Sweat, perfume, and cigarette clouds swirled hazily in the air as I listened to the sounds of jazz tunes crooning from a throat that had been blessed by the Gods, she was beautiful. Black dress, red lips and long glorious hair. I could already imagine... smirking as Ricky D poured me another shot his voice sounding like crushed cigarettes, "Stop eyeing the singer before you give her stage fright."

"Whatever." I said shoulder bumping him and taking a sip of my vodka. Contrary to my relaxed demeanor, I was actually here for a purpose, I thought as I leaned further back to listen as the remainder of the long notes ended in a soulful croon. Fuck she was beautiful. I had a bad habit of acquiring beautiful but dangerous things. The way her lips made love to the microphone I knew she was both. With the raise of my glass, I gave my thanks, because that was one hell of a performance. Our gazes' lock as we say nothing and everything, she breaks the stare first, because I was never one to lose a bet or a contest. She licks her lips and gives me one more look before gliding slowly off the stage, hips swinging and catching the eye of every man and woman in the room. Turning my gaze away from the stage I turn towards Ricky D who nods at our guest of honor as he walks through the doors.

"There's our friend Izara. You ready to do this?" Ricky D said stressing the word friend in such a way we knew he was anything but.

Licking my lips as Ricky D offered me his hand, "Lets go." It was time to turn this party up a notch.

Puunnccch!

Where is the fucking money Tony, you thought we wouldn't know about you skimming off top? Huh!?" Ricky D said, as him and my other bodyguard Samuel held him against the clubs building as my other bodyguard Paul used his fists to solve this much needed problem. I leaned against the brick wall as they worked him over, I pulled out my cigar and Ricky D leaned over with one hand to light it for me. 

See I was trying to be a lady about this shit, but it was people like him that made it hard for women like me. In this life of crime, it was always something and it always involved someone touching something that wasn't there's to touch. I took a puff and blew the smoke in Tonys face. In these types of moments, I had to be careful with bloodlust, I was a predator, and I enjoyed the darkness way more than the light. I walked slowly over to them I stopped as a speck of blood landed on my white dress. Everyone halted as I looked at Tony. "Tony, I asked you two weeks ago were you stealing from me, and you assured me that I had nothing to worry about. You said, you would never steal from me, didn't you?" 

Tony swallowed the hard knot in his throat, he grunted as the pain folded him in half, he didn't want to die tonight, but he was nobody's bitch either, especially a woman. Sneering he said, "I spent all that shit. You will never find it. Do what you need to do, I really don't give a fuck." Ricky D punched him knocking his lights out, he couldn't take much disrespect when it came to me. Paul slapped him awake, "Wake your ass up, Ricky didn't even hit you that hard." Ricky held him in place with one arm as he flexed with the other, "Whatever, that was some of my best work and you know it."

Shaking my head at them I turned back to Tony who had finally became aware enough for me to bring this all to a head. Throwing my half-finished cigar down, "Tsk tsk tsk, I was afraid you would say that."

I turned toward the entrance to the alley as a car door opens like open sesame revealing a Puerto Rican woman, she steps out smoking a cigarette and leans against the car. Nodding towards the car, "Tony see, your wife knows loyalty. Let me tell you a little fun fact. Lilly was mine before she was ever yours. Every move you made, every dream you ever had, and every secret you've ever pillow talked to her about has always been mine. I know where your fucking stash is." I said as shock and disbelief etched themselves into his eyes and the truth finally settling in at the realization that he had been played from the start. I leaned down to whisper in his ear, "Tell your mama I said Hey." The close range sprayed my white dress, I always looked good in red, I took the handkerchief that Ricky D offered to clean the blood off my face and walked towards the waiting car. 

Looking towards Lilly I said, "I would hug you cousin, but I'm a little dirty... at the moment." Lilly laughed as she arched an eyebrow, "You're so not funny, do I get to keep the money?" Sliding into the car and making room for Lilly trusting Ricky D, Paul, and Samuel to clean up the mess.  I laughed, "Your husband just died cousin, you are a heartless bitch, of course you get to keep the money." Pouring us a glass of champagne I listened to Lilly tell me all the ways she would be spending the quarter of a million that Tony had managed to stash away. 

As Ricky D and Samuel took the driver and passenger seats leaving Paul to drive the other car back to the graveyard. I smiled.

It aint nothing but a gangster party.