Page 165 of The Love of Priest

"Wasn't shit dead end on my part," Kaymen joked. Before he met Priest and J'Ru, Kaymen was actually in the process of becoming a paralegal. How things had shifted! How had he ended up in the position he was in now? He couldn't even tell you if he tried, but he didn't regret a thing. The brotherhood he'd gained from his drastic life change was appreciated, and he wouldn't have traded it for anything.

Priest smacked his lips jokingly. "Them tired-ass suits you used to wear was really fucking dead end, but that's another conversation," he heckled Kaymen, which caused J'Ru to double over in laughter.

Kaymen stale faced Priest while shaking his head. "If we can be mature for a minute, I'd like to talk business."

After their laughter, Priest and J'Ru straightened up. "So, where you wanna start with this?" J'Ru asked Priest.

"This spot gonna be filled up by next week. I need one of you here to get the furniture moved in. At that same time, we should have things moving out," Priest explained. Priest had a full-blown operation prepared to start up. He had legit inventory and a legit trucking business to move in and out of the city, and he planned on having legit books for financial records.

"Where you planning to be?" J'Ru raised a brow at Priest.

Priest sighed. "With Tasha. Little man's funeral is coming up." Jamari's death was still heavy on Priest's heart. He was taking it day by day. As unhealthy as Britain's coping mechanism may have seemed, it was working for him at the moment. He was hovering instead of smothering his emotions. "I just need someone handling shit while I'm taking care of Jamari's moms."

"No doubt. I got you," J'Ru assured Priest.

Priest thanked him before shifting his attention to Kaymen. "I need you to be on the departing end just to make sure everything is running smoothly. I'll have them routes to you by the end of the day." What they were doing was extremely risky, but Priest had evaluated every possible thing that could go wrong. He found a solution to every issue and an answer to every question. They were going to pull this off.

"Got it," Kaymen assured him with a quick nod.

"What's happening today?" J'Ru asked Priest.

Priest let out a sigh. "I need tight security for everyone," Priest informed them, causing J'Ru to roll his eyes. He had no problem with security; however, he wasn't much of a fan of having them around. He felt as though he could do without them.

"I gotta have them big-ass niggas with me too?" J'Ru smacked his lips.

"Can you stop complaining and just shut the fuck up?" Kaymen nudged him with a mean mug, causing Priest to chuckle.

Priest averted his attention to J'Ru. "Look, man. Do you, but I need everyone untouched and safe. Kaymen has eyes on Jadey at all times. I'll have eyes on Jazzy, Britain, Mirsad and my moms," he listed. "June's a grimy motherfucka, and it ain’t rare for him to touch family."

Although nothing had happened yet, Priest knew as soon as his shit leaked to the other side of the city, war would begin to brew. June moved quickly and liked to hit below the belt, so as far as Priest was concerned, everybody would be getting security.

"It'll be the last if he fuck with me and mine," Kaymen scoffed, causing J'Ru and Priest to laugh, agreeing with him.

"Cyro's gonna be with Britain, so no one hit him up," Priest disclaimed. He knew pushing a full-time security guard onto Britain would make her suspicious and uncomfortable, so he assigned Cyro to her to put her more at ease. She had grown used to Cyro, so it wouldn't feel awkward when he was trailing her and posting up in front of each establishment or home she visited.

After delegating the security detail amongst everyone, the men called the meeting. They wished each other safe travels wherever they were heading separately.

His phone went off on his lap, and Priest split his attention between the road and his device to answer the incoming call from Jazzy. "It’s been a few days," Jazzy teased, causing herself and Priest to chuckle.

"It has. You free right now? Lunch on me? " he suggested with a hopeful smile. His plans for the week were completely thwarted after Jamari's sudden demise. The day that would have been dedicated to Jazzy had now transitioned to Jamari's funeral. Priest had priorities, and luckily for him, Jazzlyn understood.

"Ouuu," Jazzy squealed in excitement. "You're treating me?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "Where you at so I can slide through?"

Jazzy glanced around. Her normal had become the club. She had attained Priest's hustler's mentality, so she never took a day off. Who knew dancers needed so many custom pieces when they were usually known for not wearing any clothes at all?

"The club," she informed him.

Priest nodded, shifting lanes to turn in the direction of the club. "This little hustle is starting to become a little questionable,” he let out with a sigh.

Priest really wasn't feeling how much his little sister was in the club. Most nights, he had security with her, so that put him at ease a bit, but he really preferred she was elsewhere. However, that was how she was making her money, so he really couldn't knock her hustle.

"Don't trip. I'm not dancing, at least not on a pole," she cackled jokingly as Priest let out a stressed breath. Jazzy knew exactly how to push her brother's buttons.

"Jazzlyn-" Priest warned.

"I'm kidding," she assured him, still in the midst of laughter herself. "We should have lunch here. They have the best wings and burgers anyway.”

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