Rebel (A Rihanna and Eazy E Love Story)

La Coka Nostra (Chapter 6)

The air in Queens was thick with the smell of city grime, a cocktail of damp asphalt, garbage, and the faint scent of smoke that lingered from a nearby bodega. The alleyway was tucked between two crumbling brick buildings, their walls coated in graffiti. Streetlights flickered overhead, casting long shadows that twisted as the bulbs buzzed and sputtered, giving the place an eerie feel.

Ron stood at the far end of the alley, leaning against his car. His face was half-hidden under a Yankees cap, the brim low enough to mask his eyes but not the cold smirk that etched on his lips. The glow from the cigarette between his fingers pulsed in the dim light, the ember reflecting briefly off his gold chain. As I approached, he motioned toward the car and slid into the driver's seat, while I got in on the passenger side.

"You sure you wanna do this?" His voice was gravelly, seasoned by years of street hustles and unspoken threats. He tossed the bud of his cigarette out the car window and wound up the window.

"Yeah, I'm sure," I said, my voice steady. My heart thudded in my chest, but I kept my expression stone cold. This wasn't a time to show hesitation.

"What made you change your mind?" he questioned, eyeing me intently.

I didn't offer much explanation. "I need the money, man. I've got family stuff going on, and I need it fast. You said this could work, right?" He nodded his head in a reassuring manner.

"So how this works?" I questioned, voice laced with anticipation for what's next.

"Yo check this out... there's this crazy muhfucka by the name of Bones that we work for, he's our connect, he gets the shit to us, we multiply it  and a couple of my niggas slang it, we deliver his paper to him on time and we get our cut. Simple as that." he explained confidently.

"And how much is our cut?" I probed eagerly about the money, after all that's the only reason I'm doing this shit.

"Depends on the batch," he replied, leaning back against the seat, arms crossed. "But usually, we're looking at around 35%. If we keep it clean and don't attract heat, we could be raking in some serious cash."

I nodded, processing the number. "And what if something goes wrong? I mean, this isn't exactly legal."

He chuckled, a low, knowing sound. "Nothing in this life is guaranteed, you feel me? But Bones runs a tight ship. We just need to follow the rules and keep our heads low. As long as we don't screw him over, we'll be fine."

I couldn't shake the unease in my gut. "And if we get caught?"

His smile faded a bit. "Then we play the blame game, but let's not think like that. Focus on the hustle. We're in this for the money, not the drama. Just keep your mouth shut and your eyes open." He flashed a confident grin, laying out a master plan.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. "Alright, I'm in. Let's do this."

"I scooped up a couple of keys today, it's at the spot. Shift starts tomorrow 'round 10," he said. "And yo, for real...don't let my knucklehead sister catch wind that we workin' together, aight?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "...Or I'll have to hear it from her, and you know how she gets!"

"Ron, you know it's gonna be real hard to keep that from her! You know that's my ace ," I shot back, a grin spreading across my face. "But don't worry, I'll play it cool." 

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The next morning I drove to Lisa's, I knew she would be at work at this time, so I wouldn't have to worry about an excuse as to why I was visiting.