*DAVE'S POV*
"Yo, my girl just started this new job at this stripe club joint. Ion think I'm too fond of this shit."

Clarence, one of my best friends, ranted to me as we sat on my living room couch. I shrugged and looked at him.

"Money is money, B. Look at us; we have our own hustle. I guess Queen has her own hustle, too. Everybody has their own hustle."

"How would you feel if Millie was stripping?"

"Nigga, Millie is my baby mama. I don't care what she does. As long as Kairi and Kobi are straight, that's all that matters to a Nigga."

Millie and I have a very toxic relationship, which is why we can't ever stay in one. We constantly go back and forth, so this time around we decided to just co parent for the girls.

Even though I know she's still in love with a nigga. But how can you not? Have you seen me?

"Yo! What are yah niggas up to in here?"

My first best friend of all, Shooter, came walking into my living room.

Clarence looked up at Shooter.

"We counting our cash, nigga. We just made one of the biggest drops last night."

"And you ain't include me in it?!"

"Nigga, you wasn't answering the phone!"

"Whatever."

"Quick question though, bro."

"What is it?"

Shooter sat down on the other side of me, causing me to become in the middle of him and Clarence.

"If ya girl got a job as a stripper at a strip club, how would you feel?"

Clarence questioned Shooter. Shooter was caught by surprised, so he started laughing in confusion.

"Huh? I don't even have a girl right now, B."

"IF you had one, man!"

"I would feel 50/50 on that shit. I wouldn't want a whole bunch of random Niggas from the hood just touching on my girl, you feel me?"

"See! I ain't the only one!"

"BUT, a hustle is also a hustle. EVERYONE has their own hustle."

"See! I told YOU, my nigga!"

I exclaimed after Shooter finished his sentence. Clarence sucked his teeth and put down the stack of cash he was counting. Shooter looked at him once more.

"Why? Queen is a stripper now?"

"Yeah, bro. Some club called Sapphire New York. I was all for the hustle until my girl became a stripper."

"You can't say nothing. We in a hustle too. Ours is for life."

After Shooter said that, there was a huge bang at my front door. We waited a few seconds, and there the bang was again.

"Shit! Get down, yah! Get down and stay low!"

I whispered. Clarence and Shooter got on the ground as I pulled out my gun. I then heard my door unlock, several footsteps coming up the stair way.

Who the fuck just set foot in my house?

"Nigga, you don't know how to open the damn door?! It's cold as hell outside, I got your kids freezing out there cause you don't know how to answer the door! And why are these fools on the floor?!"

Dammit.

It's just Millie. With Kairi behind her and Kobi in her arms.

She can't be sneaking up on niggas like that. With this shit that we're into, you can't afford to get caught lacking.

"Are you serious, Millie?! We thought you were the police or something, shit!"

"Why would I be the police? I swear, you are so dumb sometimes."

Millie laughed and shook her head, then looking over at Clarence and Shooter slowly getting off the floor.

Kairi ran from behind Millie, jumping in my arms.

"Did you miss me, daddy? I missed you!"

"I missed you more, baby girl. I just didn't know you were coming."

"I don't have to tell you when I'm dropping your kids off to you. They're your kids. I'll be back to get them some time tomorrow."

"Where you going?"

"You ain't my man no more. I don't need to explain anything to you. All you need to worry about is these two little girls in front of you. Make sure you get Kairi to school on time."

Millie rolled her eyes. She gave both Kairi and Kobi hugs and kisses before making her way out of my front door.

Clarence laughed and shook his head.

"Looks like you're on daddy duties for the rest of the night. I'll hit chu soon, man. Imma get going."

Clarence grabbed the half of his money, dapping me up before he left the house.

"Don't worry, man. I ain't leaving you. You know I love my nieces dearly."

Shooter chuckled, sitting on the couch after picking Kobi up and placing her on his lap. Kobi giggled and smiled.

Next week is Christmas time, which is one of the reasons I'm going so hard with the hustling. I'm trying to make sure my girls have everything they want and need like always.

"Thanks, my nigga."

"No problem. I'm also very tempted to show up and see if Clarence's girl really became a stripper. What did he say that joint was called again?"

"Sapphire New York, or some shit."

"Do you REALLY think she became a stripper, or Clarence is making up stories?"

"Ion know, man. The way he was upset earlier makes me think he was being honest. Queen's actions don't add up to her name, anyways."

"What chu mean, B?"

"Her name is Queen, meaning she's supposed to be loyal and shit. Tell me why I been hearing rumors that shorty been fucking with a dude from Houston?"

"What? What do she know about dudes from Houston?"

"No idea. Some dude named Chris. Justin told me that he seen her around with him two weekends ago, cause he came to visit her."

"Damn.. she really out here playing Clarence, and he don't even know?"

"Basically. Shit's crazy. And females like to put all the blame on men. They do the same shit. Sometimes, even worse."

"Heard that one. That's why I ain't cuffed a bitch in so long. All these bitches from New York seem to be all the same."

"Daddy, I'm getting sleepy."

Kairi spoke as she was still laying in my arms. Kobi had already knocked out while laying on Shooter's chest.

"Come on, munchkin. Let's go get you to sleep. You gotta be to school on time like mommy said, or she's going to kill me."

I chuckled, then carrying a yawning Kairi up the stairs to her bedroom. Shooter carried Kobi upstairs and put her in her crib that she had.

After putting them to sleep, we walked back downstairs to the living room.

"What about you, D?"

"What about me?"

"Why haven't you had a girlfriend yet? It's been a hot minute since you and Millie split up."

"I'm just really focused on my money and kids right now, if I'm being honest with chu. Having a shorty can wait, I ain't gon die."