Chapter 6: Grove Families Records
Franklin walked in the door of his newly purchased recording studio, he had no idea how any of it worked. An older black man, who looked to be around forty wearing a black suit, approached Franklin. "You must be the new owner." The man told Franklin. "I am, Franklin Clinton." Franklin said reaching out his hand. "Carl Johnson, owner and operator of Grove Families Records." Carl replied shaking Franklin's hand. "Oh, shit. Grove Families?" Franklin asked. "Been a long time ago now, but yeah. I left the gang life to manage my boy Madd Dogg." Carl replied. "I was CGF for awhile, I left the gang life too." Franklin told Carl. "My brother, Sweet didn't approve. But I put the gang on it's path before I left, Grove ruled LS." Carl told Franklin. "Grove Street now is Ballas' hood. I moved out of Strawberry though, I live in Vinewood." Franklin explained. "So, do you know what you're doing?" Carl asked Franklin. "Not really, I never worked a soundboard before." Franklin replied. "No worries, kid. I'll help you out." Carl replied.
The door opened, in walked an aging Madd Dogg. Walking beside him was a young lady that looked to be Franklin's age, she was beautiful with a curvy figure and long legs, she wore an ultra short gold mini skirt, a gold crop top, and golden open toed heels. She looked to be a mix of Hispanic and African-American . "You know Madd Dogg, everyone does." Carl told Franklin. "This is my niece, Jaqueline Vialpando. Known internationally as Jackie V." Carl told Franklin. "Nice to meet you." Franklin said shaking their hands. "Same." Jackie replied as she shook Franklin's hand. "Madd Dogg still does his thing, but Jackie is more pop. She's been recording here since she was a kid. I am their managers, take care of them." Carl told Franklin. "You got it, so you gonna help me work this system or what?" Franklin asked Carl. "Sure, sit down. I'll walk you through it.
After Jackie had her recording session, she stepped out of the booth. "How'd I do?" She asked Franklin. "You sounded great, I was more worried about how I did with these buttons and gadgets." Franklin replied. "You done great, Frank." Carl assured him. He then looked at his niece, she took a sip of the expensive water that was sitting on the table. "Jackie, you are phenomenal." Carl told Jackie. "Thanks Uncle Carl." She replied. "Okay, good first day. Dogg, we'll be in tomorrow to record you." Franklin told Madd Dogg. "Mr. Clinton, I believe this is the start of a good business relationship. With me managing my clients, and you running the studio. This partnership could work." Carl told Franklin. "Yeah, man. Could be cool." Franklin replied. Jackie approached Franklin, she had beautiful brown eyes. "So, Mr. Clinton. What are you doing tonight?" Jackie asked Franklin. "Not a lot, probably just go home." Franklin replied. "Why don't we go out? Give us a chance to get…really close." Jackie said before rubbing on Franklin. "I don't know, could make things awkward at work." Franklin replied. Jackie fished a business card out of her cleavage and handed it to Franklin. "In case you change your mind." Jackie said before walking out of the studio.
Franklin walked out of the studio, he mounted his bike and started it up. Before he could ride off, he got a text from Trevor. "hey come 2 vespucci beach i got work for u" The text read. Franklin rode off towards Vespucci Beach, towards the new club. He rolled up in front of the closed building, it was still being renovated. Franklin parked his bike and dismounted, he walked in the building. Trevor, Stephanie, and Packie were inside drinking while the painters were working. Franklin approached them, Trevor had a shot ready for him. "What's happening?" Franklin asked them. "Just doing some planning." Trevor replied. "Planning?" Franklin asked in response. "Yes, planning. The money from the casino's van was just a step. I figure if we're really gonna make this club succeed we need to steal funds directly from the casino." Trevor explained. "I'm out, whatever you three do is on you." Franklin told Trevor. "Whatever, the cut for a getaway driver is minimal on this job anyway." Trevor told Franklin.
Franklin took the shot and sat down, he looked at Trevor who was hitting his pipe. "So, what's the job you needed me to do anyway?" Franklin asked Trevor. "A man has been tailing me, I beat some answers out of him to find out he was an Ancelotti goon. Anyways, his corpse is in the trunk. Drop his car off in the casino parking lot next to old man Ancelotti's car, then take the body, put it in his driver's seat. Then leave. Simple." Trevor explained. "Man, you just begging for attention! Drop that motherfucker in the river!" Franklin told Trevor. "The last thing LS needs is a mob, if this can scare him out of town then good. If not, I'm ready." Trevor replied. Franklin sighed. Packie stood up, he walked next to Franklin. "You'll need a hand." Packie told Franklin. "Okay, let's go." Franklin said before turning around. The two exited the building and got into the car.
They did as they were instructed, thankfully there were no witnesses. After they planted the corpse in the don's car, they left the casino. Franklin found a Sabre GT parked and he boosted it, he drove while Packie rode shotgun. "Why do you do it?" Franklin asked Packie. "Do what?" Packie asked in response. "Why are you and Stephanie still getting involved in Trevor's shit? Ya'll are loaded, you don't need to be doing this crazy shit." Franklin asked. "I am like Trevor in a way, I like chaos. Steph only gets involved in his schemes because he's her father. But the fact is, nobody truly leaves the life. You and Michael can play like you're business men or movie directors or whatever the fuck you do. But the fact is your money was ill gotten gains. You two are no better than us, and we live honest with ourselves." Packie replied. "I guess you right, man. But Trevor is in crazy shit, and what he's doing with the mob can put all of us in danger." Franklin told Packie. "The Ancelotti's may be in the commision, but me and my boy Niko dealt with them years ago. We can handle this." Packie replied. Franklin just sighed and kept driving, he dropped Packie back off at the club that was under construction.
His phone rang and he answered it. "Hello?" Franklin asked into the phone. "Hey." Tracey's voice spoke through the speaker. "I'm going to this big after party in Vinewood, I'm wondering if you'll accompany me?" Tracey asked Franklin. "For sure, want me to pick you up?" Franklin asked her. "Yeah, see you soon." Tracey replied. Franklin hung up the phone, he drove the car to Ponsonby's where he purchased a suit. He paid for the suit and got in his car, he drove to the De Santa house in Rockford Hills. Tracey was standing outside waiting, her blonde hair flowing naturally over her shoulders, she wore a short black dress with no straps that showed off her cleavage, and black open toed heels. Franklin's eyes lit up, she looked beautiful. Tracey walked to the car, she got inside and sat down. She looked at Franklin's suit, she smiled at him. "You look great." She told him. "You do too." He replied. They leaned in for a kiss, before Tracey backed away. "We're gonna be late." Tracey told Franklin. He backed out of the driveway and left the house with Tracey.