Icey Winds: A Jessica A. & Kia Smith Collab

Reina 

My bitch Wynter Snow has summoned me to South Kenton, and that’s how I know something is up. My eyes bugged when I saw her name in my Instagram DM’s, because it had been a minute since anyone had seen and heard from her. When I first started doing hair, I had my heart set on being a celebrity stylist, and for a while, it worked. I traveled all over, built a nice clientele, and appeared to be making some good money…until I learned that celebrity clients were entitled as fuck, with flat purses. They thought paying you in exposure actually led to bills being paid, and after me and my Glock went up a few hoes’ heads for playing with me, I decided to cut my celebrity clientele completely, all except Wynter Snow. 

I fucked with Wyn. Not only could she rap her ass off, but she was also chill as fuck too. She never had a problem paying me my rate, and before I even had a chance to respond to her original inquiry, she sent another message with my flight itinerary. Two days later, I found myself in the land of South Kenton, a place that reminded me a lot of L.A., but had its own vibe completely. The weather was muggy, a stark difference from Chicago, which was holding on to its last remnants of winter, despite it nearing April. A cobalt blue Alfa Romeo Stelvio truck was my ride for the weekend, as I drove down to the hotel I’d be staying at. My phone rang, and I noticed it was my husband calling. 

“You made it, Hayami?” he asked, making me beam whenever he called me that name. 

“I did.”

“Aight. I’ll check back in later. I miss you already,” he admitted. 

“Just a couple days, Siah. Keep it hard for me!” I cackled, hanging up and then picking up my phone again to see Reign Facetiming me. 

“Yeah?” 

“Trust that you made it…. You got yo’ heat on you?” he asked. 

“I do.” 

“Now how did you –” 

I smirked. “Now, brother… I’m no amateur.” 

“Yeah, yeah, gangsta… Just be careful with them wild ass Get Money niggas. They cool, but –” 

“Heard you. But I’m in and out. Wyn is cool peoples and it's obvious that she needs me if she booked me to come out here. No one has seen or heard from her in quite a while. So Imma show her some love.” 

Back when I was taking celebrity clients more often, Reign would travel with me whenever he could or meet me in some cities, because he hated the idea of me traveling alone. He still wasn’t too keen on the idea, but I only left the comfort of my shop for certain people, and Wynter was one of those. 

A couple of hours later, I was showered, and a knock on the door let me know that Wynter was here. I paused when I opened the door, taking a good look at her. She’s always been a gorgeous girl, but it was no secret that she liked to party, too. We all had our vices, and we were all carrying things most people never knew about, so I didn’t judge. 

This version of Wynter was different. She’d always been petite with some huge ass titties, but her skin was clearer, eyes brighter, where they were usually shielded by dark shades. Gone were her signature blonde tresses; instead, her natural copper colored hair was out, cut close to her scalp. She didn’t have on a stitch of makeup either, and dare I say it, she was glowing?

“You look gooooood!” I exclaimed, swooping her into a brief hug. Her body stilled, and then she relaxed her body into mine, the top of her head coming right to my chest. We walked to the bathroom, where the portable wash bowl I had delivered was set up. She didn’t specify what she wanted exactly, but I came prepared with a couple of custom wigs and my clippers. Though Reign was known as the barber, I knew how to cut hair too, but often turned niggas down and refused to work in a barber shop because the niggas always wanted to fuck me, and Reign has asked me plenty of times to stop going upside niggas heads. 

Well, maybe those same niggas needed to find some decorum? I don’t know. 

“Talk to me, Wynter Snow, what’s the word?” I poured some conditioner into my hand, made specifically for naturally copper colored hair. Her eyes closed in reprieve as I gently scrubbed her scalp. After conditioning her and then rinsing her twice, I wrapped a towel around her head and offered her some champagne, which she turned down. 

“I… I don’t drink anymore,” she divulged. Her eyes diverted from mine. “Been on some different shit these days.” 

I nodded, completely understanding what she was saying. 

“And is this different type of time the reason you’ve been MIA?” 

She gave me a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes but told me that when she was ready to talk about something, she would. As a hairstylist, sometimes clients would plop into my chair and pour their hearts and minds out. Others would just be silent, quietly grateful that they had a safe space to process their thoughts. Wynter fell somewhere in the middle. In the past, I caught bits and pieces of her life, but nothing too revealing. And that was alright with me. 

BRRRRINGGGGGGG. 

P-Nutty’s name flashed across my screen, and my nose immediately scrunched up. 

“How the fuck you in my city and you ain’t come check in yet?” he said in lieu of a hello. 

“Unt uh. Put Choc on the phone, or Lil Mama, because I am not dealing with you, nutcase! And how the fuck do you know I’m here anyway?” 

“Mind your business, LaReina.”

My eyes bucked. “Nigga, you called to get in mine!” 

Nutty grinned, mischief all in his eyes. Dallas snatched the phone from him, and we cheesed at each other. Foe Dub were some of the craziest niggas I’d ever met, but hearing and seeing how much they’d grown into husbands and fathers made me smile. It was obvious that the women they’d chosen for themselves were loved deeply and protected extremely well. It reminded me so much of Reign and Rae. 

“How long are you here?” Dallas asked. I explained that this was a quick trip, but maybe I could squeeze her in tomorrow or extend it for one more day if she wanted her hair done. 

“Patrick! Make sure you pay her double her rate, too!” 

“I ain’t paying her shit!” he protested, and they playfully started arguing before I hung up on them. 

Returning my attention to Wyn, her blue stiletto nails were stabbing her phone, angrily texting someone who I could assume was the Rico Suave-looking ass nigga that had her heart and mind in a chokehold.

“He gets on my fucking nerves!” she softly grumbled, her chill demeanor slipping for a second. 

“Rico Suave?” I asked, mixing the dye to match her natural hair color for her wig. I decided we would do a middle part buss down, heavy layers that framed her face, but no dramatic ass baby hairs. It would give 90’s Aaliyah, but very much Wynter Snow with a dollar sign embossed into the left side of the wig, a la Lil Kim.   

Wyn sighed. “You ever just….nevermind,” she shook her head, tucking her bottom lip in between her teeth. I waited patiently. She went back to texting on her phone, this time not as angry but still heavily annoyed. 

“Aye. I’m no love expert, but I do know niggas. If Rico Suave don’t wanna love you right, get you a nigga who can,” I shrugged. In my mind, there was always a better nigga.

Wynter scoffed. “Tried that. He all but tried to kill me,” she mumbled, and that’s when I knew that this thing between her and the elusive Rico Suave was deeper than what anybody could understand. I knew I had a limit to offering advice, because I was still learning so much about life and love myself. In the past, my advice would’ve been to try and kill him back, but Wyn didn’t even seem like that type of lady. Her phone chimed with a FaceTime call, and she answered to a very attractive man who looked like he beat bitches. 

“Wyn,” he blew out some smoke. “What you doing?” 

She panned the camera on me. “Getting my hair done.” 

Our eyes met briefly, and I smirked as his eyes widened. “Wyn, who is that?”

“Unt uh, Grime, mind your business. She’s not here for you, that’s all you need to know.” 

“As handsome as you are, Mr. Grimey, I can tell from your name alone that I’d have to have a special bullet with your name on it if you ever tried me,” I winked, but was dead ass serious. Vasiah just ain’t know that he signed a death row contract when he decided to be with me. 

“Good thing they ain’t stop making bullets when they made yours,” he retorted, a grin that I could tell was rare crossing his face. 

Oh, this nigga was crazy. 

“I’m married anyway,” I divulged. Wyn turned around, her brows kissing in confusion. 

“When did that happen?” she glanced at my empty ring finger. 

“Oh, he doesn’t know it yet. I’m manifesting.”

Wyn sighed while Grimey chuckled, continuing with the initial reason he called her. 

“And Wyn? Bring that one with you,” he referred to me, and then hung up the phone. 

---

Wynter

I was tired as hell. I was always tired, since I didn’t have any nose candy or kush or alcohol or anything but sleep to give me rest, and twenty hours a day, with a rotation of producers, engineers, and Grime, I was in the studio.

But there’s more to this rollout than just music. Yes I’m talented. Yes I have diehard fans, the Snowflakes. But I still had to show my face. And besides a couple shows and my IG Lives, I needed something more.

A music video.

Oy vey.

But, a music video gave me the perfect excuse to get thee LaReina King out of that damn windy city.

In addition to being the coldest hairstylist I’ve ever met outside of Frankie, and wilder than YT, she truly had the ability to breathe literal life into you. And since I can’t get a little bump, some life from my homegirl is the next best thing.

I silenced my phone and let my girl work. With everything going on with her salon back in Chicago, she didn’t really travel anymore, and cut most of her celebrity clients. Then, one night, a random story popped up where she was watching an anime Auty loves, and I just knew my girl had some explaining to do.

But that’s how I knew I was out of it. I couldn’t even bring myself to ask her about her new man.

Reina was a good sport anyway, not-so-subtly giving me tips to get my energy up naturally. I laughed for the first time in days at her antics, and as usual, I was happy Grime loved me enough to give me whatever to get her on this side of the country.

“Okay. Be honest, even though I know I did my shit!” Reina took her cape off me and took a step back.

It was eerie to say the least. She matched the color of the wig to my natural hair color perfectly. The unit was bone straight until the little bump at the ends, accentuating the expert layers cut. I turned my head, grinning at the platinum blonde dollar sign that was on either side of my face.

I looked good.

I mean, I always looked good, but–

“Damn.” I stood straight, then turned to Reina. Something in her eyes gave me pause; something I still wasn’t used to seeing in other people when they looked at me.

Pride.

Pressure built in my eyes as I cleared my throat. “As usual, you did your shit.”

“Girl,” Reina waved me off, before pulling me into a hug. “I always do my best work when I have the baddest in my chair! Now, where does Mr. Grimey want you to bring me?”

I hugged her tightly, for probably a minute longer than I should have, but she didn’t complain. Reina was an angel like that. Yeah, she’d done my hair more than a few times, but I liked to have thought we were friends, and I didn’t have many friends outside of Kenton that were unbiased.

Shit, I didn’t have many friends, period.

“Video shoot. Tonight is at this warehouse where I’m on my Remy Ma shit… but there’s a slight hiccup.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you in the car,” I said, grabbing my phone to text Grime that we were on the way. “Well, actually… short story is, Rico Suave is mad that I’ll have a love interest for my part of the video. He supports me and my career, but… you know it’s hella history with us. A lot has went down, and I’d like to think we’re in a good place–”

“Like, together?”

I shook my head profusely. “No. Hell no.” I waited for Reina to grab her jacket that she didn’t need, and we left the hotel. I whistled at Reina’s rental, smirking when I thought about how much Grime would be on her even more at the sight. He loved that car, and the color.

“Then what’s the issue, Wynter Snow? You know I got that thang on me if he wanna get outta pocket?”

“No need for that.” I smiled at her as her GPS led us to the video shoot. “We’re in… uncharted territory. Rico has always been so territorial about me, and I guess, now that we’re back building to… whatever we’re building to, he’s odee, Reina. It took everything in me to tell him not to come to the shoot, but he just laughed at my text. Grime and them are already tense over the situation, and I just wanna keep the peace.”

The way Reina whipped her car made me smile. “I can see why they’re so tense. Anyone who knows you, really knows you, knows the hold he has on you. Those who care are going to take pause now that y’all are doing whatever you’re doing. But Wyn, I’ve been telling you for I don’t know how long, you have to live for you. It’s your life, my love. I know a lot has transpired since we last linked up. You’re not drinking anymore, you’re glowing, and if Rico Suave is the reason why, then I’m all for it, and everyone else will be too, once we see he’s truly the best thing for you. Niggas gon’ trip because you’re fine and you’ll have another fine ass specimen in your face for hours. Outside of that though, is it okay? You were vague in my chair.”

I took a moment to really mull over what Reina was saying. Flashbacks of the past few months pass by my mind’s eye as we pull into what looked like an abandoned warehouse. I rolled down the window, and the security guard nodded and waved us through.

Reina parked by the other cars, turned off the ignition, and turned to me.

“Well?”

I opened my mouth to answer before my eyes shifted to movement in my periphery.

Of course, he couldn’t stay away.

And of course, I wasn’t even mad. The opposite, really. Butterflies went off when we made eye contact, and I had to fight to hold his gaze. I was never a shy girl, but ever since we agreed to start from scratch, I’ve found myself softer than I’d ever been with anyone, including him.

He was in a black hoodie with birch trees pressed on the chest, joggers, and coke white forces. There was a shadow of a mustache, which was a lot, considering Rico kept no facial hair.

But the biggest change physically, was the faded pink scar across his eye. The one that truly made him mine, since I was the culprit.

He smirked as he walked up to the car.

“It’s more than okay,” I breathed, right before Rico made it to my door.

“Aw shit,” Reina whispered, pulling her gun to her lap.

“It’s cool,” I replied, just as Rico opened my door.

“Waddup, Snow,” he cooed, helping me out of my seat. His eyes roamed my hair before he nodded and licked his lips, before turning toward Reina.

“You did your shit. I see why she was adamant about flying you out.”

Reina locked the car and waved him off, sliding up to my side and locking her arm in mine. “Flattery will get you nowhere with me, Rico Suave. What will truly impress me is how you conduct yourself tonight.”

Rico smirked before shoving his hands in his pockets. “I can’t promise you I’ll be on my best behavior.”

I rolled my eyes before I started leading them inside. I finally realized two of the biggest crash-outs were my entourage for the night. Hopefully the director they hired wasn’t one of the three who gave me problems. “God help me.”

---

Reina

Wynter’s body tensed up the moment we walked into this dank-smelling warehouse, and I immediately gripped my purse tighter. There were lots of cameras and production people around, but no one had come and said anything to Wynter. 

“Aye. Who’s in charge here?” I called out, and Rico Suave and Wynter looked a little confused. I had been on video shoot sets before, and she needed a place to change her clothes. I brought my hair tools in case I needed to touch anything up, and where the hell was her makeup artist? Furthermore, where were the other people who were supposed to be in the video? Wynter Snow didn’t do shit half-ass, and I didn’t like how they were treating my bitch already. 

“Yeah, is this the talent?” Some burly-looking man barked at us. I stared at him pensively, watching Rico Suave grip Wyn protectively. Reign asked me to behave myself, but my trigger finger was itching, and I couldn’t promise that I would honor his wishes. 

“Um. And who just might you be?” I asked calmly. His hazel eyes looked me up and down brazenly, and I held his eye contact, not in the least bit flustered. 

“The director. And if you’re not the talent, then we need to cut this conversation short,” he replied. 

Strike one. 

Rico’s jaw clenched, and that’s when I recognized exactly what type of nigga he was. The type I was most familiar with, the ones who kept me the safest. Rough around the edges fasho, but Wynter was in good hands. 

“Is that how the fuck you speak to talent? She’s right there,” I nodded my head in Wynter’s direction, who looked a little apprehensive, as Rico tightened his grip on her waist. 

The director blew air out of his mouth, his lips going in a thin line as if he was annoyed. “Oh… not you again. Look, find where you need to be because I’m not dealing with any bullshit today.” 

Strike two. 

Now, I was very aware that Wynter didn’t have the best reputation. If she wasn’t drunk, she was always high, and sometimes she caused a lot of drama wherever she went. But she was a changed woman, and regardless, it was hella unprofessional to try to embarrass her like this in front of everybody. My hand dipped into my bag as I waited for Wynter to say something, anything to this rude ass man. 

“No tienes que grabar este vídeo, Snow. Lo mataré ahora mismo,” Rico said in her ear, and gosh, if that wasn’t the most romantic thing I’d heard in a while. (You don’t have to do this video, Snow. I’ll kill him right now.)

“Now you know I don’t know Spanish, Rico,” Wynter Snow gritted.

“Sé lo que dices, Suave. No si lo consigo primero.” (I know what you’re saying, Suave. Not if I get him first.) Rico smirked, a look of respect twinkling in his eyes. Most people didn’t know that I was fluent in Spanish, and now, thanks to my man, I am trying to learn a little bit of Japanese too. 

“Listen, we’re on a tight schedule. If you can get changed so we can get this show on the road –” 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name,” I interrupted, stepping closer to him. 

“I didn’t give it,” he sneered, and sirens went off in my head. 

Strike three.

My pulse quickened, and before anybody could blink, I smashed the butt of my gun into the director’s face, knocking him out cold. When his body hit the ground, I kicked him for good measure and decided that I would be the director for the day. They had my girl fucked up. 

Gasps filled the warehouse, and I clapped my hands to get everyone’s attention, then snatched up the megaphone the director dropped to speak into. 

“AYE! Let’s get one thing straight. Wynter Snow is in the motherfuckin’ building, and we have a video to shoot! Our former director is out for the count, so I will graciously step in. Somebody get me a copy of the video treatment, and Wyn, you, and Suave go get dressed for your first scene. One hour until show time!” and everyone dispersed. I stepped over the rude-ass director and sauntered to the chair he would be sitting in. 

“Aye, why the fuck is Cuz on the ground?” I looked up as the one Wynter called Grime rushed into the warehouse. He paused as he saw me in the director’s chair, and I smirked. My smirk dropped as soon as I heard Peanut’s messy ass voice fill the space next. 

“Damn, Dub. I ain’t sexy enough to be a video vixen?” he glanced accusatorially at me, and I dropped my head in my hands. 

This was about to be a long fuckin’ night. 

---

Wynter

The make-up and wardrobe area was only a corner of the warehouse, blocked off by curtains and racks of clothes. Still, everyone was made scarce once Rico and I made our way there.

“Can you put that away?” I asked, rolling my eyes as I browsed the men’s clothes for an outfit for him. 

A heavy clunk alerted me that he placed the gun he brandished to clear the area on the make-up counter. The heat warming my back alerted me he was back in my personal space, his favorite place.

It’d been a few months since we came back from Belize. We’d said we’d keep our distance. Well, I begged him for it, and he just smiled and told me he’d give me a year.

Should have known that no matter how much we said we’d be truthful, we’d still  lie. Though, I’m not so sure I could have actually handled him keeping his word in that instance.

I needed him here. And despite that nasty text he sent earlier, I’m glad he defied me and still came. 

“I’m not wearing another nigga’s clothes, Snow. Just put me in that whip I seen out there and a mask and I’ll be straight.”

I turned around just as Rico caged me in, clamping his hands down on the racks on either side of me. My breath hitches, as my heart began to thunder in my chest.

He was too close. I wasn’t strong enough!

Thankfully, he took mercy on me, and took a step back. “Any cravings?”

“Besides you? Nope.”

His lips quirked as he pinched my chin, tilting my head up toward him. At this angle, the harsh warehouse lights made his scar turn a lighter tint. He’s lucky his eyes were so deep set, or I would have blinded him.

But even then, he’d still be here. Still my anchor, not knowing if he was grounding or drowning me.

“So sweet in person, but mean as fuck in my inbox. How that work, Snow?”

“The same way you do it. I thought you were off me.”

His other arm snaked around me, pulling us flush. “You don’t get tired of acting like you don’t know what it is?”

I grinned and shook my head. He leaned down, placing the sweetest kiss on my cheek. 

“I guess it’s good I never get tired of reminding you then, huh?” 

He drug his lips across my face before capturing mine.

Rico’s kisses… they’re deadly.

We were in danger of obliterating everyone in that fucking warehouse.

“You got thirty minutes, Wynter Snow!” Reina blared throughout the space. It was enough for Rico to wrench himself away from me.

We were both trying to catch our breath, though Rico recovered way faster than me. “I’ll let you get to it. Don’t dim yourself ‘cause you think I’ll trip. Show these muthafuckas who the coldest is.”

My chest puffed out as he backed away, his eyes roaming over my body like hands. We spent a lot of time working out in Belize, and I kept up the lifestyle change in the states.

I looked damn good.

And with the blessing from my man who wasn’t my man, I intended to show off.

Thirty minutes later, after Rico threatened the make-up artist to only do my eyes and lips, I sauntered toward the soundstage, where the others were huddled up.

“You only letting her lil’ ass play director ‘cause you tryna fuck,” Peanut seethed, gesturing his head toward a smirking Reina. “You know I’d have this shit fire for half the price.”

“And again, goofy, present your credentials and I’ll gladly step off,” Reina replied. “Unlike you, I have experience directing media projects for my business. You still have to ask Choc to get your pictures right for IG.”

“Now, what the hell I tell you about calling my baby Choc?!” Peanut took a step toward Reina before Grimey pulled him back.

“I ain’t gon’ hurt her!”

“He ain’t gon’ hurt me!” They both say, before cackling together. 

“Fine ass already told me she fake married, and besides that, Nutty cuz, she’s right. Out of all of us, she can actually make shit shake. Besides, we need to talk numbers on Birchfest South. I want Cochise on that, as well as my new artist Redrum.”

Rico kissed his teeth at hearing my labelmate’s name, and before I could think, I wound my arm around his back and fisted his hoodie.

Grime pulled out a wood, and Peanut perked up. “My favorite way to discuss business. Fasho. My ace may take that nigga out before the festival gets here, but I can always put a clause in the contract in case of untimely demise.”

Peanut glanced at us, me and Rico’s closeness, and scowled. “Still weird you two are… whatever the fuck–”

“Go! You’re disrupting the feng shui of my set!” Reina pushed Peanut away before focusing on me.

“Okay, so. It’s pretty straightforward,” she began, showing me the treatments. “Four different angles: you in the car, you dropping it low outside of the car, you on top of the car, and then you doing your thing a few feet away from said car. The other talent never showed up–”

“He’s not going to,” Rico interrupted. We both looked at him, but he was busy examining his diamond grills. Even under the muted light, they were dancing, and I knew they’d be blinding once we were under the studio lights.

Reina smirked before meeting my gaze. “I wanna run through the different shots a few times. Mr. Grimey said we have all night, and there’s energy drinks for us. You good to go all night?”

I took a deep breath and nodded. This was why I stayed working out. It gave me stamina, even if I felt fatigued all the time. It was a good fatigue.

I could do this.

Reina nodded and smiled, and gestured for my robe.

When I took it off, her eyes expanded and she whistled. “Well, okay then Wynter Snow!”

“Ah, HELL NAW!” Peanut bellowed, before barely there footfalls raced toward me.

I was turned to greet him, his ears turning red by the second. “Why you ain’t got on no clothes?! You know yo nigga’s insane!! Ooo, Ricky Ricardo, don’t kill her. You know having common sense is new to her; she don’t know how to respect her nigga.”

I snatched away from him and rolled my eyes, before turning to Rico. He ambled out before the make-up artist helped me into my outfit, so it was his first time seeing what I picked.

A cowskin two piece set. The top was a bikini top, with G$ embossed onto the breasts. The bottoms were booty shorts I filled out nicely, giving me the illusion of an ass I worked hard for five times a week. The brown of the outfit paired perfectly with seven inch clear stiletto heels and my hair, and made my skin and tattoos glow that much more. I didn’t have on any jewelry besides some brown Cartier buffs and a bottom open faced gold grill. In some of the shots, I knew I wanted to take my glasses off, but mostly, the focus was me.

My return.

Rico nodded, his approval evident in how he licked his lips. Not so subtly, he adjusted himself in his pants. “You doing the most, so she passed the test.”

He winked at me before swaggering to the car set up. It’s a box Chevy, with sky blue candy paint. Rico got behind the wheel, and pulled down a ski mask. Once it was in place, he hung his arms outside the window and smiled at us, nearly blinding the entire warehouse.

“C’mon, Wynter Snow,” he called out. “I’m ready for my close-up!”

“Hmph. Well, if he like it, I love it, I guess. Still think you need to cover the fuck up ‘fore you catch a cold.”

A tiny swat made my ass jiggle. “She’s too hot to catch a cold! Go ‘head on, Peanut. I got it from here!” Reina linked her arms into mine before calling for the set to be dressed. There was a flurry of movement as everyone got into places.

“I know we supposed to hate him, but he’s winning me over, Wyn. I felt like I should give you fair warning. He’s making it hard for you to bring any other nigga as a plus one to my wedding.”

I cackled at her crazy self, tightening my arm in hers. “Yeah, he’s definitely a tough act to follow. Believe me, I tried.”

“Well, the chemistry is off the charts! I plan to use it all night, so try not to be all moody with him. I know how you get.”

I tried to snatch myself away but all she did was laugh and keep me on her, even through barking orders.

I felt lighter than I had recently, and as crazy as it sounded, I was glad Reina pistol-whipped the director. Too bad she couldn’t make this a full-time thing, but I’d take advantage for as long as she was in town.

“Oh! I almost forgot!” Peanut ran up to the car, taking out a heavy chain from his pocket.

“Oh brother,” I groaned, as he helped Rico fasten his chain and lay it on his chest. He was partially blocking him, but I knew that chain anywhere. Fredo had a matching one. I should have known when I saw the grills.

“Damn! Who is his jeweler? I may need something for my man,” Reina mumbled.

Rico was shining, even in all black. The LUNEY chain was chunky, and even if his face was covered, all of my city would know who my arm candy was when this video came out.

And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

---

Reina

Wyn had transformed. Earlier, she was softer and more demure. Now, she was exuding high levels of bad bitchery in front of the cameras, body twisting and serving face as she rapped her lyrics word for word. 

Peanut and Grimey flanked me, passing the wood back and forth between them. “She’s hungry for it,” Nut commented. “I ain’t never seen her like this before.” 

“I think it's cuz she’s finally starting to see that she has some shit worth proving to herself…I’m proud of her,” Grimey responded with pride all in his voice. 

I donned a small smile. I didn’t know Wyn’s full story, but I recognized an underdog when I saw one. I knew what it was like to have so many people, including yourself, counting you out because of choices you’d made when you simply didn’t know how to choose better. 

“CUT!” I yelled, and the music stopped. The makeup artist rushed to blot away any oil on her canvas, and Rico Suave snatched his mask off, stalking over to them to make sure her freckles weren’t covered. I could tell that those two had a lot of love for each other, mixed in with causing each other a lot of pain. They couldn’t help but be drawn to each other, though, and it warmed my heart to see. I was rooting for everybody in the love department, as long as it wasn’t detrimental.

“How we looking, Reina?” Wynter came over, and we all looked at the playback of her first two scenes, with Rico silently playing the back. 

“Excuse me? We got news of an assault on the premises.” A woman in a South Kenton police officer uniform interrupted us, and my nose scrunched up. I assumed that all of us were armed, minus Wynter, and though I was legally able to carry back home, I wasn’t supposed to have anything on me in California. 

Fuck. 

Grimey’s face looked bored as he addressed the officer. “Assault? We’re just shooting a music video, as you can see. I think you might be making a mistake, Miss Lady,” and this hoe had the nerve to blush. 

See, that’s why I said I’d have to keep a bullet with his name on it, because not only was he talking to other bitches, but he was making twelve of all people blush. 

Couldn’t be my nigga! 

Grimey and Peanut picked up the director and discarded him after I knocked him out. They didn’t come back with blood on their clothes, so I assumed that they didn’t kill his pussy ass. 

“Excuse me, Mrs. Officer. I can assure you that no assault happened on the premises. Hey team!” I called out. “Did you see an assault take place?” I was responded to with silence, and after an intense stare down, the officers glanced at each other and conceded. 

“Now if you’ll excuse us, we have a video to shoot,” I smiled sweetly, wanting twelve to get the fuck out my face. Eventually, they trudged out, and my breathing returned to normal until my phone started ringing again. 

BRINGGGGGGG. 

BRINGGGGGGG. 

BRINGGGGGGG. 

I sighed, because Reign’s spidey senses must’ve gone off because here he was calling me twice in one day.

“Reina, something is telling me yo ass is out there getting in trouble, and I’m warning you – if you do some shit, you sitting in there until Monday. Maybe longer,” he fussed as soon as I answered the FaceTime call. 

“Hell yeah! Wassup Reign? Lemme tell me you about yo hoochie of a sister–” Peanut snatched the phone, and I snatched it back, scowling at him. 

“Shut the fuck up, Patrick!” I seethed. “Anyways… aside from me filling in as a director, I haven’t done a thing,” I cheesed. Compared to Reign, I was the angel in our twinship, and he often liked to forget. 

His mouth twisted. “Mmmmhmmm. I don’t believe yo ass. Cuz how the fuck you directing a music video? You don’t know shit about –” 

“Unt uh! Don’t disrespect my creativity, Reign Daeshaun! I am doing a great job, right, ya’ll? Nobody died, nothing’s on fire, and my bitch looks damn good! Even Rico Suave’s ole mysterious ass is acting right. So, stop doubting your sister. I’m killing this shit.” 

His eyes narrowed. “Mmmmhmm. Don’t call my phone if you get into some shit, LaReina.” 

I blew a kiss. “I’ll blow that line down a thousand times and then call your wife. Off my line, Reign, I’ll talk to you later.” 

I walked back to the director’s chair and put the megaphone to my lips. “Alright, Wynter Snow! We’re reaching the final stretch. Let’s knock this out cuz now I’m getting hungry!” 

Six hours later, we were done. Nobody else had to get knocked out, no more police came, and Rico and Wynter looked… cozy. Admiration shone all through his eyes, and though she shied away from it, I could tell that Wynter was proud of herself, too. After reviewing the footage with the videographer, I told him to CC me on the final edits with Wyn and Grimey and then packed up my stuff. 

“You riding back with me, Wyn?” I asked, opening the door to my rental. 

“Nah. She’s coming with me,” Rico answered for her, and I scowled at him. 

“You make sure you keep her safe, Rico Suave. She needs to eat, and she needs some rest,” I pointed my finger in his chest. He was only a few inches taller than me, but that didn’t matter to me at all.

He smirked, diamond grills damn near blinding me. “Whether she likes to admit it or not, Snow is always safe with me. You, on the other hand, better stay dangerous.” He winked and walked away after that, getting into his own car. 

I leaned down, swooping Wyn into a hug. “Well, Wyn. It’s time for me to bid adieu. I’m so proud of you. The time away looks so fuckin’ good on you, and I’m so happy you’re back. Remember who you are, Wyn… and if you can’t, remember that you can always create who you want to be. You that bitch… the coldest one to be exact. So prove it to yourself first and then shit on everybody who doubted you. Call me if you need me, and I hope to see you touring at The Crib soon.” 

Her eyes swelled with tears. “Reinaaa. Thank you,” she gushed. 

“I like that car, Fine Ass!” Grimey called out. He and Peanut were standing by their cars, sharing another wood. 

“I’m sure you do, Grimey! And Patrick, tell Choc I said heyyyy, and I’ll catch her next time!” 

“Stop calling her that!” 

“No!” I laughed. 

Driving away, I thought about my own man, anxious to get back to him. South Kenton was a good time, and my heart was settled, knowing that Wynter was back on the scene, not quite at peace, but on her way there. 

Hopefully, one day, she would see what we all see. 

The End