Page 30 of For the Love of City

COREY

I HAD PLANNED to make my way back home, but of course some shit popped up before I could get on my flight.

After hanging with my people the night before, I’d caked it up on the phone with Porsha for a minute.

I’d gotten a long distance nut watching her use her rose, which was only the first stop on what I wanted to do with her.

We had one more day of interviews and then we’d be good. Until my phone started to blow up.

The Laws had decided that speaking on us to the world was the move they wanted to make.

They hopped on live talking a lot of shit, none of which was factual.

But it didn’t matter to the people who just wanted to sensationalize what was going on.

It was a slow news day in the entertainment world so everyone was talking about it.

They tried to throw dirt on Lyric’s reputation but there were plenty of people commenting on the live refuting every word they said.

In addition, they were saying that D Mill was being railroaded.

But someone linked the footage from the dressing room where Lyric was.

Grant was pissed when that information was released because despite it being able to convict D Mill, having a camera in an area that Lyric wasn’t aware of wasn’t okay.

Lyric tried to argue that because she got dressed behind a screen and the camera couldn’t see anything that it was fine.

But Grant wasn’t having that shit and I was with him.

Anyone could walk from behind that screen and not think they’d be caught on camera.

They’d gotten a little money by likes and shit from going live and it only drove them to get even more outlandish.

The live was cut short and I wasn’t sure if it was reported or what, but it was long enough for blogs to pick it up.

Which of course pissed us off because Travis and I didn’t play about disrespect.

“So what we doing?”

Trav took a pull on his blunt like I had all the answers to this shit. I didn’t, not really. I of course had an idea of how I wanted shit to go: death to our enemies. But that didn’t mean I had it mapped out yet.

“You already know they gotta see about us.” I felt no qualms about voicing how I felt this needed to go.

This impromptu meeting was being held in our offices after hours. The place had been swept already and nobody was allowed in or out but us. Our offices were secured with a D.A.H system which was top of the line so we knew it was secure.

“Yeah, he been taking his sweet time about this shit too.” Lyric shot me a bratty look and I could only wave her off.

Baby girl was a brat, always had been and always would be.

I was grateful for that because she deserved to be spoiled because of how her mama and the rest of her family treated her.

Her vacation hadn’t been cut short by the news.

Grant had their flight rerouted so that we could have this meetup without interruption.

“Forgive me for giving you time to chill out. Be in the limelight. Become an NFL WAG and shit before you had to go back to your old ways.”

She snarled at me and I thought she was going to throw one of the fancy glasses that was on the table at me. She was dressed in the same lounge shit she’d worn on the flight and I wanted this done so that we could get her on the way.

“Shit, I can be a WAG and carry a Glock. Don’t doubt that Finesse is always right underneath the surface.”

“I know. And nobody doubts you. But forgive me for feeling that we’ve worked too fucking hard to get where we are to move sloppy.

That shit with your husband and D Mill just died down.

If he would’ve been touched while he was in jail, you don’t think that we would’ve been the prime suspects?

Had your husband’s name tainted and shit. We move smarter.”

“He got a cousin that’s the FEDs, I’m sure he would’ve looked out.

” She was too happy to throw Ori’s name out there not realizing just how close we were all connected.

Some things Lyric knew the extent of but being a part of the Miller umbrella of protection didn’t make everyone privy to the entire Consortium .

I wasn’t even sure if her husband knew the depths of his family’s involvement and I wasn’t going to have her holding a secret from him.

“Yeah well my just released from prison ass would’ve been the first person on their list. Real G’s move in silence, remember Finesse ? “

She pouted just like I knew her bite-sized ass would before she sat back in her chair. “Stop using my words against me.”

“Why? You out here talking gibberish now, gotta remind you of when you had some fucking sense.” I couldn’t help but fuss because she knew how I felt about not handling business the right way.

“Y’all two get to arguing and shit I’m bout to go.”

Travis had the nerve to look irritated but I knew he’d seen this play out with us too many times before. He was the lax parent wanting to stay firmly in the big brother role, whereas I had no issue with getting Lyric’s ass in check when she did too damn much.

“You ain’t got nowhere to go nigga.” I tossed one of the Kleenex boxes at him to get him to shut up.

“Right! What business you got to attend to?” Lyric was laughing and teasing Travis right along with me.

Travis’ eyes darted between the both of us before he smirked. “I’ll find some pussy to fall into before I sit and hear y’all bicker.”

“Aye, bruh!”

“What you aye bruhing me for? Lil sis doing far more—”

“My nigga, I will toss your ass to the sharks at the fucking Georgia Aquarium if you even finish that sentence.” I didn’t give a damn if Lyrie had been married for over a year now. That was still my baby. “Where is your Choirboy at, anyway?”

“I cannot believe y’all started calling him that.”

Travis was laughing now and Lyric stuck her tongue out at him. “The shit fit, though! He is a lil do-goodery ass thug.”

“Y’all gone leave my nigga ‘lone.”

“We sure the fuck will. Big swole muthafucka’ got a right hook that can dislocate a jaw. I am straight. I do not feel like breaking America’s heart by putting a bullet in that man.” Trav held his hands up like he really ain’t want no problems.

“You must really wanna die talking about my husband like I’m not sitting right here.” Lyric’s leg was jumping like she was getting irritated.

“Forgive me, Mrs. Turner .”

Her middle finger went up as her face turned up into a scowl. “Fuck you, Trav.”

“Nah, but back to the shit at hand. Them niggas been lying low except for the other night.”

Lyric looked between the two of us waiting for the blank to be filled in. “What happened the other night?”

We ain’t have shit to hide so I let her know what she wanted to since the damage was already done.” They tried to be funny and we got them kicked out of the club. This shit is probably the fallout from that.”

Lyric laughed and I knew she wished she could have been there to see it happen. The way they tried to disrespect her still rubbed us all wrong.

“They really out here thinking they bigger than they are. Are we supposed to be afraid of their antics or sumn?”

“Wasn’t then and isn’t now. There’s a certain feeling about letting someone think that they’ve gotten the best of you before you take them out. Psychological warfare. I had to sit on the sidelines and play by the state’s rules for a minute. Rushing this revenge shit ain’t about to happen.”

“We being patient or are you too busy being busy?”

I could’ve punched Travis in his shit with the way Lyric’s face perked up. “Who you being busy with, City?”

I raised my brows because clearly I needed to remind her who was the adult in this situation. “When have I ever told you my business?”

“When have you ever cared enough to hide it? I knew about every bitch in Bankhead that wanted a piece of one of y’all. I hope this one is worth something, at least. I need all y’all married off. Even Porsha’s ass.”

“You should hook me up with ole’ girl, too. Shawty knows she fine as fuck.”

I shot Travis a look because he knew he was playing with fire but there wasn’t shit I could say with Lyric in the room.

Lyric looked disturbed at the idea and I wondered if what Porsha was saying was true about Lyric having a problem with us. “Hook you up with my girl? Hell nah.”

“Damn, why not?”

“I don’t know if you remembered your dick or not, but Travis, you’re a whore.

My good sis is turning thirty-six soon and she’s not about to deal with a man that’s still young minded as fuck.

” She gave him a loving read and I knew he didn’t feel anyway about it because Travis’ ass had only recently gotten choosey about who he stuck is dick in.

“Got damn, tell me how you feel for real, Lyric.”

He was laughing it off but I had to wonder if her words upset him at all. Lyric was too young to understand that Travis’ demeanor was borne out of insecurity about the state of our home life.

She blew him a kiss and I knew it was to soften the blow. “And did. You’re perfect for someone but it ain’t Porsha. She’d end up having to kill you and then I’d have to be a character witness at her murder trial.”

We all started laughing, even Travis, but he still had to poke her buttons. “You’ve known me longer than her, though! I’m your brother.”

“And?! Girl code. I’m not about to set her up with you and set her up for failure.

Y’all want two different things out of life right now.

My girl wants the ring and the family not a fling.

She’d be out here ready to shoot my ass because you playing with her.

That Houston would come out real quick and all that bougie refinery would fall out. ”

“Damn, that makes me want her lil’ ass even more. Prissy and hood: the perfect combination.” Trav thought he was slick with the way he glanced at me but I was gone get his ass when Lyric left.