🙃

Priest pulled up outside his housing development. He owned six hundred acres of land on which he was having houses built on. Beautiful houses. Guards stood at the front gate to log you in before a person was allowed on the grounds. Priest made sure he had everything in order to avoid any catastrophes happening.

Aside from his housing development, he planned to open more youth centers for kids. His casino would be ready for opening around March or April. He decided he no longer will make Soule a franchise like he originally was, but plan to open more hotels in the foreseeable future. He was thinking about a chain of hotels spread out in different locations. He'll hire an event planner for the hotel he already has and for any new ones, since he intends to rent out the conference rooms or the ballroom for various events to bring in more revenue.

Cherish is who inspired him when it came to his housing development. He remembered when she moved back, and he went to see her at the guest house for the first time. She mentioned having a house built, since none was available. There was no doubt that even at that moment, she still had him in a chokehold. When he started formulating ideas on how to make that happen for her, he knew that love was still stronger than ever. During their family trip in the summer before he was sent that picture of her and Von, he asked Cherish if she could have her dream home what would it look like. When she told him her ideas, he listened to every big and small detail.

Priest smiled at the street sign that read Cherish's father's name; Andres. One house that was being built was for Cherish and his kids, so it was only right that he added something that'll make her even more happy. Having a street named after her late father would surely put a smile on her face that he couldn't wait to witness. Even though Priest had the house in the works before he found out she was pregnant, it made for the perfect push gift. At least one of them. Yes, he bought the house she's living in, but he wanted to make something of hers come alive. Aside from the house, Priest has a few more push gifts for Cherish.

He already has her a surprise baby shower in the works since she's never had one and a baby moon. All he wanted to do was make and keep her happy. He hasn't been doing a good job of it, but that's all about to change. Anger aside, during summer, all he ever wanted is to see a smile on Cherish's face. She deserves every good thing he could think of. She deserves happiness more than anything. He made a promise to himself to give it to her, no matter how messed up he was.

"Mr. Blackmon, good afternoon." A guard greeted him while letting him through.

Priest had to give it to the construction company he hired. The workers were doing a good job and knew the houses would be finished in the upcoming new year. Cherish's house hopefully would be finished in three to four months. He told the owner of the construction company that he only wanted them working on his houses. Money talked, and the money Priest was dropping surely was talking in every language possible.

As Priest walked through the house, he nodded his head in approval. He knew Cherish was going to love it. He walked through every inch of the house, speaking with construction workers, and adding his input if he feels something wasn't done right.

"I'm liking what I'm seeing. Keep up the good work, lunch is on me." Priest told the workers.

Now, he was about to stop by Cherish's and see what she was up to. He had already stopped by his house to pack, but was still confused on why he needed to pack.

Didn't I tell you to stop texting me? 🙄

Better yet, to stop talking to me. Is it the new year yet? I don't think so.

C'mon Slim, I need to keep an eye on her.

That's the only reason I tried to bring her.

I DON'T CARE! KEEP THAT BITCH AWAY FROM US! She can't be trusted, and you tried to be funny, knowing Marcus would be there. Stop playing with my cousin fr. He might lose his son, and you think shit is a game. You actually can stay on the other side with that hoe. Now stop texting me before I block your ass.

Damn that's for us?

I'm not liking this shit Slim.

You really mad at me, huh.

I'm not fucking with you. There's a difference. ✌🏾

Shooter just shook his head. He couldn't fight the smile that was suddenly etched onto his face. Cherish was stubborn, that much anyone knew. He wanted to fuck with her, knowing there's a chance she really might block his number.

"Who got you smiling like that, Matthias?" Goldie, Shooter's grandmother, asked.

"No one." Shooter chuckled.

Shooter had come to visit one of his favorite women in the world. Hearing the name Matthias made him think about Cherish even more than he already was. He missed talking to Cherish, seeing her smile, hearing her laugh; he simply missed her. They didn't hang out or anything, but Shooter had made it his business to always call and check on her. Cherish thought nothing of it because Truth does the same. Shooter knew Cherish was mad at him and wasn't fucking with him. Normally things like that he wouldn't have cared about, but Cherish had him ready to off a nigga because she was mad at him. He was too far gone to turn back now. Despite finding Monica attractive, he had fallen in love with Cherish possibly months ago and hadn't realized until after he had that sex dream. He couldn't stop it. He could not turn it off. It was becoming hard to fight. He lowkey didn't want to.

Paris was now under Shooter's protection, which meant no one could harm her, and Paris milked that for everything it's worth. Paris thought she was invincible, but Cherish wasn't scared of Shooter in the slightest. The father of her children is Priest "Soul Blackmon", if she was going to fear anyone, it'll be that man right there. Cherish was so fed up with Paris' shit. She didn't know why Paris made it her business to DM her on Instagram before the Christmas trip, mentioning how she sucked Shooter's dick and was carrying his baby.

Cherish was hoping Shooter wasn't stupid enough to get her pregnant, but when Shooter tried to bring Paris along for Christmas, it was confirmed. Shooter made it as far as the airstrip where Priest's jet was waiting, but Cherish angrily went off on him, using every profanity she knew while putting an end to it. Paris smirked while saying "all this rah rah shit is upsetting the baby" which had everyone looking surprised when Shooter said it's a possibility that it's his, but was waiting on the results to confirm it. He wasn't stupid to wait until after the baby was born.

Cherish told Shooter not to talk to her until after the new year, which Shooter didn't like obviously, but he couldn't voice that in front of Priest. Why Shooter thought it was okay to invite Paris on a trip that's meant for family, without checking at least with her first is beyond her. Especially knowing she doesn't fuck with Paris after they fought, and knowing Marcus and Julissa would be there. For that reason, Cherish wasn't fucking with Shooter. She didn't care what terms she and her cousin were on at the time, Shooter, or Paris, wasn't about to be coming for him.

Despite Priest once being with Asia, she and Cherish had no beef. Never passed words or anything, which was why Cherish allowed her to come. Had she still been Priest's woman, Cherish still would've allowed her to come for the simple reason she had to get used to them being with other people. Hendrix is important to Yazmine and Assad is Hendrix's family, which is why she didn't make a scene about him coming even though she ignored him the entire time. Assad's mother is the sweetest, so Cherish had conversations with her.

Shooter had to figure out a way to get back on Cherish's good side. She was not at all Shooter's type or preference. She was way too nice. Heart too kind and pure. She was slim when he liked them thick. Cherish falls under the category of "slim thick" but she still didn't have enough meat on her body for him to want her the way he does. She was someone he fell for, despite not being what he usually went for. She's beautiful. A good mother. The way she cares about people and would put them before herself. The way she smiled, or how contagious her laugh was. That's what he fell for, it wasn't even her physical appearance, which is what he normally goes for since women just be a 'fuck' for him; nothing more, nothing less.

"Umn-hmm. What are you up to today?"

"Nothing, big mama. Came to chill with my favorite lady for a minute. I have a client later on today at the gym, but after that, I'mma be out making money." Shooter shrugged. "And I know, big mama. I'm always safe." He added, already knowing how she was about to get on him about the street life.

"Well, if you say so." She eyed her grandson with a knowingly look. "Something is troubling you. My spirit feels it. You know, I don't like all that negativity in my space." Goldie inquired.

"I done put myself in a tough spot, big mama. This won't end well for me, I know it. At the same time, I can't help how I feel." Shooter stroked his beard with a sigh. He couldn't believe he was actually talking like this. He wanted to laugh at himself so badly because it was wild.

"Start talking now, Matthias. I'm not a mind reader."

"Remember Cherish? I brought her by here to take your measurements for that date you and I had." Shooter started.

"Yes. The beautiful woman who looks like a doll. You used that poor girl's designing skills as an excuse to get close to her. I didn't need any dress made for an outing with my grandson." Goldie teased him with a chuckle.

"Really, big mama?" Shooter chuckled.

"Cherish is a lovely woman. Darkness has touched her, but her spirit is beautiful and kind." Goldie added.

"How you know? I never told you anything personal about her, and she didn't either."

"You know I'm intuitive, Matthias. I can sense things like that." She smiled. "I like her. Do you want to tell me why we are talking about her? Is that who had you smiling moments ago?"

"Yes, her stubborn self had me smiling, and I like her too—I love her. That's why we're talking about her." Shooter sighed.

"I thought I'd be dead by the time you fell in love, boy."

"Don't put that out into the universe." Shooter frowned.

"Oh, you know, I mean nothing by that." She waved him off as Shooter eyed her. He couldn't imagine losing his grandmother. He wasn't that close with his mother, but he adored the ground his grandmother walked on. She was the one who raised him, even though his mother was in his life. He knew she couldn't live forever, but he would never be prepared for her to leave earth. "I'm proud of you for finally letting someone in. Your mother—"

"No disrespect, but I don't want to hear anything about Michelle. She's alive, and she doesn't even check to see for herself if I am. Right now, we're talking about Cherish. The woman I can't stop thinking about."

"Okay, so what's stopping you from pursuing her?" Goldie questioned. Shooter sighed before looking at his grandmother, knowing the disapproval that was about to be written all over her face.

"She's the mother of Soul's kids—also his ex-fiancé. They have this weird thing going on where one minute they're somewhat together and the next they aren't fucking—messing around with each other. I know what you're about to say... I tried not to fall for her. It wasn't intentional. It just happened. I be sitting right next to Soul thinking about how much I want Cherish all to myself, because he damn sure doesn't deserve her. She is so wrapped up in him, she can't see the right man been standing in her face."

"Matthias Giovanni Adams. I know my ears must have deceived me. Please tell me you did not fall in love with your best friend's woman. He's like a brother to you. How could you betray him like that?"

"He is my brother, big mama. Soul really looked out for Truth and me when we had nothing. He made sure once he was on, we were as well to help take care of our families. He handed the keys for me to become a boss. This wasn't intentional at all. They're not together, and I can't help how I feel. You think I wanted this to happen? I didn't betray him because I haven't acted on any feelings. Every time I see her, I just want to kiss her and never let her go, but I don't. I don't even talk about a woman in this way. Now look." Shooter answered.

"You bet not act on them, Matthias. I'm not trying to hear anything you're saying. Them not being together doesn't change them wanting to be. You said they had this weird thing going on, but that's not weird at all. It's two people who are still in love and trying to find some common ground back to each other. That's why one minute they're fooling around and the next they aren't. She's the first woman I ever heard you say you love in that capacity, but she will not be the last. Maybe you're not in love with her, but think you are. It's easy to confuse love with lust when you've never experienced it. Move on and put Cherish out of your mind. If she reciprocates those same feelings, then you can't deny the heart what it wants. No matter how wrong it may be in someone else's eyes. My guess is that she doesn't, so you need to let her go before you ruin over two decades of friendship. You, Soul, and Truth have been friends since you were like three. It's not worth it." Goldie grabbed a hold of her grandson's hand.

She is worth it.

Shooter heard everything his grandmother said, but he wasn't listening. He couldn't just get Cherish out of his mind. He knew it was for sure love since he never felt that feeling before.

"I got someone pregnant as well. Results don't lie."

"Oh Lord! Let us pray. My grandson has lost his mind." Goldie shook her head.

"What are we going to do about this nigga Soul?" Nehemiah asked Von, whose face was frowned up the whole time Nehemiah was visiting. Hearing he was paralyzed last week and his basketball career was over had Von angry at the world. It filled him with rage like he had never felt before, and all he saw was revenge.

That nigga gotta die and that bitch Cherish gotta feel the hurt behind this one. Von's frown deepen, flexing his jaws hurt like a bitch, so he eased the frown off his face.

"Did you hear me, bro?" Nehemiah furrowed his brows.

"Look. Bro. That. Nigga. Soul. Gon'. Get. His. Bitch. Ass. Had. Me. Paralyzed. And. Now. My. Career. Is. Over!" Von struggled to speak, but eventually got his words out slowly and best as he could. "I. Don't. Want. To. Put. You. In. The. Middle. But. I'm. Going. To. Extort. Him. Before. Having. His. Ass. Knocked."

"How do you plan to extort him? And you would need something good for that nigga to pay." Nehemiah was still in pain. They were able to reattach his finger, but the pain was still, well, painful since it's only been a week. His broken nose was still healing, and his eyes were no longer swollen shut. Nehemiah couldn't believe that Priest actually cut his finger off. Priest and Shooter had him looking weak in front of his fiancée, which he didn't like.

"What. I. Got. Will. Run. Him. For. Two. Hundred. Million. Dollars. I. Might. Add. On. Another. Fifty. Mil. For. My. Pain." Von mumbled. Aside from being paralyzed, Von's jaws were broken and wired shut. He wasn't exactly talking regularly, but he mumbled as best and distinctly as he couldn't. That's why it was difficult for him to be understood, but you can understand just enough. He also had a broken arm, and his entire face was swollen, but had gone down. Von didn't look like himself at first.

"Two hundred and fifty million? I didn't know that he had that much money, but what makes you think he going to pay you all of that? What do you have that would make him pay that amount?" Nehemiah eyed Von.

"You. Won't. Like. It."

"Try me."

"It's. A. Sex. Tape. Of. Your. Sister. And. Me. If. I. Threaten. To. Leak. It. He. Will. Pay." Von answered.

"Normally, I'll tell you hell nah, but Ayanna moving foul as hell. She supposed to be my lil sister, yet she chose his bitch ass over me. Over her blood. I love her, but this is a lesson she needs to learn. Do what you have to. I want half because I know he'll pay for that. My sister is his weakness. That nigga blind spot. I saw it for myself. He crazy as fuck, so make sure that shit doesn't come back on me." Nehemiah told Von. Von wanted to smirk because there was something Nehemiah didn't know about what's on the video.

"Hey, I didn't know you had company." A woman stepped into the room.

"You look familiar. Have we met before?" Nehemiah eyed the woman.

"I highly doubt that." The woman chuckled nervously because of the way Nehemiah was looking at her.

"Hmm. Aye, I will slide on you next week. Keep your head up, love, bro." Nehemiah stood, then dapped him up.

"Love. Bro." Von responded.

Once Nehemiah left, the woman waited a good three minutes to make sure he was gone before sitting down. "You didn't tell him anything about our plan, did you?" She asked.

"Nah. At. The. End. Of. The. Day. That's. His. Sister. He. Not. Gon'. Want. Any. Harm. To. Come. To. Her."

"Good, because what we have planned, none of them would see coming." Paris smiled before leaning over and kissing his lips. "I missed you, baby. It's been hard to come out here. Shooter been watching me like a hawk since I showed up at his gym telling him I was pregnant. After I left the hospital, I went right to him. I've only been able to come today because one of his soldiers likes me, so I worked some magic and now here I am."

"Did. You. Handle. That? How. Is. My. Baby. Doing?"