I sat back, quiet, trying not to let my excitement show.
Six nights ago, I barely knew these dudes. Now, we had just flipped every last gram of that stepped on coke, and I was about to get my first real cut.
Malik tapped the last stack against the table, straightening it out. "Thirty percent more than what I owe Vigo," he muttered, nodding to himself.
Duke whistled. "That's a beautiful number right there."
Malik looked over at me. "Luis, here." He slid a few stacks across the table. I picked it up, $5,000. My cut.
I looked at the stack as it slid to me, I looked back up at him, with the look of disbelief.
Malik chuckled, looked up at me, and asked, "Do you think we take all this risk for chiclets?"
After all, you earned it. Malik said. You never acted like a newbie, not once. The way you avoided the cops, the way you played it cool, it was all good.
I didn't say much. Didn't want to look too eager. But inside? My heart was filled with joy, I just kept a faint smiling face.
Duke smirked at me, noticing. Don't try to play it cool. You know this money feels different when it's earned.
I chuckled, stuffing the bills in my pocket. "Feels alright," I said, keeping my voice steady.
Malik leaned back, satisfied. "Good work, boys."
Duke raised his glass again. "To the next one."
The money was counted, the drinks poured, but before we called it a night, we started talking about how it all went down. Five nights. Five different clubs. Five different stories.
Duke lit a cigarette and leaned back. "Man, I swear, last night almost got messy.
Some dude thought I was shorting him. Claimed I was giving him baby milk instead of coke."
Malik smirked. "What do you tell him?"
"I told him, 'If you don't want it, someone else will.'" Duke chuckled, blowing out smoke. "He got loud for a second, but I just stared at him, calm as hell. You know how people get when they see you ain't scared? He backed off, took the bag, and walked away like he never said a word."
Malik nodded. "That's how you handle it. Never let 'em see you sweat."
Then it was my turn. I exhaled, thinking back to my own close call. "I had a little situation too," I said. "Cops rolled into the club while I was making a sale."
"They weren't looking for me specifically, just watching the scene, seeing if anyone was moving weight."
Duke whistled. "Damn, bro. That's close."
Malik leaned forward, serious now. "Next time, if you ever get that feeling like cops are watching, don't panic. Don't run. That's how they know you're dirty. Just act normal be another dude enjoying the night. If you're holding, don't keep it in your pockets. Stash it somewhere nearby so if they check you, you're clean."
I nodded, letting that sink in. "Got it."
Malik studied me for a second, then gave a small nod. "You did good, though. You kept your cool."
That felt good to hear.
We sat there a little longer, finishing our drinks, Letting the night wind down. Then Duke stood up, stretching. "Alright, I'm heading out."
"Be easy, bro," Malik said, fist bumping him.
I did the same. "See you next time."
Duke grabbed his car keys and stepped outside.
His car was a 1997 Geo prizm.
Hey, bro, let me give you a ride, he said. Holding his car door open
I got in, he took me to my street, I got down And watched him ride off, then I walked home.
As I walked, my mind was reeling.
This is it.
I pulled the wad of cash from my pocket, feeling the weight of it. $5,000. If I made this much just playing a small role, how much did Malik make? How much did Vigo, the boss, take in?
I thought about my construction job, long hours, backbreaking work, barely enough pay to survive.
I thought about my mom, who was sick and needed proper medical treatment, This is the way out.
No more hard labor. No more struggling.
I gripped the money tighter, my heart pounding with excitement.