Piece Keeper (19 page)

Cheyenne paused noticing her old buddy’s discomfort.
She smiled with dark eyes. “But yeah, those days are behind you.
Me, I don’t know so much.”

Ally turned to retrieve her things. “Well you came
here for a reason, Cheyenne. So what’s up?”

Cheyenne chuckled. “Still the same ol’ Whip.
Straight to the point right?”

Ally’s eyes narrowed and her nose flared at the
blatant dis-respect. “Some shit don’t change huh?” she asked in a
hushed tone between clenched teeth. “Same ol’ Cheyenne shitting on
whoever doing whatever she wants.”

“Yeah well I suppose some people don’t change. You
know we all can’t trade in two-hundred dollar jeans for two
thousand dollar suits. When it comes to people like me, no matter
what, once a gangster always a gangster. ‘Ya feel me?”

Ally didn’t like where the conversation was headed
and attempted to pass Cheyenne to exit the stage area. “If you say
so. It was nice seeing you but I have to go.”

Cheyenne blocked her path.

Ally took a step back and stared at the other woman
ag-aggressively. She had always been the less skilled fighter of
the crew but was undoubtedly the one with the most heart and was
always the first one to run to a fight. “Move, Cheyenne.”

“Not before I’m done.”

Ally placed her hands on her hips. “Well speak your
peace so I can be on my way.”

Cheyenne held up both of her hands in a
non-defensive manner. “I just want an autograph.”

Ally stared back disbelievingly.

Cheyenne chuckled. “Straight up, Whip.”

Ally shot her a nasty look. The doors resounded
throughout the empty room as the last attendees exited. Ally felt
uncomfortable.

“I mean, Ally, just an autograph.” Cheyenne spoke
with mock sincerity. “Seriously.”

Letting down her guard she attempted to pass
Cheyenne once more and pointed to a box sitting on a tote bag
sitting in a chair on the front row of the stadium seats. “Let me
get you a book.”

Cheyenne blocked her again.

Ally was annoyed. “Ugh, what is this, Cheyenne? I
don’t have time to-”

Cheyenne reached into the army fatigue knapsack she
was carrying and removed a copy of Ally’s book. “I brought my
own.”

Ally felt a little guilty about her behavior. It had
been al-most two decades since they’d last seen one another. She
had forgotten how aggressive Cheyenne’s personality was. Placing
her hand on her forehead Ally laughed nervously. “Girl, I’m sorry.
I’m tripping.” Ally quickly pulled out a pen and signed the book
before handing it back to Cheyenne. “I didn’t think you would read
stuff like this.”

“Usually don’t. Just stuff on human nature and the
natural laws of nature shit.” Cheyenne looked down at the novel and
stepped to the side.

Ally passed her laughing. “Shit like that huh?”

“Yeah. Shit. Like…you know.”

Amused Ally paused and turned back to face Cheyenne.
“Enlighten me on shit, as you so elegantly put it.”

Cheyenne swung the hardcover book smacking Ally
square across the temple with the flat side of the book. Ally’s
head involuntarily jerked to the side as a second blow with the
spine of the book smashed against her windpipe. Falling backwards
clutching at her throat Cheyenne throttled her pummeling her throat
with ferocious blows until her windpipe cracked. “Enlighten you?
Huh, smart mouth bitch? Everyone knows you kill the brain, the body
must die!”

About the Author

Antwan Floyd Sr. is an avid reader, poet, author,
publisher, graphic designer & father. With his own brand of
storytelling he brings a different perspective to the literary
world. He launched Bleeding Pen Publishing in 2005 and has since
released several titles in paperback and in eBook format. He
currently resides in Indianapolis, IN where he is working on his
next project.