Hoodlum by K'wan

Author:K'wan [K'wan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2005-06-29T22:00:00+00:00

“You’re Tommy's kid brother, right?” Mike asked, inviting himself to a seat.

“Yeah,” Shai said, with a bit of an attitude. “Why, you got a beef with me too ‘cause my last name is Clark?”

“Hardly,” Mike said, putting his hands up in a submissive gesture. “You probably don’t remember me. Mike, Mike Tessio?”

“Oh, yeah,” Shai said, relaxing. “I’ve seen you at the housea time or two. You’re in business with my brother Tommy, right?”

“Something like that, kid. Me and your brother do a little something from time to time. So, you’re home from school, huh?” asked Mike, changing the subject.

“Yeah,” replied Shai.

“I’ve seen a few of your games. You’ve got a jump shot like a white boy.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“Sure, kid. You know you put braces on my little girl?”

“How do you figure?”

“That game against Duke. Nobody expected NC State to have a snowball's chance in hell at winning that game, but old Shai Clark came through in a pinch.”

“Dropped about thirty in that game, didn’t he, Mike?” asked Nicky, speaking up for the first time.

“Thirty-one,” Mike corrected him. “I had quite a few dollars riding on that game. Paid off big-time.”

“Glad I could help out,” Shai said, motioning for the waiter to bring the check. When the waiter came to their table with the bill, Mike intercepted it.

“Your money's no good here, kid,” Mike said, crumbling up the bill. “It's on the house.”

“Mr. Tessio—” Shai began.

“Call me Mike,” he interrupted.

“Okay, Mike. I appreciate the kind gesture, but my daddy didn’t raise no fools. Nothing in life is without its price. What do you want from me?”

“Come on, Shai, how you gonna insult me like that? You’re my pal Tommy's little brother. Can’t a guy just want to do something nice for a buddy?” Shai just stared at Mike blankly. Apparently Mike had underestimated Shai; he was more streetwise than he gave him credit for.

“Okay,” continued Mike, “you got me. See, me and Tommy have been having … a difference of opinion. I got something onthe ball that could make us some money, but I need Tommy to go along with it. But you know how your brother is.”

“Yeah, I know just how my brother is,” Shai agreed. “But what's that got to do with me? If you know my family as well as you claim to, then you already know that \ don’t get involved with my brother's dealings. I have my own life.”

“Oh, I know this, Shai. I would never put you in harm's way, ‘cause I know that ain’t your thing. I also know that you and your brother are very close. All I’m asking is that you talk to him, Shai. Tommy had a fight with one of my guys, so things are pretty touchy right now. I just want him to know that I ain’t salty. Freddy's a prick and that's just a given. But I don’t want what went on between him and some goomba in my crew to spoil a beautiful working relationship. Ya know what I mean?”

“Yeah,” Shai said, standing.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.