“Nothing for me, doll, but when you’ve run your course here, would love to have a piece of you,” he winked.
“We’re willing to share our product but not our whores,” Blackie interjected. “Keep our pussy to ourselves, sure you can understand that,” he added, nodding toward the table. “Why don’t you have a seat and get to the point of your interruption.” He glanced at the two men behind him. “But your boy’s will have to wait outside, Jimmy.”
Jimmy laughed, pausing a moment before he assessed Blackie.
“This is between you and me, don’t see my club standing behind me do you?”
“Very well,” Jimmy conceded, nodding toward his men, watching as they glared at Blackie before stepping out of the compound.
“I’m guessing you’re here for the sample,” Blackie started, taking a seat at the table.
I busied myself trying to open the beer bottle but couldn’t find a bottle opener. I peered up from the bar and watched Jimmy sit across from Blackie, he folded his hands neatly on top of the table and leaned forward.
“Victor tells me you’re familiar with the business, that you used to be one of the biggest players in the game,” he raved. “That makes me wonder why you would ever stop,” he questioned.
“Who said I did?” Blackie leaned back in his chair. “Your boss wanted to keep his streets clean, made it real hard for us to do business, so I took my product elsewhere,” he said, drumming his nails against the table. “Make no mistake about it Gold, I am the biggest player in the game. Always have been, always will,” he assured him.
“Confident,” he stated. “I like it, but as confident as you might be, I don’t trust you,” he added. “And I don’t do business with anyone I don’t trust.”
“Smart man,” Blackie countered. “Then why the fuck you wasting my time?”
“Well,” he started, lifting his eyes to glance at me. I quickly grabbed the bottle of beer and walked around the bar, placing it on the table.
Blackie lifted his eyes to mine.
“Thank you, now go upstairs and take your fucking clothes off. I’ll be right up,” he commanded.
I curled my lip at him before I disappeared into the hallway that led to the stairs. Once I was sure I was out of sight I leaned against the wall and tried to hear what was going on, trying to make sense of it all.
“As I was saying, my mind may be swayed if you provide me with an example of good faith,” Jimmy purred. “I’d like to think a man like you knows his product, enjoys it even, won’t you have a taste for me?”
“You want me to shoot it to prove what exactly?” Blackie asked.
“That you’re not selling me shit for one,” he said.
“I don’t know how you do business Gold, but usually you or one of your own test the product they are buying,” Blackie interrupted.
“Of course that’s why I brought Carmine, but I’m not stupid Blackie, you are going to shoot the same sample you’re giving me. If it’s good for your own veins then it should be good for Carmine’s,” he sneered. “Those are my conditions, take them or leave them,” Jimmy added.
There was silence, and I was tempted to peek my head out from the wall to see what was going on. I heard someone shuffle around, a door close and something drop. What the fuck was going on?
“Fine, let’s get this over with,” Blackie seethed.
“Wonderful” Jimmy exclaimed. A moment later he was on the phone with someone, instructing them to come inside. My guess was it was the Carmine person he was talking about. There was more silence and then the distinct sound of something, maybe a bag, being torn open.
“Whenever you’re ready Blackie,” Jimmy crooned.
More silence.
A slap.
More silence.
“There you go,” Jimmy said. “Just a little more,” he added. “All done.”
Something fell and sounded as if it rolled across the floor. It was so quiet that for a moment I thought they left until there was another voice.
“All good,” he drawled.
“I’ll be in touch,” Jimmy said, before I heard the legs of the chair scrape across the floor. I stilled, listening as their shoes danced across the wood, before the door opened and closed. I waited a moment, making sure they were really gone before I turned and stepped back into the common room.
I quickened my pace when I spotted Blackie hunched over the table.
“Blackie?”
He lifted his head, and that’s when I noticed his sleeve rolled up, a yellow band knotted around his arm and a needle hanging out.
“Oh my God,” I rushed to him but froze in my tracks when he bent his head, pulled the needle out with his teeth and spat it onto the table. He proceeded to untie the knot over his arm and let the rubber band fall to the floor. He lifted his blood-shot eyes to me, baring his tortured soul in his gaze.