"Aye B, I know you said Chanel did her part, but what exactly did Ryleigh's parents say?" I ask as we walk into Ray's, preparing to open up for the night.

"Chanel convinced them to speak up about the rape. Ryleigh even gave them her old clothes from when Jarell raped her. There's blood and hair on them so hopefully that helps the case against Jarell."

"Bet. Ima head into the office to order more supplies then I'll be back."

Brandon nods his head and continues to help everyone get set up while I walk into my office, using the inventory list to see what we do and don't have then order the necessary supplies. By the time I'm finished, I walk back out onto the floor and accept the blunt Brandon has waiting for me. While I'm smoking, he takes shots then we switch roles after I pass the blunt back to him.

"Aye nigga, don't get too fucked up. You know whats going down tonight." I tell Brandon as I stop him from drinking too much.

"Drummer, I can handle my shit. I'm good." He says and takes his shot.

plays throughout the speakers and everybody in the bar starts singing the words. With my cup in hand, I nod my head as I sing along; feeling the beat.

🎶I used to pray for times like this, to rhyme like this

So I had to grind like that to shine like this

In a matter of time I spent on some locked up shit

In the back of the paddy wagon, cuffs locked on wrists

See my dreams unfold, nightmares come true

It was time to marry the game and I said, "Yeah, I do"

If you want it you gotta see it with a clear-eyed view

Got a shorty, she tryna bless me like I said, "Achoo"

Like a nigga sneezed, nigga please before them triggers squeeze

I'm gettin' cream, never let them hoes get in between

Of what we started, lil' nigga but I'm lionhearted🎶

"Mmm you look sexy singing those words." A random hoe says to me as she rubs her hands down my chest.

"Preciate it, don't be touching on me though." I say as I move her hands.

Walking over to the couch, I sit down and roll up a blunt. The dumb broad sits next to me then starts trying to flirt again, but I ignore her and answer my ringing phone. As soon as I start talking, the hoe starts moaning loudly. I don't know what the fuck she got going on. Bitch must be on that booga shuga.

"Drummer, what the fuck going on? Do I hear a bitch with you??" Chanel asks from the other side of the phone.

"Man, nothing. Why you call?"

"Yeah aite, I'm ready. Lets get this shit over with."

After telling Chanel that I'm on my way, I hang up the phone and stand up to find Brandon, but the girl tries to hold me down.

"Look, ion know what yo deal is, but I got a woman. Ian interested in you. That shit you just pulled with allat' moaning is fucked up. I could've been on the phone with my girl. Now get yo thirsty ass outta my face." I say as I snatch away from her.

"Fuck you too then, nigga! I bet yo dick little as fuck anyway."

"SECURITY! Get this bitch outta here!"

Two of my security guards swiftly pick her up and drag her out of the club, kicking and screaming as she continues to cuss me out. Everybody stares at her, making her more embarrassed than she already is, but I don't give a damn. She should've kept her fat ass mouth shut.

"Brandon, lets head out. Chanel said she ready. Call Milani and see if she's ready then go help her out."

"Bet." He says as we both go outside and get into separate cars.

While Brandon goes to help Milani with Holloway, I head over to Chanel's old house where she used to live with Jarell. Putting on rubber gloves, I get out of my car, put my phone on silent then knock on the door.

"Bout time you made it. Jarell is on his way here. I used my old key to get in and sent him a picture of me in lingerie saying that I missed him and to come home. His dumbass believed it." Chanel says as I walk inside.

"I knew he'd believe it. His ass crazy about you. You sure you can handle this shit?"

"Yeah, I got it. You need to hurry up and hide, but before you do, who the fuck was that bitch moaning when I called you?"

"Chanel, I told yo ass it was nothing. We can talk about that shit later. Just remember, after you tell him to take a shot with you, go into the kitchen and put on your gloves then lace his drink. After he's knocked out, use his phone to text Tony. Put your gloves in a ziplock bag so we can dispose of them later." I explain slowly so she doesn't fuck up.

Before she can reply, we hear a car pull up so I quickly hide in the closet; being still and as quiet as possible so I don't get caught. I hope Chanel knows what the fuck she's doing or else it could be the end of both of our lives. As soon as I hear Jarell step inside the house, I focus all of my attention on listening to him and Chanel's conversation.

"Mmm. You really did miss daddy didn't ya, baby?" He says as I hear sloppy kisses being traded between the two.

"Yes I did. I'm so sorry about being with Brandon. Let me make it up to you. Sit down on the couch."

I hear what I assume to be Jarell kissing on Chanel because she moans lowly, but I can tell it's fake.

"Chanel, babygirl, you need to loosen up. You real stiff right now and Ian feeling it." Jarell says loudly.

"Y-you're right, honey. Maybe we should take a shot so I can relax a little. You know how nasty I get when I'm tipsy."

Coming from the loud smack I hear, I assume that he smacks Chanel's ass then encourages her to pour the shot because I hear her footsteps on the tile floor. A few minutes later, the sound of their glasses hitting the table lets me know that they've taken the shot and now it's the waiting game. While I wait for the laced drink to flow through his system, I start thinking about Milani and wonder if everything is going okay with her, Holloway, and Brandon.

"Drummer, he's knocked out." Chanel says, breaking my concentrated thoughts; the sound of her putting on her gloves louder than her voice. "I'm texting Tony now and saying "pull up. Business to discuss."

Getting out of the cramped closet, I stare at Jarell's limp body on the couch then grab his gun off the table; taking it off safety then hiding behind the couch. "Chanel, all I need you to do is make sure he's facing this way so just stand back there. He'll be confused when he sees Jarell's body which will throw him off then I'll do what I gotta do."

"Drummer, I told you. I fucking got this. Damn!" She sighs loudly.

I wait patiently, until I finally hear Tony walk into the house. Chanel stands exactly where I told her and opens her robe.

"Aye, what the hell going on here?" Tony asks confused at the scene before him. "I thought yo ass would've been dead after I told Jarell about you being at my house with Brandon."

"As you can see Jarell had a little too much to drink so I texted you from his phone in hopes that I could test out that dick that Milani was always talking about."

"Well shiddd. That's all you had to say, beautiful."

Before Tony can fully undress, I jump up from behind the couch and look him in his eyes, "You finally getting what you deserve, bitch!" The look on his face is priceless as I shoot him three times in the chest; his body falling backwards and oozing blood. Walking over to Jarell's body, I place the gun in his hand then grab the ziplock bag that has Chanel's gloves in it.

"Lets go, Chanel!! The rest is up to Brandon and Milani!" I yell then we run out of the house. On my way out the door, I take my gloves off and put them into the bag with Chanel's gloves. We both get into separate cars and meet up back at my house.

While Chanel goes into the bathroom to put on her clothes, I pace the floor waiting for Milani and Brandon to walk through the door.

"Milani, I still don't understand why we had to come on this side of town just to talk." Holloway says as I lay my head back on the seat, pretending to be drunk.

"I-I just loveeee it h-here. It's so PRETTYYY!!!" I slur loudly.

"Damn, girl. You drunk as fuck. So what you wanna talk about?"

Fake gagging a bit, I grab his face and look into his eyes. "I want to say that I'm sorryyyy. I didn't mean to hurt you and I wanna give us another chance."

"Ion know bout that. You really got me hurt over yo ass. It's just crazy how Drummer has everything I ever wanted. Women, money, respect, loyalty etc. Hell, he even has you." He explains, making me feel guilty.

Ignoring his response, I complain about how sick I feel then pretend that I'm gonna throw up so I open the car door then keep gagging and spitting.

"Milani, are you okay?" He asks, rubbing my back.

"N-no! Coffee! I need coffee to help settle my stomach."

"Here, drink mine."

After he hands me his cup of coffee, I yell out that I see someone trying to break into a house. Pointing at the person in all black, I make sure that Holloway follows my finger to where the guy is.

"Fuck, I'll be back. Stay in the car." He whispers as he grabs his gun then runs towards the person, telling him to stop and put his hands up.

Opening up my purse, I put on my gloves and pour the white powder into his coffee then shake it up; taking the gloves off and putting them back into my purse. By the time he returns, he's out of breath and sweating.

"I lost him. His ass was too fast. He ran into an alleyway then disappeared. I'm gonna call it in."

Holloway finishes talking over the radio then tries to catch his breath.

"Your coffee is sooo nasty. It's bitter." I lie smoothly.

"Nah, girl, my coffee good. It's never bitter. If anything, it's sweet as fuck."

"I think your taste buds are fucked up. Taste it againnnn."

Holloway laughs at my "drunk" ass before drinking multiple gulps off his coffee. We both talk about random things until his eyes slowly shut and he's snoring lightly. Pulling out my phone, I call Brandon and tell him that I'm ready. A couple minutes later, he appears from the direction of the fake break in.

"How did I do, Lani? Did I look like a real thief?" He asks with a smile as I get out of the car then find the button to pop the trunk.

"Yeah yeah, just be glad he didn't catch your ass."

Brandon puts on his gloves and I do the same then he hands me three bricks of cocaine wrapped in shiny brown plastic. I put them into the trunk then shut it and the car door.

Getting into the car with Brandon, we start driving to Drummer's house so I call the police station on a burner phone and put in an anonymous tip saying that I saw Detective Holloway sleeping on the job and that I also heard gunshots coming from a house nearby so that they'd go to Jarell's house which isn't too far from where Holloway's car is parked. Right before I'm finished talking to the chief of police, I tell him that I've been hearing people say that Holloway is a dirty cop who keeps drugs in his car and house.

"That shit was crazy." I tell Brandon with a smile on my face.

"Hell yeah, but it'll all be worth it."

Smiling widely, relief sweeps over me because I know that the three of them got what they deserved and will be out of our lives, meaning that I can finally be Drummer's girlfriend. My happy fantasy is interrupted by a text message from Chanel telling me that she heard a girl moaning when she called Drummer earlier.

"Lani, you good? You got quiet all of a sudden." Brandon says softly, turning the music down.

"I'm fine." I lie and try to clam myself down.

By the time we get to Drummer's house, my blood is boiling. Walking through the door, I walk up to him and watch as he tries to talk to me like we're all good.

"Who the fuck was moaning earlier huh? You thought I wasn't gone find out didn't you!!? You dirty, lying, cheating ass dog! You had me helping you get rid of Holloway nem, thinking that we'd finally be together and you go pull this shit!!! You know what, fuck it!!! I'll tell the police everything!!" I yell out in his face.

"Chanel, you always telling shit!! I wasn't even fucking with nobody. Not that I gotta explain myself, but lets go to the bar. I'll run the tapes back and you can see for yourself, Lani."

Me, Chanel, Drummer, and Brandon get into Drummer's car and he drives us back to Ray's where he shows me the tape. I see the girl trying to get at him, but he brushes her off then has her taken out of the club; making me feel like an insecure bitch.

"Yeah, yeen got nun to say do ya? If you gone keep accusing me of cheating all the time then we can break up right now! If I wanted to deal with that shit, I would've stayed with Ariyah. You gone let yo friend fuck all this up and that's gone be on you." Drummer says as he storms out of the bar.

"Thanks a lot, Chanel. Maybe we need a friendship break or something because every time I turn around, you always got sum negative shit to say about him. It's like you don't want me to be happy!"

As I'm turning to walk after Drummer, Chanel calls my name, but Brandon says, "Just let her go. She made her choice."

So much for my happy ending. Seems like every time I take one step forward, I'm knocked ten steps back.