Confident

Blood and Business

I pulled up to my warehouse, letting the weight of my empire settle on my shoulders. Yall might’ve noticed I never told you what I really do.

I’m an entrepreneur. A businesswoman. A pharmacist, in a sense. The top dog in this game, the best to ever do it.

The beauty of it? Nobody suspects an 23-year-old girl.

That’s exactly how I like it.

I run Miami, Jacksonville, Texas, Georgia, and Palm Beach. It’s a lot to manage when your territories are spread out, which is why I keep my operation tight. No weak links, no slip-ups.

I started this empire with a McDonald’s paycheck and an allowance from my daddy. Four weeks at that place was all I could take-barely making anything, working long hours just to stay broke. Nah, that life wasn’t for me.

Grabbing my purse and slipping on my shades, I stepped into the trap. I wasn’t here often, but when I was, I made sure s**t was running right. Everything had to be in order.

Only two people knew I was the one really running things-Roscoe and Semaj. And I planned to keep it that way.

I moved like a ghost. Came in through the side door, left the same way. My workers never saw me, never even got close enough to question anything that’s what kept me untouchable.

Once inside, I locked myself in my office and flipped on the security cameras. Watching. Observing. Making sure everybody was on their job.

Than I saw it.

Semaj walked in through the front, making everybody scramble. He checked in with the different crews, collecting the money.

Fuck-up number one: NOBODY counts my money but me.

Everybody knew that rule, especially him.

I leaned in closer to the screen. My eyes locked on a shorty stuffing something under her boob before looking around and continuing to work.

I zoomed in.

I didn’t recognize her.

So Semaj was just out here letting randoms work my trap now? Or was this a regular thing?

**mental note:** check all the numbers. Make sure no money slipped through the cracks.

I pulled out my phone.

To Semaj: send me shorty with the red hair and white bra, the girl with the back curly hair, and the one with the blonde straight hair.

I watched as Semaj glanced up at the camera before tapping the girls and telling them to go upstairs. As the blonde walked off, he whispered something in her ear.

Mistake number two.

Not long after, there was a knock at my door.

“Come in.”

The three girls stepped inside. I locked the door behind them.

“Who the f**k are you, and why you in the office?!” The blond one snapped, tryna act tough.

I raised an eyebrow. “Shut the f**k up.”

She rolled her eyes and scoffed. “This b***h thing she special just ‘cause she fuckin’ Roscoe or Semaj. You ain’t nobody-just bum hoe sucking a kingpin dick.”

I laughed.

Calmly, I leaned back against my desk. “My name is Despiadada.” I let it sink in. “Spanish for ruthless.”

Her whole face changed. She stepped back like she’d seen a ghost.

“Clothes off.” My voice was steady, cold. “Now.”

Redhead eyes darted around. Blonde tried not to look at me.

SHOW NO FEAR. EVER.

“Titties up.”

They lifted up their boobs. And just like that-boom.

A 3.5 and three hundred dollars hit the floor. I’m just glad she chose a softer drug.

I bent down, picking it up with a chuckle. “Would you look at that.”

My irritation boiled over. “Shy my s**t on you? Do I not pay you enough? Wassup?” I asked. They got paid good-better than most. I didn’t degrade them, didn’t make them do extra s**t.

Redhead started stuttering. “My son is si-“

I cut her off. “b***h, you don’t have a son.”

I pulled my gun, screwed the silencer on, and set it on the desk.

“Lie to me again, and your mother will get your head in a box on her front porch.”

Tears streamed down her face. She threw her hands up. “Please don’t kill me! I had to! He told me I had to!”

“That’s a lie. You don’t HAVE to do anything.”

“Who?”

She hesitated.

“One-word answer.”

She swallowed hard. “Semaj”

I knew it.

I tilted my head. “Step to the side.”

Then I looked at Blonde. “You got something to tell me?”

She damn near folded before I could even say much. “He told me to take money too. Said y’all wouldn’t notice ‘cause there’s to much coming in. I swear i won’t do it again.”

I nodded. “Step over there with Red”

Finally, I turned to the last girl. Shorty with the black curly hair. She stood still arms crossed, looking irritated.

“You got anything you wanna say?” I stretched, watching her.

She shrugged. “Hell naw I coke in, weigh the weed, bag the weed, sometimes count money. I get paid and go home. I don’t even know these bitches’ names”

I smirked. Couldn’t help but laugh. She was deadass. I pulled my phone out to send an sos to Jojo, an on hand cleaner I hired for times like this.

I turned back to three girls. No hesitation. No second chances.

POP. POP.

POP. POP.

POP. POP.

Two bullets in each of them.

They saw my face. That alone meant they weren’t leaving this room alive. The first two? Snitches and thieves. The last one? Dead by association. I couldn’t afford no loose ends.

Five minutes later, Jojo knocked. I let him and the crew in.

“Roscoe said he wants Redhead’s head in a box sent to her mom’s house. No she’s, no tongue. Blonde? Rip her tongue out and put it in her grandma’s mailbox. If she don’t got a grandma, put it on her daddy’s car. Add some razzle-dazzle. Her eyes? Leave them on the kitchen counter for whoever walks first.

Last girl? Chop her up. Heave her for the dogs in the basement.”

It sounded wild, but this was the game. At least their families would **know** they were dead. Closed casket, b***h.

“Oh, and take this ugly-ass rug out.” I added, grabbing my purse and keys.

I slipped out through the side entrance, walking to the curb where **Betty** was parked.

I need a new car.

I love my truck but no desecration! This truck was too damn big, making me feel like I was driving in a damn Monster Jam event.

It was late- maybe 9 or 10- but I was ready to get the f**k ASAP. I had paperwork to go through, but l’d do that at home.

Semaj was dead. He just didn’t know it yet.

This was why I never got close to people.

They only thought about themselves.

Envious-ass, bird-brained motherfuckers.

I tapped my phone.

“Hey, Siri. Call Lay.”

Her name popped up on the car screen. Calling Lay.

She picked up quick. “Helllooooooo.”

“The hell you so happy about?” I asked, frowning.

“We going to a party!!! Be ready by 11:30.”

Then she hung up.

Didn’t even ask.

This girl really thought she could tell me what to do.

I shook my head, driving home. I was tired, but not that tired.

Might as well see what the night had in store.