Page 31 of Solomon’s Temple

“Lie again,” I warned. I lifted him from the desk and pushed him down in the chair. He sat slouched over and crying while holding his hand.

“Now, what I need you to do is apologize for disrespecting her. Do I make myself clear?”

He didn't speak, and I pulled my gun back out, putting it to his head. “I'll splatter your brains all over this wall and tell the cops it was self-defense. Do. I. Make. Myself clear?”

“Y-yeah! I hear you, man!”

I pulled out my cell, scrolled down to Temple’s name, and hit call.

The phone rang four times before she picked up.

“Hey, you.”

“What's up, wifey. I got somebody here who’d like to say something to you.” I kicked him in his shin as he cried out.

“I-I'm sorry!”

“Elaborate,” I told him.

“For saying those things to you. I’ll never do it again.”

Temple was quiet.

“Did you hear him, mamas?”

“I did. I don't accept.”

“Beauty, if you don't accept, I'm going to be forced to put this man in the hospital.”

“No, don't. It's okay, Solomon. I'm going to get my retribution; you didn't have to do that.”

“I absolutely did. No one is going to disrespect you as long as I'm around.”

“Don't do anything else, please. Thank you for sticking up for me, but I'll take it from here.”

“You sure? I can break his legs⁠—”

“I'm sure, bookie.”

“A’ight. I'll talk to you soon, my love.”

“Okay.”

I hung up and looked down at him writhing in pain. “You better thank the Big Homie and his riders that she didn't press that go button. I bet you think twice about sexually harassing another woman in here. Now I gotta go repent because of you.” I mushed him in his head then turned to leave. Before I walked out, I looked at his wife who stood with her face all twisted up in anger. “He doesn't love you. He's only with you out of obligation. Big G told me to deliver that message to you.”

“Get out.”

“Don't shoot the messenger.” I smiled at her and walked out of the office to everyone standing around looking shocked, and some looked proud.

He'd better be glad I was a changed man because the old me would have put a bullet where the sun didn't shine.

When I got to my truck, I sat there for a moment. I knew what I had done was wrong, and my heart was heavy with conviction.

There was a better way to handle that, but the moment she told me what he said, I'd already made up my mind that I had to defend my future wife’s honor. Although He said in His word that vengeance was His, I took it upon myself to speed up the process.

“Forgive me, Big Homie. I'm still a work in progress. I try every day to be a better man than I was yesterday. Give me a sign that this is the woman I'm supposed to pursue. I need Your guidance and wisdom to help me make the right choices. Amen.” I started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

Thirty minutes later, I found myself in the parking lot of Principles of Faith Baptist Church. Temple had called me twice, but I couldn't answer right now. I had to get some insight about how to handle this thing with her.