you that I only wanted to deal with you and only you.â
âI know that, but this is my man, my partner. Weâre in this shit together.â
âI know how you feel about your man and all, but I stick to my word. Do you remember when I told you the only reason why I stay in this game alive and outta jail?â
âYeah, I remember.â
âDo you really?â
âYeah.â
âWhat did I say then?â
âYou said the only reason you stay alive and outta jail is because you donât go back on your word.â
âNow Iâve been doing this shit for almost thirty years, and Iâve never broken my own rules.â
âI understand, and still I respect your decision. Although Iâm a little fucked up about it.â
âDonât be, Mike. Now if you want to cop for him, you can do that. But I ainât doing no business with him personally. And no offense, Mike, but your partner gives me the creeps.â
âThatâs just the way he looks. If you took the time to really know himââ
âSorry, I canât do it.â
âI understand.â
âGood then. Iâll talk to you later.â
âOkay, but if you change yourââ
âDonât even try it. Nothing could ever change my mind.â
 Â
Chapter 10
-KING OF THE JUNGLE-
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A
t eight thirty that night, Black Sam and Gerald began to collect the profits for the day. Sam showed Gerald everything there was to know about the business while still trying to persuade Gerald to take him up on his offer. At the first three strips they collected over a hundred thousand dollars.
âSee Gerald, look at this money. This money only comes from three strips, and we still got five more to go. You mean to tell me you wanna give this up?â
Gerald didnât answer because he knew his answer would be offensive. Instead, he stayed quiet. His plan was not to let Sam know how he felt until they got back to Mikeâs apartment. Then he would expose Samâs deep hatred to Mike.
âNigga, are you deaf? You hear me talking to you?â
âYeah, Sam, I hear you, but Iâm in another world right now.â
âWell, nigga, you need to jump your ass back into reality.â
They picked up the rest of the money from the remaining strips and left Wahler Place for last. All together they collected two hundred sixty-five thousand dollars.
âWhere is your car parked?â Sam asked Gerald.
âAround back on Wahler Place.â
âGood. After we collect from Kojack, you can take the money to Mike. I gotta go uptown for a minute, but Iâll be back through.â
âOkay.â
Sam didnât pull up on Wahler Place. Instead, he drove around back and parked next to Geraldâs car. The moment they parked, Gerald was happy. This was their last pick up and soon he would meet back up with Mike and expose Samâs greed. Gerald then got out, jumped in his car, and started the ignition. He felt uneasy and couldnât wait for their last pick up.
âStay here with the money. Iâll go up and collect from Kojack,â Sam said. He left Gerald sitting in his car while he walked up to Kojackâs stash house to collect. Once Kojack answered the door, Sam held his hand out and asked, âAy, Kojack, you got that ready?â
âYeah, but ainât Gerald supposed to pick it up?â
âYeah, but heâs running late. So give it to me, and when he comes past, tell âim I said next time have his ass up here before nine oâclock.â
âAâight. Look, this is seventy thousand. I ainât finished the rest. I got like a hundred more bundles.â
âWell, Kojack, this is your lucky day. You can keep the bundles.â
âGet the fuck outta here, Sam! You mean to tell me youâre giving something away?â
âYeah nigga, and in the future, I got plans for you.â
âYeah well, I