Carl Weber's Kingpins by Clifford “Spud” Johnson

mothafucka.”
    â€œThat’s cool, but I thought y’all was gon’ be workin’ out in Midwest City. Where did this Del City shit come from?”
    â€œIf you let me finish puttin’ you up on everything all of your questions will be answered.”
    â€œMy bad, my nigga, damn.”
    They laughed and Prince continued, “Gunna’s cousin has been havin’ his Blood homeboys hit him off somethin’ lovely. They gettin’ that work as well as the bud somethin’ crazy for real. On top of that, that female Gunna was talkin’ ’bout hooked him up with some of the Crips over in the Panic Zone and they gettin’ that money too. ’Em niggas are heavy into that water so the money is lookin’ nice, my nigga.”
    â€œThat’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout! Who does Gunna have taking care of thangs while we’re out?”
    â€œHe got eight of his soldiers from Kerr Village over on Scott Street at the apartments doin’ their thing, and he got two of his men posted with ol’ girl in the Panic Zone. He dropped them a nice load last night and told them that he’d get back at ’em on Monday or Tuesday. They should be good until we get back.”
    Flamboyant smiled as he relaxed back in his seat and said, “A’ight, then, looks like shit done fell together real smooth-like.”
    Prince smiled as well and said, “Yeah, I know.”
    * * *
    Since it was Friday and she didn’t have to go to class, Shayla decided to go get her hair and nails done. She called her best friend Tajanaye, or Taj as everybody called her. “What’s up, Taj, what you do, girl?”
    â€œGirl, I was just about to call your ass. You want to hang out this afternoon or you got plans with Mister Man?”
    â€œYou too stupid. Remember I told you he was going to Miami this weekend?”
    â€œStupid? No, you didn’t just call me stupid. If my memory serves me correctly, Ms. Thang, you were supposed to be accompanying your man to Florida this weekend, so how in the hell am I stupid?”
    Shayla laughed and said, “Whatever! Look, let’s get our nails done so I can tell you what’s been goin’ on.”
    â€œWhat’s been goin’ on? Shayla, what have you done now?”
    â€œNothin’ yet. Meet me at Images in an hour.”
    â€œImages? Why you want to go to Images all of a sudden? I thought you let them chinks out there on Shields do your nails?”
    â€œI do. But I want to see if Stacey can squeeze me in real quick. You know with this short-ass hair she can do me something real nice, real fast.”
    â€œYour hair is naturally curly, Shay. Wet that shit and style it your damn self and you’ll be just fine, girl.”
    â€œWhatever. Are you meeting me at Images or what?”
    â€œYeah, I’ll be there. Can’t wait to hear about what you got going on now.”
    Shayla laughed and said, “Bye, girl. I’ll see you in an hour.”
    After she hung up the phone she went into her closet and pulled out her outfit for the day. She pulled out a pink and yellow shorts set. She grabbed a pair of pink sandals and set them by the bed. She smiled as she went into the bathroom and stepped into the bathtub. The hot water felt so good as she reclined and let her head rest at the end of the tub. The smile never left her face as she continued to think about the past. Trevor, hmmm.
    * * *
    By the time they arrived in Miami the entire team was amped, Flamboyant included. The weather was warm and addictive and there were women everywhere they looked. Flamboyant rented two Lincoln Navigators for them to get around in for the weekend. Each was equipped with twenty-four-inch chrome rims as well as a booming sound system. They had rooms reserved for them at Hotel Victor, a hypermodern Asian water-themed hotel in South Beach. Flamboyant spared no expense for him and his team. They were about to go