“And I’m guessing that would be you?” she asked sarcastically.

“Who better than Ice, the ladies’ vice, ’cause he handles their business oh so nice?” he sang. “Yoshi, my game is already approaching orbit and it’s about to be out of this world. You know just as well as I do that your fine ass don’t wanna miss the mother ship when it leaves. Can’t you see I’m trying to put you up on what’s happening? You need to choose a nigga and quit napping.”

“That was cute.” She chuckled.

“Cute is for monkeys and puppies, doll, and I ain’t either one. I’m just trying to put you up on this pimpin’.”

“First of all, what the fuck do I look like, working up in joints like this at all hours of the night? To give the next man my paper? I don’t fuck wit’ no pimps, and even if I did, why the hell would I choose you?”

“Because I’m the most qualified cat to play this game since a square nigga wit’ a grudge put a bullet in my daddy’s brain. I was bred for this shit, baby, so ain’t nowhere for me to go but up. The question you need to ask yourself is, do you really wanna be stranded down here with the squares or partaking in the finer things with the players? When you decide you’re tired of letting a nigga paw you for pennies, give me a call and let’s bathe you in some dollars.” Ice dropped a business card on the table and headed back through the crowd.

“China, you’re on next!” Claudia shouted from behind the bar.

Downing the rest of her drink, Yoshi got up and prepared to take the stage. Before she walked away she picked up Ice’s card and tucked it in her bag.

“That nigga was gonna push your shit back,” Lex teased Pain.

“He wasn’t gonna do shit. If duke tried to get fly, I’d have let him have it!” Pain boasted.

“With what, when we left the guns in the car?” Lah cut in.

“Shut up, Lah. You lucky we even letting you hang out with us tonight. You’re True’s bitch,” Pain accused.

“I ain’t nobody’s bitch.” Lah poked his chest out, but when Pain looked in his direction he shrunk back a bit.

“Stop fucking wit’ the little nigga.” Jay threw his arm around Pain. “At least Lah shows up to the studio on time.”

Pain pushed Jay’s arm off his shoulder. “Fuck you, and this limpdick little nigga. Let’s snatch a table and get pissy.”

“Finally something we can agree on,” Jay said.