Free Prince of the City by Jason Poole Page A

That’s my best friend and sister, and besides, she been quit doing that.”
    â€œSo what’s her profession now? Call girl?”
    â€œFuck you, Mike. I’m hanging up.”
    â€œOkay baby, I’m sorry. I was just playing. You know I love Linda. If I didn’t I wouldn’t let you take my son around her.”
    â€œWell, don’t play like that. You know how I am about Linda. Plus, if I tell her what you said, she’d probably kick your ass.”
    â€œYeah, right.” Michael laughed. “Linda may have some heart, but she ain’t stupid.”
    â€œShut up! Ooooo, you make me sick.”
    â€œThen go to the hospital.”
    â€œI already did. I work at one, fool! Remember?”
    They both laughed.
    â€œI love you, baby,” Michael said.
    â€œI love you too, and when I get home I want you to love me some more.”
    â€œYou got that, baby. You’re the queen.”
    â€œSee you later.”
    â€œBye baby. And tell Malik to call me when he gets over Linda’s.”
    â€œOkay, baby.”
    Michael hung up the phone and began pacing the living room while drinking his glass of Remy Martin. He was contemplating his call to Frank Mathews. In the beginning, Frank said he only wanted to deal with Michael. Michael was trying to figure out a way to make him understand that Sam wanted to continue with the connection. He knew he couldn’t make up a lie. The best thing he could do was try to persuade Frank to deal with Sam. Even if he wouldn’t work with Sam, Big Luke was coming back soon, and Sam personally knew Big Luke, so he could cop from Luke directly. Although his prices would be more, Sam would still have a steady flow.
    As Michael paced, he began to wonder if Sam was capable of becoming the next king of the jungle. He always knew he had the heart. Sam was a killer. Not only that, but he killed without reason. The thing that kept Michael in doubt was if Sam had enough brains and patience to deal with making future decisions. Was he capable of making his enemies bow down to his rule? All this had to be done with finesse, and Sam was lacking in that area.
    If anything happened to Sam after he quit, Michael would feel responsible for letting him continue. But as Sam had put it, he was a ‘grown-ass’ man. So Michael decided to let Sam be his own man.
    Michael placed his call to Frank.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œHey, Frank, it’s Mike.”
    â€œHold on a minute. Where you at?”
    â€œI’m at home.”
    â€œIs your line clear?”
    â€œYeah, it’s clear.”
    â€œGive me five minutes. I’ll call you back.”
    Frank never talked business on his phone. He’d always go to a phone booth and place long distance calls on his bogus calling card.
    â€œHello?” Michael answered.
    â€œIt’s Frank. What’s the problem?”
    â€œWhat makes you think there’s a problem?” Michael asked.
    â€œWell, first of all, you don’t call me during this time of the day unless you’re on your way up. Also, I know you can’t be finished with everything that fast. And you never call me from your home phone.”
    â€œYeah, you’re right, but there ain’t no problem. I just need to talk to you about a few things.”
    â€œIf it’s about Big Luke coming back and you wanting to continue on, I can’t do that. I only deal with you in his absence.”
    â€œI understand that, but this ain’t got nothing to do with Luke.”
    â€œThen talk, Mike. Time is money.”
    â€œWell, you know I’m quitting in a few months, and Luke won’t be coming home for at least another six months, which leaves the city four months without some good shit.”
    â€œWhat are you getting at?”
    â€œWell, my partner, Sam, ain’t tryna quit. He wants you to continue moving—”
    â€œNow hold on, Mike. Let me refresh your memory. When we first met, I told