I was surprised to see Capone sitting waiting to get the next person out of my chair. I thought with the way things ended with us, he would never show me any type of love again. He always had good conversation, and he tipped good. Glad to know that he still trusted me to cut his hair even with the beef between him and Lucky. When he first got in the chair, he only spoke and told me what he wanted.
“It’s good to see you back doing what you love. You good at it and as long as you cutting, I’ll be supporting you. The last muthafucka pushed my tape back too far.”
“I appreciate your business more than you know. I never got a chance to tell you, but I apologize about that night.”
“What’s done is done. We should’ve never tried to even take it to the next level knowing he was still checkin’ for you. I ain’t got no beef with buddy. Shit, I would’ve come for yo neck too.”
“I’m glad we cool. Can’t have you walking around with a fucked-up head and people thinking I did it,” we shared a laugh.
“Nah, Atlanta knows who the hardest barber is and that’s why you need to hurry up and get out this cramped-up shit and do it bigger than the last shop. Show these niggas know they ain’t did nothing but made you boss up on their ass.”
“I plan on doing just that. Trust me that’s my plan.”
As usual, he paid me and left a big ass tip. His tip easily put me over my goal for the day. Capone used to slip it in my cleavage but this time he placed it in my hand.
“I’ll see you next week.”
If he was going to keep tipping like this, then I only had to work about three days a week. I started sweeping up the mess I made from several of my clients when my door swung open.
“I’ll be with you in a minute,” I said with my back turned.
“Take your time. I know you done some of the best cutting in the city ‘cause I taught you.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I eyed my purse that sat only a few feet away from me. The building was still busy, and I didn’t want to turn it into a murder scene. If I played it cool like I didn’t know what was going on, then we both could make it out alive. Well, I could because if I got the chance, I was going to slit his neck wide open.
I sweep the chair out and grabbed my cape, “Have a seat.”
“You’re a hard person to find. Someone told me that you posted a flyer on social media that you were cutting again. You know I had to come and get lined up. It’s been a while since I cleaned myself up.”
“Why are you really here?” I started on his haircut.
“I want you to call your nigga and tell him to stop while he’s ahead.”
“Why did you do it?”
“What did I do?”
“You are responsible for all this mess. His mama, my mama, and Merci. What did we do to you? I just can’t believe that you’re the same man that raised me.”
“I am the same man that raised you. I always had a problem with gambling. Your mama hated it, but it was something I liked to do. When you get yourself in so much trouble, it makes you do crazy shit. When it comes to my son’s it’s a little more personal. But when the time comes, we’ll sit down like real niggas and talk about it.”
“Do you honestly think I’ll let you leave out of here after finding out you were responsible for the death of my mother?”
“You don’t have to let me do shit. I didn’t pull the trigger on your mama.”
“But you were behind it. You tried to kill me and Lucky.”
He laughed as I laid him back to shape up his beard. “I thought I raised you right. Never believe what you hear only what you see. You didn’t see a muthafuckin’ thing that night. You only heard I had something to do with it. Assumptions will make an ass out of you.”
I gripped his chin and lifted his head back to get a good view of his Adam's apple. In my other hand was a freshly bought razor. It would be nothing for me to quickly take it across his throat but what would I tell the police when they got here? There was no forced entry, there wasn’t a struggle in here and I was battered.
“I already know you’re thinking about slicing my neck with that razor. You can do it, but I got a few boys outside your door that are waiting to come in here and have their way with you. Now finish up before I make you meet your mama quicker than you expected,” he stared up at me.
A soon as he walked out the door, I rushed to lock it. I was done cutting hair for the day. I thought I was going to be safe here, but it wasn’t. Any mess that I had made, was going to have to stay until I made it back. It wasn’t going to get done tonight. I locked up and rushed to my car with Lucky on the phone.
“Why the fuck did you let him walk out? You could’ve slit that muthafucka throat and tore yo damn suite up like he came in after you. Shitttt, I gotta teach yo ass every damn thing. Fuck! You had him right there and didn’t take him out? Man bring yo ass home.”
He was fussing at me like I was used to dealing with street shit. Yes, I’ll beat any bitch ass, but I wasn’t used to being in no nigga shit like this. Fuck was he mad at me for? It was me against three niggas. I wasn’t as dumb as Lucky made me seem. I made sure to watch my mirrors and make sure I wasn’t being followed home. My gun sat in my lap just in case I felt like someone was going to jump out their car on me at a red light. My nerves werecompletely shaken. Lucky jumped right back down my throat when I walked into the house.
