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Even the nightmares had stopped, although this legal shit was a lot of work. I would rather be into the shit that I loved doing the most then caught up in chasing mutha fuckas down and killing them for playing around with my money. It also made me think about how would my reaction be now when a problem came my way. How would I handle my anger? A lot of adjustments and learning would happen along the way of my self-healing journey.

Like my therapist said, this shit wasn’t going to go away overnight. The best part about it all was me accepting and trying to fix some shit inside of me that felt broken.

“I’m gone make it up to my girl. Make sure you email me everything business related and expect me in the office first thing Monday.” It was feeling good to actually be back in California. I would feel even better once I laid eyes on Praylah.

“Oh so you coming in the office, like forreal?” Alesia took her eyes off the road and looked over at me. I smirked and nodded my head yes.

“I’m really gone do better. I’ll be more on top of shit and be around there on y’all heads. So make sure shit in order for my arrival.” I pulled my phone from my basketball shorts and looked at the lock screen. I didn’t even want to unlock the shit because from the moment the facility gave me my personal and business phone back, I had over a thousand notifications.

“I’m happy that your back and plan on being at the office more. You should see all the hate I get. I even had to fire some folks for stepping out of line trying to tell me that I wasn’t there damn boss. It’s a good look to have the CEO there and in charge so I can get back to my assistant work.” I agreed with her which is why I had a gift already set up for Alesia. I planned on giving her another fat ass check and moving her salary up.

I had to get new managers and add her cousin Kandy as her assistant while I was gone just to make sure my franchises were being ran well while I was gone. I refused to lose everything that I had worked hard for.

“You know I got you. I even got a whole bunch of new recipes that I want to add to each restaurant. I got some ideas too, I’m thinking about branching off and opening a couple of upscale night clubs, that serve plenty of my dishes. Up the price on the menu’s as well. Seem like when shit is too high it makes people want to see what the hype is all about. Feel me?”

To stay sane, I kept thinking of new ideas. I knew that I wanted to leave the streets when I got out of there so I had to replace my fast street money with legal money. I thought of so many things to invest my millions in, to keep doubling my money. If Praylah never wanted to work again, she wouldn’t have to. I was really set for life but I didn’t want to become a lazy rich nigga.

I loved cooking, and I damn sure liked to eat a lot. Since I was going a hundred percent legal. My face would be more exposed to my businesses. I wanted to create my special seasonings and get them in grocery stores and all kind of shit that I came up with while sitting to myself for months.

“Well, I’m excited and happy your back, Mr. Brownston.”

“I’m happy to be back.” that was the truth. I was so damn happy that it had me ready to shed some happy fuckin tears. Alesia turned onto my sister’s street and I shook my head at the color of their mansion. Mattea and Ream were straight softies when it came to what my nieces and nephew wanted. If one of my nieces wanted the house painted a certain way, they’d pay the money and have it done. Last year the house was painted in army colors and the neighbors tried to protest against it.

Money talks, bullshit walks. My nephew wanted army colors so that’s the color it got painted. I assumed from looking at the three-story house that one of my nieces wanted some barbie shit done to the house. So now the entire house was painted different shades of pink. They even had fake unicorns on the lawn with an all-pink Bentley that said “Barbie” on each side. The expensive car looked like it was just for display.

I got out the car thanking Alesia, I planned on staying over here for the rest of the day. In the morning I had plans to pop up on Praylah. Then again, since I was free now, I probably was going to make my way to her. I just wanted her to see me looking like my old self. My beard was untamed, my long dreads were frizzy and unkempt. When Praylah laid eyes on me, I wanted to smell good and look the part. I wanted that juicy pussy of hers marinated and ready for me, on sight!”

I lifted my fist to knock, and Mattea was already opening the door with a smug look on her face.

“What’s up dickhead.” I ran my hand between my dreads and smirked at her. The smell of fried chicken hit my nose.

“Looks like I came at the right time.” I pulled her mean ass in for a hug and she complied.

“The kids left with their granny for the rest of the week. I’m so mad now, because I wanted them to see their uncle. They’ve been talking about you so much lately.” That made me feel good and bad.

“I’ll do better now that I’m home, I swear and promise it.” She let me go and stepped back to get a good look at me.

“How you feeling?” Mattea stepped to the side to let me inside of the house. When I entered, I couldn’t do shit but shake my damn head. The entire space was pink, with barbie designs everywhere you turned. What really had me shaking my head was the big barbie doll mannequin standing right next to her winding staircase.

“I feel brand new, I really needed that shit more than I thought.” I stepped out of my Nike sandals.

“Well since we got that out the way, nigga you look like a bum!” she cracked her first joke and I didn’t have a comeback because I felt like a damn bum. I never wore basketball shorts out the house. I was a fresh dressing kind of nigga, even my white tee looked dingy.

“Yea I know that smart ass. I only came here to have a conversation with your husband. Then I’ma go get laced.” I couldn’t wait, looking like a bum wasn’t my thing. I needed a nice long shower and a retwist bad as hell.

“Come on, he’s in his man cave.” I followed behind Mattea, looking at all the changes that she made to her home. It was sometimes hard to believe that my crazy ass sister was a married woman with five kids. It seemed like her ass got pregnant every other year and she hadn’t mentioned stopping anytime soon.

We walked down a flight of steps, and I thought it was dope that this nigga Ream had a man cave underground. Mattea opened the door up and that’s when I noted that his shit was soundproof. Music blasted and the entire space was smokey as hell. Ream was sitting on a leather sectional couch, smoking a blunt to himself with his head leaned back, like he was resting.

I hated to intrude while he looked so chill and content to himself. This conversation needed to happen so I could put all this shit behind me.

“What’s good nigga.” He stood up, letting the ashes from his blunt roll off of him.

“Nothing much, its feeling good to be back.” I slapped hands with him and brought him in for a brotherly hug.

“I’m going to check on the food.” Mattea excused herself. I took a seat across from Ream and he offered me the blunt he was smoking. I shook my head no, I didn’t want any substances to get me lifted. I had become used to not smoking and being sober. My thoughts were more clear this way. I didn’t know what all my triggers were just yet.

“I came to apologize for all the times I offended you, my nigga. I also want to thank the fuck out of you for being there no matter what and giving me a seat at your table. You let me do my own thing and I made plenty of money for years now. It’s just with the way a nigga mental is, I can’t even be a part of that kind of lifestyle anymore.” It sounded weird as hell coming from my mouth. Ream nodded his head and picked up his phone. I looked at him funny as hell but waited to see just what he was doing.