Page 25 of Justice II

Priest looked over there and shook his head.

“If that lil nigga checks his hair one more time, I’m putting his ass out.”

All I could do was laugh and take another drink.

“How’s Deacon?”

“You know. He’s talented and hardworking. But convinced those two things mean he don’t have to listen.”

“So he’s your brother.”

“Unfortunately.”

“You sound like me talking about Prime.”

“Prime got sense.”

“Now, he does,” I quipped. It was amazing to watch my brother’s transformation. Both of them really.

“Yeah, he got a good woman that straightened him out.”

“Yeah, I hear love can do that for you. I can’t relate. I’m just about this paper and family, you feel me.”

“Do I…”

“Man, I got a cousin that’s about to get out of prison. You wanna look out for niggas, but some niggas can’t be helped. He ain’t like Prime, who honored a code, you know.”

“What, he want a job? Want you to put him on?” I asked Priest.

“Hell yeah, but I can’t vouch for that nigga. He ain’t wrapped too tight.”

“Do I know him?” I asked.

“You might. Tavares? He’s my auntie’s oldest son.”

“Nah, name doesn’t really ring a bell.”

“He a sadistic motherfucka. Doin’ time for manslaughter. That’s what they caught him for. The other shit… let’s just say if they knew, he’d be in there for ten lifetimes.”

“Oh damn. You gotta keep your distance,” I said while shaking my head.

Priest Knox came from a prominent family that started running shit when my family came up. One of their businesses was a mortuary, which has been instrumental to a lot of what we do. They’ve helped us clean up many a mess.

There was Priest, Bishop and Deacon. Those were the three I grew up with. His grandmother and my grandmother were very close friends.

“How’s my girl Rita?” Priest asked.

“Feisty. But she’s getting worse. Her mind is going, man. And it’s fuckin’ with the family.”

“I gotta get over there to see my girl.”

“Yeah, you do.”

“I’ll make it happen. And we need to discuss the upcoming fight at the Banks Grand. Deacon has been training hard and is ready to take the title. We’re gonna put Banks Grand on the map.”

“Yeah, you gotta keep his ass on the leash though. We don’t need any PR blunders.”

“Ain’t no leashin’ that muhfucka. Have you ever been able to leash Prime?” He laughed.