"So have you thought over what we briefly discussed the other day?" Tru questioned as he rested his hands on the cherry wood desk.

Cortez cleared his throat as he looked at the security guards that stood at each corner of the room. He had no choice but to take him up on his offer. Tru didn't take no for an answer.

"Let me get this straight, you want me to work for you? What do I get in return?"

"In return? Fuck you mean? You work for me! That's what you get in return!" Tru yelled at him.

"If I work for Benny—"

"If you work for Benny what?" Tru sat the cold steel on his desk, making Cortez nervous. "Finish your sentence?"

     "Y—You got a deal." Cortez told him, never taking his eyes off of the pistol.

"Good." Tru grinned. "Welcome to my team."

     Tru laughed as he watched Cortez run out of the room like a little bitch. He didn't know it yet, but he just signed his life over to Tru. There was only one way you could leave Tru's circle. And that was with a bullet between your eyes.

     After watching his Uncle make quick money on the streets, Tru knew he wanted to enter the fast life. Before, he was clocking minor figures but once he was introduced to the game, he became money hungry. Robbing, killing, you name it. Now, he was greedy and hated sharing. He wasn't gonna stop until the city was his.

     Ricky entered the room, dragging Simone by her arm. She could barely keep up due to the six-inch heels she was currently strutting in. She frowned in disgust at the crackhouse turned stash house. "I thought you was takin' me to Bonefish Grille? Why the fuck are we here?"

     "I told you I had to handle some business first. Damn! Fuckin' ask too many damn questions!" Tru laughed as the two went back and forth. "So this is your little snitch? Why the fuck did you bring her here?"

     "Because I—"

     "Nigga who the fuck is you? You actin' like I wanna be in a place like this! It stinks in here!" She yelled and gagged as the smell of hot piss hit her nose. Tru forcefully grabbed her chin, making her look him directly in the face. "Watch it bitch. You lucky I don't put a hot one in between your eyes just for talkin' to me."

     He glanced down at her curvy physique, smiling like a kid in a candy store. "Hm, you lucky 'ion make you get on yo knees. Now Ricky, why the fuck you bring this bitch here?"

     Ricky kissed his teeth as Tru ran his thumb over her lips. She shivered at his touch. In a split second, her life flashed before her eyes. She knew she wouldn't leave in one piece if she moved a muscle. So, she stayed put until Tru was done with her. "This is Benji's old chick, Simone. She willing to give up his friends, where he live, and maybe even information on his stash house."

     "Is that right?" A small, creepy smile crept of Tru's face once she took a huge gulp. She never agreed to giving up Benji's stash house simply because she didn't know where it was. He never took her there. "Well Simone, as long as you keep your word, I won't kill you. Now, get outta my sight."

     He pushed her into Ricky's arms and laughed. She made a mental note to snap on him once they got back in the car. Ricky was a pussy when it came to Tru. And she couldn't fuck around with no nigga who couldn't defend her. No matter who the person was.

     "You've been beaten! You've been bruised! You've been twisted! You've been thrown down! Time after time! But you still got value!" Pastor Tye Tribbett jumped up and down on stage while the choir stood behind him, clapping their hands at his wonderful service.

     Noelle, Diamond and her Nana stood up while clapping their hands as well. Truth Ministry was a black owned church in Liberty City and also Lucille's favorite church. She never missed a Sunday and since Noelle wanted to spend time with her today, she decided to invite them to church.

     Noelle felt out of place. She's only been to church twice with her Nana when she was a child. She felt bad for not going once she got older, but her social and work life got in the way of that.

     "Just 'cause you took a hit, don't mean you lost value! You're still amazing! You're still fearfully and wonderfully made! You still got power! Tell somebody, I never lost value!" Noelle agreed with everything he said. She felt as if the sermon was written exactly for her. Terrance made her feel like she was a piece of dirt. He made her feel worthless. Especially after cheating on her.

     "Alright, imma say this and I'm done. Corinthians chapter thirteen sections four through seven says love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Y'all hear me?"

     The crowd quickly agrees as Pastor Tye takes a sip of his bottled water. "Real love is a choice! Real love is really thought out! Real love is something you think about and choose! It's not "ooooo the goosebumps!" Or "when she's around me", "when he holds me in his arms!" Those are all dopamines and endorphins! That's serotonin, that's not love! But we fall for the chemical release...that's why we end up in relationships we're upset in. Now you're violent and now y'all fighting! Come out your chemicals and choose! We're making too many chemical choices! Now you're in a dysfunctional relationship! From a spouse to a boo to a friend and nobody is truly loved because none of your friends choose to love you!"

     "Thank you Nana for inviting us to church today." Noelle said while exiting the church. She let out a breath of relief, feeling a heavy weight being lifted from her shoulders. Something about being inside a church, listening to Pastor Tye, and hearing the music made her emotional. "And I'm sorry I haven't been returning your calls."

     Lucille laughed and waved her off. "Noelle, I know you have your own life and friends. Maybe even a man too I hope." She smiled, showcasing her new set of teeth Sincere gifted her with for her eighty-sixth birthday just five months ago.

     "Ooooh, you haven't told her about Benji? Nana, Noellie got a boyfriend!" Diamond teased, making Noelle playfully smack her arm. Hearing Benji's name made her heart skip a beat. It's been days since she received a text or a phone call from him.

     "Who is this Benji? That's a funny name." Lucille laughed. Noelle blinked a few tears away and forced a smile on her face. She couldn't bring herself to tell her Nana that Benji dumped her over a petty feud between her father and his. "His name is Benjamin Taylor."

     As Lucille unlocked the doors to her car, she thought about the name. Benjamin Taylor. Taylor. Taylor. "His father's name wouldn't be Benny Taylor would it?"

     Now Noelle grew curious, wondering how long Benny and her father had this petty feud. "Yes. How do you—"

"It's been years since I've heard that name. How is little Benjamin doing? Well, he's grown now." She laughed. "I guess I ca' stop calling him little."

"Wait, you know him? Okay well then you must know about Daddy's little feud—"

"Child—" she paused, shaking her head while thinking about her stubborn son. "I know all about the argument that led to them not being friends anymore. It's not my story to tell."

"Well Benji and I are no longer together because of their little argument. I'm guessing he thinks I was trying to set him up. But I didn't know—"

     "Don't worry Elle, if he really likes you, he'll forget about that feud and come back. As for your father, I'm gonna give him a call tomorrow. I can't call him on the Lord's day. Nooo, my words are too foul to be said on the Lord's day. Don't worry baby, your Nana's got your back." She said, forcing a smile on her face. She never thought an argument that happened years ago would still be relevant but she was going to give both Benny and Sincere a piece of her mind.

Should I make a prequel with Sincere and Benny? 👀

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