Page 57 of Disrespectfully, Relic

Relic stared at his soldier, catching the flicker of resentment in his eyes. It was the familiar loathing he held for Judith that no one understood since they weren’t walking in his shoes or expected to carry the weights that he did as the head of the family. The very woman who treated him like a disease; he was told to care for simply because that was the way they were brought up. He doubted Judith would tolerate him if he didn’t fund her life.

“Knowing what I know now, what I’m about to offer you is perfect. What would you say if I could give you a legal job that makes just as much, if not more, than what you’re making in your current position?”

Drish’s brow rose in skepticism. “I’d say you’re full of shit.”

“And I’d leave your ass right where you stand and find someone better suited for the job.”

“Hold on. You taking shit too far, boss man. Slow yo roll,” Drish jested, holding out a hand for Relic to pump his brakes. “What’s the job?”

“Security.”

“Real security, or the bootleg kind?”

“What the fuck is the bootleg kind, Drish?”

“We topflight security of the world, Craig! That kind. Where you give me a janky shirt with the business named ironed on it, no weapon, and a weak ass whistle.”

Relic sighed and rubbed his temple. “I don’t know why I try with y’all niggas. Real security, where you’ll have to take a course, get a background check, and apply for a license. Anything that needs to be paid for, I’ll handle it. For now, the basics is good to secure my businesses, but by the summertime, I expect those requirements and more done because my label will need bodyguards. Do you think you can do that?”

“Hell, yea!”

“Good. I have a special task for you now, but we’ll talk about that later. If you know a few more people that are dependable and don’t have a record, have them call this number,” he instructed, pulling out Savvy’s business card from his pocket. “She’ll direct y’all to the right person, who’ll give you information on the next steps.”

“You’re dead ass? Just like that, you’re taking me off the streets and giving me a legal gig? There’s gotta be a catch.”

Relic could see the distrust gradually bleeding into Drish’s expression. He didn’t blame him because if he were in the young bull’s shoes, he’d find it hard to believe, too. Especially when nothing in the world came free, and men like them were expected to survive but to never accept handouts because it overshadowed the effort they’d put in.

“No catch this time. Call that number and have her connect you with Kennedy,” he instructed.

“Bet. Now, if that’s all you wanted to talk about, I’m trying to go drink up y’all liquor and see which one of your artists likes younger niggas.” He simpered and flitted his eyes toward the girls. His gaze stopped on Sojourney. “On the other hand, scratch that. I ain’t trying to get murked for fucking around with ya girl.”

“Murked by who?”

Drish twisted his mouth to one side at Relic’s feigned ignorance. “It ain’t no secret, Saucy’s peoples are looking to do her ass in for being a traitor.”

Relic released a wry chuckle and rubbed a hand down his chin, not taking kindly to threats, whether directed toward him or not. Sojourney’s ex-boyfriend and his people had been popping shit since Relic had put her up in a spot where they couldn’t find her. He was at his boiling point with playing cool about the situation.

“Fuck that nigga and anyone affiliated with him.”

Those were his parting words to Drish before striding to Pierre where the nigga was posing with Tekken for pictures. Pierre staggered backward when Relic yoked him up by his shirt collar like a bad ass toddler and dragged him away from the flashing phone cameras beaming into their section. Pierre jerked from his hold, and Relic shoved him.

“How much you drank tonight?” he interrogated, making Pierre’s face fall flat.

“Huh?”

“Huh?” he mocked, smacking him upside the head. “Do you need Paris’s hearing aids, bitch? You can hear. It’s your day, but ain’t shit changed, P. I need you on your P’s and Q’s.”

“I’m focused, and it’s mad niggas from the gang in this bitch tonight. You heard ‘em when Shabu called for ‘em.”

“You ain’t learn from Jay how these niggas smile in ya face but hate behind your back?”

Pierre’s high dipped at the mention of his old friend turned foe that he’d put in the dirt because the nigga was treacherous. He reached for his earlobe out of habit but caught himself and lowered his hand.

“What I tell y’all, P? We can’t trust nobody but us. Those niggas see us going up, and they don’t like it, which is why I told you to stay from ‘round them. The greener the pastures, the greater the presence of snakes.”

“I hear you talking, folks.”

“I hope so because your thick ass head doesn’t like retaining shit. You’re cut off for the night because I’m about to leave, so—”

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