Loyalty Pact

"You wished to see me?" Lamar asked, hands splayed, quiet and dangerous as always. Elizabeth swallowed.

"Yes, I have something important to tell you," Elizabeth said, licking her lips.

"Out with it, bitch."

"A lot of guys around here ... are playboys," Elizabeth said. "A lot of bitches are ... bitches. You're different. You're serious. Dangerous, but serious. But people are gunning for you."

"Go on," Lamar said, resting his chin on steepled fingers.

"Two cops asked me to help them run an investigation into some guy named Jabo. I told them no. I'm loyal. I want you to know I'm loyal. I want to earn my place with you." Lamar shook his head angrily.

"You dumb bitch, you shouldn't have told them shit. Better to be a plant, feeding those motherfuckers wrong information," he said bitterly. Elizabeth recoiled, waiting for a strike that didn't come. "But you did better than most would have. Come by my place after your shift and we can discuss your place with me."