“Aight,” Arnessa replied, shaking his hand as a black Avalanche with dark tints pulled up to the curb. As he got into the truck, Arnessa told him, “You didn’t ask me where I live.”

Butta smiled devilishly. “That’s ’cause I already know.”

How in the hell did this hood rat low-level hustlin’ bitch get connected with Butta?” Suef demanded angrily as he paced the barbershop floor, veins bulging on either side of his head. Trenton and Abdul sat in barber chairs opposite each other, listening as the number one man in their operation ranted. He faced yet another roadblock just when he was about to take over Arnessa’s territory, which he’d been trying to gain for months. Playing dirty, Suef had a few corrupt cops pick up Eugie, her muscle, knowing the dude had warrants in Virginia. Next he stepped to Arnessa’s main coke connect, promising to buy triple what she bought if the connect would no longer supply her.

Despite his underhanded tricks, Arnessa was still standing. Not only was she still standing, her profits were skyrocketing, thanks to her backing from Butta. That really infuriated Suef. Not only did he not get Arnessa’s blocks, he was now losing business to the low prices she was offering. “I was trying to be polite, seeing that this is a bitch and all, but this ho is really starting to annoy me.”

“How you wanna handle this?” Trenton asked, perching his chubby body forward, seemingly always ready for whatever, when in reality he was the type who liked to beat on women but couldn’t go one round with a man. He was all bark. The only time he had any bite was when he had a gun or his boys backing him.

“I’m ready to catch that bitch and put the pistol on her. Shit, that’s the problem, we should have went at her hard from the door,” Suef stressed.

“I got a better idea,” Trenton remarked. “Put the pistol on that pretty little sister of hers. Send that bitch a message, live and direct.”

An evil grin appeared on Suef’s face. “Bitches get all emotional when you bring family into it. Gettin’ at her sister will make her back all the way down. Why didn’t I think of that shit? Trent, you’s a smart-ass nigga.”

Trenton looked at his watch. “It’s almost three, and I know where to find her right now.”

Going to Loly’s Dominican salon on Eighth Avenue for a fresh doobie had become a weekly ritual for Arnessa and her little sister, Cenise, years earlier. Before her abrupt disappearance from their lives, Maria had always stressed the importance of hair and skin care to her daughters. Although Arnessa had strong tomboy ways, she took great care of her hair, even bringing her own expensive products to the salon. Both she and Cenise had thick jet-black hair that hung below the middle of their backs. In public, Arnessa never wore her hair loose. She usually kept it wrapped up, with hair pins fastening it, or in a bun pinned at her nape.