The Plug's Daughter

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The Plug's Daughter
Chapter 3: Game Recognize Game
May 15th, 2023
Houston,Texas

Romani's POV:

Man, I ain't even gon' lie, when I saw Alazhá again, it was like everything else disappeared for a second. I was standin' on the corner, tryna mind my business, but that lil' firecracker was all I could think about. She was different—something about her made me wanna see what was underneath that tough exterior. You could tell she was raised with that 'don't play' attitude, but deep down? I knew she was curious.

I'd been hearin' the rumors all day—"She the plug's daughter. Don't touch that." Everybody talkin' like her pops was a God out here. Big D. Demario Carter. The man who ran this block like it was his personal playground. Ain't nobody made a move without his say-so. And they said Zhá didn't mess with nobody. She was off-limits.

But man, who the hell really stays off-limits? Not me.

So when I pulled up, I wasn't just makin' no casual visit. I had to see if the talk was real. I had to see if she was as untouchable as they said, or if it was all some game.

I parked the whip on the side, slid out slow, makin' sure she caught my scent first. Ain't no need to rush. I seen how she looked me up and down like she was tryin' to figure me out. And I wasn't mad at it. Hell, I was doin' the same thing. But as soon as I stepped on the curb, she caught my gaze. Her eyes? They held more than a thousand questions, and that kinda mystery? I ain't never been scared of it.

She didn't say nothin' at first. Just sat there, lookin' at me with that cold stare, but I could tell it was a lil' something else under that—some curiosity, maybe. I ain't dumb. I could tell when someone was tryna act hard, but underneath, they wanted to see if you'd challenge 'em.

Her homeboy, O'mari, started talkin' his lil' mess, tryin' to play the protector role. I ain't sweatin' that, though. That's just the game. He was just another nigga tryin' to keep her safe. And yeah, I get it. She got that pretty girl glow, and her pops? I ain't even finna go there. But I wasn't fazed by the threats. I grew up on these streets, playin' the hand I was dealt, and now, I'm playin' my own game.

I took my time walkin' toward her, slow and steady. Ain't no rush. I wanted her to feel my presence, but not like I was tryna force her into somethin'. Nah, I was lettin' her come to me. "You good?" I asked, keepin' it cool. I could already tell she wasn't the type to fold under pressure. She had that look—like she could handle her own.

She answered, all casual, like she wasn't fazed by the fact I just stepped onto her turf. "Always good."

She was feisty. I liked that.

O'mari stepped up like a big dog, tryin' to act like he was gon' stop me from talkin' to her. "You lost, bruh?" he asked, all tough. But I saw the way he looked at Zhá, like he was worried she'd get the wrong idea. And it made me chuckle on the inside.

"Lost? Nah," I said, smirkin' as I looked Zhá up and down one last time. "I'm just bein' friendly."

O'mari didn't like that. I could see it in his eyes. But I wasn't here for that drama. I ain't no punk, but I wasn't about to get into it with somebody who wasn't part of the real problem.

So I gave Zhá one last look. I wasn't gonna chase her, but I could see it in her eyes—she was thinkin' about it. I had her attention. And that's all I needed.

As I walked back to my Charger, I felt the tension hangin' in the air. I wasn't done with her. I knew this wasn't the last time I'd see Alazhá Carter, but I wasn't gon' force it. I just had to keep playin' my part in the game.