The Grind Don't Stop Read Online Free Page A

broke into a brilliant smile when he saw Mercedes practicing in front of the mirror. Her concentration intensity took him back to the days when he used to do the same thing hour after hour while locked on segregation in the joint.
    The glitter in her eyes and high-cheeked smile when she looked up made his heart thump. Shivers tingled along his spine when she purred, “Hi, baby, look at what Rainbow has showed me.” Mercedes did the false shuffle awkwardly but her tiny hands seemed to be made for it.
    He bent down and kissed the top of her head. “That’s good, sweetie, how about standing up for me for a moment?” She looked puzzled but only briefly before she placed the cards on the table and stood up to greet him with open arms.
    He turned to Yolanda and Violet and shouted over their loud chattering. “Hey, can y’all stop bickering long enough to look at her? Geez.” There was an immediate ceasefire to their rapid-fire conversation as they walked over to Mercedes and started circling and spinning her around. Yolanda leaned back bossily and cocked a bejeweled hand on her wide hip before she spoke. “Damn, shelittle for a mug, but I think I’ve already got some stuff in the trunk that’ll fit her just right.”
    Violet quickly added, “Mmm-hmm and I can easily, well not easily, but I can adjust the straps on the bubble. But can her little ass waddle?” She smiled warmly as she began turning the little honey around thinking of all the ways she was going to train her in the shoplifting trade.
    Sparkle smiled and wondered if Mercedes really had what it took for all the illegal stuff he had planned. Then he looked over at Rainbow, who had been ho sitting for him every since he’d made her a part of their little crime family. “Do you think she ready, dog?”
    Rainbow rubbed the side of his face and started massaging his chin before he gave a sniffled reply. “My nigga, baby girl here has been picking up on everything like a real pro.” He rolled his eyes to the ceiling and pinched his nose before going on. “Hell yeah, she ready.”
    Reassured by the confidence his main man was showing, he smiled down at the little star. “You think you can waddle, baby girl?”
    She frowned and shyly whispered, “Waddle?”
    Sparkle smiled down at her and then began marveling at the resemblance between the two professional boosters as they studied Mercedes’ reaction. Yolanda was a shade darker. They had the same high cheekbones and big almond-shaped eyes. Their hair was cut short with bundles of curls swirling on the top. Violet’s hair was dyed blonde while Yo favored a dark mixture of red and brown. Yolanda’s breasts were smaller but her hips and ass were much wider. She had one of those high-rise bubble butts. They liked to dress fly all the time; this could only be expected from two of Atlanta’s best.
    Violet grasped her hips and looked at Sparkle. “Baby, what I’m gonna do is dress her up like a pregnant little doll and just let her shop and observe while me and Yolanda here go to work. Is that cool with you?” She cocked her head to the side and spread her hands far apart waiting for his response.
    Before he could reply the telephone drew everyone’s attention. Lady picked it up on the third ring. She spoke briefly before poking her head around the corner and held it out to Rainbow. “I think you better hear this here, baby.”
    Rainbow snatched the phone out of Lady’s outstretched hand and listened intently for nearly a minute.. “How much did they take: They did all that; even after y’all gave up the dope and the loot? Damn, where she at now? Go get her. Is it swollen real bad? You think you need to go to Grady’s? He made you do that, too, whew.” He continued to listen intently. “Naw, just stay there. I’ll be out there in a little while. Uh-huh, in about an hour…