𝑾𝑰𝑪𝑲𝑬𝑫 𝓖𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓼

SOLD OUT.

Sept 19. Tuesday 11pm.

The money came in earlier and we're up by the hundreds. If we push this shit for a couple more months or even years til' this music shit takes off, we'll be good. Tickets for my performance already sold out, we've got everything rolling in. It all seems a little too good.

The ringing ceased and I was finally answered. "Lai'Yomae?" I ask hoping she gave me the right number.

"Hey Abel." Her smooth voice was crystal clear now that the music wasn't blaring and I could finally focus. Blood rushed all throughout my body, warming me despite the freezing cold nipping at my tingling lips.

"What's up? So I was performing on Thursday and I was wondering if you'd wanna come see me? Maybe we could get a drink after or chill and shit?"

"Sounds like a plan." God she sure knew how to keep me wanting more. Her and these short answers had me wanting to keep the convo going, but I had some business to deal with my damn self.

We said our goodbyes and I hung up to get out of the iced air. Toni was finally back just in time to eat with us. We got Chinese. Walking back from the club I noticed they had that same spot near 65 Spencer, we only went there when we had our shit in order. They had that real authentic shit which meant it came with the price. But hey as a former fat kid if it means good food, I'm paying.

"Since when?" Toni started grabbing things from the kitchen counter examining them as if it were too good to be true. "Abel. We can't afford all this name brand nonsense. What the hell are you doin?"

"I can explain." This time I actually could. Lisa poured us some drinks as we all sat down to eat. First time eating with everyone here in a while. Only person missing was Evelyn. I cleared my throat as everyone was digging into their plates, but I had to brace myself to either have my brother mad at me til' I'm in my grave or to turn the room still for the rest of the night.

"First, I'd like to fill you in on what happened with Henny. The nigga got shot. I don't know who or why. But that happened. He's been makin a smooth recovery though."

Toni stopped chewing. "Why the hell didn't anybody tell me that?" He glared at Henny and back at me.

"You were way in Scarborough, what were you going to do if you knew?"

"Nothing, but-" I quickly cut him off before he could continue his fit. I hated that Toni could never just listen and hear me out. "Okay then, so get your head out of your ass and keep it a hundred."

"Funny. What about the money?"

Jane shot me a smirk that screamed you and I both know you can't tell him. Lisa grabbed my hand beneath the table to reassure me she was by my side. "Lisa and I started working at the club under Mitch. Turns out he's Ricky's older brother and he givin' us a hand since he's locked up now."

"No fuckin' way. . . are you pimping her out Abel?" His voice got louder echoing around the room. I notice Henny taking looks at me as well, since I never bothered to tell him what was going on. I took a deep sigh, my spoiled dinner sitting in front of me.

"Toni, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. She ain't trippin'."

"It doesn't matter! She's somebody's daughter, someone's sister. What if that was your ma? Sister, daughter, or girl. You know how we rock, you look goofy." He paused with a heaving chest, but before I could get another word out he got up from the table and drug me from my chair to the hallway.

"You killed a dude bout your mama nigga. You're telling me you'd let that shit happen to her?" He hissed inches from my face. If it wasn't that serious I'd be hollering back at him to say it and not to spray it, but I think I've already felt guilty enough about it.

"Toni."

"You got her fucking for a buck? Since when? We don't pimp we protect. And you're out here making these big ass decision without me I thought it was you and me against everybody? That's fine though, since Abel got it figured out. Let's have Abel make the decisions. Watch how quickly this silly shit show is gonna fall apart." Hearing him cuss up a storm like that, I knew I had him pissed. He stormed back down the hallway and was out the door, I only caught a glimpse of him.

I decided to give it no less than five minutes before I went after him to check up on him. "Toni, listen. I don't mean to do shit without you, I know unity is important to you. I just wanted to help we we're fuckin broke. You keep getting mad at me for fixing up shit, but don't you see we good now. He even invited me to perform again on Thursday. My shit sold out."

"Don't do that to no other woman, okay?"

"It's only Lisa." If he was that mad over Lisa I definitely wasn't telling him about Krystal or Jane. I know I just closed my window of honesty and potentially burned the last thread of trust, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

We went back inside and sat over the pre-recorded morning news.

And today we have it, we've got a missing persons report today. Melvin please give us a little insight on that case.

Well Giselle, Earlier this morning at around 7am Hannah Bellerose was reported missing by her twin sister Evelyn Bellerose over in Scarborough and her roommate Sandra Mcclaire in Ottawa. For now, that's all we can share.

Thank you Melvin. If anybody has any information on this 19 year old Canadian twin please contact-

Toni cut the Tv off abruptly before anything else could be said. My heart was almost pounding out of my chest. I took slow deep breaths in a weak attempt to conceal my panic, but I knew it was close to over for me.

"Isn't that your girlfriend Abel?" Lisa came over to the couch with a worried look in her eyes.

I force a long yawn trying to come up with something to stray away from this conversation. "Yeah. I'll call her tomorrow to see what's going on. I'm kind of tired so I'm going to shower and hit the bed." I been putting off talking to Evelyn, but now that she knows something is up I don't know if I wanna continue to put this off or have a good ass explanation before she can catch me slipping.