“1996" (excerpt #2 — Nobody eats…)

“Like damn, I should’ve saved it. Then, fuck it, I should’ve made more.”

“That’s why we’re here now — to make more, OG.”

“You fucking around with these dippers, zombies and waterboys, like I don’t see it. You’ve been going the wrong way for a minute, little nigga, it’s time to wake up.” Wood smacked a re-rolled American Spirit out of Vance’s hand. “Your mother asked me to check in on you out here, and I brought you along on this job to give you some work, and to put you down with the team. Where the fuck is Greedy at — you spoke to him?

“Greedy text me from some brunch — something like that — said he was hungry and ready to get to work.”

“His fat ass is at a brunch? At a time like this? Wood looked at Vance, one of those ‘I should have known better’ looks, and cracked a smile, giving Vance a light smack to his chest with the back of his hand.

“Yo,” Vance speaks before getting his phone to his ear. “This was our job, Greedy, and you need to be here to go over this — she shouldn’t be here. Yeah, okay — twenty minutes. And bring us some of that brunch shit…whatever the fuck they serve at those things.” Vance turns to Wood, leaned against the driver’s door, smoke released from his nose, permeating the idled metal box.

“Kid, you got a lot to learn. One — Thalia is the boss. Two — I find the play, make the ideas that become plans to execute, via Thalia — she has the network. And lastly, for now — nobody eats at brunch.” Wood inhaled deep, and flashed his signature smile. Pay attention, and you’ll live to find out.