Page 41

Taking a moment for himself, Priest sat in his bedroom with the lights dim and the curtains closed. The dark decor of the room caused the area to be pitch black, but Priest didn't mind. Engulfed in silence, Priest took in steady breaths. Kaymen had suggested meditating a while ago, but Priest never thought he could get into it. His mind went from one thing to another far too quickly to even consider allowing it to go blank. Although he wasn't meditating, technically, his methods worked for him. He continued with his steady breathing as he sat in a quiet and private space with his eyes shuttered closed. His mind wouldn't give him the satisfaction of going blank, but the breathing exercises still relaxed him, nonetheless.

Figuring he had taken enough time for himself, Priest rose from his seat and began making his way toward the door of his bedroom. He had a bit of a late start on his day, but he was okay with it. Navigating through the penthouse, Priest looked up from his watch and was faced with Jazzy and Nia awaiting him. "I'm gonna head out. Call me if you two need anything," he told them as he continued his stride toward the elevator.

"You know where he is, right, Priest?" Nia asked with anxiety drenching her as she referred to Mirsad.

Priest pressed the button for the elevator. "It shouldn't be that hard to find him," he shrugged nonchalantly before stepping into the elevator.

"Be safe!" Jazzy called after him.

He turned around, placing his hand over his chest. "Always." He smirked as the door of the elevator glided shut. The trip down was rather quick. He made it to the parking garage in a matter of seconds.

His white, monogram-plastered Dior sneakers sounded off against the cement as he approached his Bentley Bentayga. Unlocking the vehicle, he eased onto the crimson red seat before starting it. Priest was hoping he was right about it being easy to find Mirsad. There weren't many places for him to go, but Priest's first stop was The Groves. Mirsad enjoyed pushing his luck, so Priest wouldn't be surprised if he compromised his safety by staying there.

Eventually, Priest arrived at The Groves. He, J'Ru and Kaymen worked quickly on the damages. Priest wasn't sure whether Nia was mentally suited to return to running the office, but if she wasn’t, he was just going to promote one of the leasing agents to management and keep a very close eye on them until Nia’s return.

Parking his vehicle, Priest made his way into the building, taking the stairs up to where Nia resided. He applied a knock onto the door and waited for Mirsad to open up. Priest just had a feeling that Mirsad had tested his luck and stayed home. Priest couldn't lie. He would have done the same if he were still Mirsad's age and as inexperienced as he was, hence, the fact everyone considered him hardheaded and difficult.

Just to scare the shit out of Mirsad, Priest pressed his finger over the peephole so Mirsad couldn’t look through it.Balling his fist up tightly this time, Priest applied a louder knock to the door. It was swung open hastily, and he was met with the barrel of Mirsad's gun, which he matched with the barrel of his own. Standing across from each other with Mirsad looking like he'd seen a ghost, they kept their weapons drawn.

"Next time you point a gun at me, you won't live to see another day," Priest warned as he used his free hand to lower Mirsad's arm so his gun was pointed in his face.

Mirsad put his gun down before stepping aside to let Priest in. Priest stuffed his weapon into his waistband as he entered and shut the door behind him. Glancing around, Priest concluded that from the look of it, Mirsad must’ve been far too paranoid to sleep in his bedroom the night before. He had blankets and pillows scattered all over the living room, along with some rolled up blunts and half eaten food.

"You don't know how to clean up after yourself?" Priest peered down at the mess Mirsad left behind in the living room.

Mirsad rolled his eyes as he plopped down on the cushioned sofa. "My bad. I don't have cleaning ladies stopping by like you do," he scoffed.

Priest nodded his head, agreeing with Mirsad. "You're right, and you're just a dirty-ass nigga. My cleaning lady ain't never seen a mess like this at my crib."

Mirsad tossed his head back against the couch in frustration. Priest always knew how to annoy him. "What you doing here anyway?" he asked. "I thought I was on my own."

"If it was up to me, I wouldn't be here, but your moms look out for you regardless of the fact you put her life in danger, so I'm here," Priest shrugged while claiming a seat on the loveseat opposite Mirsad.

Mirsad scoffed. "Is this supposed to be the part where I thank you?" Priest hated the fact that Mirsad was so ungrateful, but for the sake of Nia, he decided to not punish Mirsad too much at the moment. Mirsad wouldn't be acting this way a few weeks from now.

He shook his head in response to Mirsad. "Nah, Nia has thanked me enough," he eased out. "Go get ready. You're coming with me."

"Where?" Mirsad asked with his face screwed up.

"Doesn't matter. You're better off coming with me than sitting in this place paranoid as hell." He chuckled in amusement at the look of paranoia that flashed across Mirsad's face at any sudden sound that was made outside of the apartment.

Not wanting to admit that Priest was right, Mirsad simply got up from his spot on the couch and began making his way further into the apartment to get ready. "Aye, Mirsad!" Priest called after him.

"What's up?" Mirsad replied.

"Every man for himself if them niggas bust in here," Priest taunted while pointing at the gun Mirsad left behind on the coffee table instead of taking it with him.

As much as Mirsad didn't want to find Priest funny, he ended up convulsing into laughter while shaking his head. He returned to the coffee table, grabbing the gun for safety purposes. Mirsad finally went to get ready, leaving Priest alone in the living room.

Glancing around once more, Priest just didn't have the stomach to sit so close to a mess. Rising from his seat, Priest grabbed the half-eaten food, tossing it in the trash before collecting the scattered cups, snack wrappers, and balled up napkins from the floor. Once everything was disposed of, he folded the blankets, stacking them on top of each other, along with the bedroom pillows.

After practically an hour of Priest shouting for him to hurry the fuck up, Mirsad strolled out, dressed and ready to go."Thanks for cleaning up the mess." Mirsad gestured around the living room before tucking his gun into his waistband.

Priest rose from his seat. "Isn't the first time I did that," Priest scoffed as they exited the apartment, Mirsad locking up behind them.

Mirsad decided not to give Priest a hard time this go around. Surprisingly, Priest was playing nice today. They both galloped down the steps before making it outside to the parking lot. Priest unlocked the doors to his Bentayga, allowing both he and Mirsad to slide into the plush seats.

"I got some advice the other night about how I should handle you," Priest spoke, referring to his brief conversation he shared with Britain regarding Mirsad's behavior.

"Why I always gotta be handled?" Mirsad furrowed his brows. "I'm no fucking animal."

"You act like one." Priest shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly.

Mirsad rolled his eyes. "You know you don't have to do any of this. I'll just tell my mom you came through and I'm safe. I don't need you holding nothing over my head." He immediately grew defensive with a mean mug on his face.

Mirsad was really a mini-Priest that got dumbed down by today's society and his generation. He wanted the flashy things in life: the cars, the jewelry, the women. He lacked purpose. Back in Priest’s younger years, every nigga on a block had a reason for their hunger and motivation. Mirsad was just doing it for the status. There was no doubt that if he adhered by the rules, Priest would have gotten him anything he wanted. Priest was just that generous. However, the more Mirsad wanted to be out in the streets doing crazy shit, the more Priest was willing to let him suffer, whether it be with jail time or some unfortunate circumstance. Mirsad just needed a wakeup call.

"I don't gripe because I hate you or I don't give a fuck about you. I do it because all the shit you're doing now, I been there and done that. I tell you all the time, ‘Sad, this is not a way to live?—"

Mirsad interjected Priest's lecture with a smack of his lips. "Miss me with that. Look at you now: living. You're pushing a fucking Bentley Bentayga. Your jewelry alone is worth more than everyone in my building’s rent. You live in a fucking penthouse. You have drivers, chefs, and security fucking detail like you're the president or some shit. Don't say it's not a way to live when you're clearly living off it. That's you being hypocritical," Mirsad spat.

Priest simply chuckled with a shake of his head. Mirsad just couldn't see past the materialistic shit. "It's crazy because I would give all that shit up in a heartbeat," Priest shrugged.

Mirsad scoffed. "Now you're just talking out your ass, man." He waved Priest off.

"Mirsad, I'm facing a life sentence. That shit haunts me every living second of the day. I did what I did ‘cause I had to, not because I wanted to. I was raising myself and a kid at fourteen. I had to provide. Yeah, I have all this shit now, but that doesn't take away from the fact that I'm just as much of a fuck up as Leonard or any other nigga locked up for trapping drugs," Priest vented in hopes that Mirsad would understand. "Even if you sprinkle glitter on shit, it's still shit, and that's what you're not understanding. I want fucking better for you, yo. I do this shit so anyone who's family to me won't have to. Your back ain't against the wall like mine was. Go back to school and live life before that shit gets taken from you."

This was nothing Mirsad hadn't heard before, but it was a bit different coming from someone at the status he wanted to be at. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Mirsad had no response or rebuttal. He kept quiet, his eyes gazing out of the window while Priest continued to drive.

Priest shook his head with a sigh. He wasn't sure whether he'd gotten through to Mirsad. One thing he did know was that it wouldn't be that easy. Mirsad was young. He was meant to make mistakes. His mistakes just always happened to have life or death consequences the majority of the time.The ride continued in silence. Priest wasn't going to continue to harp on the matter while Mirsad seemed to still be processing what was just preached to him.

After a couple of minutes, Priest parked his car at the curb in front of Remy's house. Mirsad looked around confused, not understanding why they were there. "Get out," Priest told him just as he opened his door to get out.

Upon exiting the vehicle, a smile stretched across Priest's face as he saw a few kids he always looked out for begin jogging over to him. "Woah! Priest, when you get this?!" Jamari, a twelve-year-old boy asked, referring to the vehicle. Jamari was honestly Priest's favorite kid around the neighborhood. He had a mouthpiece on him and was always trying to holla at ladies who were way older than him. Jamari was the oldest out of three siblings, and he kept them in line as if he were running things. It was amusing, but Priest knew that when Jamari got older, he was going to have a special place in his brothers’ hearts.

Priest reached his hand out, dapping Jamari up since he felt like he was too old to do hugs. "A few months ago," Priest told Jamari as he went ahead and gave his younger brothers hugs.

Jamari plastered his face against the tinted windows of the Bentayga, trying to catch a glimpse of the inside. "Priest got the cherry red pie filling on the inside!" Jamari exclaimed in excitement, causing his brothers, Jaden and King, to make their way over to see the inside of the car as well.

Priest laughed at Jamari's description of the red interior of his car. "Tell you what: get them grades back to me, and I'll take you on ride," Priest suggested.

Jamari's eyes widened in excitement as he nodded his head swiftly. "That ain't nothing, man," he said with confidence.

"Can we come too?!" Jaden and King asked in hopes that they could tag along.

Priest nodded. "No doubt. Y'all better hope 'Mari been doing what he gotta do in class." Priest’s eyes peered down at Jamari.

"Man, you ain't gotta worry about me," Jamari waved him off.

"I'll take your word for it. I gotta go chop it up with Rem. Y'all stay out this road and out of trouble," Priest told the three, and they all nodded. Reaching into his pocket, he extracted some cash out of it. Peeling the stack back, he pulled three twenties out of it, distributing it amongst the three kids.

"Thank you, Priest!" they exclaimed, giving him hugs while Jamari resorted to dapping him up again.

"It's nothing. Stay safe," he told them as they offered him a goodbye.

As they took off to spend their money, Priest turned to face Mirsad, who had an uninterested look on his face. "Y'know, you used to be like that when you were their age," Priest told him as they approached Remy's gate.

"Well, not anymore," Mirsad mumbled. "My balls dropped."

Priest chuckled as he led the way toward Remy's door. Once they made it up to the porch, Priest applied a knock onto the door. It didn't take Remy long to open the door for him. He had a burning blunt in hand as he exhaled a cloud of smoke. Priest laughed since he expected Remy to be waking and baking.

"To what do I owe this visit?" Remy stepped aside, allowing Priest and Mirsad to step into his home.

"A favor," Priest cut to the chase. "Rem, this my little cousin Mirsad. Mirsad, this is Remy," he introduced the two.

Remy nodded at Mirsad, who did the same. He appointed the two seats in his living room before sitting opposite them. "What's the favor?" Remy side-eyed Priest as he put his blunt out.

"The Groves got shot up—" Priest began.

"I heard," Remy nodded. "What's your issue with Darius?" He furrowed his brows at Priest. Word had yet to make its way around, but Remy had his sources and knew what was going on. He knew Darius was in for a rude awakening for fucking with anything that belonged to Priest, but he wasn't going to warn anyone. His loyalty lied with Priest at the end of the day.

Priest smacked his lips. "I don't even know the little nigga. His issue is with this one," Priest said as he pointed to Mirsad.

"You need a hide out?" Remy chuckled as he shifted his attention to Mirsad.

Mirsad scoffed. "I don't need anything," he clarified.

"Shut the fuck up," Priest ordered Mirsad.

Remy laughed. Mirsad was the typical little nigga Remy dealt with on a day-to-day basis. There was nothing Mirsad could say or do that could shock Remy. He had dealt with this type of behavior from Priest, J'Ru and a line of other niggas he had to teach right from wrong. "Nah," Remy held his hand out to halt Priest. "Let him say how he feels."

Priest glanced from Remy to Mirsad, who had an angry expression etched on his face. "I don't need no fucking hide out,” Mirsad insisted. "I was good where I was at."

Remy chuckled before averting his attention back to Priest. "Well, you heard the man," Remy shrugged. "He was good where he was at."

"Nia doesn't think so," Priest finalized. "I'm not risking him getting her shot at again. Plus, I know you can whip him into shape."

"He's not my fucking father," Mirsad spat.

Remy laughed once more. "And I don't want to be. My daughter is 28 years old and still manages to give me a headache. I don't have the time to father a thirteen-year-old too," he scoffed.

Priest couldn’t help but laugh at the mention of Britain as Mirsad cut his eyes at Remy. "I'm seventeen," he corrected.

"Oh, and that makes you a man?" Sarcasm laced Remy's question as he continued to laugh.

Mirsad glared at Remy who was only taking him as a joke. "He's funny too," Remy highlighted as he pointed at Mirsad.

"A real fucking character." Priest shook his head as he stood up from his seat. "I appreciate you looking out for me. I owe you," Priest thanked Remy.

"It's nothing. You're family," Remy assured. "I know Brit is writing that shit in the paper about you. She ain’t say nothing to offend you, did she?" he probed. Seeing the first article his daughter wrote about Priest made him laugh. It was just so ironic how things played out. He had advised Britain to just ride the fence when it came to this type of situation.

Priest contained himself, smothering a smirk. All he could think of at the moment was Britain telling him not to make things obvious. He shook his head in response to Remy. "Nah, not at all. She's doing her job. Ain’t nothing to be offended about," Priest assured him.

"She never reached out?" Remy raised a brow at Priest.

Priest knew if he lied, it would be far too obvious for Remy to spot. "She did, and we chopped it up," he shrugged.

Remy nodded. "All right, man. Stay safe out there," he told Priest, who was preparing to leave.

Mirsad got up as well, attempting to leave right behind Priest. "Woah! Where you think you're going?" Priest asked as he halted Mirsad from making his way to the door.

"With you," Mirsad stated in an obvious tone.

Remy chuckled off to the side while Priest shook his head. "Nah, you're staying here. Nia wanted you safe. Plus, you'll get to learn a thing or two from Rem," he said to Mirsad with a smirk plastering his face.

Mirsad screwed his face up. "I'm not staying here, Priest."

"You out of options, man. I'll check on you tomorrow. Don't give Rem a hard time." With that, Priest exited Remy's house, leaving Mirsad behind. He was shocked to see that Mirsad didn't make the attempt to get out of there.

Priest dialed Nia's number as he drove away from Remy's house. "He's safe," he assured her.

"Are you bringing him here?" she asked. "Where is he?"

"He's with a friend. You can check up on him anytime you want. I just think it’s best for you to keep him there for a while. He needs to learn about life from someone else besides you and I," Priest suggested to Nia. She was a single mom did it on her own. One thing Priest admired about Nia was that she never grew offended by any advice given to her when it came to parenting Mirsad. She accepted constructive criticism as long as no one was belittling her mothering.

Nia let out a sigh as she ran her fingers through her hair. "Yeah, I get it. Thanks again, Priest."

"We're family," he asserted to her, alluding that his kindness would always be given to her.

They said their goodbyes to one another before ending the call. Priest was on his way to meet up with Kaymen and J'Ru in hopes of figuring things out in a business sense. In the middle of the long drive, Priest received a phone call from Britain. A smile overtook his face as he answered. "What's cracking, London ?" he teased by butchering her name.

Britain's light laughed snaked its way into his ears. "I see you have jokes today, Reverend ," she combatted with a playful jab of her own.

"How's work going for you?" Priest asked.

Britain let out a drained sigh as she took a look around. "I'm annoyed, honestly."

Priest chuckled. Britain was not the biggest fan of her mother's clinic because not only did she have to deal with her mother being her boss, but her stepdad and brother were her co-workers. She now understood why people stressed not to involve family in business. "What you need me to do, Gioia ?"

"Be at my place when I get off… with wine… and your soft hands. Ouu, can you be like… half-dressed too?" She listed in a yearning manner.

"Cool." Priest nodded with a laugh. "What else?"

Britain let out a low groan, anticipating getting home to be with him. "Can you do that thing?—"

"Eat your pussy?" Priest raised a brow with a smirk.

"Priest!" she shrieked in shock.

"What?" Priest laughed, not completely understanding why she was acting so surprised.

"I wasn't even gonna say that! Why do you have to be so straight forward about everything?!" Britain let out a timid laugh.

Priest shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "Because it’s normal. I like eating your pussy, and you like getting your pussy ate. So do a million other people."

Britain rubbed the back of her neck, in thought for a moment. "Well, when you put it like that, you have a good point." She shrugged her shoulders.