Free Eve by K'wan

right,” Eve agreed. “So you still in the game, Bullet?”
    â€œWhat else is there, Eve, baby? I got five kids, ma. I gotta eat and provide for them.”
    â€œYou still slinging dick wit ya lead, huh Bullet?”
    â€œIf I don’t somebody else will. These niggaz.” Bullet grabbed the smart-mouthed hustler by the neck. “You gotta excuse ignorant-ass youngsters, Eve. These niggaz don’t know no better. Say, lil nigga,” Bullet addressed his captive, “you know who the fuck this is?” The hustler shook his head dumbly. “Punk, this is Eve. She’s the hardest young bitch on these streets. This lady will carve yo disrespectful tongue out yo muthafuck’n head, chump. Say you fucking sorry, nigga!”
    â€œSorry,” he squawked.
    â€œIgnorant muthafucka.” Bullet tossed him to the ground. “Good to have you home, Eve. How you living these days?”
    â€œLike a soldier,” she said. “Speaking of which, I need to ask you about something.” She stepped out of earshot of the group and Bullet followed.
    â€œWhat’s on ya mind, shorty?”
    â€œI need a come-up,” she said seriously.
    â€œAin’t this some shit.” He folded his muscular arms. “You ain’t been home for a few hours and you’re plotting.”
    â€œYa protégée is hurting right now, Bullet. The parole board is supposed to be hooking me up with a gig, but I really ain’t trying to slave for thirty dollars a day.”
    â€œI feel you, sis, but ain’t nothing but trouble come with this lifestyle. You just did a bid and I’d hate to see you down again. If you’re uptight, I can float you a few dollars till you get on ya feet.”
    â€œI know, and I appreciate the gesture, but you know that ain’t how Eve do. I gotta grind for mine, I don’t believe in handouts.”
    â€œDetermined as ever, just like back in the day.”
    â€œYou know how it is, Bullet. I’m gonna do me whether you put me on a lick or not.”
    â€œVery true.” He chuckled. “Tell you what, if I catch wind of something, I’ll think about putting you down.”
    â€œFair enough.” She smiled.
    â€œYou bout to go up and see Uncle Bobby?” he motioned towards the building.
    â€œThat’s where the bulls can find me,” she joked. “You know how it be when you down.”
    â€œI do. You know that been my winter home since a shorty,” he reminisced. “But that was a long time ago. I was running around with you and Felon like I didn’t have any sense.”
    â€œI see Felon is still on a grind.”
    â€œShit, counting money ain’t no grind. That boy got his wings. Felon is still my nigga, but he don’t deal with this here. Everybody knows that ya man ain’t slinging iron no more. He’s slinging birds now. We hold this,” Bullet spread his arms, “by the law of the land. Do or die. You know what it is round here, Eve.”
    â€œI know that’s right, but I’m trying to see my piece of the pie too. You better get up on it.” She punched him in the arm.
    â€œWhatever, Eve. You know where to find me, right?”
    â€œIndeed.” She nodded. Eve shot the loudmouth hustler a glance, followed by a mocking chuckle. Dap was issued to the soldiers who saluted her, and she dismissed those who hit her with the screw face. She had no idea what the odds were of her winning the conflict with the young hustler, but she knew that she had never been a sucka and she didn’t intend on becoming one.
    Â 
    Eve climbed the last landing of the five-story walk-up, breathing heavily. Her new habit seemed to be having an effect on her body. Quitting was an option that she would definitely keep open, but it would wait til another time. Eve had issues, and in her mind the cigarettes helped.
    She stood in front of her uncle’s apartment and hesitated before