The Deadly Sin

Family Or Foe

Keon groaned as he felt Tianna push his arm from around her. The alarm going off was loud and made his headache even worse. He heard the door shut to the bathroom and sucked his teeth at how petty Tianna could be at times. He rolled over onto his stomach and used his long arm to grab her phone from off of the nightstand on her side of the bed. He quickly hit the button to shut the phone up.

He wasn't quick enough because soon he felt Buster all over his back. He knew that meant that Jaxson was awake. The little boy was a morning person like his mama so that meant he would want to play. "Buster get ya big ass off me man." Keon pushed the dog only for it to growl and grab his hand.

He was ready to play. "Jax get ya dog." Keon finally acknowledged that he knew that the child was in the room. He heard a walkie talkie go off.

"We have been compromised. I repeat we have been compromised. Buster went in too early." Jaxson stood to his feet with his Nerf gun in hand. The same Nerf gun that Tianna didn't want Keon to buy him but he just had to. He never got the chance to play with toy guns when he was younger, so he thought it was only right. Plus he had bought his own son one and if he had it, they should too.

"Buster always mess up the plan. I told you not to take him." Keon was thrown off when he heard his own son's voice. It was probably the reason Jordyn didn't text him back the night before. When he left yesterday his son wasn't here. That was another reason he loved Tianna. She treated his child like her own. She stopped any beef that his baby's mother tried to start letting her know she wasn't with it. Their kids formed a bond and she wouldn't let anybody stand in the way of that.

Keon snatched his hand out of the dog's mouth turning over. Buster was all over him licking on his face. "Buster come on man." Keon pushed the dog off the bed knowing Tianna would have a fit if she caught the dog in her bed. "You know you aren't supposed to be in the bed." He whispered while rubbing the dog. Buster walked away from him when he heard Jax whistle. Keon took that as his chance to open the drawer beside him. He pulled out the Nerf gun he had stashed away knowing what was up.

Jax stood up and began to shoot the foam bullets at Keon. Keon returned fire surprising Jax. He quickly ducked behind the door and used his walkie talkie. "Your dad has a gun. I repeat I need a backup." Keon laughed knowing that he had to wake up to this every morning. He wasn't a morning person at all, but any morning filled with his own son and Tianna's made him cool with the morning time.

Keon watched the door waiting for his son to appear. Instead, he saw his son's hand with the bow, he bought him in it. He quickly let an arrow fly at him. Keon was shocked at how good his son had gotten with the bow and arrow. He didn't even think he would take an interest in it.

"I know y'all asses ain't shooting them damn foam things this early," Tianna spoke making KG quickly back away. Jaxson was still behind the door so only Keon was caught with a guilty look and holding his nerf gun. Tianna shook her head. "KG AND JAX GET YOUR ASSES IN HERE." Jax pushed the door to reveal himself and Tianna had to hold back her laughter.

She couldn't lie and act like she didn't enjoy hearing her son make a memory with Keon and his son. She loved how good Keon was with her sons. Even when Jeremiah wasn't as open to him as Jax was.

KG stepped into the room with a wide grin. "Good morning."

"I don't care about how cute you are right now KG. I know your little ass was here helping to make this mess." He looked around the room.

"I didn't step foot in your room." Keon sucked his teeth. Technically his son wasn't lying. He didn't step foot into the room but he did help make the mess.

"You didn't have to with that damn bow." She pointed to the arrows sitting beside Keon. The grin left KG's face as he realized he was busted. Keon laughed hysterically at his son.

"You thought you were slick." He said. KG stuck his tongue out at his dad. He knew that if they weren't in front of Tianna he wouldn't have hesitated to tell his dad to shut up. That was another thing to add to his list of reasons to love Tianna. She had his son in check. He ran over his mom and tested Keon whenever he wanted too. But not with Tianna. She didn't show him any more attention than the other kids.

She just gave off a vibe that she wasn't to be tested by a kid. She had beat KG's ass before, but not before calling his mom and confirming she was okay with it. His mom wouldn't do it herself and was honestly thankful that her baby daddy didn't f**k with some bum b***h who couldn't handle her son.

"Clean up all three of you. Then you two get your butts in the shower. KG your first today." She told him and they nodded their heads. Keon rose to his feet to help the boys clean up the bullets. He was happy that they all had different color ones because if not he wouldn't know which belonged to his. He passed the red ones to Jax and took the blue for himself.

Since KG only shot two arrows he made him pick them up off the bed before sending him to take his shower. Tianna was big on making the kids clean up their own mess and not each other. She wanted them to get in the habit of cleaning up after themselves and not having somebody else do it for them since they were all boys. She worried about their futures already and they were only 7, 6 and 5.

Jeremiah was the oldest at 7. He didn't like playing with 6-year-old KG and 5-year-old Jaxson because they always double-teamed him. He only played with them when one of his friends from school would come over. The teams were even and the younger boys usually lost. Plus Jeremiah wasn't interested in the same things as the younger boys. His friends just liked his little brothers more than he wanted them too.

Keon and Jaxson finished cleaning up their mess. Jaxson rushed to put his toy gun away. He knew that Keon was going to go find his mom but he wanted to play with Keon first. He wasn't home yesterday and he missed him. He rushed back into his mom's room to see Keon sitting on the bed with his eyes on his phone. Keon wanted to check to see if Jordyn texted him back yet. It still said his message didn't deliver.

He was starting to think she might have blocked him. Thinking that he was trying to get back in her pants. He knew that it didn't help that he texted her late nights. He would ask about KG, but sometimes the conversation would turn into more. Especially on nights, Tia sent him home to his own apartment.

Keon didn't even hear Jax as he crawled over to him. He wrapped his little body on his leg. "Did you put ya gun where it belonged?" He asked the little boy looking down at him. Jax nodded his head, yes and Keon rose to his feet. He walked the two into the bathroom where he brushed his teeth and wiped his face.

Jaxson stayed attached to his leg the whole time watching him. When he finished he stepped out of the bathroom and over to the dresser. He grabbed a t-shirt out noticing that he only had two left. Thanks to Tianna always taking his s**t. He would have to go shopping. "Alright, Jax go see if KG is done in the bathroom."

"Can you give me a ride?" Jaxson smiled up at him. Keon couldn't tell him no so he made his way towards the bathroom that the boys shared. He knocked on the door two times and KG opened it with a towel wrapped around his bottom.

"Pops you know I got this." Keon laughed as he watched his son ran his fingers through his curly hair. Usually, his son went with him or Kaden to get his haircut but this week he never called him to tag along.

"You need a cut. Why you ain't call me or ya uncle?" He asked while lifting Jaxson up to hold him.

"Mom said her phone was off so I had to wait." Keon's face scrunched up. KG's mom, Jordyn had a good ass job and when Keon asked her if she needed anything she always told him no. He would look out for her but only if she asked. He knew that with Jordyn if he was too nice she would think she had a chance to get back with him and that wasn't the case.

"What you mean her phone was off? Your mom doesn't ever let her phone go off." Keon knew better than to have this conversation with his child, so he quickly changed the subject. "Go get dressed. I'll call and see if I can get somebody to cut ya head today."

"No not today." He said quickly. "Tianna like my curls." He smiled. Keon felt like one day when his son was older he was going have to f**k him up about his woman. KG's crush on her just wouldn't go away. He wouldn't even call her Mama Tia or nothing because he liked her too much.

"Boy go get dressed." Keon stepped into the bathroom with Jaxson. He sat him on the toilet while he started the water and adjusted it. Once it was to a temp he knew Jax would be cool with he pulled down the showerhead. He turned on the shower and waited for Jax. "You need help today?" He asked him.

"No. I'm a big boy like Miah and KG. I can take a shower." He assured Keon.

"Alright don't make a mess or ya mama gonna get you." Keon tickled the boy's stomach before exiting the bathroom. He knew that Jaxson was getting older and trying to do what he had seen the other two boys do but sometimes he needed help. Keon felt it was important to give the kids some type of privacy.

He never wanted to make Tia's boys feel uncomfortable with him, or like he was trying to do something inappropriate. He decided not to go downstairs just yet but to stand outside of the bathroom. The door to Jeremiah's room opened and he watched as he came out rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning." He mumbled as he walked past him to the bathroom. Usually, he didn't speak to him. That made Keon smile.

"Good morning." Keon leaned against the wall across from the bathroom. He could hear the boys going back and forth arguing with each other.

"Get out I'm trying to shower," Jax whined.

"I'll get out after I'm done." Jeremiah mocked his whining. Keon knew in a second or two Jax would begin to call for him or Tianna. He opened the door to stop the fussing between the two boys.

"Close the curtain and wash up Jaxson," Keon told the youngest boy. Jaxson did as told closing the curtain.

"Thanks," Jeremiah said as he tried to walk past him.

"Boy wash ya hands." He told him knowing that Jeremiah liked to eat before he took his shower. By now Tianna had either cooked them something or had the different cereals sitting out so they could eat. If it was up to the kids she would cook three meals all day every day. He couldn't lie and act like he wasn't hoping for the same. Tianna cooked as if she had gone to school for it. She was official in the kitchen.

Keon left the bathroom again. Jeremiah exited a minute later. "He's ready to get out." Keon nodded his head going back in the bathroom. He grabbed the towel decorated with green Geico from the PJ mask. Jaxson pulled the curtain back and Keon turned his head. He knew the little boy liked privacy.

When the towel was wrapped around his little body the way he liked Jax grabbed Keon's hand. Keon helped him step out. "I'm getting dressed by myself today," Jaxson told him dropping his hand from Keon's.

"Alright, I'll be downstairs." They separated at the top of the steps. Keon finally took the trip down the seventeen steps that he and Jax counted over and over again when he was learning to count. There were so many memories in this house that Keon only had a drawer in. He shook his head at the thought. The only thing holding him back from asking Tianna to marry him was living with her.

He got a sample of what it was like, he had this morning routine happen but it wasn't every day. He wanted it to happen every day to assure himself that he could do this. The last thing that he wanted to do was to hurt Tia the same way that her ex did. He knew how she suffered in that relationship and didn't want to bring her that same type of pain.

Keon walked into the kitchen where Tianna was fixing a plate for Jeremiah. She had two pills and a glass of orange juice on the counter for him. He took the pills and drank the juice that was now warm. She must have expected him to follow her downstairs instead of helping the boys. Usually, he would but he wanted to give her a chance to cool down.

"I'm surprised you're up," Tianna said as she mugged him. He could feel Jeremiah's eyes on him and his mother so Keon didn't respond. He just looked at Tia. She was wearing pajama shorts with a tank top. She didn't have on a bra and her hair was covered with a scarf.

"I'm going to end up killing that dog man." Kaden's grumpy ass walked right past his brother. He gave Tianna a hug not caring about her appearance and dapped Jeremiah before grabbing the plate that Tianna was holding. "Thank you."

"That was for your brother," Tia spoke but it was too late. Kaden already ate two pieces of bacon off the plate. Keon shook his head at his brother. "I guess it was for you then." She grabbed another plate down to make Keon a plate. Tianna knew that KG wouldn't be down until Jax finished getting dressed. That was just how the two rolled.

She had already placed their plates in the microwave just in case it needed to be reheated. She placed the plate in front of Keon who had ignored arguing with her. He knew she was upset but he tried his best to not argue in front of the kids. He wanted them to see how their mother and any woman they dealt with should be treated.

He would have little disagreements with her in front of them but nothing major. He knew that kids repeated s**t just like KG telling him about Jordyn and the phone s**t. He made a mental note to find a way to get in touch with her. Maybe he could go to her house to take KG home. Usually, Tia dropped him off. He just wanted her to know she didn't have to be out here struggling when he could help her out. She took care of their son on a day to day basis and he appreciated that. He always would.

"Bro you look like s**t," Kaden told his brother with a smirk on his face. Keon didn't know how but his brother had a higher tolerance for alcohol. Their dad was a drinker but only on occasion. Just like his self, their dad was a paranoid man. He liked being sober to keep on his P's & Q's.

"Watch ya mouth," Tianna warned Kaden pointing to Jeremiah. For some reason, Jeremiah liked Kaden more than Keon. He was carefree and didn't tell the boys what they couldn't do. He just told them not to get caught because he wasn't going down for them cutting up and s**t. Those were his exact words. Kaden was like an uncle to Jeremiah and Jaxson.

"My fault." Kaden apologizes even though he felt it was pointless. He didn't have kids though so he couldn't speak on what they should and shouldn't do for real. He didn't care as long as they didn't get hurt.

"Cash can you take me to school?" Jeremiah asked him.

"Hell yeah. Ain't Ms. Roxie ya teacher this year?" Kaden thought of the chocolate beauty that taught kids in elementary. There was no way she could be a teacher in high school. Cash would have smashed her right in her classroom if she was when he was back in school.

"Yes. But Ms. Roxie had a baby so she's not going to be there." Miah informed his uncle.

"Damn who got my bit." Kaden stopped mid-sentence when he saw Tia looking at him. She was waiting for him to finish his sentence so she could smack him in the back of his damn head. She said stop cursing. "Nevermind, I'll take you though. Where ya brothers? Tell them to come on and eat so we can get out of here."

Jeremiah quickly jumped out of his seat to go get the other boys. When they came back to the table everyone was sitting down eating while Jeremiah took his shower so he could get ready for school like his little brothers had already done.

Kaden kept up small talk with the younger boys asking about their teachers and what they looked like. Keon laughed at his brother joking about always wanting a teacher. Tianna just rolled her eyes and huffed the whole time. She was annoyed with Keon but her attitude had begun to grow with every word that Kaden spoke.

When all of the kids finished Kaden made them put their shoes and jackets on. They grabbed their book bags that were sitting by the door and Kaden took his brother's keys to his G Wagon. He had to go and find out about his own damn car because he was tired of riding around in his brother's s**t. Kaden liked the G Wagon but he liked being able to drive all crazy. With Keon's truck, he had to be more careful with how he drove. As soon as the door closed Keon prepared himself to argue.

"You mad at me?" He wrapped his arms around Tianna resting his hand on her stomach.

"Get off of me King."

"Stop calling me that s**t. You know I hate that." He sucked his teeth.

"Oh, you don't like that? Maybe if I throw on a red cape you'll find the s**t cute huh?" She turned off the water placing the last plate in the dishwasher. Tianna had a lot to do today and was already annoyed and it wasn't even 8 yet.

"What are you talking about?" Keon bit his lip. Tia looked over into his eyes to see if he really didn't know. She couldn't tell from his facial expression. She rolled her eyes. She was tired of hearing s**t from Aleya and Faith about Keon. Every time her man went out some little b***h had a story. Tia knew how most females got down.

Keon was a wanted man regardless of his status. Tia just wished that Keon was more like Kaden with females. Only one got his attention when he was serious and committed.

"Taylor the little b***h you just keep entertaining." She pointed her finger at him. Keon's facial expression changed and she knew he realized what she was talking about. "Oh, you thought I wouldn't find out."

"There wasn't anything to find out Ti."

"So you ain't say the b***h got all dressed up for you? I mean your ass did go to the club instead of coming here to help me your quote on quote wifey." She walked towards the steps. It was time for her to get dressed and start moving the treats over to her daycare. It was a nice day outside, nicer than usual so Tianna was debating on what food to give the kids.

"You don't have to put quotes around that. You know how I feel about you Tianna, ain't nobody worried about Taylor." Keon sighed as he followed behind his woman.

"Yeah whatever you say, King." She wasn't hearing s**t he was saying. Just like every one of her exes, Keon had this one b***h that just kept popping up. In his case it was Taylor. A female who owned a nightclub, had two kids just like she did and was about her business. As far as Tianna knew, Taylor was a good woman just like her. She was Keon's type and it was hard for Tianna to ignore that fact.

"Tianna stop calling me King. My name is Keon or baby or whatever the f**k you choose but not no f*****g King."

"I'm calling you what I want to call you. As far as I know, ya ass probably got that b***h calling you baby or whatever the f**k you choose."

"That's what you think?" Keon asked her. He was turned on and no longer cared about the conversation on Taylor. She didn't mean anything to him and the comment was only a joke. He would be more careful next time he said anything about or around Taylor. The s**t always got back to Tianna. Keon watched Tianna slam drawers and look for something to wear.

He stepped behind her rubbing on the sides of her legs. He felt her shiver under his touch and smirked. "I flirted with Taylor last night. I was wrong and I apologize. I should have brought my ass home to help my quote on quote wifey make candy bags for her daycare." Tianna looked into Keon's eyes through the mirror. She could see the hunger in them and knew that was why she had won this argument.

Unfortunately, she didn't have the time to let Keon bend her over and relieve some of the stress she was dealing with. "Jeremiah has something he wants to ask you."

"What?" Keon's attention was still on f*****g his woman. Even if he had to do it while they were in the shower. He was getting some. He took the scarf off that Tia was wearing. He loved her real hair and wanted to see it. He kissed on her shoulder watching her hands go flat on to the dresser.

"I'll let him ask you," Tianna said. Her voice was a little shaky since Keon's lips were now on her neck. He sucked on the sensitive spot that usually got Tia started. She reminded herself of her busy schedule. Her butt pushed against his front making a little space between the two. "I don't have time for that." She told him looking straight into his eyes before grabbing the underclothes she picked out and going into the bathroom. She locked the door and let her back fall against it for a second.

She was still mad at Keon, did he expect for her to be okay with stuff just because he apologized about it? Tianna was worried. Five years was a long time to be with someone and Aleya speaking on her being young and dumb when she first met Keon brought up some insecurities.

At a point in time, Tianna was down to do whatever Keon wanted too. s**t when they first met Keon's girlfriend was bringing Tianna into their bedroom for a threesome. She figured she'd never see the nigga again so why not? She was out in Philly with Aleya visiting Aleya's cousin Mariah.

Tianna was having a stressful week and Mariah was worried that her nigga was going to leave her. So she went to Tianna asking for advice. Of course, Tia told her to leave the nigga, but Mariah asked Tia to help her out instead. Tianna agreed not sure how the night would turn out. Keon couldn't believe he really talked Mariah into the threesome.

They went through with it and Tianna went back to her life in Pittsburgh as if nothing had happened. Who would have known that Mariah's ass was lying? Keon wasn't her boyfriend. He had met her a day before and she just wanted to keep his attention. Everybody knew how King from the burgh was moving.

To Tianna's surprise, she ended up in a VIP section that sat right next to the birthday boy, Keon. When he saw her he couldn't believe his luck. He knew how she got down in bed and wanted another piece of her. This time though he didn't want to share. Tianna stared clear from Keon not wanting him to think she would have another threesome.

That wasn't enough because somehow he had smooth-talked her back to his place. She had got dicked down real good, good enough to have not one, or two, but three more threesomes with him. Tianna felt like a good f**k and that was it so she stopped answering when Keon called. She didn't know it but he only suggested the threesomes because he thought that's what she liked.

After having her to himself he didn't want to share her. When she tried to fall back he was happy to knock out the extra b***h from their equation. Of course, their relationship wasn't peachy creamy after that but five years later and Tianna's box still had Keon going crazy. He turned the knob on the bathroom door annoyed that she locked it on him.

****

"Back for more?" Dominique asked as she looked Cash up and down. She didn't expect him to show up to her place so soon after he had laid the pipe down on her the night before. Cash wasn't the type to put too much attention on just one female when he was single.

He never wanted them to get the wrong idea. Dominique was on the younger side so he knew he had to be straight up with her. Cash bit his lip not really feeling the need to talk when she clearly knew what was up.

He had a good twenty minutes to put it on her and then get his brother's truck to him so he could pick up his own s**t. Finally, his baby Ruby was ready to hit the streets again. His first trip was going to go and see Khalil. The b***h nigga who had his s**t shot up in the first place.

Cash pulled the brim of his hat down and checked behind him. Dominique was taking forever to get her door open. He figured she was nervous or something with the way she was playing with the keys. He thought about what his brother said about a b***h setting him up. He checked his surroundings and was no longer feeling the scene.

He didn't tell Dominique he was leaving just walked down the steps of her apartment and unlocked the doors on the G Wagon. Dominique turned to face him getting in the truck. "Where you going?" She yelled out to him. He waved her off and that made her upset. She knew she was taking longer with the keys but she was honestly nervous.

Usually, Cash called before showing up and she had time to put on her little front that he didn't get to her. Behind the scene, Dominique was in love with Cash, but she knew that he wasn't the type to fall in love. He f****d you until he got bored and then moved on. She knew it well because he was f*****g with her older cousin, Rachelle before her. She had put Dominique up on game of how to get his attention and all of that.

She didn't think that her own little cousin could take her man. Rachelle figured her cousin was asking her because she had a crush on one of the young niggas that be around the way or even Cash's best friend Derrick. Rachelle got her feelings hurt real quick when she spotted Cash out with Dominique trailing right behind him. Her heart was broken by Cash who claimed to love her back but was f*****g her little cousin now.

Dominique watched Cash pull away from the curb and sucked her teeth. She was praying that wouldn't be the last time he came around to give her some d**k. She had been so wrapped up in how good he f****d that she didn't fully go through with her plan. She wanted a baby by him bad and she was going to get one if he came back around.

Too bad Dominique didn't know that as Cash drove down her street he blocked her number. She was moving weird to him and his brother's words felt like they were going to haunt him for a minute. The last thing Kaden wanted was to get one of his many hoes pregnant. If anybody would get a baby from him it would be Rachelle. That was it and since she wasn't talking to him at the moment he knew that he wasn't having kids no time soon.

Kaden drove further down the street. Since he was already on this side of town he figured he checks up on the trap he had tucked away on one of the back streets. He made a quick right turn into the alleyway pushing the truck all the way to the end. He looked in the rearview mirror waiting to see if he was being followed. He took a left turn in what looked like it might have been a deep ass drop but really there was a hill.

You wouldn't know about it if you didn't get down with Cash or King. They liked keeping they s**t low-key. There were two spots that everybody knew about, but that was just a show for the police. The most they ever caught in those two spots were large amounts of weed and a whole bunch of fiends. The houses were in two fiends names, so they usually went down with the weed.

They would be right back out because the police knew they couldn't keep crowding the jail with motherfuckers who wouldn't get no real-time. The cops tried time and time again to catch the Gilberto brothers inside of the houses but neither would go out like that. They knew when it was safe to go in and when it wasn't. They stayed away from them unless they couldn't. Usually, Niko, Keon's right-hand man would handle s**t.

Kaden pulled up to the large warehouse and hit the button he knew would open the door closer to the back. He pulled around and parked inside. When the door shut completely Kaden exited the car. He walked over to the three different doors knocking on the first one three times. The other two had nothing behind them.

The door opened quickly and Kaden was met with the smell of weed. This was the environment that Kaden loved the most. The trap had its own vibe. Everything moved fast around here. The money, the drugs whether they were coming in or going out. Everything ran fast but smooth. Kaden wanted to be like his brother in two to three years.

Running s**t without barely worrying about if his s**t was being stolen, or if he was being played by the niggas buying from him. He ran into problems, like the s**t they were dealing with now. Khalil a young nigga who came up off of his brother was running his mouth a whole lot. He had felt some type of way that Keon took Kaden up under his wing.

Kaden had been wanted to f**k Khalil up, but Keon always said no. Khalil was also a Gilberto. That meant everything to Keon, it didn't mean a f*****g thing to Kaden. His dad wasn't in his life when he was a kid. He knew that Keon was on the lucky side and got the chance to bond with their dad Keith, the original KG before he passed.

Keon would share stories about their father but not as much as Kaden had hoped for. When he really wanted a good story about him he would have to ask Niko. Keon always told Kaden it was hard for him to talk about their father.

Keon wanted to talk to his brother Khalil one more time before he cut his ties. Kaden was ready for him to do the s**t now. Khalil had shot up his ride almost killing Kaden all because he wanted to be next in line for the throne. Cash could care less about who was up next as long as he gotta eat. Apart of Kaden wondered if Khalil was really their brother.

He didn't move like Keon or Kaden. He barely even looked like them to Kaden. He knew that they had different mothers, but no one could deny knowing that Kaden and Keon were brothers from their looks. With Khalil standing near them, he just didn't fit in.

"Wassup Cash?" Niko said leaning over the railing to speak to the youngin. "You the last nigga I expected to be up in here this early."

Cash looked up at Niko. He didn't want to talk to him over a railing. He waited until he got up the steps to speak. Not everything was for everybody all the time. That was a lesson Keon had taught him closer to when they had first met. Keon had his own s**t going on that he didn't tell anybody about.

He would just make trips alone using those same words to tell Kaden that he wasn't going to tell him every last thing he got into. Kaden didn't mind because he had his own s**t going on that he didn't want to feel anybody in on either. "You were expecting Keon?"

"Yeah, I finally got word back from y'all little brother." Cash looked over his shoulder at Niko. Niko placed his hands up and laughed. "Like it or not he another KG."

"That nigga ain't no type of kin to me," Kaden spoke as he entered his office that sat beside his brother's. He pushed the light switch up making the room bright. Niko took a seat in the corner of the room close to the mini-fridge that was stocked full of s**t thanks to Tianna. Niko went through the fridge taking out a can of Mountain dew.

"When did all of this s**t happen man?"

"You said you heard from him right?"

"Yeah." Niko nodded.

"Well, then you should know what's up. I never had a problem with his b***h ass until he tried to kill me. The only reason he breathing right now is because of Keon." Niko shook his head at both brothers. He couldn't believe that Khalil really sent shots at his own blood.

Niko was an only child but he would kill a motherfucker over Keith, the only nigga he considered as a brother. He didn't get how blood brothers could act as if they didn't share the same bloodline. He chalked it up as another crazy thing he had seen a motherfucker do for some money. Plus Kaden, Khalil, and Keon shared Keith's bloodline. He knew they had to have a strand just for crazy s**t. Keith was a wild nigga.

"Well, hopefully, he comes to his senses because if it comes down to it, Keon going choose you over him." Kaden didn't need reassuring. He knew who his brother was riding with. Before Khalil tried to kill him, Kaden felt bad for his younger brother. Neither of them had their dad to teach them s**t, but they turned out completely different. Cash didn't get jealous.

He knew that Keon knew Khalil longer but didn't care. He formed a bond with Keon regardless. He tried to form one with Khalil but he didn't want to. He acted as if Keon was more than just an older f*****g brother. He wanted him all to himself. Kaden knew better because Keon told him that their dad was a w***e and left KG's everywhere he went.

"That's dudes problem. Not mines. Even if Keon chose him, Khalil not going be breathing too much longer." Niko knew Cash for six years now and knew that the young dude always made good on any threat. He knew that whether his right hand cleared s**t up or not, Kaden would kill Khalil and not think twice on the s**t.

"You not worried about how that's going make ya brother feel?" Niko had to ask only to confirm what he already knew. He wanted to let Keon know how deep s**t was with his family. Before he had brought his brothers into s**t Keon seemed to have a handle on things.

Khalil had approached Keon and he welcomed him with open arms. Niko never understood why Keon welcomed Khalil but had trouble believing Kaden who looked like him and even Keith.

"Nope. I love Keon, but Khalil played with my life. I don't play with it so why would I let someone else do it?" Niko couldn't do anything but agree with Kaden. He hated to admit it but if he had to choose a side he was on Kaden's side period. Kaden was a better look as a Gilberto.

He would make their dad Keith proud. Niko knew that first hand. Niko was an older guy. His skin was the shade of chocolate. He had eyes that were shaped almost like ovals. His nose was big and his lips were big as well but Niko was fine. Females loved them some Niko. He had pearly white teeth and stayed fly as hell. He was that one old nigga who could get away with f*****g an older female and her younger daughter.

Niko had been in the game for a long time. 25 years was almost approaching and he knew his time would be up as soon as Keon called it quits. He was more than ready to step away from the game. Keith was like his best friend when he was alive and that was his original partner. Now he worked side by side with his son.

Keon was younger than Niko, but he still respected him. Niko couldn't get over the death of Keith so he basically filled the void with his oldest son. Keon watched his father intently because the boy turned out to be just like his dad. Niko was proud of what he grew to be as a man and was ready to see him let go of the game as well.

Kaden was ready, even though he was still a hothead. Niko knew the only way to get him to calm down and take his time was to be in the seat that Keon was holding on too. He knew that Keon feared that if he gave the seat up too quick his brother would be killed. He didn't know that you teach a nigga the game, but you couldn't control what they took from that. Niko had been around long enough to know that Keon was Keith, while Kaden was Niko.

Time would slow his ass down, but first, his brother had to step out of the way. He was coming around less and focusing on his girlfriend and her kids. As he should, Niko was pushing 50 and still single. He would die alone. He wanted better for his nephews. He changed the subject with Kaden to see where his head was at with females.

"What's going on with you and Rachelle?"

"s**t. I tried to call her the other day she got me blocked." He shrugged it off as if he didn't care about the girl at all.

"I thought you and her were all in love and shit." Niko laughed.

"I do love her, she just wants s**t I can't give her right now."

"Like what?"

"Time."

"Well, you must not be in love. You just like the pussy." Niko shrugged. "You see how ya brother is about Tia. He'll shut all this s**t down right now to make sure she's straight. That's love."

"That's true. But what you know about love Niko? You trying to school me and s**t?" Kaden sat back in his seat. He was always open to conversations with an old head who had wise words. Niko was one of those old heads.

"I had two women genuinely love me. That's it out of all the bitches I done went through. One I realized it when it was too late and the other I held on to but karma paid me a visit. The first one, her name was Genie. Met her at a movie theater. She was working there and I just figured she could get me free tickets when I wanted to take a b***h out.

She always came threw too with the tickets. She would even hook a nigga up with free s**t from the concession stand and s**t. I told ya pops about her and he told me to stop using the tickets for other bitches. I didn't listen to him, but I did ask Genie to go out. I was making money and my ego stepped in the way. So I took her out and ignored how I was feeling. We had s*x for the first time and after that, I couldn't shake her.

It was like Tianna and Keon. I wanted her to be happy by any means. She graduated from high school and I was right there geeked for her. But then she told me about how she wanted to go to college. She got accepted into CALU. I wasn't moving just to follow after her so I broke it off with her the same day as her graduation. I felt played.

Before she left for school she went around the hood looking for me. Your dad told me to call her to see what was up and I did. She told me she was pregnant and I laughed. I knew it was my baby but I was salty because I knew she wanted an abortion. She ain't want to stay here with a nigga who was hustling.

My petty ass didn't even give her the money. Made her tell her parents. They made sure they sent her ass away after that s**t. The second woman, her name was Carlie. She was a bad b***h, nothing like any other female I had dated. Not even Genie. She was down with all types of street s**t.

Ya pops warned me that it wasn't safe to have her around me when I was doing this s**t but I didn't want to hear that. I had let Genie roam free so there was no way I was letting Carlie getaway. I figured Carlie being killed in front of an abortion clinic where she had just gotten rid of a baby I asked her to was karma for both babies."

"Damn, if they loved you why you ain't want neither babies?" Kaden asked him.

"That's the thing about love, people can love you but that doesn't mean you love them back. I thought I loved them but I didn't. I just loved what Carlie did for me. With Genie, I loved that she was on her s**t at a young age she could have expected for me to do everything for her but she didn't. Kids weren't in my plans."

"So what happened with the Genie chick? She still living?"

"Yeah. She live around here again. She owns a little bakery, I tried to go back to her after Carlie died but she had a boyfriend. I realized how she felt about me then. I saw her at her little bakery and s**t but I was on the move and couldn't say anything for real."

"Was she looking good? Females always look better after you leave em. Rachelle is on i********: looking crazy." Kaden admitted not caring if Niko knew that he was still watching her social media. Rachelle posted pictures on the daily and Kaden double tapped them all. He knew it drove Rachelle crazy. Really he didn't like not being able to talk to her. When he wanted too. She had him blocked longer than ever before.

"Fine as hell. I'm going to see her eventually. I always run into her mom and shit."

"Don't tell me you smashing her mom." Kaden laughed. That was how Niko got down.

"Naw, her mom ain't with none of that. I tried when I was younger but she looked at me like I was stupid."

"Man get out." Kaden couldn't stop his laugh. "How you try your first love's mom though. You ain't s**t Niko."

"I told you I felt like she played me, man." He shrugged rising up from his seat. "I'm about to be out though. I don't want to be late to the daycare and shit." Kaden realized he had killed a little over the twenty minutes he gave himself to f**k with Dominique. He didn't even check s**t too busy talking to Niko.

"Wait, ride over to Tianna's with me so I can drop off Keon's truck. Then take me to go pick up my shit."

"Damn ya s**t finally ready?" Niko asked him. He threw the can of pop he was drinking in the trash can. Kaden followed behind him as they left out of the room continuing with their conversation. "How long did it take for them to fix ya s**t?"

"Damn near three weeks. She better run like she new too." Kaden spoke annoyed with how long it took. He wouldn't have been getting his car today if he wouldn't have checked on it after he dropped the boys off at school. His s**t was just sitting pretty. He knew it was a way to help the old business get some new business but they wouldn't go out of business after he paid them and tipped just for looking out.

That was another lesson his older brother had taught him. If you feed everybody around you, you don't have to worry about no one getting greed or feeling unappreciated. The money a man-made was strictly based off of the work that he put in. Every man around Keon knew that he didn't play favorites, if they worked they got paid.

Kaden was planning on investing a nice little something in the business if they were willing to invest in their business. There were plenty of times they needed a new paint job on one of they rides that became hot or the plates changed. He knew the little business barely seen people so he would change that for them.

Kaden followed Niko over to Tianna's house since Niko was out of the garage before him. He didn't care about his mind was racing as he thought about Rachelle and what she had been up too. Niko was probably right he didn't love the girl. But he still cared about her. He knew that for sure. She crossed his mind more than any other female he had been around.

He just wouldn't be out here paying her rent or stopping what he was doing to make sure she was straight. She didn't have him open like that. He tried to be but she just wasn't that one for him. Cash picked up his phone and decided to reach out to her one last time.

The phone rang this time and after four rings she answered the phone. Cash could hear it in her voice that she was crying. "What do you want Cash?"

"What's wrong with you? Why did you have me blocked for so long?"

"Oh please. Don't act like you care now, where's Dominique at?" Kaden hated when a female brought up another female to him.

"f**k it." He wasn't about to talk about Dominique. He had asked about her but if she wanted to be stubborn then he would continue on with his day.

"No not f**k it, f**k you Cash. She's my little cousin and you really going around f*****g with her. I thought you loved me." She said.

"I ain't know she was ya cousin Rach." He honestly didn't give a f**k. He would f**k both at the same time just to show Rachelle what it really was between them. She was lucky he had even thought about reaching out again.

"Yes, you did. I introduced y'all. You really ain't s**t. f**k you Cash don't call my phone again." Usually, a person would hang up at that point but Rachelle didn't. She wanted Cash to fight for her. To say sorry at least, he did neither. The phone beeped in her ear and she threw her phone across the bed. She knew better than to throw the iPhone X that Cash bought for her.

She wouldn't be able to afford another one. She sighed wondering if maybe she should let Cash do whatever he wanted just to keep the money flowing. She didn't have to f**k him if her cousin was. She quickly let that thought go as quick as it came. He was f*****g her cousin, there was no reason she should still f**k with him in any way. He wasn't the only nigga with money out here. She knew somebody who had been trying to get her attention for a while now.

She picked her phone back up and went to the first missed call in the call log. Khalil's deep voice came through her phone speaker and for once she forgot about the vibe she got from him. She was no longer looking at him as Cash's brother but another option for her.