“You didn’t have to do that”, I said quickly. Going into my purse to grab my money, I didn’t want to owe him anything.
“Relax, it’s on the house don’t worry”, he laughed, reading my thoughts.
“This doesn’t mean-“
“I know”, he cut me off.
“Aight cool and nah, I don’t drive to work, I take ubers.”
We pivoted and started walking towards his car. I felt slightly embarrassed, I don’t even know why to be honest. Girl’s take ubers to work all the time.
“It’s safer taking an uber, no one needs a DUI and shit”, I over-explained.
He unlocked his car door, he had a Mercedes AMG, it was gorgeous. “That’s smart, you don’t even drink like that. But I hear what you’re saying”, he said back nonchalantly.
He jumped into the driver’s side, I awkwardly popped open the door and plopped down into the passenger seat. I shuffled my work bag between my feet and fumbled to put on my seatbelt.
“This nigga been watching me this whole time?” I thought to myself. “How long has he had his eye on me, to know I don’t really drink like that? I just started at that club like a month ago.”
I hadn’t realized he had been watching me the whole time. He laughed under his breath as he put on some music and shifted the car into drive.
“I- nah, I do sometimes drink at work, I just don’t like the feeling of being drunk at work. So I TRY and pace myself, but I’m a lightweight so..” I chuckled shyly. I could tell I was blushing and I hated it. I pulled out my phone to text French, I was going to grab something to eat with B. I needed to kill this awkward moment.
“It’s good that you don’t get sloppy to be honest, you keep your composure. I like that”, he said as we exited the parking lot. He pulled out onto the street and took the back way to Hong Shings. He kept checking, as if someone was following us.
He pulled into a small shiesty parking lot behind the restaurant.
“You can leave your bag in here, I’ll drop you home when we’re done.” He said as he got out of the car.
“Aight cool”, I responded back. My hands were sweaty, I had adrenaline coursing through my body and I didn’t even know why.
French didn’t reply back, I assumed she fell asleep. So I put my phone back in my pocket. I hopped out of the car and walked over to him; we walked up the sidewalk and entered the restaurant.
Hong Shings was a kind-of-run-down looking Chinese food spot. It was super popular in the city, all the strippers, pimps and drug dealers would go there after the club closes. You were bound to see a face you knew or possibly didn’t want to see.
We scanned around the place to see his boy, and anyone else we might have known. His boy came walking towards us with his hand out to dap Bam.
“What’s up man, you good?”, he said as he greeted Bam.
“Yeah, yeah man”, Bam replied back.
We all walked over to his friend’s table and sat down. The same girl who was with him from earlier, was already sitting at the table.
“Hey guys”, she said in her cute dainty voice. I could tell she really was a sweet girl. She was a small curvy white girl, with long blonde hair and perfect teeth.
In the game, the white girls always pair up with black pimps. They say it’s because white girls make more money, which is a fact that holds some truth. But the majority of black guys just use it as an excuse, to not feel bad about choosing a white girl over a black one.
“Hey ma”, I said back in a friendly tone; I was trying to play it cool.
Bam smiled, then turned to look at his friend, “you dropped her home?” He was making sure to have eye contact with him.
“Nah fam, she started tweaking then said she’ll take an uber. I thought you spoke to her already.”
I could tell Bam was annoyed, he clenched his jaw and grabbed his phone and started texting vigorously. I’m guessing the girl from the changeroom was Bam’s bitch. Which all makes sense now, why she was moving like that with me.
“Aight, thank you”, Bam said as he grabbed the menu to look at it.
His friend nodded his head.
“What do you feel like eating Miss Royaal?” he asked.
I felt all the focus shift to me, and my palms got sweaty again.
“Ah i’m not too sure”, I said as I grabbed the menu from off the table. “What do you guys feel like eating?” I asked his friends.
“Oh he gets the same thing every time” she said even before anyone could answer; in a tone that screamed “I know it all”.
Bam’s friend must have picked up on it too, because he looked at her with annoyance. “Every time i’m with you, yeah”, he said coldly.
She paused for a moment, as if she was deciding what to do next. And just readjusted herself on the chair.
“Well my favorite is the Vancouver Crab and vegetable fried rice on the side with some plum sauce. So I’m just going to get that”, she laughed.
“Alright, maybe I’ll try that too cause I haven’t had the crab here before.” I said back to her, trying to help her pick up her dignity from off the floor.
Bam caught it too, and laughed under his breath.
Just as the mood lightens, the door swings open and in walks Pablo and his other friend. I think his name is SK, I’ve only seen a picture of him. But I do know that SK is Pablo’s shooter.
Bam and his friend reacted quickly.
“It’s time to leave”, he said to me stiffly, as he grabbed my hand and angled me behind him.
My logic was paralyzed by fear, by the hundreds of thoughts running through my mind. I was being suffocated by the idea that Pablo was coming for me. Everything we had, everything we’ve been through didn’t matter. It didn’t exist anymore, what only existed was the now. And right now, he was here with his top shooter to handle business.
Pablo and SK walked over to us.
“We’re not doing this here, around all these civilians and shit. I like to eat at this spot, so”, said Bam as comedic relief. “Gotta have some decorum, we can go outside.”
“We don’t even have to go outside, we can solve it right now. I came for my money, you have my bitch, I need my money, simple”, Pablo said to Bam. He didn’t even look at me.
“Ahhh, the fee”, Bam said as he realized what was really going on.
If I could piss my pants, I swear to God I would have. I’m technically a renegade, standing around a bunch of pimps. Let’s get specific actually, my ex pimp, possibly soon to be pimp, their shooters and his working bitch. How the fuck did I get myself into this shit?
My phone started vibrating, I figured it was French, because no one calls me this early in the morning.
I was in the most fucked up position right now, Pablo was forcing my hand by making Bam claim me. If Bam didn’t claim me, I was probably going to die because I would be a renegade, who ran off on her pimp. But Bam and I never got to have that talk yet, so if he claims me right now, my conditions may not mean shit later either.
“Yeah the fee nigga, where’s it at?”, said SK in an aggressive but yet excited tone. You can tell he loves this shit.
“She has to be your bitch in order for him to pay you a fee. I don’t know if you popcorn pimps know the game. But she was free grabs homie.” Bam’s friend said towards them but mostly looking at SK.
SK grabbed his waist as if to gesture he was strapped and Bam’s friend did the same.
The Chinese woman walked over and started cussing for all of us to get out and take it elsewhere, or she’ll call the police. SK started arguing with her, so her Husband came over and said he’s calling them.
Bam moved militant in the commotion, he grabbed my hand and whispered in my ear “run to the car”, and put the keys in my palm.
We rushed outside, the fresh air hit my face and a wave of relief washed over me as I realized the car was right there. There was no sound, everything else was a blur and time had stopped just for that instant. I turned the corner and ran with every cell in my body towards the benz.
I realized while running that he wanted me to drive. I ran to the driver’s side and opened the door.
BAM. The sound of a gunshot ripped through the air.
I jumped into the low seat, pressed my foot on the brake and pushed the button to start the car; the engine purred loudly as it came to life.
I looked down to quickly reposition the seat and looked up to Bam running over to the car. He cut across to the passenger side and jumped in.
“GO!”, he yelled.
“Okay, okay, okay”, I said, frightened and holding back tears. I’ve never been in this situation before. I’m not even sure I can drive under pressure.
French had given me some driving lessons in her car. But I still haven’t gone and gotten my license yet. And I wasn’t too confident in my ability to be a getaway driver, yet.
He exhaled and put on music, “go down there” he pointed.
I turned the wheel and thrusted my foot against the pedal, causing the car to jump forward.
“Wait, do you know how to drive?” he asked, now realizing this might not be the best idea.
“On a regular day, yes. But being a getaway driver, well I guess we’re going to have to see.” I said annoyed, as I ripped around and sped down Centre ave. We could hear the police sirens in the distance.
He pulled out his phone to call his boy, “Yo you guys good?”
I could feel the vibrating in my pocket from my phone. I knew it was French calling now.
His friend was yelling on the other line, but I couldn’t make it out. “Fam, just be smart, we’re going to handle it properly. Ima drop Royaal, then come check you. Aight, wait for me”, Bam said.
“Where do I go now?” I asked in a shaky voice.
“You’re going to make three lefts”, he said back to me.
“I get it, say no more. Just now”, he said and then hung up the phone.
“Are they okay?” I asked since he didn’t seem like he was going to say much. I had a million questions but felt so conflicted on how to ask them.
“Yeah, they’re fine. Pablo’s man can’t shoot for shit. But, you know we can’t hold this or take this lightly right?”
He said we, as in him and I, which frightened me. Then it dawned on me, I started a war and I had to pick a side. I already chose a side, without realizing.
I guess he read the look on my face, because he didn’t wait for a reply.
“So I’m taking you home, well actually you’re taking yourself home. So I guess you do know how to drive” , he laughed and checked the mirrors to see if anyone was following behind us. “Where do you live?”, he asked as he scrolled through his phone.
My brain was in shock, I was realizing the level of shit I had gotten myself into. Pablo wanted money from Bam for me, which meant I was choosing up to him whether he accepted my conditions or not. I didn’t have a leg to stand on anymore, he did. I needed him and his protection.
Tears swelled up in my eyes as I realized, I bit off more than I could chew. I could lose everything. My friendship with French, my life. Then I remembered how French had been calling and decided to check my phone at the next red light.
“Liberty village” I said out barely audible.
“Aight well, keep driving down till you get to Bathurst and then turn left. You should recognize where you are from there.”
Traffick’d 