Prince: Love Always Wins

Prince

When I pulled back up to McLaren Hospital the next day I had a dual mission. First, to check on my brother. He wasn’t the one admitted, but in all actuality, he was probably the one doing worse. He wasn’t here for the birth of his first child through no fault of his own. I could see on his face last night that he felt like he had failed. There was nothing he did wrong. I knew firsthand that things like that could happen at almost any time. Had I been around a little more I could have prepared him for that. I was here now and I was going to make him my first stop to check his head out.

Eyeing the bright yellow car in the lot with the tags that said you just got passed by a girl on the bumper brought me to my second mission. I knew exactly where she lived, but I didn’t want to pull up on some creep shit. I mean, eventually, if she tried to dodge too hard, it could come to that, but for now, I figured she would only be two other places. The hospital was my first choice because I could see how much her friendship with Satisa meant to her. I was determined to get some time alone with her. Whatever this pull was, I had to find out what it was before it drove me crazy.

I walked into the waiting room and Priest was sitting there, clearly tired but engulfed in his phone. The deep crease in his forehead indicated his frustration.

“Bruh.”

He lifted his eyes from his phone and stood.

“What up bruh? She good. They are going to let her leave in the morning.”

“I get that, but how you doing?” I stood flat-footed in front of him.

“I’m good. Just gotta stay on top of her ass.”

“Don’t kick yourself for this shit. It’s perfectly normal.”

“I ain’t trying to hear that shit. I gotta do better.”

“I know this is hard to hear, but there is likely nothing you could have done to prevent it. Does sis’ need to slow down and take care of herself? Yes. At the same time, she is carrying life, man, and sometimes that shit just hits you. She is getting close and the fact that they aren’t taking the baby and she is going home tells you that everything is good.”

He wanted to say something, but closed his mouth once we locked eyes.

“I know you know. Yo ass should’ve been around. I been stressing like a muthafucka.”

“You ain’t gotta tell me because I know. The kids with ma?”

He nodded while he responded to a text on his phone. My eyes swung in the direction of Satisa’s room. “Le in there?” I asked Priest a question I already knew the answer to,

“Who? Twin?”

“She got a name nigga.”

“Damn bruh. I ain’t know it was like that. When did that happen?”

“Shit, it’s about to happen. She just don’t know it yet.”

I loved Bro, but I was done talking to him. He was tired but okay, and that was all I needed to see. I walked to Satisa’s room. I hung by the door when I heard three voices, but I wasn’t creeping. I stood in the opening so that anyone who lifted their eyes would see my presence.

“Oh, ! Hey, brother,” Satisa said brightly. I came to her bed and embraced her.

“What up, sis’. You look bright. What up, Nesha? Le how you doing?”

Nesha blushed and smiled like she was hiding a secret. I didn’t miss how she threw a look Le’s way.

“Hey, ,” Le made a blatant attempt to sound casual.

“How you feel, sis’?” I asked.

“Ready to go home. Can you please talk to Priest and tell him to leave these people in here alone. He is demanding that they run every test under the sun. I could’ve been home already if he hadn’t insisted.”

“I can’t tell him shit. Trust, if it was my woman in a similar situation I would be the same way.” I turned to Le’s pretty ass, who had backed up from Satisa’s bedside and now found herself in the corner. “What y’all got up after this?”

“Nothing! We ain’t doing nothing,” Nesha chimed in and I smiled while waiting for Le to respond.

“Y’all know something I don’t? Nesha, you are quick with that answer, and sis’ can’t stop laughing. I mean it wouldn’t be the first time I was out of the loop.” My eyes never left her. She was beautiful.

“I don’t know what they are talking about.” Le waved them both off. “I am going home and sinking in a hot bubble bath and ending my night as soon as I leave. I’ve had a stressful day.”

“Excuse me. It’s only two visitors at a time.” A nurse appeared in the doorway.

“Oh, we are sorry. you go ahead. We have been here a while.” Le said, but she did not attempt to pass me.

“No. Y’all stay. Sis’ let me know if you need anything.” I walked out the door. I wasn’t close to leaving, but I would allow her to think that all she wanted. She was a dodger so I knew exactly what to do to cut a lot of that conversation short. In the parking lot, I smiled as soon as I saw that bright yellow muthafucka staring back at me. I sat on the hood of her Camaro getting an idea. I called Chaz.

“Yo Chaz. I need a favor.”

“Hood Parliamentarian. Nigga what ya need?” Chaz spoke cockily and he could because I was more than confident he could handle my request.

“I need a highway shut down. Just for about an hour.”

“What? Where ya at cuz?” I heard his voice drop.

“Nah, not like that. We good. Just this hardheaded ass girl that can’t resist a challenge.”

“Aww shit! I got ya cuz, but it’s gone cost ya.”

“Bill me. I’ll text you the times and location.”

I floated Chaz the info hoping that the timeline lined up. At this point, all I wanted was some time alone with her, away from everybody. Most of the resistance came from the eyes that were on us. I saw how, in the hall, her gaze checked over her back multiple times to make sure no one saw our interaction. I couldn’t blame anyone for caring, but for me, it wasn’t a damn thing anyone could do when it was something I was interested in. Not even my damn self, apparently. Everything I knew told me this wasn’t a good idea. I lifted my eyes in time to see her walking out of the hospital. Fine as fuck, but there was more. I shook my head. She put me on my toes.

“This is called stalking, .”

“If I had shown up at your house, that would have been stalking. We're friends, right? So I’m just making sure you got here safely.”

“Well, look at that, I did.” She pasted a smile.

“You afraid to be alone with me?” I asked as she went to the driver's side of her car.

“Did you forget my initial proposition?” she hiked her arched brow. Her makeup today was flawless. I enjoyed the way she didn’t do too much, but every time I saw it, I couldn’t wait to see what she looked like stripped of everything. That was the naked I was seeking.

“You are trying to hide from me.”

“What? What are you saying?” She scrunched her nose.

“I want to show you something. Come with me.”

“You don’t listen very well, do you?” She hid her smile so quickly I barely saw it.

“Something tells me you don’t either, but we can work on that. Come on. Follow me.” I hopped off the car and opened her door.

“The only place I am going is home.”

“You know this shit really don’t have to be so hard.”

“I completely agree.” She smiled flirtatiously, and I couldn’t lie or say that she wasn’t eliciting the exact feelings she was hoping to drum up.

“Race me.” Her eyes lit up.

“What? You serious.” This time, the smile stayed. I knew she couldn’t resist. “What’s the bet? I would hate to take your money, but I will. You seem so cocky, and crushing your ego would be my pleasure.” She batted her eyelashes, and it made me laugh.

“You funny. Name your price.”

She thought long and hard.

“Scared?” I asked.

“Nope. $1000 when I win. The easiest money I would have made. Just to be fair, I will offer the same if I lose, but I won’t. I hope you ready to get that ass spanked!”

“I don’t need your money nor would I ever take it. All I need you to do when you lose is follow me. If you can keep up.”

“Look at that boat you are driving, . You think you can keep up? But whatever, it’s your money to lose.”

I opened her door, and she slid inside. “Let’s catch seventy-five. We will go until it spills out into South. Cool?”

“Fine by me. Lead the way.”

I closed her door, and I heard her rev her toy engine. When I got inside mine, my engine rumbled. I saw her eyes widen when she heard its power, and she clutched onto her wheel, trying to restore some of her confidence. I would say I was going to allow it to be close, but honestly, I was getting ready to dust her ass. I made sure it was safe, and no maneuvers were needed, so when she met me at the finish line, all she had to do was follow me.

Even from our small encounters, I saw her as a thrill seeker. That firecracker personality drew me in and left me wanting more. Once we made it to the highway, I saw Chaz on it, as I knew he would be. Nothing but a strip of land, and I felt bad for how quickly she lost the race. Once we started, I had to slow down to keep her in my rearview. Once we hit seventy-five South I she fell in line behind me. After about ten minutes I received a call and her number flashed across my screen.

“So you do have my number.”

“Where are we going, ?” She was full of attitude.

“About ten more minutes. I want to show you something.”

“I can’t stay out too late. I have an interview in the morning.” She spoke a little quieter.

“Really? Where?”

“Does it matter?”

“Why would I ask if it didn’t?”

“I’m following you.” She disconnected.

I dealt with plenty of guarded women, but Le was a different breed. I mean, damn, she didn’t want to give me a thing. I wasn’t looking forward to everything being a fight. Thoughts floated through my mind on whether or not it was worth it. I just wanted a few quiet moments with her away from everybody, and I needed to gear my homes up for sale. I needed to check out the closest one I listed so it could again return to the market after I pulled it off. The first time I listed, it garnered interest but never sold, so I placed in more updates, and I was getting ready to try again. If this opportunity was anything like Remy said, it would require some liquidation. No one else would be around for her to hide from. We could level with each other and have a real conversation. I felt like that was all it would truly take.

As quickly as the thought came to mind if she was worth the trouble, it diminished when we pulled up to the home and stepped out of the car. Yes, I knew there was something on the inside of her that called to me. The sensual side of me had to acknowledge that Le was the prettiest woman I had ever seen. Her yellow convertible with a blacked out tint matched her personality. Bold and dangerous. Her heels showed off her perfectly manicured toes, and I thought they were open until she came closer, and I realized they were Gianvito Rossi. Gold specs mixed in with the clarity of the shoe made me drool. Then my eyes rode up to her sweet, thick thighs. I couldn’t wait to be smothered.

“Hey, .” She waved, feeling humbled.

“I told you, didn’t I?” I stepped forward and wrapped her in my arms. She returned my hug a bit awkwardly. “You just can’t help yourself, huh?” She teased. I raised my brow, thinking for a moment that her defenses may have been down.

“Should I?”

“Yes, you should. I don’t like to be touched without permission.”

There it was.

“That’s fair.”

“Where are we?”

“This is one of the houses I own.”

“Really?” She cocked her brow. I didn’t entertain her suspicion. I just walked to through the front door with her in tow.

“Wow, !”

“You like it?” I felt a swell of pride.

“I do. I mean, damn, look at this floor plan. Is this one listed? It would certainly be on the top of my list. Just on the entry alone.”

“You in the market?”

“No, but if I was...” She trailed off as she walked a few more steps with her head tilted toward the chandeliers.

“You did this?” She pointed upward.

“More like I bought it and mounted it, but yes, I placed it and reframed the whole house. It took me months, and I had help here and there.”

“Now I talk a lot of shit—"

“I noticed.”

“See I’m trying to be nice.” She rolled her eyes. “Like I was saying, I talk a lot of shit, but this is a beautiful home. A lot of attention to detail…” Again, her words stopped as she walked to different rooms.

“What do you like the most about it?”

“The stairs. Growing up I always told myself I wanted a home with stairs. Maybe even a few floors.”

“You had a big house as a child? You from New Orleans, right?”

“No, not really. Look at you thinking you know something about me. I mean, we weren’t broke or nothing, but we damn sure never had a house like this.”

“I was in the South a minute in Florida. But I was born and raised here. Our houses were always nice sized, but I have a thing for levels and balconies. My home will always have plenty.”

She stepped into the kitchen, and a smile spread across her face. It was so bright that I knew at that very moment I would count every smile that graced her face in my presence. Something so beautiful deserved to be bottled. It made me want to build her shit every day so that I could never see it fade.

“If Florida is the South, so is California.”

“Look, I don’t ride for it like that, so you have no argument from me.”

“Because it ain’t none,” she shot back over her shoulder. “This house is beautiful, but it’s so empty.” She continued to whip her head around from side to side.

“You do know I’m trying to sell this, right?” I stayed a few feet behind, admiring.

“Are you really, though? The home is beautiful. Dynamic even. You have to tell people what to do with the space. Something this forward-thinking has to be shown. You don’t want to give people a puzzle they can’t solve.”

“Hmm. You may be right. I put it up once, and I had to take it down because I didn’t get interest. I made some updates here and there and changed the paint to give it a warmer look. Damn you may be right.” I confirmed her thoughts again. I was deliberately edgy with anything I touched but it was possible it was overwhelming to the buyer.

“I know I am.”

“There goes that smart-ass mouth. You interested in helping? For a price of course.”

“Maybe.” She continued to stroll as the conversation died. We were coming up on the last visible room, and I didn’t want my time with her to end.

“What was it like when you were growing up?”

“Normal. In high school I was a cheerleader. Had a good number of friends. The usual. You seem like a ladies man. Am I right?”

“Maybe when I was a kid. I’m a man now. How’d you end up here? In Michigan I mean.”

Her disposition changed greatly. The discomfort was riddled throughout her body. Stiff shoulders and lips pulled into a tight line. It was like she caught herself easing and placed her guard back up in seconds.

“We should talk about what is expected of this job. I want specifics,” she deflected.

“You gone open up to me one day, Le.”

Another eye roll, but at least this time she didn’t tell me not to call her that. I took that as progress. “What would you charge for your services? I trust that you can decorate a home and make it more welcoming.”

“First of all I don’t decorate, I transform spaces. What’s your budget?”

“I can afford it.”

She smiled. Two. She walked upstairs and I gladly trailed behind and watched the rhythmic sway of her hips.

“I changed my mind. The master bedroom is my favorite. Damn this is perfect! What’s the price tag on something like this?”

“This one sits at 1.7, but I’m sure I could go for two if I wanted.”

“You should!”

“I need to. I have a month to get off these next four properties.”

“You owe someone?” she asked. “I mean I need to know what I’m dealing with. I’m not judging your past but it seems crazy that you would have all this after, ya know.”

“After rehab?” I extended the lifeline and she nodded. “What I build means everything to me. More than my own life, honestly, because I was always told it was something that I could never accomplish. I went to school for it and got my degree with no support. Anything I built, I promised myself I couldn’t get so low to fuck with them. Well, one thing I learned quickly about drugs is that it will make you break promises to yourself. I went from having fourteen homes to having eight. When I felt myself spiraling I deeded my last ones to a friend I could trust and made him promise not to let me sell them. Once I finished rehab I liquidated the three homes that I had spread out over the country so I can make a run at it here.”

“You didn’t answer me, though. Do you owe anybody?”

“Damn you serious?”

“Dead serious.”

“I don’t know what types you used to but I don’t bring my shit to nobody. It was a reason I wasn’t around for a while. I wasn’t going to let my wounds bleed on you. I was serious about making sure I was straight. I’m not hiding from nothing or nobody.” I connected with her and I felt her heat rise which drew me closer. I loved the fact that she told me not to touch her. She demanded her respect and it had the opposite effect of what she thought. Challenges were my favorite as well, and she was meeting me at every angle. “May I? It’s hot in here ain’t it?” I pulled the hem of her coat and she gave me a girlish grin.

“I think I’m fine. You won’t give me no dick anyway, so what’s the point of taking off clothes.”

“Does the way you speak make other men uncomfortable?”

“What do you mean?” She twisted her lips slightly.

“You say things when you are uncomfortable to make others feel the same way. Does it usually work for you?”

“Whatever. Don’t try to put me on a couch, . I am just young, wild, and free. I believe you think you can tame me, and trust me, you are barking up the wrong tree.” She turned around, spread her arms wide, and backed up until her hands wrapped around the balcony. She leaned against it. “I would like to help you with the sale of your homes, though. I’m sure we can have a working relationship. You respect me, and I respect you, and we won’t have any problems.”

“Taming you is the last thing on my mind. I like your wild ass the way you are. I want way more than what’s on the surface. There is so much more to you than you are showing me. That’s a prize I’m willing to work for. Earning you would be my absolute pleasure.”

“You think that’s what you want but I’m telling you it’s not what you think. I haven’t met a man that could handle my mouth full time, and plus, I got issues, baby. Real ones.”

“You see I’m standing here don’t you?” I stepped forward, and this time, she remained unmovable, tucking her chin up so I could get a better look at her. Permission be damned I reached out and brought her to me. Her soft body fit perfectly against mine. She let out a slight hiss.

“You, you didn’t ask.” Her voice was feather light. My body responded to hers immediately.

“May I?”

A loud crashing sound broke our hold and she pushed away from me on cue. I looked at her face and she was completely spooked. A complete change in a matter of seconds.

“What the hell was that?” Her words were rushed and her movements were even quicker. She drew out a pink pistol and held it to her side.

“What you doing?” I asked, and I took the gun from her hands. It was a minor fight but I won it without causing her any harm.

“It sounded like a car backfiring. You good?” I pinned her with my eyes and hers plummeted to the floor. What the hell was that about? “Let me go check it out. Stay here.”

I scanned outside and didn’t see much out of place. We were in Farmington Hills. An area not known for much happening. I checked our cars and everything was good. When I stepped back into the house she was right by the door. That pissed me off because if some shit was really happening that would have placed her way too close. I looked at her before I spoke. It was so visible that she didn’t have many people in her life that she could trust. I wondered about the exact moment that took place when she made that determination. She felt she could only depend on herself. More than likely it was a cumulation of so many things.

“I think I should go home.” For the first time, she spoke timidly. She was embarrassed by her overreaction.

“Le, look I don’t have no games or no smoke and mirrors for you. I’m loving everything I see and I feel when I’m around you. I’m interested in you and everything that comes with that. Ultimately it’s your choice. But you can trust me when I say I see you for everything you are and that doesn’t scare me.”

“I’m at the point in my life where I have no trust for the words any man says.” She spoke her truth right before her eyes ran away from me. Now we are getting somewhere.

“I’m not blaming you for being cautious. You should be. I’m not asking you to trust words. Trust what you see because ain’t shit coming up short about my actions. I’m a man baby. I don’t have a problem proving that to you.”

The no was on the tip of her tongue, but as we stood in the doorway, I could see the thoughts bouncing around in her brain. “All I can do is try, . I don’t even know why you would want me to, but I’ll try,” she said quietly slipping past me to her car.

“I’m going to follow you home to make sure you are straight.”

She didn’t fuss or fight. Whatever had her spooked also had her compliant. It didn’t sit well with me. but I would take that for now.

***

“This is going to be a foundational piece in transitioning this community from what it once was to what it can become. Savannah has always been a beautiful place to retire but now we want to make a beautiful place to live. A place where businesses can thrive and the rich can pour dollars into the community. It’s time for us to change that narrative. We will change that narrative and this is how we start!” Applause erupted around me and that finally turned my attention to the stage. The speaker ripped the tarp off a once hidden canvas revealing a model of new housing developments on the South side of the city.

“See, I told you,” Remy spoke from beside me, not thinking too much about being conspicuous.

I clapped my hands to not be the only one left out of all of the clamoring prospects in the facility. By everyone else’s estimation, I was new in the construction world. Most didn’t know much about my degree or past work. Especially not here. I saw the side eyes my youth elicited. But, I didn’t come here to play nice. Especially since I had caught a damn flight this morning at the crack of dawn to be here and still needed to be back by noon to make my most important plans happen. This was big, and I didn’t know if I could bolster everything needed for such a project currently, but here I was. Ready for what came next.

“For this project, we want more than just the casual mansions. We need something edgy. Something that will draw clients to the area just because of these homes. These new gated communities will be the focal point of bringing new revenue and business into a starving community. This is what we need from you if you want your team to be selected for this opportunity.”

There was a hush over the crowd while the speaker went over the normal requirements that I heard thousands of times. The lecture-type hall setting took me back to college where I would sit attentively waiting for my professor to drop nuggets of knowledge. I’d always been one that wanted to learn and was fascinated by new ideas. I guess it was surprising because I just didn’t look like the type. Even looking around the hall I gathered that I didn’t look like anyone else here. Mostly older white men with protruding bellies surrounded me, and the few black men in attendance were so damn gray you thought they would fall over any minute. I had respect for anyone that put the work in but my body was always something I would take care of. It made me better for this kind of work. That’s why I clicked with Remy. He was in his late fifties, but unless you asked for ID, you couldn’t tell. The last thing we wanted was to be in a situation where we couldn’t help ourselves. That was just as much of an injury deterrent as working with the correct equipment.

I let all the words float over me until I heard the last requirement.

“Last, the company that takes on this venture will have to have a liquid net worth of five million dollars. As you know the permit processes and materials will need to be purchased upfront. The grants will be given in increments. I know that is a haughty ask but you must understand this is something that can change the trajectory of your business forever. We have bank officials here that will help with loans as well. Please have your portfolios submitted by the end of the month.” His last statement took the air out of the room for many of the attendees. My face stoned over, thinking of how I had it, and I fumbled. The shit I went through pretty much dissolved my company’s assets. Another misstep was highlighted.

“We will figure it out. I can liquidate some things. How are the house sales coming?” Remy asked as we walked to the parking lot.

“It hasn’t been lately.”

The other contractors damn near grew wings on their backs with how fast they flew to the corner of the awaiting bankers. They were willing to accept anything that could get them closer to an opportunity to be considered. The bad part was if they didn’t get the nod, they would still be saddled with it. I could only take a guarantee. I was confident in what I could prove and the specs I could draw, but so much lately had been about connection. Even with the sale of the homes I was sitting on it would be hard to get funds with bank approvals in under a month. Money wasn’t the problem. Legal money was.

“I see that look on your face, kid.”

“I’m cool.”

“No you not,” Remy said wisely.

“I’m cool, Rem. I’ll figure this out for us. I owe you that much.” He came to me and gripped my shoulder. He was shorter in stature so he had to reach up.

“You don’t owe me. You owe yourself. Stop moving so fast. Just take a moment and think.” Thinking was the last thing I wanted but his firm hand on my shoulder gave me no other choice but to slow myself for a moment. His skin showed the scars of his life. A wide gash above his eye from a fall he had from a building we worked on, a long mark from his wrist that swept around to his elbow from when a piece of plywood pierced him. Those were just the ones I’d seen. When Remy came into my life, it was God’s way of showing me that even if you weren’t blessed with what you thought you should have been, He always gave you what you needed in another form. He was such a father figure to me.

I thought I was big shit when I stepped on his construction site the first time. I was an apprentice thinking I knew it all. Didn’t want to listen to anyone and damn near killed myself and a few others. He was hard on me and didn’t let me cut corners. He taught me all the shit that wasn’t in the books I learned. I got so good and I owed it all to him. He believed in me so much he invested in me. Then I blew the shit.

“Life happens to all of us. You got your first dose, oh well? If it doesn’t happen this time, there will be more opportunities.”

“I respect you, Remy. You know I do but I’m tired of waiting. This one is mine. Trust me. I got it this time.” He gave me a nod and dropped it. He went to his car and I headed to mine. Before I took this meeting, I’d been up all night working on specs and planned to get some rest before I took that beautiful woman out, but I couldn’t. The whole helicopter ride back to the city I thought about what I could do. No more taking from my family. This one was on me, and if that meant I had to travel down a few roads I had no pleasure in taking, then so be it.

As soon as the chopper hovered over the landing pad in the back on one of the houses I currently had for sale I was reaching out to an old contact. I dropped a text.

Ready to work.

“You want me back around ten tonight, right?” the pilot yelled over the propellers. A text came through before I could respond.

Welcome back, Patch. Meet me tonight.

“Yeah, and I need you to drop me somewhere else tonight.”

“You got it!” he said, and I stepped back, watching it lift into the air.

If there was one thing that I knew about myself, it was that if I truly wanted something, I was going to get it no matter what it took.