Free Payback Is a Mutha by Wahida Clark Page A

sarcasm.
    “Congratu-fuckin’-lations! I believe that’s the least you can do, other than paying me for getting violated on your property. And what about my girl’s car? Is it gonna be all right?”
    “What was she driving? I’ll have to call and tell them to keep an eye on it.”
    “It’s a champagne colored Lexus. She watched him as he dialed his celly. As soon as he began to talk she got close enough to ear hustle. She heard him give instructions on keeping an eye on Brianna’s Lex, asked what was up with Sharia and Mia—even though he didn’t say their names, she knew what was up. And the last thing she heard was him inquiring about the total of all receipts for the night.
    “You can set my necklace on the table and leave.”
    “Let me holla at you.”
    “Tomorrow.”
    “I gotta go out of town tomorrow.”
    Shan sucked her teeth and threw on her robe. The wine had her feeling real nice. Walking into the living room, Briggen was just sitting in the dark chillin’. She turned on the lamp. “Did you call them and tell them to keep an eye on her car? That quick?”
    “Yes ma’am, I did.”
    She held her hand out for her necklace.
    “You gonna let me apologize for tonight?”
    “You can apologize; I’m listening.”
    He looked up at her. “Can you at least sit down for a minute? I’m not going to bite you. Please, sit down.” Shan remained standing, crossed her arms and fixed her gaze onto Briggen.
    “I’m sorry that everything went down the way it did. If you’ll give me a chance I’ll make it up to you. Are you all right? I am sorry, for real.”
    “You call that an apology? That’s not good enough. But I’m not in the mood right now. I want you to leave.”
    “I thought you said you wanted me to apologize? What is your definition of an apology? What is it that you want?”
    “Why did you fake like you was this serious businessman? You could have been straight with me and told me that you got your hustle on.”
    Briggen wiped his face with his hands before looking at Shan. “I am a businessman. All that other shit you accusing me of, that ain’t me. I’m just a businessman trying to stay afloat. I like you Shan. I don’t have to lie to you. All my cards is always on the table.”
    “Bullshit Briggen! You said you was Calvin the businessman. A month later I find out you are Briggen the dope dealer. You call that laying everything on the table?”
    “Shan, why—”
    She cut him off. “As far as laying everything on the table—I saw you practice that when it comes to them hoes. They both seem to be very accepting of the fact that they are not the only one. At least the two I ran into tonight. How many more do you have?”
    “It ain’t what you’re thinking Shan. They run my businesses.”
    “But you fuckin’ them Briggen, and they are calling you their man. So, what? How many more are there?”
    “I can’t stop them from calling me what they want to call me.”
    Shan gave him the hand. “Cut the bullshit Calvin. Just leave. I’m too tired for this shit.” Plus he was blowing her mind with them hoes being so accepting of the fact that they’re sharing. She had to admit that the dick was good, but damn.
    “You said I owe you for getting violated. Let’s negotiate. You want this, don’t you?” He held up her necklace, dangling it back and forth. When she saw her mother’s necklace she let out a sigh of relief.
    “A’ight. We can do this.” Briggen pulled out his wallet. “How much we talking?” he wanted to know.
    “First, I want a better apology.” She sat down across from him.
    “A’ight. I’m sorry for the way things went down tonight. I had no idea shit would happen the way it did. I was glad to see you, that’s why I asked—or rather begged—you to stick around. I just wanted to kick it with you. I—”
    Shan cut him off. “Why in the fuck do you want to kick it with me and you got all them other bitches!” She just couldn’t get over that. “No!