THE MAFIA'S STRIPPER

CHAPTER 9

Mkhonto

|2 BULLS ONE KRAAL|

"Sho," Ngcobo said walking into my living room with Mhlangani. "Sho kubani umngani wakho?" I asked and he laughed. "Did you do what I asked you?" I asked. "Yep. Now everyone knows: no one tries to kill Mkhonto Hadebe," Ngcobo said and I nodded. "And you?" I asked turning to Mhlangani. "I could take you right now," he said with a faint smile. "Did you sort my problem out?" I asked exasperated. "Yep, no more private dances and less public ones," Mhlangani replied. "Thank you. So ubuthini, you could take me?" I asked. "Ufuna sizame yini, sibone?" he asked. "Have a guest over?" Ngcobo asked lifting up a black purse. Shit! "K'yenzeka vele mewuyindoda enomuzi wayo," I said grabbing the bag from him. "You let us in, meaning you weren't busy with whoever that was. Your bedroom door is closed, but the guest room is not. That means you slept in the guest room and she slept in yours," Mhlangani observed. "Kusho ukuthini konke lokho, detective?" I asked. "You let a girl sleep in your room without actually sleeping with her. If my instincts are good, which they are, you're also stopping her from working. In conclusion you have a crush on Ndabezitha," he said and I laughed. "That's absurd. Mina? Crush? What is this? High school? Ngoba uyabheda, ngicela ning'phumele kwami," I said. "Uze uthi ikwakho lapho usa sayina lease," Mhlangani said. "Angazi nokuthi yini leyo. The only thing I sign are title deeds and Transfers of Ownership," I said and they both laughed. "Wait until Nala hears about this," Mhlangani said as they walked out. "There's nothing to hear about," I pointed out. "Yeah. Yeah, we'll see you later Romeo," Ngcobo said laughing. Bloody idiots. I went to the kitchen and poured myself some coffee as I deliberated making some for Ndabezitha. Does she even drink coffee? I wonder how she likes it. Fuck, is Mhlangani right? "Fuck," I groaned. "Good morning to you too," Ndabezitha said and I looked up. She was wearing one of my shirts, buttoned up to the neck. "This may sound a bit cliché but uh, I hope you don't mind I borrowed one of your shirts. "This may sound a bit cliché but it looks even better on you. Coffee?" I asked turning to the machine. "Yes please," she said grabbing my mug from my hand. "I was going to make you a fresh one," I said. "It's okay," she said. "You're not going into work today?" I asked. "Funny thing about that, my boss just called to tell me she's cutting my schedule in half and restricting my dances. You wouldn't have anything to do with that would you?" she asked looking up at me and I shrugged. "I heard you talking to your cronies, Romeo," she said. "Okay, fine. But it's only because I can't have my girlfriend - even if we aren't really dating - parading around naked," I answered. "I'm not your property that you can force to do what you want me to. Ang'yona ingane Mkhonto. If I want to parade around naked and gyrate on random men - guess what? I'm going to do just that. I'm going to leave and go to work and when I get there, I'm going to do my job as always because you're going to call Zethu and retract everything you said. Okay?" she said and put down the coffee cup. "No," I said. "No?" she asked turning around. "No." "Mkhonto," she said warningly. "Ndabezitha," I said in the same tone. "Angeke ngiphathwe uwena," she said taking a step towards me. "Ndabezitha, nami ngeke ngizwe ngawe," I replied. She was now standing right in front of me. "Mkhonto. Call Zethu, okay?" she said. "For the last time MaZulu, cha," I said.