Page 41 of The Love of Priest

"I just wanna say I appreciate everyone coming out for the cause. My mission is to make sure no family in this community is without a holiday celebration, a meal, or a blessing. With the help of the community and my brothers Kaymen and J'Ru, we were able to attain the resources to feed 350 families for Thanksgiving alone," Priest announced, causing a wave of cheers amongst the crowd.

Priest surveyed the crowd. In the far back, his eyes were able to target a few law enforcement officers who were ready to intervene in the wholesome event if one thing didn't look right to them. Like always, they liked to provoke Priest just so he could blow up. Out the corner of his eye, he could see the lead NYPD detective on his case, Christine Vance. Seeing her prepped up in her pant suit and professional up-do with a smug look on her face was amusing to Priest. A reaction was what they wanted, so he was going to give it to them.

Removing his hand from Britain's, he gently put her behind him. Priest rotated to face Vance with a smirk on his face, just as he would do in court. "While me and my people over here feeding families throughout the holidays, these pigs were trying everything in their power to put me behind bars," Priest chuckled with an amused smirk. J'Ru and Kaymen couldn't contain their laughter as they turned to face Detective Vance.

Priest had now steered everyone's attention onto Vance and the few law enforcement peers she had around her. Everyone felt the same way Priest felt, disgusted. "I'm doing things for my people, and y'all trying to block that. Y'all made me and my boys jump through hoops and hurdles just to be able to put this event together. NYPD has all these claims about me being bad for the streets and how much I need to be locked up. It's nice and all to see that y'all finally give a damn about shit going on in our communities. However, it's clear that you guys have the wrong bad guy."

The beguiling smile painted all over Priest's face made Vance sick to her stomach. To her, Priest was manipulative and a con. His acts and tactics were the last things that could get them off his trail. They were determined to nail Priest to the cross he loved to parade around wearing and crucify him. The crowd began to boo and heckle Vance and her extra buddies in law enforcement. With her eyes searing into Priest's amused orbs, she stared at him full of disgust.

"You want a reaction from me, Detective Vance? You got it. My community and I welcome you with open arms. I hope you allow us to introduce you and your people to the real me."

The way Priest spoke channeled so much authority. Although Vance hated to admit it, she was slightly intimidated. She had a right to be. Priest was an important figure, especially in Harlem. He did great things for the community and uplifted his people. Vance was in his stomping grounds, so she had less of an advantage, even if she was in law enforcement.

A community stood stronger than any bitch-ass cop with a badge and a gun, and she was aware of that. While getting heckled and tormented, Vance gathered her people and let Priest have his event in peace without her lingering around. Even though she felt like Priest was far from the guardian angel he was portraying himself to be, she wasn't going to come between a family and a chance to enjoy a great Thanksgiving.

"You're trouble." Britain looked up at him with a challenging smirk.

Priest nodded his head, still finding the shit show Vance tried to pull on him a few moments before amusing. "I am. But I'm also calculated," Priest added. "I knew they were gonna be out here, and I also knew they would be trying to sift around for fake news so they could continue to paint me as the bad guy. Sometimes, you have to fall into other people’s bullshit to prevail. You get what I'm saying?" Priest shrugged nonchalantly.

Britain, who was barely able to focus on what he was saying since she was distracted by the movement of his mouth whenever he spoke, simply just nodded her head. "I get you."

Priest chuckled, knowing Britain was far too distracted to get what he was trying to preach. "I'll go deeper in depth while we're in the Hamptons," he assured her.

Priest was pretty much everywhere at once. He wanted to assist with handing out the meal kits, but he was constantly being pulled away to either take a picture or to be thanked by a family.

Britain stood along the long table that contained an abundance of meal kits for the families, offering some assistance by handing them out. “So, you must be the one taking up all of my son's time," Britain heard to the side of her, which caused her to turn to face who was behind the voice.

Britain was slightly stunned to catch sight of Priest’s mother. She hated the fact that she knew so much of the woman before she got the chance to meet her. Britain felt like her impression of Sylvia was already marred before she even got the chance to make one. A light smile masked Britain's face while she let out a light laugh. She really didn't know how to respond to his mother. Firstly, she didn't think she would be meeting her so soon, especially since she and Priest hadn't put a title on their situation. Secondly, Sylvia really wasn't her favorite person after Priest told her a few of his mother's choices. Thirdly, Sylvia's tone wasn't one she liked. It was like Sylvia was trying to intimidate her to solidify her place, which was stupid since Britain didn't even feel like she herself had a place in Priest's life. It was a gamble everyday with Priest, honestly.

"I'm Sylvia, his mother." Sylvia stuck her hand out for Britain to shake.

"I'm Britain," she introduced herself, shaking Sylvia’s hand.

"Nice to meet you, Britain." Sylvia smiled her gorgeous smile. "It's a shame I haven't heard anything about you. My son is so secretive when it comes to these types of things."

"Oh, we aren't serious quite yet. We're just keeping each other company," Britain clarified, not wanting to make what she and Priest had more than what it was.

Sylvia nodded as an amused laugh escaped her lips. "Company?That's nice and cute. Hopefully, that's not all you see my son as, a beau to keep you company." Her eyes then slit into Britain's, causing Britain to shift uncomfortably.

Britain flipped her hair over her shoulder and cleared her throat. "I sense that you think I'm around for all the wrong reasons?" Britain hiked a brow up at Sylvia.

Priest's mother shrugged her shoulders. "You said it," she stated carelessly. "Listen, my son doesn't need a heartbreak or an extra mouth to feed?—"

Britain couldn't stand there and allow Sylvia to come at her any type of way any longer. The fact that she would assume she was into Priest just for his money was sickening.

"I'm gonna have to stop you right there," Britain interjected. "No disrespect to you and your mothering of a 28-year-old grown-ass man, of course, but I feel as though you have just overstepped your boundaries. You don't know me, and I don't know you, which means you don't know my intentions with your son, especially since you aren't the one I've been spending my time with. Evidently, your own intentions with Priest should be questioned, not mine. Lastly, what I will say, though, is you made a great man. It's a shame that you only see him as a meal ticket instead of all the positive things he's putting out into the world." Britain felt disrespected, and it was shocking that the disrespect came from Priest's mother. Usually, when mothers tried to sift out a woman's intentions with their son, it sounded genuine and like she truly cared for her son's well-being. Sylvia, however… she just sounded bitter and selfish. It was sad.

Before Sylvia got the chance to respond, Britain was already wading away from her. Britain didn't want to bring drama to the event Priest cared so much about. Clearly, Sylvia had no clue what a time and place really was. As Britain was striding toward her car to leave, she heard her name being called. Turning around, she was faced with Priest.

"Where you think you’re going?" he asked her once he finally caught up to her, a smile in full effect on his face since he had been having such a good time.

"I think it's best that I leave," Britain informed him, causing the smile on his face to fade. It was evident something was wrong. Britain really was in no mood to discuss what happened, and, unlike Sylvia, she knew the importance of time and place.

Priest nodded his head, agreeing with her. She was upset, and it wouldn’t do anyone any good if she stuck around. "I'll be at your spot after this." He craned down and pecked her lips. "Whoever it was, I'll handle them," he asserted.

Britain looked up at him. "It was your mother, Priest."

Priest let out a heavy sigh before running his hand down his face. "What she say?" he asked her.

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