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“ W hat the fuck you doing here?” I asked between clenched teeth.

“Workin’ nigga,” Perc shrugged.

I snatched Perc by his arm so we weren’t in earshot of anyone. “Are you selling drugs out this girl shop and don’t fuckin’ lie to me ‘cause you gon’ piss me off. I can make all this shit disappear but you betta not ever bring shit else in here.”

“Yeah, but the shit been running smooth. Somebody tipped them off.”

“Is it drugs in here now?”

“Nah, I had just sold the last lil’ bit. They should come back clean.”

“I should knock the fuck outta of you. When you gon’ stop fuckin’ up. This girl could lose everything. And she fuckin’ trust you. You betta hope they don’t find a fuck ass thang.” I pushed his ass away from me.

I went to find Blessyn and see what was up. She was in the kitchen arguing with a male officer. He was starting to get aggressive until I walked in and he noticed who I was.

“These muthafucka’s in my shit without a warrant,” Blessyn looked over at me.

“Is that true? Officer…” I looked at his badge. “Terrell.”

“Not exactly,” he replied.

“So where is the warrant?” I asked him.

“We’re waiting on it to get signed,” he explained.

“Let me make a call. You weren’t supposed to come in her business until the warrant was signed. Now she has to close down for the day and y’all leaving out emptyhanded. This is going to be a great day for you at the office when you get back.”

“I can’t believe this shit. Look at my shop.”

“I’m ‘bout to step outside and make a call. They’ll be out in the next five minutes.”

I eyed Perc as I walked outside to call in a favor. The city belonged to me but I remained humbled and stayed in my lane but when you fucked with my people then I had to show my fucking muscle. I dialed the number and waited for them to pick up.

“Larry, what a pleasure for you to call. What can I do for you?”

“I got a lil’ problem down here at Blessyn and Shears.

A few of your boys are here without a warrant and the place is a fuckin’ mess.

They haven’t found any drugs or weapons on the premises and she has to close down for the day just to get this place cleaned up.

Call them off before we make a big deal ‘bout and it put y’all under fire. ”

“I don’t want no problems with the community. Let me make a call. I owe you one anyway.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Pleasures all mine.”

Before I could get back to Blessyn the boys were rounding up. Perc knew by the way I was staring at him that he had to see me after this. Blessyn was starting to pick things up and clean up. Thankfully nothing was broken but she wasn’t going to be able to work in this environment until tomorrow.

“Let’s just leave and I’ll have my company come in and clean up. Just give everyone the rest of the day off. Y’all start fresh tomorrow,” I told her.

I had a cleaning company that had contracts all over the city. We cleaned majority of the Federal buildings, state buildings, and the major companies downtown.

“Perc let me holla at you real quick,” I pulled him outside so no one could hear us.

“Don’t ever feel like you gotta lie to me ‘bout some shit. Are you serious ‘bout cutting hair?”

“Yeah, I love that shit. Blessyn done taught me everything and I love being ‘round her. She’s like a sister to me.”

“Nigga she is gon’ be your sister for life but you can’t fuck up her trust like that.

Don’t sell shit else outta this shop. I know it’s a hot commodity but you gotta think smart.

She brags on you all the time nigga. She genuinely got love for you.

Don’t fuck this up. I don’t want her lookin’ at me funny either. ”

“You feeling her like that, huh?”

“Goddamn right. I ain’t never did some of the shit I’ve done for her and to her.”

“You the nigga sending all the gifts too. Now it makes sense. It’s something having to be signed for every day ‘round this bitch. You spending a bag on her bruh.”

“That’s why I got her and you stuck wit’ your crazy ass baby mama. Make sure to go get your lip checked too nigga. You may need a few stitches in that shit.” I stopped talking when Blessyn approached.

“Now that’s over with, why am I just finding out this is your brother?” The stress had left her face a little.

“Shit we never dug into family history and shit. I didn’t know the muthafucka was cutting hair. Got me ‘round this bitch payin’ folks to cut my hair when he can do it.”

“He cut the hell out of some hair too. He learned from the best in the city.” Blessyn smiled.

“Perc check on my sister and text me and let me know how she doing. I can’t talk to her right now for obvious reasons.”

“I got you. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Perc had a respect for Blessyn and I could see it. This may be his way out. I told him to find something before he turned twenty-five. This shit didn’t last long and I didn’t want to lose him to the streets. Never would’ve thought he would be connected to Blessyn; this was a sign like no other.