Prince: Love Always Wins

Prince

My phone was a constant disturbance as I worked through my day. I don’t know why the hell Hamp was calling so much but I didn’t have time for him. I didn’t accept any extra work once I pulled the money together I needed to show. I had been working consistently for over a week and everything was nearing completion at that end. Remy spoke to me and let me know we were in a time crunch for our submission. It was all but ours, and even though I had produced the statements, they were asking for more details of the money flow. I was trying to stay positive and the request I received when I woke up to show a house at noon helped with that goal. I reached out to Le’s pretty ass to see if she could do some things to set it up for me quickly, but she was ignoring my calls. That tug to pull up on her ass was strong, but today, I had to handle business. We were finishing some remodels on homes. I trusted my crew, but it was slim, and nobody was going to bust their ass and get the job done correctly like I would. I lead by example. So, even though my thoughts were elsewhere, I came to the site at five a.m. this morning and started working. I left at eleven to go home, shower, and get back out of the house for this showing, and no matter what happened, I had to hop on a flight and finish a buildout.

When my feet met the cobblestone-paved driveway of the house I was showing, it was like all my energy zapped from me. I hadn’t slept a damn wink in almost thirty hours. I rotated my shoulders upward, trying to shrug off the fatigue when I heard a car pull up from behind me. The chromed-out black Lincoln with an illegal tint stopped just inches before me. I reminded myself not to get excited. A person could look like money and didn’t have a dime. I also stood up straighter, feeling my own piece of chrome against my skin, holstered and ready. It could be any type of nigga that stepped out of that car.

The driver got out and tipped his hat to me before hurrying to the side door and opening it. The request came from a buyer who said they were ready to make a cash offer today. We’ll see.

“Patch.” My eyes inflamed when Hamp stood to his full height.

“What kind of games you playing?” I asked, advancing forward.

“Calm down, Patch. I have been trying to contact you. I don’t like to be ignored.”

“I don’t owe you shit! You pay me for a job. One I have been doing well. You don’t get to summon me like I am one of your fucking minions.”

I didn’t know what this nigga was on. The whole reason I was tired as hell as we spoke was because I spent all last night finishing up one of his properties. I knew what came with the territory when working for men like Hamp, but I wasn’t going to be disrespected by anyone, and I held no fear for any man walking this earth.

“I respect you, ,” he said, cooly.

“We don’t have no more fucking business. Consider all that shit you had in mind done. Last night was my last job for you. I’ll give you back the money for the last few houses I didn’t finish,” I spoke with finality.

“I think I have something you may be interested in.” He walked forward.

“Not interested. Move yo’ shit away from my property.” He came one more step, and I unloaded on his ass. I connected my right fist to his jaw, and it sent him down. His driver couldn’t get his gun out of the holster before mine was under his chin. His hands shot in the air as I snatched the piece from him. I laughed.

“You niggas crazy? You came here for a death sentence. It’s been a minute for you, Hamp, but you know I don’t fuck around like this. I will kill whatever is moving behind some shit like this.”

Hamp coughed on the ground and raised his right hand in surrender. I swung the gun his way while I held the driver by his throat with my other hand. My trigger finger heated. In a split second, I was right back in my mode. I was damn sure awake now. Hamp began scooting back on the ground.

“No disrespect! I need you! One last deal. I know all about your upcoming contracts.”

“What?” I advanced.

“Wait! I need a different type of help. Some of the things you used to do with your father back in the day.”

“Fuck is wrong with you, Hamp? You got a problem with speaking on my family. You don’t know shit about me. Don’t confuse the shit I choose to do with the shit I’m actually capable of. Don’t push me,” I warned and I already talked too long. The mention of my father had my mind turning in all types of different directions. I would never let a crack in my armor show. No matter if the relationship with my father was nonexistent, he didn’t have to know, and he had no right speaking on it. I couldn’t help but think in the back of my mind my father was caught in some shit once again.

“I know what you are capable of and I know you are the right person to bring her to me. You are heartless, . I’ve seen you kill with your bare hands. You think I don’t know. I’m here for a deal of a lifetime. That’s all.”

“Her? Nigga is you crazy? I don’t fuck with women.” What part of the game was that? Hamp was a snake ass nigga but all of them were in one way or another if you were affiliated in the streets. You couldn’t trust a soul, but my morality could never place me running down a woman. I didn’t care how much she owed him. I needed to seal this shit up in the next few minutes. It was broad daylight, and I had to remember that I had shit to lose.

“The twin girls. Both of them. I’ll give you $5 million. Isn't that the amount you need to show? I can give you the paper trail you need to go along with it, too. Don’t look at me like that . I know people. I know all about your company and wouldn’t it be a shame to derail it all over a woman you barely know?”

My gun remained extended, trying to absorb his words.

“You think I've been calling you for houses, ? No, everything is purposeful. I have been looking for them for years, and they keep slipping away. I needed someone close. Someone they can’t outrun. But watch them, . They are murderers, just like you. I could change your life for good. Just bring them to me. Everything you lose you can recover. I still feel bad about what happened to you.”

That was the last thing I thought I would hear from his mouth. No response came from me. He took that opportunity to rise to his feet. His driver scurried from my grip and locked himself in the car. My mind started to calculate at a million miles an hour. Le was running from something that was obvious, but a killer? I wasn’t judging but how did all this tie together?

“What, you think you love her? My son did, too. She is a fucking viper. A low down snake bitch that will strike as soon as you turn your back. She took my son away from me, she took my money and I want her head!”

“Shut the fuck up!”

“No, see, that’s how she does it. It’s something so alluring about her right? She makes you fall in love. It was the same way with my son. Then, as soon as he turned his back, she killed him, and they ran away with his money. Millions of my dollars. Don’t believe me? I have the proof.”

“Get the fuck from around me, Hamp. That shit sound like a personal problem to me. We done Hamp, and just so we clear you and your men stay the fuck from around me. You a pussy waiting on someone else to do your bidding. If they come close, they are signing their own death certificate.”

“You hear that?” I heard sirens blaring in the distance. This neighborhood and welding a gun in broad daylight didn’t mix. Feeling courageous, Hamp came a little closer like he wasn’t just groveling for his life a few seconds ago. “That bitch will make you lose everything if you keep her. I tell you what. Keep her for a few weeks. Use her how you want. In two weeks, bring her to me, and it all will be forgiven. The pussy has to be good.”

He was trying to get a rise out of me and I wasn’t going to take the bait. I didn’t have shit to hide either. All my guns were registered, so when I saw the police turn down the street, I didn’t blink. Four squad cars pulled to a stop in front of the residence. Eight officers popped out of the vehicles with guns drawn. Hamp walked toward them with no fear with outstretched arms. What a difference a fucking dollar makes. They were on his payroll, and that was the only reason he was so comfortable. It had to be. He said something to them and they quickly jumped back in their vehicles but stayed in place.

“See ! I own this fucking city! I own every fucking city I step foot in! I respect you enough to give you time but that bitch won’t escape me again.”

“I only see one bitch here, Hamp. You and your men couldn’t run down a woman in all these years now I’m supposed to be afraid of you. Fuck you and I mean that shit with all the disrespect in the world. If you want her come get her. She’ll be with me.”

He tucked away a shocked expression with a laugh while he backpedaled toward his car.

“Two weeks, . I’d hate to find you on the wrong side of this for pussy that will never be yours. She’ll never belong to anyone.”

He slipped into his vehicle and pulled out alongside the cop cars. This nigga’s driver called a fucking police escort. Scary muthafuckas. I walked back to my car. usually, after some shit like this, my brother would be my first call, but this situation had to push him down to the second. Matter of fact fuck a phone call. I sent a quick message for my cousin to drop his location. Seconds later, a call came through. When it came to something like that, he never hesitated.

“Smoke cuz?” Chaz’s voice was even, but at a moment's notice, he was ready for whatever. Chaz may have been a lot of things, but he wasn’t one to be fucked with. All of us had a sense of humor, but when it came down to it wasn’t shit funny about crossing either one of us Richards men.

“Could be. Where you at?”

“I’m up here at Bueche School. I have a basketball camp with the kids that starts in about thirty minutes. Cuz, let me know if I need to cancel this shit.”

I shook my head and moved onto the road. “Nah, you good. I can make it to you in about twenty minutes. This won’t take long.”

“You got me amped cuz.” I could imagine his ass pacing.

“Calm yo’ ass down then. I just got a few questions.”

“Bring yo’ ass on then.” He disconnected the call. If anyone knew anything about this, it had to be him. Nesha and he argued all the damn time, but there had to be love there with how they always came back together. Nesha had to tell him something.

I shot a text to Priest to cover everyone's homes, both the twins' and his own. Hamp wasn’t crazy, but I wasn’t taking any chances either. He didn’t ask shit. He just let me know everyone would be covered in fifteen. The twins were already at the house with Satisa.

When I pulled up to the building, Chaz was pacing back and forth outside. As soon as I pulled to a stop, his hand was on my door handle, and he was slipping inside.

“What’s the problem?”

“Did Nesha ever tell you why they relocated?” His face changed dramatically, replaced by his naturally playful demeanor.

“Nigga you really telling me to drop my location behind some pussy? I can’t be mad because I did more for less.”

“I was showing a house today, and Hamp was there.”

“Hamp? Hamp? The name sound familiar? Who the fuck is he?” He frowned, cutting me off. Now, he was back to demon mode.

“He has been around for the last little minute, and first, I thought nothing of it. I do my shit, get my money.”

“Oh, on some Patch shit?” he asked, and I nodded before going on.

“So he pop out saying some wild shit about Lesha and Nesha. He has been looking for them. Saying they killed his son and ran off with all his money.”

“And you think Nesha and Lesha had something to do with that? They talk a lot of shit, but they ain’t no killers, bruh.”

“Why did they leave? Did Nesha tell you?”

Chaz was about to answer, but he took a pause. I could tell that put his ass deep in his feelings. “All I know is that Nesha said sis’ was in an abusive relationship with some nigga. They had a big fight with him and nobody to depend on. They wanted a fresh start, so they left. They have no family for real. Their mom died while they were in high school, so that’s why they came up here and started dancing.”

“I’m not saying the shit sounds all the way legit, but it doesn’t sound like a lie either,” I admitted. Chaz pulled a blunt from his pocket. He looked at me right before he lit up and tucked it back inside.

Chaz sat up. “Wait, Hamp? I heard that name before. A few weeks back they stopped dancing. When I was talking to Nesha about what happened, she said it was some bitches up there popping off at her and Le, so a fight got them thrown out. The same night, when she was talking to her sister, I heard that name. It was the middle of the night right after we bailed Le out and dropped her off.”

“Bailed out?”

“Yeah, she ate that charge they got at the club. She was doing community service for it. If that’s the case that’s what could’ve led him to her. But I was at Nesha's house that night. We got everything settled with sis’, and I’m getting ready to push home. I would say it was like two or three in the morning. She is in the kitchen whispering over the phone, talking about she ain’t gone let that nigga control her life. I asked her who the fuck was that nigga she mentioned, and she acted like a goofy about the shit. I was thinking she was on something.”

“I don’t think so.” I stroked my beard. His words resonated with me. They were both afraid of something. That was why they were hiding under all that damn attitude. It was a smoke screen not to let anyone get too close. The shit was all making sense, but one thing rose above it all. It didn’t do a damn thing to stop the way I felt about her.

“I kept asking her why you ain’t just going to another spot to dance. Don’t get me wrong, if that wasn’t what she was cool or comfortable with, I wouldn’t say shit. She was talking about how she was ready for something else, so I dropped it. That’s the thing with her, bruh. She be on me, but her ass always hiding something and never telling the truth. I’m ‘bout to call her ass.” He popped the door handle and stood to his feet. I got out of the car just as fast.

“Do me a favor cuz. Chill for now. If she ain’t ready to tell you the truth about the shit, all you gone get is another lie anyway.”

“Fuck you mean ready?” He frowned. “I been fucking around with Nesha for two fucking years. If somebody is after them, she damn sure owes it to me to say something about it.”

“I get where you coming from with that, but this one we gotta get to the bottom of. The last thing you need is for her to run away from you. I don’t know what that nigga Hamp on. He offered me five million to give them up.”

“What? He giving up that crazy money like that? It gotta mean something else to him. All type of niggas gone come for it.” He understood.

“That’s what I know. We need to choose to protect them over our own emotions right now. If she ain’t telling you the truth, it’s a reason behind it. Bringing that shit up only gone make them run.”

“The reason behind it is she on some bullshit.” He slammed his phone on the hood of my car, and I looked at his ass like he was crazy. When I saw his face, I backed down, cut what I had to say next, and waited. He rubbed his hand over his hair, trying to compose himself. He didn’t have to tell me. He was hurt.

“I fuck with Nesha. I love her for real, but it’s always some shit with her. It’s so hard to get in. I ain’t saying it’s right, but that’s why I’m always fucking with somebody else because she is cold as shit. I ain’t never met a chick that fuck me the way Nesha does. I mean, her ass goes crazy, and at the same time, she is so fucking distant from me emotionally. I feel like a bitch sometimes asking for her emotions. Then she throw that shit back at me. Every time I turn around, I’m finding out about shit she didn’t tell me herself.”

I folded my arms across my chest and waited to ensure it wasn’t anything else. When I thought I was clear enough to speak, he took off again. “That shit draining as fuck, cuz. Every time. Every time I think we are getting somewhere, some more shit pops up. Another nigga she in they face. Then I go get with another chick I give no fucks about just because I don’t want to be a fool for her ass. Shit like a never-ending revolving toxic cycle. I damn near got two kids by bitches I don’t even fuck with like that for real.”

“You got to decide, cuz. You have to ask yourself if she is worth the trouble, and if she is, you gotta move accordingly. Snap decisions require precision, so stop dropping your dick in places you don’t plan on making roots.”

He snatched his phone off the car and started walking back toward the building without another word. I followed behind him. He was done talking, and the outburst was nothing he had planned to talk about. I didn’t want him to think he was alone in his vulnerability. Too often those feelings drummed up some of the worst decisions. I knew that all too well, so I just decided to be what he needed, even if it was just ten minutes until his classes started. I just decided to be there. Silently, communicative, or however he would have it.

We looped through the halls until we reached a gym. Ball bags were in one corner, and the bleachers were pulled out on one side. Chaz went to the bleachers and had a seat, so I sat beside him. He pulled a ball hiding in the foot pedal and started dribbling under his knees.

“I’m glad you're back, cuz,” he announced.

“Like I never left, bruh.”

“You out of all people. I never thought you would have an addiction problem. I know everybody has been tiptoeing around the shit. What happened?”

I sat up. “It can happen to anybody. Once I got over the fact that the shit could and did happen to me was the only step it took for me to get better. How it happened? I will tell you, but let’s save that for another day. Shit, you don’t even have enough time,” I finished as I saw a mother walking in with her two boys. Chaz ass wasn’t slick. I knew exactly what his ass was doing up here as the second mom came in.

“Bet. I’m gone get these lil’ niggas started. I got some steam to blow off now.”

“Hell nah. You got it, cuz. Remember what I said. Let’s figure this one out. For now let’s just make sure that they are straight.”

We slapped hands and pulled into a brotherly hug.

“Nesha always safe with me.”

I nodded as we broke our grip. I turned to leave, and I was called back.

“Aye, . What about Lesha? Is she worth it?”

“I don’t know yet. But I damn sure plan to find out,” I answered honestly and walked out of the gym. She was still playing as if she didn’t know what time it was. I would get my time with her tonight and see where her head was. I couldn’t ask her for her truth yet. I hadn’t earned it, and it would be my pleasure to work for it. One thing I did know was that I couldn’t enter that woman until I knew for sure where we were headed because she would stir up a craving inside of me that I would do anything to get a hit of.

As much as I wanted to stop, there was one more thing I needed to check off the list. My mind was turning in so many different directions. Now, the need to talk to Priest was dual. He texted back and told me he had the details secured in minutes, but there was another order of business. I went home and went over to meet Priest. He answered the door.

“Where my niece and nephew?” I asked as soon as he opened the door. I was wound tight, but my little people still had to get some love before I got to business. No one was in immediate danger. Hamp’s ass wasn’t crazy. I heated up just thinking about the shit again.

“Shit they with my ma for the weekend.”

“That’s right! And y’all will not be staying here and ruining my girl's night either! My girls just left after getting everything set, and they will be back soon, so y’all need to get out!” Satisa waddled over and I pulled her into a hug.

“Sis’, you feeling okay?”

“Ready to have your second nephew if he stops being so damn stubborn,” she spoke while she was on the move. She floated past and walked up the steps, leaving us in the foyer.

“Let’s go in the back,” Priest spoke, waving his hand. I followed him to one of his back offices. “What’s the problem?” he asked as soon as he shut the door.

I hated to keep rehearsing the story, but I told him a final time about how Hamp pulled that shit earlier. He listened engaged but didn’t flinch.

“You believe him?” was the only question he asked.

“It’s not really about that. His ass know better than to pull up on me like that. I don’t give a fuck what his issue is. He ain’t touching her.”

He looked at me for a second to gauge my seriousness.

“You already know I have everybody covered. Shit, Chaz and Nesha are under each other all the time, so I’m sure she's good. Plus, everybody has two cars on them.”

“Yeah, I just talked to cuz,” I answered.

“What’s your next move?”

“Fuck him. He wants to lose his life being a damn fool. That’s on him. I’m past the point of running scared. He know ain’t nowhere he can hide from me when it’s time to touch, so his ass need to be the one to think twice.”

“All that shit you said, you still didn’t tell me what the move is.”

“Le coming with me to Savannah for this next project. I can’t protect her if she is not next to me.”

“She okay with that?”

“It don’t matter if she ain’t. That’s what we doing.”

“You be careful, bruh.” Priest locked eyes with me.

“You know I never been worried about a nigga. My head is clear.”

“I ain’t worried about that either,” he clarified.

“Alright, bruh, I’m gone.”

“You got something to do? Fuck with me for a minute. My baby kicking me out since I been on her ass. I gotta give her a minute with her girls, and I ain’t trying to go over yo’ momma house so she can talk about my ass.”

“Ha! You know she gone crack your head for not having shit to do. I gotta shoot by there before I leave.”

“You better or she will never forgive you.”

I nodded as we migrated to the door. I waited in the living room while he sought out his wife and told her we were leaving. I followed him to Mona’s. Somehow he beat me there. Once I got there, he was already inside. I found him at a table in the back.

“There he go!” Priest spoke louder than he should have with a smile on his face. All seriousness was gone from earlier. Priest always was the type to keep good spirits about himself but this was more. This nigga was fulfilled, and I loved that look on bro’. As soon as my ass hit the seat, I heard a feminine voice over my shoulder.

“Wow . I didn’t think I would see you out here. I guess I better get used to it. I’ll be seeing a lot of you in the next six weeks,” Kiara said as she rounded the table. She was noticeably drunk. She had on some dress if you could even call it that. The fabric covered the most intimate parts only, and the way her breasts were smashed together and coming out, they threatened to pop out at a moment’s notice.

“What up, K?” I nodded her way. She came closer and laid her hand on my chest flirtatiously.

“K? I like that. Who's this?” She grinned and swayed a little.

“This is my brother, Priest,” I offered, and Priest gave her a nod but didn’t extend a hand. Matter of fact the nigga straight up walked away. My eyes traced him until he landed at the bar.

“Oh, your brother didn’t have to leave.” She swayed into me.

“You good? Who you come here with?” I asked, genuinely concerned.

“Oh, look at you. Such a gentleman. I cannot wait until we can start our getaway.” She touched me again, and I gripped her hand gently but firmly enough to let her know I wasn’t with that touchy-feely shit.

“You are drunk, Kiara. You are on your own time so I don’t judge you for that but what we doing is not a getaway. It’s a job. A place where we will be professional at all times. Do what you want with your weekends but Monday through Friday I expect you to be on point.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she added quickly.

“Do you have someone to take you home? You’ve been drinking.”

“Don’t worry, as irresponsible as I seem, I am not. My best friend is my designated driver. I guess you have the power to make a girl lose good sense. Have a good night, , and I look forward to the opportunity.” She gave me a once-over before she walked in the other direction. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw she was indeed with a group of friends.

“And you really think that’s a good idea?” Priest came out of nowhere. The shit-eating grin on his face couldn’t hide his true feelings.

“I thought I was coming out here to spend some time with my lil’ bro’ today. Have a few drinks and talk some shit. Nigga I ain’t know it was an interview.” I looked around me at the few people who were mingled inside of the bar. It wasn’t too busy. Not that either one of us came for the crowd either way. I thought it would be a good distraction but I should’ve known Priest wasn’t about to let me off with what I told him. Knowing him he probably thought about that the whole way over.

“For one, you don’t drink no more. Second, if you didn’t want to talk about this you never would’ve brought it up. How do you think this shit gone work out? You got a chick there that clearly likes you working for you, and then you have a twin who you got undeniable chemistry with.”

“Bring it up? Nigga I ain’t said one word about it.”

“You telling me you don’t want to talk about this shit? So how deep is this shit really with Twin?”

I gripped the drink that sat in front of him and threw back the untouched shot in his glass.

“Bruh wait! You sure you—"

“I’m not an alcoholic. I never have been. If I drink with you will you stop the interrogation? Her name ain’t no fucking Twin, either. Shit ain’t as deep as you think it is.” Those last words tasted just as bitter as the drink.

“Damn let me get her name right then.” Priest laughed. “Okay, answer me this, and I’ll drop it.”

I nodded.

“Clearly it’s something between y’all. That’s undeniable. What’s the end game here? Hamp wants her, and you ain’t giving her up. It’s only a matter of time before he finds out y’all are somewhere together because, as you said, you ain’t runnin’. So you are supposed to protect this woman; she is your type because nigga I know you, but you are saying you ain’t trying to get deep. Why even set yourself up like this?”

“I can’t hold you. She is my type and everything I’m used to, but she's better. I’m trying to allow the shit to happen naturally but she stubborn as fuck. So shielded and I guess I see why. What I have been through took so much from me, and I can’t lose this time. I don’t know if either one of us is in the right headspace for this. Maybe I can only give her the freedom to live her life without looking over her shoulder. Any other circumstance, it would be her.”

“So as a grown man you gone see a woman you know you want but may not necessarily be in the right place to indulge. You have one woman throwing it at you and another woman that you want. You playing with fire bruh.”

“You said one, or do I need to order another round?”

“You got that. What’s the business about?” Even though I wasn’t indulging, Priest waved over the waitress to bring him another shot.

“Shit, you know everything solid on my team. I have an eight-man team, and we have ten homes to rehab. Some pretty nice bones in all the mansions, they say. They are giving me sixteen weeks for completion, with a two-week break in the middle. I plan to have it done in twelve. First batch done in six and the next batch in six. I also have something else on the table down there that I have been working on. See why I actually need an accountant? I’m gone have to bust my ass to get this done. It just pisses me off because I had so much shit set up to make things easier. I’m trying not to think too much about it, but I fumbled some shit big time.”

“You need something?” he asked.

“A wash and a trail,” I said honestly. I was done taking, but I was cool with an exchange.

“You got that. Bring it to me tonight. Ever gone tell me how all that shit started?” Priest asked and the silence was thick that surrounded us.

“Yeah,” I answered simply. I would, but that was too heavy to discuss. He picked up on the finality of my answer and moved on.

“What day y’all leave?”

“Right after I leave here, I’m going to pick her up, and we gone head home. This shit with Hamp has moved my schedule up. She at your house right now. Her pretty ass probably thinks she is about to go home and chill. She been ducking me the last few days.” It was purposeful that I hadn’t seen her today. I was waiting as long as I could because my goal was not to let on about it. It may not have made sense to anyone else, but I wanted her admission of her own volition. I wanted her to trust me on her own.

“You wild as hell. Bruh, have a good trip but keep yo fucking head on a swivel. I got everything here. Nesha has a detail, and I told Chaz to keep his head up and his dick in his pants. Just let me know when it’s fall out time.” Priest smiled.

“Yo’ ass just as bad as Chaz with that smiling shit. Y’all love drama.”

“Shit, not me. I’m a family man now. I just know who my brother is. Nothing but good shit can follow. But speaking of family, I’m ‘bout to get my ass out of here and go home. Better come get your woman because me and mine on some roof shit tonight.”

“Nigga I don’t need to know all that.” I dapped him up as he rose from the table.

“Aye, bruh, where was that place you said you got those flowers for sis’ from?”

The laugh he produced was so damn loud I was no longer interested in the answer. “Fuck you, Priest.” I walked past him.

“Don’t be like that, bruh. I’ll send you the info.”

We both got into our cars and drove away.