Page 69 of 4 Corinthians

“He doesn’t have a choice,” I chuckled. “December said either she comes with him or he moves in with Unc.”

Trey smirked then laughed. “I know he wasn’t going for that,” he said, shaking his head.

“Not at all,” I said. “So, Nine is going to tell her December needs help with managing his companies and is sending her to help.”

“Which house?”

“Alaska,” I told him, and he whistled. “I know. That nigga wasn’t playing; he said he was moving her away.”

“I’ll keep my ear to the ground with Robert and Logan to make sure they don’t mention shit about going after her again.”

“I appreciate it,” I replied. We fell into another comfortable silence. “You good?”

“I’m surviving,” he said, nodding. “Some days are harder than others, but my head is above water.”

“Treading so the current doesn’t take you under.”

“I’ve drowned before; I didn’t like the feeling,” he said, then stood.

“At least you can feel,” I said, standing. We dapped each other up then stepped back. “Be careful, Trey.”

“I got you,” he said, then walked away.

I turned back to Cori’s shop to see her cousins and sister pull up. Ex, Judge, and Krude went inside while Psalms got something from her car. She grabbed whatever she was looking for, shut the door, then looked right at me. I expected her to be upset; instead, she looked back at the building, sighed, then came to where I was standing.

“I figured you would show up again,” she said, standing in front of me. She crossed her arms, then shook her head. “You can’t help it, can you?” She gave me a sad smile, then looked back at her sister’s shop. “I already know you can't, so you don’t have to answer.”

“She’s okay?”

“Honestly,” she looked over at me and shrugged. “I don’t know. She says she is but…”

“Her eyes,” I said, finishing her sentence, and Psalms nodded.

“Yeah.”

“I just came to see her for myself; I’m leaving again.”

“Stay gone this time,” she said softly. “If you don’t, I’ll kill you.” She walked back to the shop. She didn’t even turn around to see if I was still standing there. She knew I would be.

I couldn’t stay away.

Corinthians

“Madea, you should let me lead the children’s choir,” Krude suggested as we sat in our seats. “These kids need some guidance.” He looked at them and shook his head. “They sound boring.”

“This isn’t our church, Genesis,” she replied without looking at him. “What the Kilmores do with their church is their business.”

“Stop accepting invites then,” he said, shaking his head. “From here on out we don’t go outside; the company comes to us.”

“I don’t want the Kilmores at our church,” she said, cutting her eyes to him. “I don’t like how they look.”

Krude looked around, then nodded. “Yeah, they are a little funny looking,” he agreed. He looked over at me. “I hope that baby takes after us.”

“Not their looks,” she sighed. “Their spirit ain’t right.”

“Shoot them,” he suggested. “We can have a clean-up crew here within minutes.”

“I can't shoot them.”