of man doesn't pay for his product. Now, I'm here to collect."

" Look you-," he gets in my face.

I pull the gun out," you got one minute to give me the money before I shot you." He backs away going to his desk. He opens the bottom drawer pulling out a thick envelope. I take it out of his hand and palm through it," next time I won't be so nice." I stick the gun in the back of my pants and the envelope in my jacket pocket.

" Maybe next time you'll be here for a little more of something else."

" You can only wish," I open the door walking out. I walk to the first floor seeing security carrying the dark skin dude out. I shake my head going through the back exit. I step out in the alley as two men lean against the building smoking.

I walk past as my arm gets grabbed. I snatch my arm away looking at them. They move closer to me,this fucker. I reach for my gun," what y'all doing back here?" I turn around seeing a tall thin figure at the end of the alley.

" Who you," the tallest one ask.The figure walks towards us standing under the light. " Kyrie this has nothing to do with you." The dark skin man from the club stands next to me," when it involves her then it does." He pulls his shirt up showing his piece," we got a problem?"

" Nah," they walk away.

" Thanks," I look at him.

" You welcome, ma," he smiles. I passed him out alley," let me walk you to your ride."

" You don't need to do that. My brothers are waiting for me."

" Well let me walk you out this alley," I walk next to me.

" So ma, what's your name?" I chuckle as we stand at the end of the alley, " maybe next time we meet." I walk across the street down the street to the black Tahoe. I open the door looking back at him standing across the street before getting in.

" You okay?"

" Yeah," I hand Chris the gun and envelope. Sean starts the car pulling into traffic," you know him.?"

" No," I look in the rearview mirror at Kyrie as he pulls his phone out. Chris counts the money before putting it under his seat.

" You need to check Travis."

" What he do," Chris turns in his seat.

" He had two men outside the club ready to take the money from me."

He nods his head before turning around," we'll have brought to the warehouse." I pull my phone checking my meetings for tomorrow. Just two meetings and a cremation. Not too bad. We drive the rest of the way to Jersey bumping some old Wayne. We pull up to the gate, Sean leans out the window putting the code in the keypad. We pull to my grandfather's mansion. The guards walk across the grass to our car carrying their guns. We get out waving at them before walking up the steep steps to the house.

" At least we know that whatever brave soul wants to kill us is going to pass out from walking up these steps," I nod my head, making it to the door.

I grab my key out of my pocket unlocking the front door. Soft jazz music plays," he must be in the living room." Chris walks past me into the living room. Pops sits on the couch with his right hand man Marco.

" Hey how did it go," pops stands up. Chris hugs him then hands him the money," pops,he tried to set her up. He's going to make a visit to the warehouse," Chris sits next to Marco. Sean hugs pops next then takes a seat on the empty chair.

" Bambina," he holds his arms out for me. I walk in them getting squished, " you okay?" I pull back," I'm fine," we sit down.

" Let's get to business," Marco moves to the edge of the couch.

" What are we going to do about the Hernandez?"

" They push the pills in Queens. We don't need that territory, we have the Bronx and Brooklyn," Sean points out.

" We would need Queens to have everything on lock. Just think about selling the guns and pills," Chris looks over at Sean.

" We could eliminate the Hernandez family or join forces with them."

"That could be a good idea but Marco the head of the family is in jail." Marco shrug his shoulders," we could have a couple of men talk to him."

" His wife Monique runs the day to day.How about we set up a meeting with her. See if she want to switch connect or at least buy guns off of us." Everyone nods their heads," I'll send somebody in the morning to talk to her."

" Good, " I stand up saying bye to everyone.

" Be safe going home," pops tells me.

" I will," I walk to the garage getting in my all black Bentley. I pull out heading to my condo in Newark. I speed through traffic playing H.E.R. I park in the garage then walk to the elevator. I press the seven on the top floor. My phone rings,who's calling me this late.

" What you want Erica," I step out of the elevator.

" Girl, where are you?"

" Walking through my door," I slam the door. I walk through the living room to my bedroom.

" It's only twelve."

" I know but I have two meetings and a cremation to do tomorrow." I turn the light on dropping my keys on the dresser," I don't envy your job." I put my phone on speaker setting it next to the keys.

" E, you know Kyrie?"

" From where," I take my clothes off.

"I don't know. I was at a club 12 in Queens."

" I'll find out."

"I know you will, night."

" Night girl," I hang up.