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"Don't I always?" he laughed.

Britain let out a laugh, joining him. "I gotta get back. I love you.”

"I love you too," he professed before they said goodbyes and ended the call.

Eventually, Priest arrived at his destination. His eyes were set upon a tacky banner that read Casa by Sylvia . Just looking at it made Priest ultimately begin to regret giving his mother twelve G's to start another business venture. She put in absolutely no effort to even attempt to launch her furniture shop. She quit before it even started. Parking his vehicle, Priest got out, making his way to the entry doors.

Pulling it open, he glanced around, spotting J'Ru seated on a leather recliner and Kaymen slouching on a powder blue loveseat with gold pearl buttons pushed into it for design.

"Yo, can I keep this to shut Jadey the hell up?" Kaymen asked, referring to the couch he was seated on. Jadey was pretty stressed out about their still ongoing wedding and the loss of her friendship with Britain. Kaymen wanted no parts, so he simply just listened to Jadey vent and cry about everything and offered pieces of advice here and there.

Priest chuckled with a careless shrug. "Knock yourself out."

"Since you being generous, can you tell Britain to answer the phone for Jay?" Kaymen attempted to bargain with a hopeful smirk.

Priest quickly shook his head. "I don't got shit to do with that."

"I guess Britain not stressing you the fuck out like Jadey's stressing me," Kaymen muttered as he ran a hand down his face.

"Why'd you marry her again?" J’Ru asked Kaymen, who was glaring at him. Everyone told Kaymen how unlikely it seemed for him and Jadey to be together, but it worked for them.

Kaymen grabbed a nearby laminated pricing sign, tossing it straight at J'Ru. "Why you got a face only a mother could love, bitch?" Kaymen retorted, causing Priest to laugh.

"You know, you kinda right. Your moms kept giving me that look at the first wedding. Don't get mad when I end up your stepdaddy," J'Ru cackled obnoxiously while pointing a finger at Kaymen.

Still in laughter, Priest stepped in to diffuse the oncoming back and forth that would happen between the two. "Chill out. I need y'all to hear me out real quick." He took a seat next to Kaymen so they could talk as a collective.

"Question," J'Ru screwed his face up. "Why the fuck are we in Sylvia's show room?" He glanced around, eyeing all the furniture that was being protected by plastic coverings.

"I was getting to that," Priest told him. "With everything going on, I just need to make sure everyone is good if push comes to shove and I can't be around anymore."

"That's what you got us for." Kaymen looked around as if it were obvious that he and J'Ru were going to hold everything down.

"Yeah," Priest acknowledged their loyalty. "But it’s different, man. I need shit to be complete, like full circle when they throw the book at me?—"

" If they throw the book at you," J'Ru corrected Priest with a warning eye. J'Ru was a strong believer in manifestation. He believed if people spoke bad or good into the universe enough, it was bound to happen. That was where he and Priest differed because Priest was a realist. He liked to see things as they were and expected the worst out of everything that happened to him so he could be prepared.

"I just need that reassurance that no one has to do what we had to do to be okay. This might just be my last lap around, and I want it to be y'all’s last lap around too." He glanced from J'Ru to Kaymen, who were both listening attentively. "This gotta be big"

"How big we talking?" Kaymen asked.

"We up our supply." Priest leaned back in his seat, awaiting a response from J'Ru or Kaymen.

There was a moment of silence as both Kaymen and J'Ru registered what Priest had just proposed. It was a lot to think about, and they only had a short period of time to execute. They wondered whether they could even do it.

"Hear me out. If they get me, then it's only right that they try to get Ru or you, too." Priest pointed at the men. "I'm not fucking with that, so we gotta milk this shit as much as we can."

"You fucking crazy. How the fuck we do that?" J'Ru gave Priest a crazed look. Priest was always coming up with these mastermind plans that sometimes led them to fortune, and other times led them to despair. Right now, with the severity of Priest's trial, it was not the time test their luck.

Priest ran his hand down his face. He knew what he was about to lay out to them would sound crazy, but he knew it would work. "We take out June," Priest shrugged passively.

Kaymen rose from his slouched position on the couch, eying Priest with the same look J'Ru was giving. "You're wilding right now. Do you understand the amount of fucking bloodshed that would come from this?" Kaymen asked.

Priest nodded his head. Things would indeed get messy, but he was willing to do what he needed to do. After many years of acclaiming and solidifying their territory in New York, June had become less of an issue for them. They were all on one accord. June had his side, and Priest had his. There weren’t any misconceptions about anything, but Priest was tired of putting a ceiling above him when he knew he could reign supreme if he wanted to. Priest was hated, and he understood why. He was the same nigga doing everything everyone else was doing, and probably worse, but he was being celebrated.

Priest was the one who played golf with the mayor. He was the one who got invited to the fancy and luxurious city balls. He was the one who worked alongside the town’s commissioners. He was the one who had his own day in honor of himself. He played the game so fucking well that it pissed off anyone who wasn't a part of his winning team.

The only reason Priest's trial was going so messy was because the State wanted to use him to set an example. No matter how established and prestigious anyone was, they were willing to crucify them if it got to that point. June was one of the many who just didn't like the way Priest moved. He felt like Priest was too flashy and just too shoved up the asses of the diplomatic people of New York. He was an old school type of guy who was against any alliances with anyone who had the potential of putting him behind bars.Priest wasn't playing the game to prove how tough he was and how independent he was. He was doing it to showcase his intelligence. He had all these high-powered people wrapped around his finger and groveling at his feet by doing the very thing they claimed to be so against: selling drugs. The difference between Priest and everyone else who was doing what he did was that everything Priest did was calculated and big.By Priest bulldozing June off the map, there would be more room for him to expand and make his revenue twice as fast. Priest was going to fuck over anyone he needed to fuck over and build alliances with anyone who could help him paint his picture the way he envisioned it.

J'Ru released a sigh. "I feel like this is personal," he let out as his eyes bore into Priest. J'Ru knew there was no convincing Priest otherwise. He already had that look in his eye that let him know he was locked into tunnel vision.

Priest smacked his lips at J’Ru in annoyance. "Ain't shit personal, nigga. I'm just doing what I gotta do," he shrugged.

"June's your fucking uncle, Priest. That's personal," J'Ru reminded him of the hard truth.

"Listen, he's not my fucking uncle, yo," Priest denied defensively with a scowl on his face.

"Do you hear yourself? June is Leonard's brother, which makes him your fucking uncle. You really want to sit here and be in denial about being related to him?" J'Ru shook his head, shaming Priest.

"Leonard ain’t my fucking father!" Priest spat. "There's no blood between me and June! A'ight? Just let me know: y’all with me or against me?"

Across from Priest, J'Ru sat with a mean glare webbing his orbs while he eyed Priest. He got on J'Ru's last fucking nerve with his diabolical plans, especially this one. "You my fucking brother, man," J'Ru gave in.

"I need to hear you say it," Priest insisted.

"I'm with you. A'ight?" J'Ru asserted with a look of frustration etched on his face, causing Priest to chuckle.

Priest then turned to Kaymen and awaited his response. "What about you?" Priest raised a brow at him.

Kaymen cracked a smirk. "Nigga, you had me at up our supply ," he admitted as he and Priest dapped each other up in laughter. "We brothers. I'm with whatever when it comes to y’all," he shrugged.

The amount of loyalty the three shared with one another was just beautiful. No matter how ugly shit got or was set to get, they were going to ride with each other. J'Ru was Priest’s day one. He had witnessed the throes of life Priest had endured and stuck them out with him. Kaymen came in when Priest and J'Ru were getting established, and he had stayed down ever since. He had proven his loyalty as a business partner and as a brother all at once. Priest was exceptionally grateful for the two.

"So, what's the plan?" J'Ru asked, prepared to hear the details.

Priest took a quick glance around the showroom that was cluttered with untouched furniture and home décor items. "We're going big, and we need places to store everything. We start off here. Then we buy out the whole strip mall," Priest explained the first portion of their plan.

Kaymen interjected. "The city will never let you buy out this much property. You saw how fucking hard it was to get the Thanksgiving meal kit event approved," he reminded Priest. He was the more technical one. He did the paperwork, whether it was contracts or accounting. Kaymen knew how to swim with the sharks― the government and state officials.He made everything squeaky clean and legit.

"I thought it through," Priest enlightened them both with a smirk. "With that bitch-ass nigga Mayor Cunnings offing himself, Leila Jenkins is now in power," Priest stated.

They had yet to build any alliances with the interim mayor after Bill Cunnings took his own life because he couldn't handle the pressure of his dirty laundry being aired out. Priest played a huge role in the media finding out Cunnings had his fair share of ownerships in sensual, yet illegal Asian massage parlors dubbed as spas throughout the day but brothels at night. Priest discovered that not only was Cunnings making a hefty penny off those Asian massage parlors that held girls as young as twelve against their will, but he was also one of the regulars. It disgusted Priest, so he did what any law-abiding citizen would, and played Cunnings like a fiddle.

"Well, you definitely can't go to strip clubs and play golf with Leila Jenkins," J'Ru pointed out Priest's old tactics at establishing a bond with the mayor wouldn't work this go around.

Priest nodded, agreeing with J'Ru. "Right, but the Gala is coming up in a few weeks. She'll be there. I made sure of it."

"And how the fuck did you do that?" Kaymen asked with his face screwed up.

Priest chuckled at the confusion that was etched on Kaymen's and J'Ru's faces. "She's speaking this year. I had Erick send her the special invite," Priest explained.

Erick Knight was the lead director of one of the prestigious galas that all the top tier officials of New York attended to showcase how rich and powerful they were. Priest had managed to sit at enough tables to secure a yearly invite to the galas. As much as he hated to admit it, he kind of enjoyed them. They were the easiest places to spot anyone he needed to be close to. The richer, the more powerful, the better.

"It'll be quick. We go in without knowing her, and we leave with invites to her next town luncheon or some shit like that."

"You buying me my suit?” Kaymen raised a brow at Priest.

Priest shook his head in laughter. "Whatever, man," he agreed.

"Shit, if that's the case, me too," J'Ru added in.

Agreeing to buy J'Ru's suit as well, Priest continued with the details of his plan. After their discussion, Priest and the guys agreed that they were on one accord about everything before they started leaving the show room.

"Where's that little nigga at, anyway?" Kaymen scoffed, referring to Mirsad.

Priest chuckled at the fact that Mirsad managed to leave that same bad taste in everyone's mouth. "He's with Rem now. He needs the tough love," Priest shrugged as he locked the doors to the showroom.

"Why you ain’t give it to him?" J'Ru asked.

Priest shook his head. "Nia wants him alive. I might kill him." The three laughed as they approached their respective vehicles. They said their goodbyes before wishing each other safe travels. Priest got into his car, finally getting the chance to check the time and his phone. He didn't realize how much time he had spent discussing things with the guys. He had a missed call from Britain that he immediately returned.

"You're fired," was the first thing Britain told him once she answered the call.

Priest let a chuckle draw out of him. "My apologies," he said in a smooth and charming manner. "I'm on my way now. I got caught up."

"Mhm," Britain hummed sassily. "I made stuffed salmon. It's only enough for me, but I'll share," she teased pettily, causing him to laugh.

"I'm grateful, Gioia. I'll be there in a second."

"The door’s unlocked for you."

The call ended after their goodbyes to each other. When he arrived at her place, he parked his car right next to hers. Getting out, he made his way to her door, walking straight in since the door was left unlocked for him.

"Smells good in here." Priest drew attention to his entrance while stepping out of his Dior sneakers.

Britain popped her head out of the kitchen with a smile. "Thank you." She made her way toward him.He wrapped his long arms around her frame, craning his head down to meet her lips for a kiss.

"You're welcome," he mumbled against the smooth skin of her neck. "What happened today?" She had been home for a while now, giving her time to unwind from the stressful day and make a meal for herself and Priest. She had taken a long, steamy shower, pulled her hair up into a messy bun and dressed herself in a pair of cotton shorts and a bandeau top. Her bare face was glowing from the light passes of coconut oil she had graced it with, while her lips glistened with a layer of lip gloss to keep them moisturized.

Britain let out a light groan as she turned toward the kitchen to plate their food and refill her glass of wine. "It wasn't horrible, but it was bad," Britain began. "Seven was being extra bossy today." She rolled her eyes at the thought of her mother.

Priest chuckled as he snaked his arms around her from behind. "I'll end your day right," he promised lowly in her ear.

"Thank you." She pecked his lips once more. "How was your day?" she asked.

"Surprisingly easy going," Priest told her with a shrug.

"Stopped by my dad's to talk business ?" Britain raised a brow.

Priest nodded his head with a chuckle at the emphasis she made on the word business . Britain was so inquisitive and curious about everything that sometimes she didn't even notice how persistent she could be when it came to asking questions. Priest liked that about her, though. She could hold conversations and pick anyone's mind.

As Priest aided her with carrying the full plates and wine glasses over to the dining table, he replied to her. "I stopped by, but we didn't get around to talking about business. I have him doing a favor for me."

"Which is?"

"Keeping my cousin Mirsad for a few days. Knowing Remy, Mirsad will be on his best behavior in no time." Priest had endured the sternness of Remy, and it even straightened him out, so he knew Mirsad wouldn't stand a chance.

Britain laughed at the thought of the treatment her father may have been giving Mirsad at the moment. "Most likely, he has him doing?—"

"Lawn work," they both said in unison, which caused them to laugh with each other. Remy didn't play about his lawn, and even Britain had her fair share of pulling weeds when she went over Remy's place.

Settling from their laughter, Priest and Britain took their seats and had dinner. "So, I got this thing coming up, and I want you to come with me," Priest told her as he sat his wine glass down after taking a sip.

Britain was in the middle of cutting into her salmon as she nodded her head, signaling him to proceed. "What's the thing?" she asked, wanting more details. Priest was far too unpredictable for her to just leave it at that.

"The Liberty Gala," he revealed nonchalantly.

Britain’s eyes widened in shock as her utensils slipped out of her grip and came clashing down onto her plate. "The Liberty Gala?" Britain questioned him for clarification.

Priest glanced up from his plate, eyeing the look of disbelief sprawled all over her face. "Yeah," he nodded. "What's the matter?"

Britain’s eyes remained widened as she took in a deep breath. "Priest, you just invited me to the Liberty Gala, the one that happens once a year, the one that A-list celebrities attend. Why are you not as shocked as I am?!" she shrieked in excitement. The thought of being in the same atmosphere as the people who attended The Liberty Gala was just nerve wracking, but exciting, nonetheless. Britain always dreamed of one day getting her chance to be on duty for The Times to attend the gala, but it never happened.

Priest chuckled, loving the innocence in her excitement and how star-struck she sounded. He loved the fact that Britain never put on a front like many other women he'd dealt with. She wasn't used to anything, and Priest basked in the fact that he was putting her onto a new way of living. "Gioia, the gala is nothing," he waved her off.

Britain pushed her plate away from herself dramatically. "Wait a damn minute." She motioned her hands before her, indicating she needed to gather herself. "You get invited to those?"

Priest nodded his head. "Yeah. This is about to be year three for me. What? I don't look like a gala type of nigga?" Priest raised a brow jokingly.

"I don't know, P. This is just a lot to take in. Do I have to sign a non-disclosure agreement to even attend?" she asked, completely oblivious to what she was getting herself into.

Priest's laughter intensified as she stared at him with a blank face. She was dead serious. "No,Gioia."He shook his head at her concern. "You don't need anything besides an invite, which I'm extending to you," he assured her.

Britain inhaled another deep breath to calm her racing heart. So many things were rushing through her mind at the moment. "What am I gonna wear?"

"I'll take care of it," he assured her before she could talk herself into a panic attack. "The gala is in three weeks. I'll have everything ready for you. Don't stress yourself." He smirked at her.

As nervous as she was about attending such a high-end event, she couldn't contain the full smile on her face. Standing from her seat, she made her way over to him. "C'mon,Gioia," he chuckled while shaking his head. "Why you gotta be so sensitive?"

She straddled his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I never had anyone invite me to the Gala," Britain informed him in a sweet voice before applying her lips to his.

"First time for everything, right?" He shrugged lightly.Britain pecked his lips once more before kissing the corner of his lips. The soft kisses had now moved down his sharp jaw line, causing a smirk to plaster across his face. He leaned back in his seat, his massive hands gripping her sides while she planted herself on his lap.

Priest rubbed his right hand up along her side before trailing it up to the crook of her neck. He pushed her away gently, halting her kisses so he could eye her. "I'm not about to play this game with you." His dark orbs were drenched in lust as they bore into Britain's soft brown eyes.

Britain shrugged in an unconcerned manner. "Then don't," she challenged in a shallow voice.

That was all Priest needed to hear. He rose from his seat, tossing Britain over his broad and built shoulder. Her fluttering laughter filled his ears while he trekked to her bedroom.

He tossed her onto the plush bed, causing the pillows she had crowding the top of the bed to spill onto the floor. She laughed at her fall onto the bed while Priest shook his head in amusement at the fact that she found anything funny.He made his way over to her, his hands gripping her ankles. He pulled her toward him, and her legs spread open, emulating a butterfly. Her eyes locked with his as she craved his touch and affection. Priest's cold fingertips graced her smooth skin while he stripped her of her bottoms, along with her panties.

He eyed her core, anticipation fleeting in his eyes. Britain felt her stomach knot up and fill with butterflies as Priest took his bottom lip between his perfectly aligned teeth.

He stood between her open legs, hovering over her. Britain's breathing hitched as his soft lips brushed against her. His fingers slowly feathered against the wet folds of her pussy in an up and down motion. Britain's mouth opened slightly as her breathing picked up in pace from her eagerness. As Priest's long fingers plunged within the slippery core of Britain's pussy, he lowered his head toward her ear. "You're mine forever," he asserted.

The crispness within his husky and raspy voice evoked a moan out of Britain while she nodded her head.Priest had her wrapped around his finger, figuratively and literally. As he pumped his fingers in and out of her slowly, the sounds of her wet flesh sounded through both of their ears. As he worked his hand deep within her, Britain's soft moans elevated in volume as he curled his finger upward while incorporating his thumb to circle over her clit.

Britain maneuvered her hands down toward her core, gripping Priest's wrist in hopes he would give her a chance to catch her breath and collect herself instead of letting out another moan. Amused by how breathless she was, Priest chuckled.

"Gioia, you gotta do better," he teased her with a shake of his head. "I haven't even put my mouth on you yet.”

She huffed in frustration. Priest was the only man who knew how to get her body to react so quickly. He knew all the right things to do and all the right things to say.Britain felt him glide his fingers out of her. Looking up at him in awe, Britain's mouth salivated at the sight of him licking his fingers clean of all her natural juices.He lowered himself down until his head was between Britain's legs. She averted her eyes up to the ceiling as she clenched the sheets in her grip. Priest's warm tongue glided from the bottom of her folds to the top, picking up all of her wetness within the bristles of his tongue.

His tongue found a passageway between her second set of lips, giving him full access to her flesh. He maneuvered his tongue in an enticing manner, stringing moan after moan from Britain.

His hands were locked around her thighs, forcing them to remain open and rest upon his broad shoulders.

"Fuck… P!" Britain whimpered as he buried his head deeper into her pussy. The sounds of his tongue lapping around the wetness of her core were like music to her ears.

Her white toes curled in ecstasy. His slurping and sucking were pure enjoyment for him as she squirmed and moaned without restriction. Priest didn't leave a crook or cranny of Britain's pussy untouched by his mouth. His tongue circled perfectly, picking up the pace once he felt Britain's legs stiffen.

Priest's attention transitioned from her core to her clit, which he sucked on slowly and passionately. Britain's mouth hung agape as her chest rose. The pressure in her stomach was becoming unbearable, and before she could cry out to Priest, she felt herself cumming. Her airless moans were a delight to Priest as he felt her bottom half grow weak.

Breathless and in need of time to regain her composure, Britain couldn't help but to notice the dark look that webbed Priest's orbs. He had just gotten started.

Propping herself up on her elbows, she watched as Priest extracted his gun from his waistband and sat it on her nightstand. Britain had grown accustomed to it. He unbuckled his designer belt, along with the button of his Amiri jeans. He was swift as he glided the lubricated condom he retrieved from the nightstand onto his dick. Britain immediately felt an emptiness in her stomach as Priest slowly feathered the tip of his thick dick against her slippery lips.

Positioning himself at her core, he eased into Britain's tightness. The feeling of her wrapped snugly around him was one in a million. Britain was left breathless as her eyes were clenched shut.Priest continued his course inside her, going deeper and deeper. He slammed the final inches of his dick into Britain roughly. Britain yelped in euphoria as her hands gravitated to Priest's back, and her nails clawed him. Priest hissed lightly at the feeling of her scratching his back, but he enjoyed it, nonetheless.

He rocked his hips into Britain's in a nice rhythm, her moans hitting his ears louder and louder. Priest kept his eyes on her as she laid underneath him, her effortlessly beautiful face contorted into even more gorgeous love expressions as he took his time loving her. Priest shifted his attention, marveling at the sight of his dick lathered in Britain’s wetness. It was an amazing sight to see.

Priest tossed Britain's right leg over his shoulder, granting himself leverage to go deeper inside of her. The constant banging of her headboard colliding against the wall behind them harmonized with the smacking of their skin. Sweat clogged their pores as it beaded against their foreheads and various parts of their bodies. The air was thick with humidity that cached in the room from corner to corner. The aroma of sweet, passionate sex swirled the air and filled their nostrils.

Priest's massive hand wrapped around Britain's neck. He gently applied pressure, sending Britain into overdrive. Her brown orbs rolled to the back of her head in pure ecstasy as Priest quickened his stokes, making them rougher and far more impactful. Her perky, ample breasts bounced from the impact of Priest fucking her.

"Shit!" Britain screeched as tears scorched her eyes.

"Look at me,Gioia," Priest ordered her through clenched teeth. "Look at me when I fuck you."

Britain blinked her eyes open. Her lashes were lathered with tears as she blinked innocently up at him. His heart swelled with love and passion as he eyed Britain's body underneath his. She was perfection without even trying, and that alone made him love her more.

Filled with titillation for each other's warm bodies and in tune with each other so much, they reached their peaks in unison. Priest's warm nut filled the latex condom between them while Britain's pussy lathered Priest's dick with cum.

Britain made things right for Priest. She made life less stressful and more peaceful. His eyes locked with hers as he lowered his head to apply his lips to her soft ones.

"Thank you for being my peace," he whispered to her lowly, expressing his gratitude. "I love you unconditionally."