They watched as the guys stood outside talking, and then Trenton and Abdul got back into the Escalade, leaving the unknown guy and Suef behind. It seemed as if Suef was trying hard to explain something to him. When Suef was done talking, he playfully slap-boxed with the young guy, gave him a pound, and got back in the truck. Arnessa’s eyes trailed the truck as it made a right onto 145th. “I hate that muhfucka,” she mumbled. “I can’t wait for him to get laid down.”

“Butta should’ve have laid his ass down from the door,” Kisa insisted, “instead of all that back-and-forth mess over some petty-ass blocks that Butta didn’t even need.”

Minutes later Cenise came bopping up the opposite side of the street.

“Look at dumb dumb.” Arnessa pointed her out to Kisa. “Her damn head so far in the clouds she don’t even know what she walking into.”

Cenise spotted Black in front of Jimbo’s, and her heart sped up as it always did. She thought he was so fly standing there in a baggy pair of Red Monkey jeans and a yellow leather jacket.

“What up mama,” Black asked as she approached.

“Nothing.” Cenise smiled, smitten.

Black pulled her into his arms, hugging her and kissing her.

“That’s definitely Black.” Kisa said, nodding her head up and down.

Arnessa’s blood boiled with anger as she watched Cenise walk into Jimbo’s with Black. “How could she be so stupid? I mean, I know she don’t have a clue that this dude is down with Suef, ’cause neither did I. But why would you still be communicating with a nigga who deaded you when you got locked up with his work?”

“She fucked up off of him. You know all in love and shit,” Kisa said. “I’m not feeling this, though. We don’t know what these niggas is up to. They could be trying to kidnap her. Call Cenise and get her out of there.”

Arnessa dialed Cenise’s number.

“Hello?” Cenise answered.

“Where you at?”

“In Queens with Nomie,” Cenise lied.

Little lying bitch, Arnessa thought, becoming more angered by the second. “I need you to come home now.”

“Why? We just got here.”

“Look, it’s an emergency. Some shit done popped off.”

“Aight, I’ll be there.” Cenise sighed, and hung up the phone.

“You’ll be where?” Black questioned.

“I gotta go home now.”

“Why? You just got here.”

“I know, but I gotta go. My sister needs me. She’s all I have, you know?” Cenise remarked sarcastically.

“You still on that? Come on, I told you I been taking a lot of L’s lately. When I get back on my feet, I’ma give you the bail money back and help with your lawyer. I’ma take care of you while you bidding. Then when you come home, I’ll have stacks waiting.”