I'm going back to updating on the weekends guys since I'm back in school. College is soooo much fun guys! All of my classes are super easy so I'm sure I'll be able to write a lot for you guys lol

Aubrey

It wasn't difficult to find the Reed's in Atlanta since everybody knows them. If they were trying to keep the place they lay their heads a secret, they really weren't doing a good job at it. Basically everybody knows them, Theodore especially since he owns a couple of clubs down here. So it wasn't hard to ask a few club goers what they knew about him. Nobody was able to tell me his exact address but people have said they've seen him and Lindsey coming into Garden Court Condominiums. They couldn't tell me the exact condo they lived in, so I started from the first floor and made my way up.

I was walking down Lindsey's hallway, not knowing she lived there until she basically told me to come in. So I walked right inside of her condo. It was a little weird coming in on her at first but once I saw her sitting on the bed in lingerie, I couldn't help but take a feel of her. Lindsey's just so sexy to me, even sexier than Jazmine at times. And she got even more beautiful over the past five years. I really wish I could have stayed back to talk to her but I know she doesn't fuck with me anymore. None of them will probably want anything to do with me but I know if I can convince Theodore that I'm good then everybody else will eventually accept me as well.

The only issue I have now is that nigga Lindsey had touching all up on her. I know Andre didn't put on like 200 pounds in the last five years and bleach his skin so that can't be him. I wonder what happened to them though since they were married just a few years ago. But most importantly, I need to know who that nigga was that had the nerve to say something to me. I've never seen that nigga before so I'm sure I've been around longer than he has. My question is, who was he to say something to me about talking to my girl? Lindsey knows I love her.

As soon as Lindsey's new man kicked me out of their condo, I let them close the door in my face before turning around to knock on the door across the hall. Theodore won't be too far from Lindsey so he has to be in one of the condo's on this floor. I knocked on the door across the hall and almost instantly, a little girl with pig tails and glasses pulled the door open. I scrunched up my face. Damn. Who's living with this kid? Because she looks too young to be answering the door on her own.

"Hi," she smiled.

My eyebrows furrowed together even more because she looked familiar. Her smile looked awfully familiar. "What's up? You live here by yourself?"

"No," she giggled. "My Mommy told me to get the door because she's in the shower. Are you the pizza guy?"

"No. Why? Were you expecting one?"

She nodded her head. "Mhmm. Me and Mommy are supposed to be eating pizza later. Oh, what's your name?"

"Aubrey."

She pushed her glasses up on her face before sticking her hand out for me to shake. "I'm Princess."

When the little girl said her name, it clicked in me who's child this was. This has to be Theodore's Princess. There aren't many little girls walking around with that name and it would stand to reason why her smile looks so familiar. She smiles and looks just like Theodore. The only difference is that she has darker skin, which I'm assuming she got from Nicole. And since Nicole is her mother, it really makes sense why she's opening the door on her own. I guess five years didn't change Nicole too much. I see she's still a dumb ass.

I smiled as I shook Princess' hand. "I think I know you."

Her smile widened. "Really? How do you know me?"

"Well, I think I know your Dad. Is your Dad's name Theodore?"

Her smile widened even more. "Ye--No. No. That's top secret information and my Daddy said I can't tell strangers about him, me or my family. I can't even talk to strangers. I have to go."

Princess turned around and tried to close the door but I put my foot out to stop her. "Wait, wait, wait. I'm not a stranger. I'm your family's friend. Me and your Dad are best friends."

She shook her head. "I don't believe you. How come I've never seen you before?"

"Because I was in a little trouble and I had to go away for awhile."

"Like jail?" she asked, making me nod my head. "What's your name again?"

"Aubrey. Why?"

"Do you know Jazmine?"

I smiled. "Yeah. She used to be my girlfriend. Why? You know her?"

"I can't tell you," she smiled, giving away the fact that she knew Jazmine. Clearly Jazmine's been talking about me for this five year old to recognize my name. "But I still don't believe you."

"Well," I began as I pulled a picture out of my pocket. Before I left California, I made sure to find a picture of me, Jazmine and Theodore just in case I needed to describe them to somebody. I know this is Theodore's daughter, because besides them looking alike, they act alike as well. She inherited his stubbornness so I knew I'd have to work a little bit for her to believe me. I held the picture up so she could see it. It was an old picture of us from back in high school. "You see that, that's me, your Dad and Jaz when we were in high school."

"Wow," she smiled. "That is Jazmine and that looks like you but that's not my Daddy."

I smirked. "So you just gon' act like I don't know your Dad? I know Lindsey and Daniel too. You know them?"

"Possibly."

I laughed. "You know I'm telling the truth. Where's your Dad at?"

"Handling business."

I chuckled. "Where? Is he here?"

"I don't know."

"Alright," I smirked. Clearly she wasn't budging, which was a good thing, since she won't just go up to strangers telling them about her business. "You got a pen?"

"Why?"

"I wanna write my number down so that if you see your Dad or Jaz then you can tell them to call me. I know you're not supposed to talk to strangers but I really need your help. Your Dad was my best friend and Jazmine used to be my girlfriend. I'm just trying to get my friends back. You get what I'm saying?"

She slowly nodded her head. "Yeah."

"And I came out here all by myself and I just need some friends. I haven't talked to them in so long and I'm lonely and sad."

"Are you gonna cry?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. I used to cry when I was in jail."

Princess' eyes widened. "Oh, no! I don't want you to cry."

"I'll be fine ma. Just let me write my number down."

"I have an even better idea!"

"What's that?"

"Well it's a secret where my Daddy lives but I can tell him to come here because you're here. Do you wanna come inside?"

"Uh, I don't th--"

Princess reached out and grabbed my hand. "Please? Don't you want to see your friends?"

"Yeah."

"Come on."

Princess pulled me into the apartment that Nicole couldn't have been paying for on her own. I knew Theodore had to be funding this expensive condo for Nicole and Lindsey. Lindsey's my baby but she ain't doing shit and she ain't been doing shit to pay for her condo. These places are expensive and you can tell just from the layout of each one. Theodore's gotta be paying an arm and a leg for these condo's every month.

I plopped down on the living room couch and watched as Princess ran off to the back. Since she was gone, I decided to take a look at everything just to see what they've been up to the past few years. I stood up from the couch and walked across the living room to the fireplace, where several pictures sat on the mantle. I started off on the right side of the mantle and worked my way down to the left.

The first picture was of Nicole, Tee Tee's dirty ass, Princess and another little boy. That has to be the baby she was pregnant with back in high school. I squinted my eyes a little, getting a better look at the kid. He did kind of look like Willie but then again, he didn't. Knowing Tee Tee, Willie probably wasn't even the baby daddy. She probably just pinned that kid on him since she didn't know how many niggas were actually up in her.

I then went on to the next picture which really caught my attention. It was Nicole, Theodore and Princess. Damn. This nigga has really bulked up and matured. I looked down at my biceps and frowned. I thought I was doing something working out every time we had our recreational time in prison but compared to Theodore, I wasn't doing shit.

"Hey, Aubrey."

I quickly turned around to see Princess walking into the living room with a cell phone in her hands. "What's up?"

"Do you want me to call my Daddy so he can come here?"

"Yeah, that'll be fine."

Princess climbed on the couch and started punching away at her phone before she put it on speaker and almost instantly, Theodore picked up.

"Baby girl, you good?"

Princess smiled. "Yes Daddy. I miss you."

Theodore chuckled. "I miss you too but I just dropped you off like an hour ago. Is everything all right over there? 'Cause you know if it's not, I can come scoop you."

"I'm fine. Mommy's in the shower but your friends' here."

"Who?"

"He said his name's Aubrey."

Theodore sighed. "He's in the condo?"

"Yes. Why?"

"You know you ain't supposed to be letting nobody in Princess. That's not safe."

I sighed as I heard a door shutting on his end of the phone. "I'm not dangerous," I whispered to Princess.

"He said he's not dangerous Daddy and he showed me a picture of you, him and Aunty Jaz when you guys were in high school. He was about to cry so I let him in so I could call you and tell you he's here. Where are you at? Are you coming?"

"I'm on my way beautiful. Don't hang up, cool?"

"Cool," Princess smiled, oblivious to the fact that Theodore and I had past beef.

"Does your Mama know you let him in?"

"No but she told me to open the door since she's in the shower. I thought it was the pizza guy."

Theodore sighed. "Don't open the door for anybody Princess. Even if it was the pizza guy, how were you gonna pay him by yourself? It could've been anybody at the door and they could've kidnapped you and you'd never see me again. You want that to happen?"

"No," Princess mumbled. "I'm sorry Daddy." As soon as Princess stopped talking, the door burst open and Theodore appeared in the door way. As fast as he got to this condo, he had to be somewhere in the building just like I suspected him to be. Princess hopped up as soon as she saw Theodore and right into his arms. "I'm so sorry Daddy. I'm really sorry."

Theodore wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "I'm fine gorgeous. Just don't do it again, a'ight?"

Princess nodded her head. "Okay."

"What the fuck are you doing here my nigga?" Theodore asked as he walked up to me. "You think it's cool to come in on my daughter and her Mama? You think it's cool to manipulate a five year old girl? It figures you'd use my daughter to fuck with me as soon as you stopped getting fucked in the ass every night. It's been five years, but you're still the same weak, pussy ass nigga you were when you left."

I frowned. "Look. I didn't come here to start any trouble and I didn't wanna get your daughter involved. I just knocked on the door, she opened it and it happened to be your daughter. I didn't even know if you were in her life or not. Just take your daughter to the back or something so we can talk man to man."

"Man to little bitch."

"And I see you're still the same petty nigga you were five years ago."

"I never changed."

"Clearly," I replied as I watched him put Princess on the floor.

"Daddy, is everything ok?"

He kissed her cheek. "Yeah. Everything's fine. Go to the back and pack up your stuff so we can go." Just as Princess was about to run to the back, Theodore grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Make sure you pack slowly and thank you for being a big girl about this and calling me. I'mma get you some ice cream. You down for ice cream?"

Princess' smile widened as she nodded her head. "I'm always down for ice cream."

Theodore chuckled. "Alright. Go to your room, close the door and pack slowly."

When Theodore let go of her this time, she ran off to the back and seconds later her door was closing. This left me and Theodore in the living room surrounded by air and opportunity. See, the old me had been craving for the moment I got out of prison just so I could beat his ass but I've changed since I've been around Kennedy. She's let me see the brighter side to what happened with us and I don't even want to beat his ass now. I mean, he deserved an ass whooping for how things went down between us but I don't even want to kill him anymore. I just want to talk to him and sort things out.

"What the fuck is you doing here fam?" he asked as he walked up to me.

"Chill, a'ight? I got out about a month ago and I came down here to talk with you and Jaz about what happened."

"What happened is in the past and too long ago to reminisce on."

"I just wanna sort out what happened. Look, I know you're probably still piss--"

"Nah," he cut me off. "I'm not pissed about a petty fall out between me and a nigga that was supposed to be my friend and have my back. You were the nigga I was depending on to have my back but you were the same nigga working behind my back to tear me and my family down. You did some sneaky shit in the past that I'll never be able to look past but I forgave your sorry ass a long time ago."

I sighed. "So how come you never called or came to visit me?"

"Just because I forgave you didn't mean we were cool again. I still don't fuck with you. I still don't like you. And I still don't want shit to do with you because you're a liar, a thief and you can't be trusted."

"Well that's why I'm here, to make it up to y'all. Five years was a long time for me to be locked away so I had time to think about how shit went down and I just let my anger and the influence of EJ cloud my vision of what was really happening right in front of me. I shouldn't have let him influence me and I shouldn't have let my relationship with Jazmine ruin our friendship. You know, when I got locked up, I didn't have anybody to talk to. My Mama wrote to me periodically but she never called me or visited me because she was so embarrassed and ashamed. For a couple of years, I never had any visitors but each time we were allowed visitors, I always thought I'd see you but you never showed up."

"How was I supposed to after what you did to me?"

"I know I fucked up but you played a helping hand in my downfall fam. If you and that other nigga hadn't have beat me with that gun, I wouldn't have been unconscious for the police to find me."

"Well you came up to me talking some shit about helping me kill EJ. I just assumed you were off a molly or something or you were trying to back stab me again. I can't trust you Aub and I don't ever know when you're lying to me. You could be lying right now."

"I'm not fuckin' lying, yo! I stole money from my Mama, money that I don't have to pay her back, rode in a train for almost three days and been all over the city looking for you so I could talk to you. I'm not lying and I wasn't lying that night I approached you about killing EJ. I realized he wasn't good for me so I started distancing myself. It it wasn't for me, he would've killed Daniel since he planned on doing it. I stopped him before he did, so you should be thanking me."

Theodore sighed. "Thank you but that still doesn't make up for all the shit you did to me and my family."

"I know and I'm sorry about that too. I'm sorry about everything I did but I just need a friend right now Theodore. You're the only friend I have and the only true friend that I ever had. I just want you to accept the shit I did and just move on."

"I can't."

"How come?"

He sighed. "Don't act like you don't know. You fucked me over!"

"You fucked me over too!"

"And you fucked my ex!"

"I didn't even want her greasy ass! I was just fucking her to make you and Jaz mad but she didn't mean nothing to me."

"See, that's the shit I'm talking about. How can I trust you and accept that you're a bastard ass bitch when you're constantly acting off of your emotions? It's like you have no filter and no way to control yourself once your emotions take control of you, and how do I know you won't pull some stupid shit like that on me again?"

"Because I've changed and I've matured. I just hope you've done the same thing."

"I have."

"So since you've matured, that means you can apologize about the shit you did to me."

"I'm not apologizing for anything. I never intentionally tried to hurt you. I did what I did to protect my family from you. I never wanted to hurt you and I never wanted to lose my friend but you drove me to do everything I did to you. I has just had Princess when shit started getting crazy. I wasn't gonna let my innocent child get hurt, or anybody in my family, get hurt over some shit that doesn't even involve them. My beef was with you so I did anything I could to protect my family, even if that meant leaving you outside of that burning building so you could be arrested. I hate the way shit went down between us but I had to protect what's mine and I plan on continuing to do the same thing. Don't let me catch you up here with my daughter again or even Nicole. Don't fuck with them or prison won't be the next place you stay. You're gonna be staying in a fuckin' coffin. Don't fuck with my daughter."

I sighed. "I won't and I never planned to hurt her. I just wanted to get some information out of her."

"She's not gonna run her mouth."

"I know that now but I'd never hurt a child. That's how EJ and I fell out in the first place. He wanted to kill Daniel and your family even though his beef was with you and King. He didn't need to bring the kids in anything. I don't agree with bringing kids into any of this shit."

"Alright so keep it that way. And with that being said, you can leave."

I sighed. "My nigga, so that's it?"

"That's been it. I don't have shit else to say or do to you. We both said what we needed to say but this little conversation can't help what the fuck went down a few years ago. I know we both played a role in all of it, that's why I'm not gonna sit here and pretend like we can just apologize and shit will be good. You fucked me over Aub and I don't trust you."

"I know but just have a little faith in me. I'm really not on no sneaky shit right now. I don't have a gun or knife or any kind of weapon to hurt y'all. I don't even have any connects or anybody watching y'all. I came out here alone and without protection so you can see how serious I am. I'm trying to fix the shit that happened between us and between Jaz. I know things won't ever be how they used to be but getting closer to normal is fine with me if it's fine with you," I replied, telling the honest to God truth.

Theodore sighed as he ran a hand down his face. "I feel like I'm gonna regret saying this in the future but I can tell you're being somewhat sincere. But you need to go my nigga and I'll see you tonight."

I scrunched up my face as he led me out of the condo. "Tonight, what?"

"My club, Vanity. Tonight at 11. Be at the bar."

I nodded my head. "Okay, thanks Theodore."

Theodore III



I know Aubrey and I know he's being truthful. Well, at least I think he's being truthful. For all I know, he could've mastered being a liar while he was locked up. Nonetheless, I'll meet up with him to see what he's talking about and the moment he fucks up, is the moment he's dying. I'm not playing with that nigga anymore, especially since he came in on my daughter and made me leave while I was in the middle of something important.

I closed the door once he walked off and walked to the back since Nicole was still taking her leisurely shower. I busted in on Nicole and pulled the shower curtain back.

"What the fuck are you doing!?" she yelled as I snatched her up and pulled her out of the shower and threw her down on the floor.

"What the fuck is wrong with you bitch? I know I put up with a lot of stupid shit with you but how you gon' have Princess opening doors while you're in the shower? She could've been kidnapped or killed!"

"But she wasn't!" she yelled.

"Yeah because she had sense enough to call me. Do you even know who was at the door?"

"No. But since she's fine, it shouldn't matter what happened. Can you please move so I can get up?"

"No! I'm fuckin' talking and you're gonna listen. I let Princess come over here out of the kindness of my heart since you aren't allowed to see her without me around. I was trying to let you prove yourself but clearly you can't do that shit so today is the last day you'll be seeing Princess. I don't give a fuck if you stay in this condo but I'm not paying for shit no more and you won't be seeing my daughter until you get your shit together, and even then, she won't be left alone with you."

Just thinking of how Aubrey used to be in the past, really got me thinking. What if he was the same jealous, vindictive nigga he was in the past and actually tried to hurt Princess? Then what would I do? That'w why we're leaving. I love my condo and I love having Jaz and Lindsey around but we need to go. They can come with us or they can stay but I'm moving into a house big enough for me, Princess and anybody else that wants to come but living in a condo is just too convenient for niggas like Aubrey to find me. I need to stay in a place that's not too populated where people can't find me.

Nicole frowned. "You can't do that! I deserve to see my daughter!"

"You deserve to get your ass beat! Don't be surprised if somebody runs up on you bitch."

If it's one thing I don't play about, it's Princess. Nicole already fucked her up giving off this terminal Kidney Disease, now she's just putting her in any type of danger. Thankfully, I'm never too far away to save Princess but I'm tired of not being able to let my daughter see her mother. And I'm tired of Nicole not stepping up to the plate as Princess' mother and caring for her like she's supposed to. Princess didn't ask to be bought in this world. Nicole bought her into this world out of spite, greed and jealousy but Princess doesn't deserve this.

"Fuck you Theodore!"

"No, fuck you! Don't hit me up talking about you missing my daughter no more. Miss her all you want 'cause you ain't seeing her again. That's my daughter!"

"I'm the one that gave birth to her!"

I scoffed. "Nicole, you don't even have rights to be with your daughter alone. Just know, that you won't be seeing her ever again."

"It's out of the custody agreement to take her out of the state."

"I never said anything about leaving the state. We'll be here. You just won't be able to see her."

"I hate you!" she yelled after me but I was already out of the bathroom.

My family has been telling me for years to just remove Nicole from Princess' life since she's a bad influence but I always wanted Princess to have both of her parents in her life. But I can find a girl to replace Nicole or I'll just do it all by myself. Princess doesn't need somebody like Nicole fucking up her life every chance she gets.

I walked to the back to find Princess sitting on her bed with her toys and clothes packed up in her bags. "Am I coming back over here Daddy?"

I sighed as I picked her up. "You heard that?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah. Why don't you and Mama ever get along? Don't you two love each other?"

I sighed even heavier as Princess and I walked out of Nicole's condo, with Nicole nowhere in sight. It's like she doesn't even love Princess. She never fights for Princess the way she should be doing. "Your Mama and I don't get along for a lot of reasons Princess, and it's not because of you. And I'm gonna be honest baby girl, your Mama and I don't love each other but we do love you a whole, whole, whole lot. Okay?"

"Okay. And are we leaving?"

I nodded my head. "Mhmm."

"Why? I like my school."

"Oh, you'll still be at the same school but we won't be living here anymore. We're gonna live in a big house."

Princess smiled. "With a pool like Grandpa King?"

I nodded my head. "Of course. What else do you want?"

"Just a pool and I want my room to be next to yours!"

I smiled. "Alright, I think I can make that happen baby girl. Is that all?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah."

Princess and I rode up the elevator in silence. She was probably thinking about the new house we were going to move to while I did the same thing. It'll be a lot easier in a house anyways. I just want Lindsey and Jaz to be able to live under the same roof without killing each other. I know it'll be hard to have them living together but I can't have my sister and nephew here by themselves and I can't have Jazmine alone either. I told them I was gonna take care of them, so that's what I'm doing.

I unlocked my door and walked inside of my condo to all of the roses and the two champagne flutes I left sitting here before I had to get Princess. I have a friend over.

"Daddy, did you have one of your lady friends over?"

I shook my head as I put Princess on the ground. "Not a lady friend, just Milan."

Milan and I were supposed to finish sleeping together when I got back but I didn't think I'd be bringing Princess back with me and I'm all soft now. I went limp as soon as I walked into Nicole's condo. See, Milan came over a few hours ago unexpectedly. I was about to leave out to handle some business but she was looking too good and I was horny. Goldie and I haven't been sleeping together and since I dropped Milan over a month ago, I haven't slept with anybody. I mean, I thought about calling Milan a few times but I decided against it because of my pride. I'm just glad she came over before I went to see her.

Princess smiled. "Where's she at?"

"She's in the back. You stay up here and I'm gonna get her. Cool?"

"Cool," she nodded her head as she sat down on the couch.

I immediately rushed to the back of the condo, picking up the flutes of champagne in the process, before I walked into my bedroom. Milan was still laying in my bed ass naked, waiting on me to get back.

"Theodore," she moaned as I closed the door behind myself. "What took you so long?"

I ran a hand down my face, sighing. "I had some shit to take care of but you gotta get dressed and go. Nicole was on her usual bull shit and I had to bring Princess back with me."

Milan quickly popped up in bed. "She's in the front?"

"Yes, so come on and get dressed. I'm not tryna get caught."

Milan immediately climbed out of bed and ran back and forth across the room to gather up her clothes. Milan was dressed and we were walking out of my bedroom in under three minutes. Milan walked ahead of me, purposely putting a swing in her hips and purposely keeping her shirt rolled up a bit so I could see the tattoo she got of my name. She said she got it to prove that she loves but part of me doesn't believe her. I think she only got it to keep my attention while we were on a break but part of me feels like she got it for my Dad. But how would I ever know? Milan's playing the both of us so well that she could pull some messy shit like this off since my Dad and I both have the same name.

"Princess Reed!" Milan exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around a smiling Princess. "Oh, it's been so long since I've seen you. I didn't know you were wearing glasses."

Princess smiled as she turned around in Milan's arms. "Yeah, I wear glasses now Milan. I went to a doctor and they checked my eyes, they let me try on glasses and now I have my own! Daddy said glasses make people smart, so I'm smarter now."

I chuckled as I watched Princess run her mouth. I took Princess to the a couple of weeks ago for her normal check up. Since she has the disease, her body isn't performing at the best of it's abilities, meaning her eyes aren't as strong as a normal five year old's should be. The doctor checked her eyes, saw how bad her vision was and strongly encouraged me to make her an eye doctor appointment. I took her to the appointment, another doctor told me how poor her vision was and now Princess is wearing glasses.

Milan smiled. "Well, you've always been smart Princess but you look beautiful in your glasses Princess. Do you like them?"

Princess nodded her head. "Mhmm."

"Well that's good but I'll see you later, alright?"

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah, I really have to get to work but I'll be back later to see you and your Daddy."

"Can you spend the night?" Princess smiled.

Milan took a deep breath as she looked back at me. "Well your Grandpa isn't home tonight so it's up to your Daddy."

"Of course. I'd love for Milan to stay the night," I smirked.

Milan slightly smiled before she turned back to Princess. After telling the both of us goodbye, Milan left my condo, leaving me wondering if she was just coming back for Princess or if she wanted to spend more time with me. Or if she was only sleeping with me today because my Dad was out of town again and she needed her fix. Whatever it is, I plan on finding out tonight.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, baby girl?"

"Do you like Milan?"

"Yeah, she's my Step Mom. I'm supposed to like her."

"No, like do you have a crush on her?" Princess giggled, making me frown.

Damn. Were my feelings for her that obvious that my five year old daughter could see how sprung I was?

"Why you say that, gorgeous?"

Princess shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I think Milan is really, really pretty and you're very handsome Daddy so you guys should be together. And you guys always smile at each other too. I think she wants to be your girlfriend."

I chuckled, trying not to show my nervousness. While Milan and I were trying to keep our relationship a secret from all of the older people in my family, we failed to realize that children see and process more than adults do. Princess probably doesn't even know that she's exposed me and Milan's secret. "Baby girl, Milan is married to my Dad. She can't like me because she has a husband. Remember I explained to you that my parents weren't happy so they started being with other people?"

"Yes."

"Well Grandpa is with Milan. Milan is his wife and she loves my Dad and my Dad loves her. Milan can't have a crush on me and be married to my Dad, can she?"

Princess shook her head. "Of course not. So do you have a crush on her?"

"No. I just think Milan is a very beautiful woman but I have a crush on somebody else," I replied, just trying to sway her attention from Milan and I.

Princess smiled. "Is it Mya?"

I nodded my head. "Yup and you gotta keep it a secret, okay?"

"Of course."

~~~

Just as planned, I met up with Aubrey at Vanity tonight just to see where he's coming from. I still don't trust him since he's sneaky and likes to do shit behind people's backs but I'll hear him out tonight. And if he decides he wants to go back to his old ways then he'll be handled. I had Cashmere bring my security team out to the club tonight. There's two guards standing at each exit in the club, waiting on Cashmere to give them the signal that Aubrey needs to be dead.

"Shit, I can't believe this is all you," Aubrey eyed the club around us as he sipped on his drink. "You like running shit here?"

I slightly shrugged my shoulders. "It's straight."

The bartender sat my usual class of Hennessy down in front of me and I down it before ordering another one.

Aubrey watched as I took the second glass of Henny to my head before a smirk appeared on his face. "I see you ain't a light weight no more, huh?"

"I can handle my liquor. I suppose you can since you were probably mixing up those prison house specials while you were locked up, right? What'chall niggas use in prison? Fermented apples?"

Aubrey chuckled. "Nice one lil' nigga but nah. The nigga I roomed with had the hook up with a few of the CO's so they bought him bottles of Henny, New Amsterdam, Olde E, whatever they could get their hands on. And he shared with me, so I always had the real shit. I wasn't like the rest of them niggas using a pair of pants, tomatoes and sugar to make some alcohol."

I chuckled. "In exchange for what? I chance to get up in your asshole?"

"Nah," Aubrey chuckled. "Luckily he wasn't like that. The nigga had me tutoring him."

I shook my head. "Seriously?"

Aubrey nodded his head. "On some real shit. I helped him get his GED and I got mine too. I'm telling you, I wasn't just sitting around everyday thinking of ways to hurt you and your family. I was actually tryna better myself while I was locked up so I could come out a better person. Seriously."

I sighed as I looked down at the third glass of Henny in front of me, contemplating on whether or not I wanted to stay level headed to deal with Aubrey tonight. I decided against it. I need to stay as sober as possible while dealing with him. "Now on some real shit, how come you came through tonight? I know you didn't come to talk about your prison life, so what's up? What do you want?"

"My friend back. I miss kickin' it with you nigga."

"I've changed, you don't even know me."

"You're still the same nigga I used to run with back in high school. Don't act like shit has changed that much in five years. And if shit has changed then catch me up."

"Why you wanna know so much shit about me anyways, huh? You wearing a wire or you tryna plot on me? It's gotta be either one of those because you've just been too persistent my nigga and I'm not feeling it."

Aubrey sighed. "I ain't plotting against you and I'm not wearing a wire. I'm a lot of things but I'm not a fuckin' snitch. 'Cause if I was a snitch, I would've ran my mouth about you and your family like my lawyer wanted me to, to reduce my sentence. I didn't say shit about y'all and I'm not being a snake now. I just wanna know if we gon' ever be cool again."

"No."

"Why?"

"You're sneaky as fuck."

"A'ight, well I'm not begging no nigga to be my friend."

Aubrey took the last sip of what he was drinking on and stood to his feet to walk away. Aubrey's out of his mind to think anything's going to be the same between us again. He's fucked me and my family over but I know he's not lying to me right now. Aubrey wouldn't be stupid enough to wear a wire in my club but I know he's not lying right now, so I'll give him a chance. We won't be cool but I'll let the nigga prove himself.

"Prove your loyalty to me," I spoke up before he got too far away.

Aubrey turned around. "Excuse me?"

I down the rest of my Hennessy before standing up and walking over to him. "You got six months to prove you ain't a sneaky nigga to me."

"Ain't shit to prove if you know I'm not a sneaky nigga."

"Well prove me wrong. Prove to me that I can trust you and once you do that, I'll put you on."

"Seriously?" he asked.

"Yeah but one fuck up and you're through."

"Alright, thank--"

"Don't thank me," I cut him off. "Just don't fuck up 'cause you skating on thin ice nigga."

Aubrey nodded his head before I walked away from him. Shit. I need another drink but I'm not going to be drinking in front of everybody so I walked back to my office. I climbed the steps of V.I.P and walked across the balcony to get to my office but the sound of Goldie's voice stopped me.

"Mr. Reed?"

I sighed, never bothering to turn around. "Yes?"

"Rocky said you looked stressed so he sent up a bottle of Hennessy for you."

Goldie followed me into my office and sat the bottle on top of my desk. "Thanks Goldie."

"It's no big deal Mr. Reed. I was coming up here to see about you anyways. Are you all right?"

I don't need everybody at the club in my business so I nodded my head. "Yeah, I'm good. You busy later tonight Mya?"

"After work, no. Why?"

"Come through tonight. Princess has been asking about you and I wanna see you again."

Goldie smiled as she walked up to me, standing in front of me. "Alright, I'll stop by."

Since Goldie wasn't as close to me as I wanted her to be, I slipped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer to me so we were chest to chest. "And stay the night?"

Goldie nodded her head. "I'd love to."

As soon as Goldie walked out of my office and went back to her job, I immediately sent Milan a text, canceling our plans for the night. I need to stop getting stuck on chicks like Milan because our relationship isn't going anywhere. All we do is sleep together, I fall more in love with her and she falls more in love with my Dad. I can't keep putting myself through that and Mya won't treat me like that. I can tell she really cares about me so I'm going to distance myself from women like Milan. She's only with me to take out her revenge on my Dad for never being around and I refuse to be a pawn in her game anymore.

~~~

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How was this chapter? How do you guys feel about Aubrey being back? Will he be causing hell soon or is he being sincere about his reason for being back? Was it weird for Aubrey to talk to Princess to get information about Theodore and Jazmine? How do you guys feel about Nicole as a mother? Should Theodore just take Princess and move into a house for better protection? Should Nicole be allowed to see Princess? How do you guys feel about Theodore and Milan still messing around? Will Theodore move on to Goldie?

Goldie's in the MM.