True was feeling himself after the reception he and his crew had received when they entered Exit. Passing the bar area, Jay paused and whispered something to Lex. They both laughed, looking in the direction of a girl who was standing by the bar. Upon closer inspection, True recognized the girl as one of Rhonda’s crew. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was the same girl Don B. and Jay had run a train on. Knowing how Rhonda’s crew got down, it was very possible.

“True!” a young girl shrieked, trying to reach out and grab his shirt. Before he had a chance to react, one of the bodyguards/chaperones Don B. had assigned to them grabbed the girl about the waist and dragged her off. “I love you, True!” she continued to scream, even as the bodyguard dragged her through the crowd.

“We got these bitches going crazy and we ain’t even touched the mic yet,” Pain said, as if the girl had been calling his name.

“Stick to the script,” Don B. said, joining his protégés. “We’ve got a show to do, so fuck with them bitches later. Business first.” Without waiting for Pain’s reply, Don B. disappeared behind the black curtain.

Pain glared at his back angrily. “Hating-ass nigga,” he mumbled.

“Say it to his face,” True prodded him.

“Ain’t nobody scared of Don B.,” Pain responded.

“I hear that hot shit. Pain, Don B. is trying to put us on the map, why don’t you stop talking shit all the time?”

“I’ll pop shit whenever I want,” Pain said, putting on his tough-guy face. “I know Don B. put us on, but that don’t mean I gotta suck his dick. That’s your job.”

“You better watch your fucking mouth, nigga,” True said, preparing for battle.

“Y’all niggaz knock it off,” Jay said, separating them. “We don’t air our dirty laundry in public. You niggaz got a problem with each other, settle it with the gloves.”

“Yeah, a’ight,” Pain said, stepping through the curtains.

“Why that nigga always acting up?” Lah asked, careful not to let Pain hear his question. His yellow face was coated in sweat from the sweltering club.

“That’s just how Pain is.” True shrugged it off.

“True!” a feminine voice called. The voice belonged to a copperskinned beauty who wore her hair in tiny boxed braids. She had an onion for an ass and breasts that looked like she was hiding two cantaloupes under her tight Lady Enyce shirt. The remaining bodyguard got ready to intercept the young lady, until True let him know she was good.