Holiday drove me to the supplier's house with the windows down. It was seventy-degrees in the city, the sky a perfect, cloudless blue. The traffic was non-existent because nobody drove through the projects unless they had to. The few cars we passed honked their horns and squealed their tires in a wasted effort to intimidate us.

"You know, Spence, yesterday didn't work out, but I have a good feeling about tonight." He parked the car in the vacant driveway.

The house in front of us reminded me a lot of Churro's place. It was small with the same peeling white paint. I climbed out of the passenger's seat and pushed the door shut, ignoring the stinging pain in my calf.

"What makes you think that?" I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my jacket.

He flashed a smile. "Because I know how bad you want to be Cayden's number one guy. Nothing can stand in your way when you want something."

I chuckled as I stepped back from his car and gave him a wave. He knew me well. Holiday had become one of my best friends when I joined the gang. He always looked out for me.

For a moment, I stood in the driveway and watched as his car disappeared down the street. Kids screamed in the distance as they played during the daylight hours after school, and the neighbors' eyes stared me down. I was a stranger to this part of town.

I turned and headed up the driveway, stopping only when I reached the front door. I knocked on it and took a step back to wait. My body was hot beneath my jacket and sweat beaded along the back of my neck. I shoved my hands in my pockets, trying to ease the nervousness of being out in the open.

After a minute, I heard the clicking of locks, and the door was jerked half-way open. A tall African-American man with a white mask covering his face greeted me.

"You here for Cayden's shit, homie?"

I glanced around. "Yeah, you got it?" The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I hated doing deals in the open. It made me vulnerable to curious eyes.

"Yeah, dawg. Here," he said, reaching his hand out through the crack in the door. He held a plastic baggie filled with little white capsules. I took it from him as I handed over the money Cayden had given me.

"Thanks." I shoved the baggie into my jacket pocket and nodded.

"Pleasure doing business with you." He started to force the white door closed.

I caught the door with my hand. "Bro, let me come in and separate this shit out to sell."

He raised an eyebrow, his eyes scanning the street behind me. "I can't let you in here. People will start asking questions."

"It'll take two minutes," I said, removing my hand from the door.

His eyes landed on something behind me, and he froze. "Get inside now," he spat.

I stepped into the house, and, out of the corner of my eye, I saw what had changed his mind. A cop car had turned onto the street and was creeping past the houses.

I shook my head and let out a sigh of relief as the man shut the door behind me. He worked to re-lock the obsessive amount of locks on his front door. You always had to watch your back in this business. The laws looked for any reason to take you in and showed no mercy when they did.

I turned and fumbled my way through the dark room. There was only one light shining above a tattered tan couch with a small T.V. Stacks of cash sat haphazardly on the side table beside a scale. The room looked as if it had never been cleaned. It was littered with trash. I sat down on the couch and pulled the plastic bag out of my pocket, along with some other small bags. I opened the main bag and poured the molly into my lap, separating a couple of capsules into each little bag.

The supplier entered the room from the dark hallway. "You almost got me caught by the laws, little bitch."

I rolled my eyes. "It's whatever. I just needed a place to sort the shit." I shoved the individual bags into my pocket.

He tapped away on his phone screen. "Well, you'll have to leave through the back. I can't risk having them see you go through the front," he growled, walking over to weigh a white powder out on the scale.

I stood up and stepped in the direction of the back door. "Thanks, bro." I exited the house and the door slammed shut behind me.

I was in and out in two minutes, just as I had told him. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and glanced at it. Summerfest would be starting in an hour. It was important for me to arrive early to ensure I had the best position to move the molly. I started my trek down the street, headed to Union Park theater.

When I arrived, I shoved my way through the massive crowd of festival goers. The sun was falling behind the large skyscrapers and casting dark shadows across the festival grounds. The spicy smell of street tacos and sweet funnel cakes penetrated my nostrils from the local food trucks as they crowded into the space, determined to make a buck off the hungry guests.

I stopped next to the railing surrounding the area by the stage and leaned against it as I folded my arms across my chest. My eyes scanned the crowd. There were a lot of people that appeared to be in their early-twenties wanting to have some fun before returning to their college lives. A group of girls watched me from a couple feet away. I turned to head in their direction.

"Hey, ladies. How are we doing today?" I flashed them a warm smile as I approached.

A light-skinned girl with dark hair and red tips smiled at me. "Hey there. What's a fine man like you doing here alone?" she asked as her other friend giggled and grabbed her arm.

I grinned at her and tilted my head, wearing my most charming expression. "Maybe I'm just looking for some pretty ladies who want to have some fun."

I watched her eyes light up as she raised her thin eyebrows. Her friend grabbed her arm again. "What kind of fun are you talking about?"

I lowered my voice so the conversation stayed between us. "Well, I can get you some stuff. If you know what I mean." I winked.

"Exactly, what kind of stuff are we talking about?" she questioned.

I knew I had her hooked. I was good at my job and now, it was time to close the deal.

My eyes flickered to the girl with red tips. "Well, I have molly if that's the kind of fun you're into."

She glanced around and leaned over to whisper in the other girl's ear. They started to dig through their respective bags until they pulled out some money. I straightened my back. My weight shifted as I waited. Out of habit, my eyes scanned the scene for the cops.

I was busted by the pigs with one gram of Mary Jane on me this summer. I was trying to deliver it to the customer when the officer yelled at me from his car. I had been stupid enough to smoke before I left. He had smelt it on me. I got lucky because he only found a gram on me. They couldn't charge me with the intent to sell. After that, I stopped doing the drugs I sold.

I knew that selling at a festival like this was dangerous, but it was during events like these that drug dealers made their most money. We preyed on those who wanted a good time; it was how we survived. It was how I survived.

"How much for a gram?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at me.

If I wasn't here to work, I would love to give this girl what she was asking for. "A gram is a bill. Seems like you're really wanting a good time." I smiled at her.

After a second, the girl reached to push a bill into my hand, so I slipped three of the baggies out of my pocket and gave them to her. "You going to stay around and enjoy it with us?" she asked as she tucked it into her bag.

I chuckled. Her invitation was tempting. The sexy gleam in her eye almost made me say yes, but I had a task to complete.

"I might find you later, baby girl. I've got some business to handle right now."

She bit her lip as her eyes scanned me. "Suit yourself." She tugged her friend along to the bathroom. They were going to enjoy their fix.

I returned to my original spot, leaning against the rail. My mind swirled with thoughts of Maria. Every time my eyes closed, I saw her face. The feeling of her blood on my hands was something I would never forget. Her family would mourn for her, but nothing would bring her back. They would be swallowed in sorrow, overtaken by loss; however, the people here lived in a totally different world.

I let out a sigh as the massive crowd converged in front of the stage. Test music blared from the speakers. The main event was coming. As the night dragged on, the crowd grew more rowdy.

An opposing dealer moved across the festival ground. He was threatening my business by getting too close to my turf. He wore a gray hoodie and walked with a limp. There were no tattoos or markings that tied him to a gang, so he was moving drugs on his own. I clenched my fists. I couldn't risk competition. The entire stash of Malcolm X in my possession had to be sold.

He stopped next to a group of guys. They chatted a bit, but he struck out. They weren't looking to buy what he was selling. He continued in my direction with his left leg trailing behind him. He was weak and alone. He didn't have back-up if something went wrong. Big mistake. As he passed me, I grabbed his arm and slammed him up against the railing. "You think you can sell on my ground?" I snarled in a hushed tone.

"Your ground?" he asked with a laugh.

My hand reached for the cold metal of the gun in my pocket. I shoved it against his stomach. He tensed in my grasp, his eyes widening.

"Yes. This is my ground. Now, empty your pockets before I put a bullet through you." My eyes dropped down to his hands.He shoved them in his pockets with haste, pulling out a wad of cash and some bags of marijuana.

"Come on, bro. Just let me go. I won't bother you again."

My grip on my gun lessened. "I'm sorry, man, but it's you or it's me. I can't go back empty-handed." I took the money and the weed from his hands, shoving it into my pockets.

He stared at me as if he was about to speak, but I didn't give him time to respond. "If I see you here again, I'll give you more than a broken face."

He shoved my chest. I swung my fist forward to connect with his face. There was a sharp cracking noise as his nose gave way beneath my knuckles. A sense of power filled me. I fought the urge to continue my attack, remembering the many onlookers.

I slid my gun back into my pocket. His hands flew to his face to try and block the blood that was dripping down from his nose. He glared at me as he stumbled away.

I wasn't going to let anything or anyone stand in the way of completing my task for Cayden. This deal would push me further into consideration for OG status. I would step above Rodney. I didn't even want to think about what would happen if I failed because it wasn't an option. I wasn't going to toss all my hard work down the drain.

My eyes flashed to the stage when I saw two officers in uniform shining their flashlights. They prowled the festival grounds. I leaned against the rail and nodded my head along to the music in an effort to blend in.

"Hands up, Chicago PD," they yelled. My chest tightened. I turned my head to see them shove a guy on the ground and I exhaled a sharp breath.

"You're under arrest. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. . ." the officer said as he handcuffed him.

He looked up at a guy dressed in street clothes. They started conversing before he handed over the gram of drugs he'd bought. It was a downlo 5-0. An undercover cop.

I shifted my weight before lowering my head. I had to move to the other side of the park. This area had been compromised. The cops had gotten too close for comfort. Cayden wouldn't like hearing I had been thrown in jail with his merchandise on me. I had to be careful tonight.

As the night went on, I continued to push the MDMA with ease until I was left with one remaining gram. If I could get rid of it, I could return to Cayden with a win under my belt.

My eyes landed on my next target. It was a couple in the back of the crowd who'd clearly had enough to drink. They ground on each other to the music that blared from the speakers. The girl sloshed a drink around, spilling most of its contents.

I started my walk over to them when I crashed into something—well, someone, I think. I hit her pretty hard, and it sent her crashing onto the ground. I stumbled backwards. My eyes flashed down to her, and she looked up at me.

It was Adrienne. Heat rushed across my skin.

"Oh, shit. I'm sorry," I said, reaching to offer my hand to her.

She took my hand, and I pulled her back to her feet. Her blonde hair was curly around her face, and she wore dark eye makeup that contrasted with her red lipstick. Her lips looked so inviting. They would be sexy wrapped around my dick.

She dusted her jeans off. "It's all good. You just need to learn to watch where you're going."

I scoffed at her, and my lips curled into a smile. "I said my bad. Damn, try to loosen up some. Didn't you come here to have fun?" I asked, my eyes running down her body.

She caught my roaming eyes and ignored my comment. She pushed past me, headed towards the side of the stage. I turned to watch her leave and then glanced back at my target customers.

I was torn. My brain wanted to finish my task for Cayden, but my dick wanted this new girl. Was she more important than completing my job for the gang? Hell no, but she was hot. Every fiber in my body wanted to know what she was like in bed. If I didn't pursue her now, our paths might not cross again. This was my chance. I gritted my teeth before I turned on my heels to follow her. I was fighting the sting in my calf and my nagging brain. I hadn't finished my job for Cayden, but I snagged the extra cash from the rival dealer. I could spare a few minutes away.

I reached out to grab her arm and pulled her to a stop. "Hey, wait up."

She stopped and looked over her shoulder at me. Her blue eyes sparkled from the lights that radiated from the stage. We stood on the edge of the crowd, and I turned my body to block us from the people downing bottles of beer beside us. As I turned, I pushed her up against the rail, and she leaned back in surprise.

"What do you want?" Her voice was soft and barely audible over the crowd.

I leaned my face towards her, tilting my head so I could hear her. "I wanted to introduce myself. I'm Spencer."

She leaned her head back and raised an eyebrow at me."I already know who you are. Jena told me plenty about you."

"Oh really? Glad to know she talks about me," I responded with a smile.

She shrugged her shoulders. "No need to get a big head about it. I didn't say it was good."

"Oh, come on . . . We both know Jena wants my dick. I can tell by the way she looks at me." I smirked.

She rolled her eyes and tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "You wish. Jena is way out of your league." Her head tilted in the direction of a group of guys beside the stage.

I laughed, but my eyes narrowed in their direction. Young wanna-be gangsters that were far too immature for her. I turned my head back to her. "I can have any girl I want, Adrienne. No one is out of my league." My eyes scanned her body.

She looked back to me. "Hm. She did say you were cocky."

"What else did she say about me?"

"She told me you're a typical 'bad boy.' You are in a gang, you sell drugs, and you never show up to school. Plus, you probably have every sexually transmitted disease known to man," she said, trying to slip past me.

As she attempted her escape, our bodies brushed against each other. A jolt of electricity ran through me. It rocked my body. I didn't even have time to laugh at her witty comment. I took a deep breath as I moved with her, placing my arm on the rail to prevent her from leaving.

A teasing grin spread across my face. "Let me guess. You're a typical 'good girl.' You get good grades, you never get in trouble, and you moved into a large four story mansion on the north side of town."

She pulled my hand up off the rail and stepped past it before placing it back down. Her lips curled into a smile, and she folded her arms across her chest.

"You think you have me all figured out, don't you?"

I nodded my head and leaned my weight against the rail. "Yes, I do."

She turned away from me and headed over toward the side of the stage."Well, I can tell you that nothing you said earlier is even remotely right, so you can wipe that smug look off your face," she called over her shoulder.

I raised an eyebrow as she walked away. My eyes studied her as her hips swayed back and forth. She stopped next to a group of guys lingering by the stage. That's when I saw her slip money into one of the guy's hands in exchange for something else.

She reached to touch the guy's arm and gave him a soft fake laugh before she turned away from him. She headed back in my direction and seemed to sigh when she saw me still frozen in place. She had slipped the baggie into her back pocket.

I folded my arms across my chest as she returned. "Hm."

"You're judging me. I can see it in your eyes." She came to a stop in front of me.

"I'm just a little offended you didn't come to me to get your fix," I said, placing a hand over my heart with a hurt look on my face.

A smile appeared on her face and her eyes fell to the ground. Her nose wrinkled slightly. "I just felt like you stereotyped me as a good girl, so I didn't want to fuck up your impression of me." She kept her eyes on the ground as she dug around in the dirt with the end of her shoe.

I laughed and stepped toward her. The Summerfest party still carried on around us, but at this moment, all I could focus on was the craving I had for her body. I stretched my hand out to touch the soft skin of her chin, forcing her to look up at me. My eyes met hers before dropping to her plump, soft, red lips.

"It's a little too late for that, baby girl. My impression has already changed," I whispered.

The touch to her skin sent a static buzz through my hand. I enjoyed the feeling, and it left me wanting more. Her blue eyes looked up at me, and she tilted her head so that my hand grazed along her chin again. She must have felt it, too.

"So, what does that mean for us?"

"It means your impression of me has to change as well," I breathed, still entranced by the tingling in my hand.

Her eyes scanned my body with a curious look. "How is that going to happen? You seem pretty set in your ways."

"That's where you're wrong. How about you let me walk you to school in the morning?" I offered, lowering my hand down to my side.

She put her hands on her hips. "I'm sure arriving to a new school on the third day with a gang member will do wonders for my reputation." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. She rolled her eyes.

I chuckled and leaned my head back to look up at the sky. "I don't think it'll be a problem. You're out here buying drugs; you can't be that worried about your reputation.".

She pulled out her phone. "Fine. You can walk me to class tomorrow."

She handed it to me, and I typed in my number before giving it back to her.

"If I send my address, you aren't going to stalk me, right?" she asked, flashing the same white smile I had seen on the first day of class.

I put my hand against my chin, pretending to think about it. A smile formed on my lips in response to hers, and I was unable to stop it. Her bright smile was infectious, and it stirred something inside my chest.

"No promises," I whispered.

She slipped her phone back into her pocket and shook her head. "Whatever," she mouthed as she turned her back on me and vanished into the crowd.

I let out a deep breath. Every time I was around her, I found myself craving her body more. But there was something else about her that attracted me as well. I just hadn't figured it out yet.

A rough hand smacked against my shoulder and shook me from my thoughts. "Spence. You sell the Malcolm X? Cayden is waiting on the money, bro," Mason asked.

I turned to look at him and reached into my pocket. I heard the crinkling of the plastic from the last gram of capsules I failed to push. I pulled them out, along with the wad of cash I had made, and slipped it secretively into his hand.

"You couldn't sell the last gram?" The surprise was clear in his voice.

"I got distracted, but there's an extra three-hundred in there to cover it. He won't be mad. I'll talk to him about it." My phone vibrated in my pocket.

There was only one person it could be. I walked down to the edge of the crowd, heading for the exit with Mason on my tail. Cayden would be fine as long as I brought back the right amount of money. The cash was what mattered to him. My phone buzzed again as we headed to the Southside apartment. I snagged it from my pocket and smiled at the message on my screen.

I had made it a personal goal of mine to sleep with Adrienne, so there was no hesitation as I sent a text back to her.

                                             See you in the AM.