“I don’t think so,” she said, looking up at the six-three chocolate cat, who was built like he played for some pro team.

“Your name is China, isn’t it?”

“Sometimes,” Yoshi said suspiciously. China was the name she sometimes went by when she was dancing.

“I’m Nel,” he said and extended his hand. “You probably don’t remember me, but we met at Pussy Cat. I spent quite a bit of paper with you that night.” He chuckled.

“The Pussy Cat is a big place, sweetie. A lot of people come in and out of there and drop paper on the kid. Was there something special about you that I should remember?”

“Guess not.” His smile threatened to fade, but he held it. “Listen, I didn’t mean no disrespect, love. I just wanted to extend a dinner invitation. You know, on some friendly shit.”

“Nah, I don’t think that’s gonna work.”

“Baby girl, don’t be fooled by my appearance.” He gestured toward his outfit, which consisted of jeans and sneakers with a white T-shirt. “I ain’t no hustler, I work for transit. I just wanna get to know a nice young lady.”

Yoshi looked him over and had to admit that he was fine as hell, but she knew it couldn’t go down. “Nothing personal, boo, but I don’t date guys I meet at the club.” Yoshi picked up her bags and motioned to Billy that she was ready to go. When they had made it to the exit, he called behind Yoshi.

“So if we had met on the street you would’ve accepted?”

Yoshi stopped short and gave him a look that said, “I’d fuck the shit outta you,” but replied, “We didn’t meet on the street, so I guess that makes the question irrelevant.” With a flirtatious wink, she left him standing there smirking.

Reese followed Rhonda down Third Avenue, in the Bronx, as she floated toward yet another store. They had been on the avenue for over an hour and still hadn’t gotten to the spot where they were supposed to meet Yoshi and Billy. Reese stood by and watched Rhonda run through the bread that Von had given her, buying things not because she needed them, but because she could. There was a part of Reese that hated Rhonda for that. Here she was, trying to make ends meet the best way she could, and Rhonda was pimping niggaz as well as the system to live above the average.

“Rhonda, don’t you think you’ve done enough shopping? We gotta meet Yoshi and Billy,” Reese pointed out.

“I know, I know. I just wanna look in this store right quick to see if I can find me a shirt.”

“You bought a shirt in the store we just left,” Reese reminded her.