BUSINESS BEFORE BUZZ

SMOKE'S POV

The second I stepped into Green Haven, it hit me like a truck — the thick, sticky fog of weed smoke hanging heavy in the air. Smelled like skunk and bad decisions. My eyes narrowed as I moved deeper into the store. Jimmy and his three workers were sprawled out like it was a family barbecue, joints in hand, eyes half-closed, laughing at a joke none of them would remember in ten minutes.

“Damn, the buzz kill’s here,” Jimmy muttered, tapping ash off his joint without even looking up. His voice was slow and lazy, like he’d been swimming in syrup all morning.

I glanced at my watch, tapping the face like it might be broken. "The fact that it’s barely 10 a.m. and you already have a buzz to kill makes me question your work ethic."

Charles snorted behind me, arms crossed like a bouncer at a nightclub. He stood there quiet but solid, like a wall that could hit back.

Jimmy leaned forward, grinning like a fool. “I sell weed, not fly airplanes

I took a step forward, my eyes locked on him. "Call me 'buzz kill' again, and I’ll rearrange your kidneys."

The grin faded real quick. The air got heavier, but it wasn’t just the smoke this time. His workers shifted in their seats, eyes darting between me and him like they weren’t sure if they should laugh or run.

“Let’s go to your office,” I said, tilting my head toward the back. “We need to talk.”

Jimmy sighed, snuffing out his joint on the edge of the table. “Man, you sure know how to kill a vibe.”

I didn’t respond. I just walked toward the back. Charles followed close behind me, footsteps slow, steady, and heavy enough to remind them all we weren’t here to play

I sat down on the chair opposite him, leaning forward with my hands on my knees. Charles stood by the door, arms still crossed, watching everything like a hawk that hadn’t eaten in days.

Jimmy plopped into his chair, arms wide like he was welcoming me to his kingdom. “Alright, What’s the agenda for today? We singin' Kumbaya or you just here to take my money?”

“Both,” I said, leaning forward, elbows on my knees. "I need some cash, and we need to talk business."

Jimmy rolled his eyes, tilting his head back like I’d asked him to run a marathon. "Remind me again why you're takin’ my money?”

“Because it’s 20% a week,” I said, voice low but firm. “That’s how partnerships work.”

“Partnership, huh?” He leaned forward, rubbing his face with both hands. “So what do I get out of this? 'Cause I’m still tryin’ to figure that part out.”

I smirked, tapping my fingers on the armrest. “You get protection.”

“Protection from what?” Jimmy asked, leaning forward like he needed to hear it clear.

I tilted my head. “Protection from the gangs.”

His eyes squinted. “Ain’t no gangs after me, man.” And there isn’t much crime here untill you showed up

I raised a finger. “Not yet.”

He blinked a few times, chewing on that for a second. “And what else?”

I raised a second finger. “Protection from the cops.”

His head tilted back again, and he laughed like I’d told the best joke in the world. “Man, this is legal business, boss. Ain’t no cops coming for me.”

I didn’t laugh. I just stared at him until his chuckles dried up like a puddle in the sun.

“Legal?” I said, leaning forward. “You think Uncle Sam’s on your side 'cause you pay taxes? You put that cash in the bank, and you’ll see how fast the Feds start sniffin’ around. IRS ain’t got friends, Jimmy. They got targets.”

His grin faded like a bad signal. His eyes shifted toward the safe in the corner. I followed his gaze, my smirk growing wider.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” I said. “Now, I’m here to help you keep that safe full. But it costs.”

Jimmy scratched his head, eyes darting between me, the safe, and the floor like he was doing mental math. “Alright, alright. But that 20% still stings, man. That’s a big cut.”

“Big cut for big protection,” I said, my voice cold as steel. “Or would you rather roll the dice with them street wolves?”

He sucked his teeth, shaking his head. "Whatever, man. You got it. But what about this ‘business talk’? Or was that just your way of gettin’ me back here to rob me?”

I smiled slow and sharp, like a knife being pulled from a sheath. “We need to talk about your supplier.”

Jimmy blinked. “My supplier?”

“Yeah,” I said, locking eyes with him. “I’m thinkin’ we renegotiate those deals.”

He frowned, leaning back in his chair. “Renegotiate? I’m already gettin’ the good stuff at a good price.”

“Good isn’t good enough,” I said. “I’m lookin’ for better margins. Bigger cuts. Cleaner work.”

His face twisted up like he’d bitten a lemon. “That ain’t up to me, boss. I don’t make the calls.”

“Then you tell me who does,” I said, my voice like gravel underfoot. “And I’ll make the calls.”

Jimmy rubbed the back of his neck like it suddenly started itching. “Man, you really tryna flip everything on its head, huh?”

I shrugged. “Can’t build a kingdom on wobbly ground, Jimmy.”

He sat there for a second, letting the words sink in. “Alright, alright. I’ll give you a name. But that’s all you’re gettin’.”

“That’s all I need,” I said, standing up slow, brushing off my coat like I’d just clocked in for work.

“When’s all this supposed to start happenin’?” Jimmy asked, looking at me like I owed him a schedule.

I raised an eyebrow. “For a man that’s high at 10 a.m., you’re real impatient.”

Charles snorted, covering his mouth with his hand. Jimmy’s face flushed, but he didn’t say anything back.

I stepped over to the safe, tapping on it with two fingers. “Open it up.”

“Man, come on…” Jimmy started, but when I turned to him, his words froze.

“Don’t make me ask twice,” I said, my voice low but sharp as broken glass.

His eyes darted from me to Charles, then to the safe. He muttered something under his breath, but he got up, shuffling over to the safe. His fingers tapped the code slow like he was stalling.

“Quicker, Jimmy,” I said, watching him like a hawk watches a mouse.

He finally got it open, and I wasn’t surprised to see stacks of cash inside. Jimmy glanced at me, then at Charles, then back at me.

“So… how much you takin’?” he asked, his voice small, like a kid asking if he’s grounded.

“20%,” I said, pulling out a stack, flipping through it like a deck of cards.

“That’s it?” Jimmy said, eyes wide. “You’re not takin’ it all?”

I looked at him with a grin that made him swallow hard. “I’m your partner, not your problem.” I stuffed the stack in my coat pocket. “You make the money. I make sure you keep it. We clear?”

Jimmy nodded fast. “Crystal.”

“Good,” I said, turning for the door. “See you next week.”

Charles opened the door for me, his eyes on Jimmy’s crew, who hadn’t moved an inch since we walked in.

“See ya, buzz kill,” one of them muttered.

Charles glanced at me, waiting for my reaction. I didn’t even turn around.

“Rearranged kidneys,” I said, stepping outside.

Silence.

Nobody said it twice.