"Where the hell are we going?"Cookie asked.
"We are going to a class a defense training class the guys think it would be a good idea just in case with the line of work they do they aren't home all the time and guns are good but are useless if you get overpowered," Shanice replied.
"They even teach children's classes to defend against bullies and such and the guy who runs it he is classified as a weapon because he specializes in all forms of weapons and fighting styles which would be great for us the guys have been going too, "Rochelle said.
"Are the ones who teach the kids classified as weapons too?"Cookie asked.
"Yes, but they won't train the kids hardcore until they are teenagers. It's mostly light defense stuff now." Jackie replied.
They drive in silence finally pulling into a parking lot of a building that was about the size of a gym or recreation center.
They get out and walk into the building everyone was doing some kind of defense move and a tall man bald but muscular walked around the room correcting people's forms as they continued their training.
seeing Cookie and the others he walks up to them.
"Hello, Jherico I want to introduce you to my friends Jackie Rochelle and Cookie."Shanice introduced.
"It's nice to meet you ladies your husband's talk about you all the time. You guys can call me Jherico and I and my team will be training you to become more dangerous than you look."Jericho replied.
And so the training began it was grueling for Cookie Jackie and Rochelle but as they continued with the class their bodies because more toned and muscular and Lucious could see Cookies defined abs whenever she wore something that showed her stomach or she didn't have a shirt on.
The group never missed a class and were some of Jherico's new prize students. Three times a week the ladies learned quickly each defense style.
Cookie even sold some of Lucious beat mixes to the students in the class so when they were practiced they could do it with Lucious music as a soundtrack.
Half an hour later class ends and Cookie and the others went out to lunch.
They went to a little soul food spot that was popular around town.
"What are you getting Cookie?"Rochelle asked.
"Oxtail stew looks good what about you guys?"Cookie said.
"I think I'll get the shrimp and grits," Jackie replied.
"I'll get the chicken and waffles," Rochelle said.
After lunch, they parted ways Lucious was loading another box of his cassette's in more boxes getting ready to load them in his trunk.
"Hey, baby I'm home."Cookie greeted.
"Well Hey baby how was your class?"Lucious asked.
"It was great baby I also sold some of your tapes they love your music baby."Cookie said.
"That's great baby I'm selling them like crazy too," Lucious replied.
"I'm proud of you Lucious you have made me so happy and treat me like a queen even when we don't agree on things you still make sure to show me how much you love me."Cookie said.
"Your my queen and always will be the queen of Lyon Empire," Lucious replied.
"Our time is coming baby we just have to keep doing what we are doing and we will make it as long as we let nothing stand in our way."Cookie said.
"Yeah, it's just a matter of selling more tapes and doing more drops and keeping competition off of our areas, and just like in the movies people like to piss Frank off until they pay the ultimate price for it, "Lucious replied.
"We will make it baby we are both driven when it comes to what we want."Cookie said.
Lucious kissed Cookie goodbye before leaving her she went to her room to take a shower and change clothes after sweating in the ones she came home in. The house was silent she didn't hear the kids and she didn't know if they were home or not but she wasn't worried it wasn't uncommon for Bunkie or one of their friends to take the kids out for fun.
Cookie then went downstairs grabbing the trash to take to the can in the back.
Washing her hands she then started to get stuff ready for dinner an hour later the kids returned. "Kids go wash up for dinner." Cookie instructed.
They returned with a boardgame they started playing until dinner would be ready.
"Connect Four," Kayla said.
"Nice win Kay, "Andre replied.
"Thanks, Andre," Kayla said.
"Let's play again, "Jamal replied.
Cookie watched the kids as they played.
Lucious pulled into the driveway a few minutes later the kids didn't notice him walking in the door.
Lucious walks up to Cookie kissing her on the top of the head then walks over to the kids."Who's winning?"Lucious asked.
"Daddy!"Kayla Andre and Jamal shout as they each hug him.
"Lucious dinner is almost ready go wash your hands."Cookie ordered.
"Alright baby," Lucious replied.
Lucious comes to the table after washing his hands the kids took their places at the table the eat-in silence enjoying the home-cooked meal.
The kids washed the dishes put their game away and got ready for bed.
Cookie and Lucious kissed the kids goodnight and went to bed themselves.
The next morning Lucious and Cookie get up at the same time the kids were already downstairs Kayla was reading a book to Jamal and Andre was helping him pronounce the words.
"Morning kids, have you eaten?"Cookie asked.
"No, we didn't eat yet mama," Kayla replied.
"Okay baby I'll make us breakfast then."Cookie said.
They sit down to eat a little while later the kids got dressed after breakfast so they could be dropped off at their class.
Meanwhile, Cookie grabbed a box of cassettes waiting for Shanice and the girls to pick her up. They drive to all their DJ friends and give them Lucious new beats.
finally, the box was empty after a few hours Cookie went home and grabbed more boxes filled with cassettes.
They headed out again but this time they drove to other parts of town circulating the cassette tapes. By the time they were done they went out to lunch something they enjoyed doing.
Lucious and the guys were busy at their storage spot getting more products which they still never kept at their home.
"Wow, I can't believe how much product was gone through before we were able to fill it back up again, "Bunkie said.
"I'm not surprised I watch the news and the need is great for it it's been like that since the seventies when people started snorting it up to their noses hell and the designer snorting tools they used to have added in magazines gave them something else to spend their money on, "Lucious replied.
"I watch the news too and It's damn depressing crackdowns arrests gang shootings we live in a dangerous world my friends and what we do isn't for everybody but Lucious is doing it to fund his dream I'm doing it because it pays for law school Bunkie and Vernon here just want better lives for their families that are in no way different from all those people from other countries coming here to live the American dream, "Thirsty said.
"Okay, Thirsty you sound like you trying to run for president," Vernon replied.
"Nope not me all of us have a target on us being involved with Frank why would I want to make it open season on me my wife and kids by running for president, "Thirsty said.
"Hahaha, that's funny president Thirsty." Bunkie joked.
"Shut up vice president Bunkie." Thirsty replied.
"Hahaha, that's hilarious."Lucious laughed.
"Let's get back to work," Vernon said.
They continued to load the storage unit it also held tons of blank cassettes that Lucious used for his music.
Hours later Lucious returns to his house with the boxes of blank cassettes.
Lucious beeper went again."Hey, Lucious come on we gotta go, man."Vernon said.
"What the hell happened Vernon?"Lucious asked.
"Frank is pissed a group of wannabe tough-guys went to Frank and told him that as of today he is officially out of business and if he didn't go along with it that all his people and their families would be killed. So Frank put the order out to find his street people and handle them and then send the lead tough guy a response in the blood."Vernon replied.
"Damn where are Cookie and the kids I haven't seen her since before I left this morning," Lucious asked.
"They are fine they are staying at a safe house outside of the city limits," Vernon replied.
Meanwhile at an undisclosed location.
All the children sat on the living room floor playing games.
Cookie and the other wives sat at the dining room table drinking coffee and talking.
"I cannot believe this shit."Cookie exclaimed.
"You can say that again, "Rochelle replied.
"I'm not surprised this happened Frank is a very powerful man and people would be drawn to that power," Jackie said.
"Of course they would this is just history repeating itself where someone has power and someone else wants that power," Shanice replied.
"Yeah your right and it's annoying as hell."Cookie replied.
"I'm just glad the kids think we are on a vacation and their dads will join us later," Shanice said.
"Yeah, at least they don't know what's going on, "Rochelle replied.
"Yeah that's true I'll be damned if anyone will screw with my children I don't care how dangerous they claim to be."Cookie said.
Meanwhile, Lucious and the guys were standing outside of an undisclosed location that Frank's guys used to dispose of things.
"Ah, Lucious you and your boys have done well are these all the punks on my territory," Frank asked.
"Yes, we got them, "Lucious replied.
"That's good. Go to your families and lay low I'll call you when things calm down."Frank ordered.
"Okay, we'll see you later, "Bunkie said.
They get into their cars all heading to their houses packing bags for themselves and their families getting in their cars driving to the outskirts of town one after the other they pulled up.
"Jackie takes the kids to the back I just heard cars outside."Cookie instructed.
"I'm on it, "Jackie replied.
Lucious and the guys open the door Cookie Rochelle and Shanice each had guns pointed at the opening door.
"What the hell Lucious you couldn't call to let me know you guys were coming back."Cookie scolded holding the gun next to her.
"Sorry, Cook I didn't mean to scare you, "Lucious replied.
"You better not do it again Lucious. "Cookie said.
"I won't where are the kids?"Lucious asked.
They're in the back." Cookie said.
"We'll check on them later but we need to talk to you all without the kids because we are gonna be laying low for a while and my DJ friends will meet me to get cassettes Frank will call when things calm down," Lucious replied.
No one said anything after that and the guys went out to the car pulling out the suitcases they had packed before coming out there.
The kids came out to continue their game. And the ladies went to the kitchen to fix food for everyone.
And the guys went and unpacked the suitcases and put everything away.
"Well, home sweet home."Bunkie joked.
"Yeah, we'll survive, "Vernon replied.
"Yeah, It's not that bad here It's like our own private cabin," Lucious said.
"Guys bring your asses downstairs!"Rochelle shouted.
"We'll be down in a sec," Vernon replied.
The men return downstairs seeing the woman working together like a team and the kids playing still.
"Come on kids go wash your hands," Jackie said.
"So what happened while you were away?"Cookie asked.
"Let's all talk about that when the kids go to bed," Lucious replied.
"Okay but you better not leave anything out."Cookie said.
"Cookie you know I tell you everything your my wife my partner the mother of my children and I love you and nothing will ever stop that," Lucious replied.
"I love you too I wouldn't have followed my heart in regards to you if I didn't when I look at our kids and think they could have been Berry's it fills my heart with joy knowing they are not." Cookie said.
"Honestly Cook I am too I can imagine our kids having sticks up their asses if they had that fool as a father," Lucious replied.
"Lucky for them they don't."Cookie said.
"That's true," Lucious replied.
Later that evening as the kids slept the adults sat and talked about everything that went on.
"So what happened with you guys?"Jackie asked.
"Well, we found the guys that worked with the guy who threatened Frank and handled it which was why he instructed us to lay low," Lucious replied.
"I'm glad you guys found them, "Rochelle said.
"They didn't make it hard when they were on our designated meeting places," Vernon replied.
"Oh, your garden variety idiots," Shanice said.
"Yeah pretty much, "Bunkie replied.
They sat and talked and joked and laughed till they all went to bed for the night.
Rochelle and Jackie woke up making breakfast for everybody the next morning.
While they were all eating and enjoying being together Frank Gathers was taking care of the loose ends that were messing up his business.
Frank sat at his desk in his office his gang stood waiting for him to speak.
"I called you here to tell you what is going to be happening as of right now. I got Lucious and his crew and their families laying low because we eliminated a threat to my organization a man who thought he could stand before me and threaten me and my people I had Lucious send them a message in blood and I'm certain they will respond in kind and I want all of you to be ready to fight from here on out we will have armor under our clothes to stop any trigger happy bitch that wants to call themselves hardcore I want all your families protected in kind.
"I've sent Lucious and his people the same instructions. Keep your eyes open and your mouths shut. Now get he'll out of here and go where you are supposed to be."Frank ordered.
Frank stood up from his desk looking out the window watching the cars leave.
Frank left the window going to sit at his conference table waiting for the other boss to come to the meeting.
Twenty minutes later people started to arrive taking their seats they waited for Frank to say something.
"Good afternoon gentlemen."Frank greeted.
"Good afternoon Frank."They greeted.
"Solomon Burke came here with his men demanding for me to turn everything over to him or he would make an example of my guys and their families as well as my family," Frank said.
"Oh, you too huh? he tried that shit with me, "Roger replied.
"Yes, but he won't be doing that to anyone anymore," Frank said.
"That's good to hear because he visited me a couple of days ago I flat out told him if he didn't get the hell out of my face I would make certain that would be that breath he takes, "Curtis replied.
"Yeah, I think he made his rounds before it cost him his life," Frank said.
"Sounds about right," Roger replied.
"Yeah but I believe we can split his territory between us," Curtis said.
"Yeah sure he's got quite a bit of product we can make a lot of money on we will also make sure his wife and kids live comfortably since they were innocent in his plans besides I heard he beat her and their kids daily he was a hothead," Roger replied.
"Yeah, I heard that and saw that when he tried to look intimidating which for him looked constipated," Frank said.
"Yeah that shit is fucking hilarious watching his face get redder and redder and that vein in his temple throbbing as he gets redder and redder," Curtis replied.
"That's true so far here's what we know about his territory," Roger said.
They loomed over the papers studying them closely here it was, in a nutshell, everything that Solomon had done throughout his life and deals he had in the works that were now all of theirs.
Half an hour later with the agreement reached they left Frank to take care of other matters.
"Jojo come in here please," Frank Ordered.
"Sure thing boss," Jojo replied.
"I want you to send some guys to our newly added territory let them know that they are to inform the people that It's under new management and if they don't like it they can be dealt with," Frank said.
"Will do boss," Jojo replied.
On the outskirts of town, Lucious and the others were sitting at the table playing cards while the kids played board games.
There were stacks of money and chips in the middle of the table and they all and a nice pile of chips in front of them.
everyone eyed each other carefully making sure they never looked at each other's cards. Each confident in the hands they were dealt with. And then boom smacking the cards with an audible smack.
While the kids were engrossed in their own game talking amongst themselves.
"It's your turn, Andre," Kayla said.
"Sure Kay, "Andre replied.
All the kids were in a heated match of games and a few feet away the adults were having their heated match.
"Ha Lucious give me my money."Rochelle taunted as she smiled at Lucious.
"You won this one but you can't win em all," Lucious replied.