Tears Of A Hustler

Chapter 8 : A Fresh Start

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

“Who the fuck is it?” Big Bruce yelled from behind the door clutching his twelve gauge shot gun.

“Open this mother fucking door!”

Immediately Big Bruce recognized the voice and opened the door. “Boss man how’s it going,” he asked stepping to the side so that Ali and Big Mel could enter.

“You tell me,” Ali countered giving the big man a pound.

“You know I got shit under control down here, boss man,” Big Bruce said in a matter of fact tone.

“That’s what I like to hear,” Ali said as he looked around making sure that everything was in order. He quickly stuck his head in the room full of topless women. He didn’t say a word, he just nodded in agreement. “Keep up the good work brother,” Ali said giving Big Bruce a pound.

“You leaving already, boss man?”

“Yeah, you know I’m not staying a minute longer than I have to,” Ali said as he and Big Mel made their exit.

* * *

“Okay Big Bruce you have a good night.”

“You too Nancy,” Big Bruce said looking at the pregnant woman’s ass jiggle in her snug fitting stretch pants. “Make sure you go home and feed that baby,” he joked.

“Fuck,” Nancy said out loud. It was pouring down raining and she didn’t have an umbrella, newspaper or anything. “Fuck this shit, I’m taking a cab home tonight,” she said to herself as she swiftly walked to the corner to catch a cab. Nancy stood on the corner flagging down cab, after cab just to have cars fly by like she was invisible.

As Nancy stood on the corner soaking wet, a all black Denali came to a stop directly in front of her. Seconds later the back window came rolling down.

“What’s good sweetheart. You look like you can use a ride,” Ali said smoothly from the backseat.

“No I’m alright,” Nancy replied looking down the street to see if she saw any more cabs coming in her direction.

“Come on ma, let me get you out this rain.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Nancy responded again as she began to stroll towards another corner. As Nancy walked down the wet sidewalk she noticed the Denali slowly cruising behind her. “Why are you making things so difficult,” Ali asked as he slid out of the backseat of the Denali. “You shouldn’t be out here in this kind of weather,” he said noticing her stomach poking out.

Ali quickly removed his jacket and placed it over the young lady’s shoulders. “All I want to do is give you a ride home.” Nancy took one last glance down the street to make sure she didn’t see any cabs coming before she made her final decision.

“A ride home, and that’s it,” she asked as she slid in the back of the truck with the stranger.

“So would you like a drink?” Ali asked pouring himself a shot of Hennessy. Nancy looked down at her stomach, then back at the handsome young man. “My fault, I’m bugging,” Ali said apologizing. “So what’s your name?”

“Nancy,” she answered.

“So Nancy, what are you doing in this kind of neighborhood at these hours, especially while you’re carrying?” Ali asked throwing the shot back.

“Minding my business,” Nancy capped. Ali just sat back admiring the young woman’s beauty. Nancy looked like Lil Kim before all the plastic surgery. Her wet hair only made her face look even more exotic.

“Why are you so cold inside,” Ali asked pouring himself another shot.

“I’m not being cold, I’m just being real with myself,” Nancy said staring emptily out of the window. “All men are full of shit. What’s with the thousand questions?”

“Just trying to get to know you,” Ali replied with a smile.

“Get to know me? I don’t talk to strangers, I don’t even know your name.”

“My name is Ali,” he answered proudly.

“Oh, so you’re the infamous Ali, huh?” Nancy chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” Ali asked curiously.

“Because you asked me what I was doing out here at this time of night, remember?”

“Yeah I remember.”

“Well I was working for you,” Nancy stated plainly.

“Get the fuck out of here,” Ali said in disbelief.

“You don’t believe me,” Nancy asked laughing. “Why don’t you just ask Big Bruce if I’m lying?”

Big Mel glanced at Ali through the rearview mirror, and then back to the road. “I’m sorry Nancy, but I’m not going to allow you to work there any more.” Ali looked at Nancy for a comment.

“What you mean I can’t work there any more?” Nancy asked angrily. “How you just going to stop my money flow like that?”

“Because I’m the boss,” Ali answered flatly.

“Fucking greedy motherfucker,” Nancy said under her breath as a tear escaped her eye.

It seemed like every time things started to go good, something or someone always went wrong.

“Ali please I need money for my baby,” Nancy begged.

“Where’s your baby daddy?”

“I left him because he has a hand problem,” she pouted like a child.

“I’m sorry, but if I could help you I would,” Ali said as the Denali came to a stop.

“Yeah whatever,” Nancy said as she hopped out of the truck. Then she handed Ali back his jacket and said, “Here’s your jacket.”

Ali just sat in the backseat staring at the pregnant girl until she disappeared inside the building. “I want G-money in my office first thing in the morning,” Ali said with a sharp edge in his voice. “Can you fucking believe this shit? A fucking pregnant girl working in the shop.”

“Yeah G-money’s bugging out with that one,” Big Mel stated plainly, his eyes never leaving the road. “Shit is getting too fucking sloppy around here,” Ali said throwing back another shot.