Page 112 of The Love of Priest

Making his way up and bypassing the heavy security measures, Priest stood behind the heavy steel doors as they glided open. His Versace sneakers made contact with the dark oak floors as he strode toward Nia who was still in distress.

"You alright?" Priest took a seat next to Nia on the couch before wrapping his arm around her shoulder to console her.

Nia had been out in the streets before turning her life around, but the severity of this incident, with bullets making passageways through the walls she was within, was frightening, even for a former drug addict like herself. Nia nodded her head. "Y-yeah, I'm… I'm fine," she said, still in a daze.

Mirsad sat opposite his mother with his head in his hands. He felt guilty. It was evident, however, that his guilt wouldn't change what had just occurred. "What happened?" Priest asked as he eyed Nia.

Mirsad began to speak. "I don't?—"

Priest’s head jolted up to allow his dark eyes to pierce into Mirsad who immediately recanted his response.

"I ain't speaking to you yet," he gritted out to Mirsad. “Nia, what happened?"

Nia lifted her head from Priest's shoulder, her eyes glancing over at Mirsad who had a look of sorrow glimmering within his eyes. She cleared her throat, trying her best to pull herself together. Planting her sweaty palms against her thighs, she wiped them down her jeans before letting out a heavy breath.

"I was locking up the drawer where I keep all the money orders for the rent and… um as soon as I was getting up, shots just started ringing out. They were back-to-back, just coming one after the other," she explained with a cracked voice. "All I was worried about was the daycare in the back. Vivian, the lady unit 23F, she was working a late shift, and I agreed to keep her son and daughter until she came home. They were in the back when all the bullets came through." Nia gulped. Although she was frightened to death for her own life, all she kept thinking about was making sure the kids were fine. Luckily, the bullets didn't travel far enough to harm either of them.

"Where are the kids now?" Priest inquired.

Jazzy piped up, jumping into conversation in response to her brother. "I was with Cyro when I got the call from Mirsad. We took them to their mother. They were pretty shaken up, so I got them a hotel for the night so they could feel safe." Priest admired his sister's act of kindness, and he was glad she had learned that trait from him.

"Good looking out," he commended his sister as he rose from the couch. "Nia, you're alright here. Jazzy will take care of you."

"Actually," Jazzy piped in with an uneasy look on her face. "I gotta get to work. Grind don't stop ‘cause our cousin is playing a dangerous game." Her cold set of orbs seared into Mirsad who still had a guilty look etched stupidly across his face.

Priest nodded in agreement. "I get it," he assured her. “I'll have extra security with you just in case."

Priest was playing no games with this situation. Although everyone assumed those bullets were the consequences of Mirsad's actions, Priest was thinking two steps ahead just in case they weren't exactly addressed to Mirsad as a warning. Priest had many enemies who didn't really appreciate his presence or the work he did for the community because they believed the way Priest was living his life was a facade. They thought he was in the game for the publicity because even though everyone knew exactly what he did to make his money, especially the media, they still promoted him as the face of New York. It just didn't make sense to anyone.

With the recognition came with a lot of enemies, so Priest wouldn't have been surprised if those warning shots were addressed to him instead. Using his cell, Priest called up Kaymen while Jazzy made her way out of the penthouse with her security in close proximity waiting for her to make it down from the elevator.

"Yo," Kaymen answered the call. "What you need me to do?" Kaymen was almost always on task. He never missed a beat with his duties and never once complained.

"Something slight. I just need an eye on Nia. She's not in the best shape." Given what she had just endured, Priest could understand why she was so afraid and adamant about not being left alone at the moment.

"Her bad-ass son there?" Kaymen asked as he steered his vehicle in the direction of Priest's penthouse.

Priest glanced straight ahead at Mirsad while nodding his head. "Yeah, but don't trip. He's coming with me," he assured Kaymen.

Kaymen chuckled. "Don't kill him," he joked light heartedly.

Priest rose from his seat, motioning his finger at Mirsad, signaling him to stand up and follow him. "That decision is his to make," Priest shrugged. "‘Preciate you for coming through," he thanked Kaymen.

"No doubt. I'll be there in a minute." The call ended after they said their goodbyes.

Priest dropped his phone back into his pocket before turning on his heels to face Nia. "I got security surrounding this whole building, and I'll have someone up here with you until Kaymen comes through. The place is yours," he assured her with a doting voice. He hated that he had to move so quickly instead of sticking around to console her fears away, but Nia understood.

She nodded her head, assuring him that he and Mirsad were okay to leave. As promised, Priest called one of the men from his security detail up to the penthouse to ensure Nia's safety. Stepping into the elevator, Mirsad followed behind Priest. His cousin had yet to say anything that was too frightening to him, so he knew Priest was beyond pissed. Usually, he would just cut to the chase, but right now, he was moving really strategic.

As the thick steel doors collided, Priest turned to Mirsad who kept his eyes straight ahead. Instantly, Priest's massive hands clenched Mirsad's neck as he lifted him a few inches off the ground. "How fucking stupid you gotta be to put ya moms in danger?" he gritted at Mirsad who was far more concerned about the restriction of his air than Priest pressing him.

Mirsad's eyelids were peeled back, widened in shock. He gripped Priest's wrist tightly as his feet dangled above the ground. Priest eyed him for a few more seconds that felt like an eternity for Mirsad. Figuring he had teeter-tottered Mirsad close enough to the edge of death, he unclenched his neck, sending Mirsad crashing to the floor of the elevator, gasping for air.

Priest’s dark and cold eyes peered down at Mirsad, who was rubbing his neck as he coughed excessively at the sudden rush of air.He peeled his eyes from Mirsad, lacking any remorse for the troublesome teenager. As the doors of the elevator glided open, he stepped out of them. Mirsad eventually recovered and got up from the ground. He dragged himself behind Priest, who had already gotten into the backseat of one of his black-on-black SUVs. His usual driver greeted him politely.

Mirsad slid into the seat next to Priest, shutting the door behind him. "Where to, Mr. Justice?" Ike, the driver, asked as he neared the exit of the parking garage.

Priest’s eyes peered out of the darkly tinted windows. "The Groves, Ike. Thank you," Priest requested, and Ike simply nodded before raising the partition back up.

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