Date: August 9, 2017
Time: 7:28 a.m

~Nola's P.O.V~

We have to develop these close FAKE friendships with people under investigation, just for shit like this to happen. Well, it didn't happen yet, but it's about to. I walked past the naked men and women sat around, bagging up the drugs. I heard screaming from other rooms. I had to sell drugs, but they were always sold to my coworkers or other big-time dealers that we're also trying to bust.

My friend and I were only to walk in after being checked THOROUGHLY. The difference between now and back in the day, is that wires are no longer needed. All we need are earpieces and tiny cameras that can't even be seen. Those items are sometimes attached to clothing items. Phones aren't allowed inside the warehouse either.

"Hey, boss!" Iris called out.

I have never met BOSS, but since my sales are soaring, here's my chance. I am requested by the man himself. He's the top of the top! It's only been a little over three months. Today's the day we bust this whole ordeal. There have been so many overdoses regarding them as well as murders. He turned his chair around.

(Leonid)

What is this? The seventies? 🥴 "Iris." He replied to her. "Stasia." He said referring to me, the name I came up with for this. Well, he made up a nickname. It's Anastasia.

"Sir." Iris returned.

"It's an honor meeting you, sir," I replied in my best Russian accent.

"There he is." I heard a team member speak into my ear.

"I have never met a black Russian before." Boss chuckled. "I must say that I'm impressed by your skills." He said in Russian.

"Thank you, sir." I gladly replied in Russian, knowing damn well I was born and raised in America with American parents. It was a test on his end. He wanted to be sure that I am who I say I am.

"Hmmm..." He nodded, lighting a cigar. I feel like I'm in a film right now. 🤣 "Again, impressed." He chuckled. "What part of Russia are you from?"

"Chelyabinsk, sir," I replied.

"What made you get into this business? You're pretty young to be doing this." He questioned.

"I guess it's my way of rebelling against the American parents." I joked, holding up quotaions.

"Ahh, I see." He gave a deep laugh. "Leonid."

I know your name. "I'm sorry?" I pretended.

"The names Leonid, Ana. Beat it, Iris!" He instructed her.

"Yes sir." Iris eyed me before being escorted out.

"Step into my office. Have a seat." He stood up from his seat. He sat down once I took a seat. "You're bringing a lot of inventory. How do you do it?"

"I learned from the Americans then added SMART to the equation by putting a little Russian twist on it," I replied.

"Funny." He pointed this cigar at me. He pulled out something from his drawer. Drugs. "Want some?" He said cutting the coke.

"No sir. I sell not do." I replied.

"Good answer." He said, stopping. "You're smart. You won't believe how many dummies fall for this, especially with you being... You know?"

"Black?" I questioned. Although I knew EXACTLY what he meant.

"Black." He repeated.

Leonid's phone rang, he answered it and put it on speaker. "Boss, he's here." The person on the other end spoke.

"Good." Leonid stood up. "Follow me, please?"

He has manners? I stood up and he opened the door for me. We walked out and walked down the corridor, then into a large room with a hole of water in the floor. Looks like a sewage hole and a chain is above it.

"You seeing this, Bates?" A team member asked my immediate partner.

"Y- ye- yeah." Bates replied.

"Now, I'm going to show you what happens when you steal from me or if I see you speaking with a cop," Leonid spoke to me. "Take notes."

I silently nodded as they strapped a guy to a chair. The chair resembles an electric chair. Leonid snapped his fingers and four men approached the man strapped up. I eyed one of my team members who also trained for their role.

"Boss, I swear I didn't do anything!" The guy screamed out.

"Projector please." Leonid snapped his fingers and he was handed a remote.

The projector appeared on the wall. Leonid pressed play and there he was, speaking to my brother. You would never know that we're siblings because he's a whole other race and I'm black. Long story short, our parents married when we were young.

"Boss, I was weening him off our tail. I promise you!"

"Clippers!" Leonid yelled out.

Punishment is cutting his hair? Huh? I'm highly confused. They pulled out a tool that looks NOTHING like you see in a barbershop. It's some kind of a tool.

"Index," Leonid instructed.

The guy bent his fingers while screaming. "Please boss! I swear, I did nothing!"

The men grabbed his fingers. "Stay still! It will make this less painful." Leonid yelled out laughing.

They placed his finger between the tool and a blade appeared, then chopped off his finger. He screamed in agony. With all my years of working in my field and all the crazy shit I've seen, THIS is still hard to watch. His finger fell on the floor with a small thud. Blood poured from his finger and as he drooled and continuous screams.

"Ring him up!" Leonid laughed while watching this happen.

I kept my same cool expression. They unbolted the chair after tying it to some ropes that hung over the sewage water. They reeled him in, almost submerging his whole body. The only part I could see are his feet. This man has so much power

"Lift him back up," Leonid ordered them and they did just that.

"They're going to kill him. We need to get inside there ASAP!" Nelson told everyone.

"They're armed!" My partner from across the room whispered, Lewis.

I heard a big BOOM. That's my team!

"FREEZE, State Police!"

"Put your hands where I could see them!"

I put my hands up in the air and laid on the floor. I can't blow my cover. I'm REALLY undercover.

Leonid chuckled. "I'll be damned if I followed any of you Americans' rules." He puffed on his cigar then looked up, above our heads.

I put my hands up in the air and laid on the floor. I can't blow my cover. I'm REALLY undercover. Bates fell face-first on the floor. What the fuck is wrong with him!?

"You need to choose a better team." Leonid chuckled again.

"Get down or we shoot!" Charm screamed.

"I told you, I'm not complying!" Leonid screamed. He was shot in the arm.

Leonid's people started shooting and so did my people. I can't even help because I'm unarmed. I looked over to Lewis who's on the ground.

"Men down! Men down! Send them in!"

Why didn't they allow SWAT inside in the first place!? They've become so fucking backwards! SWAT bust through the fully armed. Who's idea was this!? This is fucked up! I prayed to my God silently as everything went down that a bullet didn't hit me.

I crawled to a safe space, behind something all while praying. I wasn't thrown anything to protect myself. It was Bates' job to do so with discreet. I love helping people and making this world a better place, but it's shit like this that has me rethinking. By the time everything finished.

Date: August 10, 2017
Time: 1:30 p.m

Yesterday, so many lives were lost on our end, and others were lost. There were fifteen of us and now there are only eight. Four of the eight are hospitalized. My partner, Bates is dead. He overdosed on the drugs I sold to him. THIS has NEVER happened to me. My chest feels so heavy. Who would've thought that Bates would so dumb to actually DO the drugs that I sold to them? Somebody wasn't keeping tasks on inventory!

I told them the amount of drugs being distributed on my end and everything. My team failed me and I risk my fucking life by being unarmed to enter the warehouse! Lewis and I, both! I'm STILL pissed! I got no sleep because all I kept fucking seeing is my team later across the floors. A blood bath. I'm angry but at the same time

"Boss said there's a meeting in nine." Charms sat down in front of me. "Hey Darling, we did our part. There was nothing we could've done."

(Lucky Charms/ Good Luck Charm/ Charm)

"That's the problem Lucky." I exasperated, putting my hands on my head.

"It's fucked up, but we were the lucky ones. We're not hit, nor are we dead. Come on... Lighten up."

"I can't. Do you know that lieutenant is going to chew me up and spit me out?" I asked him.

"But he's-"

"That makes it worse!" I replied to him before he could even finish his statement.

He sighed. "You have the advantage, but me? He's gonna do what you just said he'd do to you. Things like this happen, Darling."

I sighed because he doesn't understand. I will never hear the end of this! Lewis doesn't have to hear this AFTER work. Me? I do! Nobody gets it!

"I got no sleep last night. I can see you probably had the same problem." He chuckled.

"You're right." I chuckled. "None whatsoever."

"All kept doing is replaying everything. Shits crazy." Lewis shook his head. "I'm STILL trying to figure out why they allowed Bates to direct them and make plans even though he was speaking incoherently. I could hear that shit over the earpiece. They were there and HAD to see it as well as hear it."

"I'm saying. Look, I don't wanna talk about it anymore. We'll hear enough when we have that meeting." I replied. "I'm damn near done with the report."

"Me too. I'm going to head back to my booth." Charm stood up and walked away.

"I got Starbucks!" Josh said from behind me. I turned my chair around and grabbed a cup from the holder. "This one's mine." He took it out of my hand. "Here you go."

"Thanks," I said turning back around to type.

"That's it? I haven't been able to speak to you in a while and all you can say is thanks?" Josh questioned.

"Thank you, BROTHER," I added with a smile.

"You're welcome, SISTER." He said matching my tone. "What's up with the attitude?"

"Did you REALLY just ask me that just now?" I turned to face him.

"I'm sorry." He pulled up a chair. "I know what happened yesterday was a shit show, but you'll recover. Shit happens all the time. No matter what pops tell you after the group meeting, you know you can still come to me."

"He's definitely going to blame me." I turned back around to continue typing my report.

"He's just showing tough love. He does the same to me. You expect him to be lenient because you're a woman?" Josh asked me.

(Josh/ Brother)

I scoffed. "No, I expect him to have SOME compassion because I'm his daughter. You said it yourself, he's harder on us than anyone and we're his kids."

"True, but it's because he KNOWS how hard this job is. We're putting our lives in danger every day and he doesn't want to see us being like the majority of your team. I'll get back to you after work." Josh patted my shoulder. "You better get to your meeting. Good luck."

"And don't be such a kiss ass," DeGrate said looking over the cubicle and making kissy noises.

"Fucking idiot. What are you, a preschooler?" I scoffed then turned back to Josh.

"I can't stand that guy." Josh shook his head.

"Well, I CAN'T stand you EITHER," DeGrate said laughing.

"Stay over there DeGrate!" Josh raised his voice.

"And if I don't?" DeGrate asked.

"I ain't got time for this fool. You better hurry, Darling." Josh chuckled.

"I thought so." DeGrate chuckled.

"Such an asshole." I saved my work, closed my computer then stood up.

"Bitch." He shot back.

I walked around to his cubicle and snatched him up. "Call me another one. Do it!" I told him.

"Unleash me, BITCH." He said lowly and put emphasis on the word bitch.

"Darling!" I heard my name being called by the chief. "Get in here and let him go, NOW!"

I let him go with a push and DeGrate laughed at me. "Daddy's calling." He sang-song, waving at me.

I turned around and made my way to the conference room. I walked past my father and was given a disapproving look. I sighed and took a seat furthest from where I knew he'd be sitting.

(Chief/ Daddy)

"Yesterday was a tragedy to our department. We lost seven of our people last night and four are currently hospitalized, so I know we're all in a rough place this Thursday afternoon. Because we lost some of our people, I expect you all to work harder and SMARTER." He looked directly at me at the last word.

I did nothing but what I was supposed to do! What was I supposed to do? Fight bullets with my fucking teeth!? The rest of the department entered the room, filling the chairs. My brother sat down next to me. DeGrate and I made eye contact and he shot me a ridiculous smile.

"Uhh, Hailey here's an empty seat," I called out to Joel and he sat there.

I don't know Joel much, but I will say that he's one of the good ones out of the BAD bunch. He could be different behind closed doors, but that's the impression I get from him at work. DeGrate sat directly across from me with that same fake ass smile. If looks could kill, I definitely would've shot him with my eyes. Okay, not LITERALLY but you get it! I just don't like him!

Chief continued once everyone settled down. "I don't want or NEED anyone slacking. Slacking causes problems like these to occur. Unless you want to end up like one of our people down at the morgue, I suggest you step up your game!" He yelled, slamming his hand on the table.

Doing too fucking much. I shook my head and Hailey chuckled beside me lowly.

"What was that, Nola Darling?" Chief asked.

Did I say that out loud? My bad. "Chief, she said and I QUOTE, Doing too fucking much!", SIR," DeGrate replied causing others to chuckle.

Oh, no! DeGrate isn't the only one! He was never the only one. There's a harem of them who does shit like this. They assume that I have it easier since I'm the daughter of the chief. Joshua doesn't get the same treatment as I do with everyone else, except with Donald DeGrate. He's NEVER NOT an asshole. It's like high school or some shit. It wasn't like that until they saw the family picture on his desk. Before that, I was just the new girl. DeGrate has been here longer than I have. His trail that he seems to leave behind on the women here shows just that.

"Thank you, DeGrate." He turned away from him then turned to me. "Darling, WE lost SEVEN of our members and you think I'm doing too much?" He asked me. "Care to elaborate?"

"I- I wasn't talking about you, sir," I replied.

"Unless you were diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome... I think you were speaking to him." DeGrate spoke up.

"Quiet, DeGrate!" Chief yelled.

"I'm sorry for interrupting, sir," I said lowly.

"Speak up!" He yelled across the room.

"I said-" luckily, these first words are low because he'd call me out for my tone. I spoke up. "I'm sorry, sir! And it won't happen again, SIR!"

"Good, as I was saying... Chief turned on the projector. "Yesterday wasn't a total shit show, we were able to arrest most of the men, BUT some were able to get away with product. If you see ANY of these faces, arrest them immediately!" He said going through pictures of four men. "These men are second in power when it came to Leonid. They are POWERFUL drug lords and probably are even more powerful since they don't have to follow the orders of Leonid anymore. I want those reports by the end of the day! Meeting adjourned!" He banged his gable.

I quickly stood up trying to be one of the first out the door. "Darling!?"

I sighed then turned around. "Yes, Chief?"

"I want to see you in my office in five." He told me.

"Yes, sir," I replied then made my way out.

My Starbucks drink is probably cold by now. I went to my desk and picked back up my drink. Indeed it is. It wasn't hot when I got it anyways. It was warm then.

"Cold drink, Nola Darling?" DeGrate asked me. I squinted at him.

"You don't know me like that," I told him because he has a habit of calling me by my full name. I sipped my drink.

"Thank the high heavens for that shit!" He laughed then looked back at me. "I thought that it'd maybe be... Warm." He smirked. I spit it out, making it sprinkle all over him, especially his face. He let out a gasp. "WHY would you do that?"

"Did you piss in my drink?" I clenched my fist.

"Why would I do that?" He spoke in that same nonchalant tone. "You spit all over me. Now, if I get warts, I know who to look to." He chuckled then turned around and walked in the other direction.

I poured my drink down the drinking fountain, then made my way to the office of the chief. I took a deep breath, then knocked on his door.

"You may enter."

"Pshh." I shook my head then opened his door. I closed it behind me.

"Take a seat." He ordered me. I plopped down, prepared myself for the earful that I'm about to hear from this guy. "Nola Darling, the next time you decide to disrespect me in front of the whole room, make sure you think again. I could've embarrassed you even more, but I decided to cut you some slack due to what occurred last night."

"I-"

"I'm not through. I want to tell you about the mistake you made. It's your duty to study your partner and you failed to do so. THAT caused everything to go sour. If you had noticed he was strung out before he made orders then we wouldn't have lost seven of our own and four hospitalized."

"So you're blaming his drug addiction on ME." I pressed the tips of my four fingers into my sternum. "I spent little to no time with this man throughout this mission. How would I have known he was a crack head? If anything, the other should've known. They have spent so much time with him. I told them the amount being distributed. It was THEIR job to keep up with the numbers. They didn't." I emphasized.

"Lower your voice." He warned.

I wasn't even raising my voice! "You're blaming ME for everything when some of our own are laying in a bed at the MORGUE."

"I'm not blaming you for everything. You could've been killed back there, Darling. You had NOTHING to protect yourself last night and you couldn't even answer the phone. Do you know what your mother and I went through last night? We only knew you were fine from Joshua. You didn't even speak to him, but he saw you. We should've known from you!" He slammed his hands on his desk.

"I'm sorry. Last night was a lot to take in. There was a headcount after everything and they had my name down." I replied.

"You're not understanding that I wanted to hear from YOU. WE needed to hear from YOU. All those mistakes were made last night, and that could've been one of them!" He yelled.

"Dad, I'm-"

"Chief." He corrected. "We are still in our professional setting."

"Nobody's around." I squinted.

"I don't care! You heard me."

"Chief, there's no need to scream. You see me now and vice versa, SIR." I rose my eyebrow at him.

"You're getting smart with me, no?"

"No, sir. I been smart nor have I raised my voice at you once." I told him.

He sat back in his chair giving a deep exhale. "You been smart? If you were already smart, you would've taken notice of your partner's drug addiction. Death was knocking on your door and I don't need that happening again Darling." He then clicked the button on his phone. "Get in here." The phone hung up. There was a knock at the door. "You may enter."

I chuckled. Just say come in! Over here sounding like Jeffrey from Fresh Prince or some shit. DeGrate walked into the room.

"Hello again, DeGrate." Chief greeted.

"Hello, sir." Donald DeGrate said with a smile. I'm the kiss ass?

"DeGrate is the best in his team as you know. He's under Lieutenant Doherty." Chief spoke and I nodded. "Darling, you will be joining DeGrate's team. Not only that, but you're his new partner, but he is still ahead of you. This man knows what he's doing. How about showing her around your palace, DeGrate?"

Why in the hell would he do that DeGrate smiled at me. "Sure, sir. I don't mind."

"Good, you two are dismissed." Chief waved his hand at me.

DeGrate held the door open for me and I sped walked out of there to the restroom.

"Where are you going?" DeGrate yelled.

I walked into the restroom, check all the stalls to see nobody inside. Locked the main door of the restroom, so nobody would walk in. I grabbed a bunch of paper towels from the dispenser, went into the stall, stood in a squatting position, stuff them into my mouth, and screamed. It was muffled by the paper towels that's inside my mouth. I clenched my fist so hard.

When I felt it was enough, I jumped off the toilet and walked out of the stall. After trashing the paper towels, I noticed the blood at the palm of my hands from my nails. Great! I washed my hands, dried them, and made sure I looked presentable. Who am I kidding? Presentable where? My body may look presentable, but my eyes tell a different story.

I unlocked the door with the paper towel that I dried my hands on. What? These motherfuckers are dirty. They'll walk straight out of the stall and out of the bathroom without washing their hands. That's why I don't eat donuts when they're passing around boxes of them. I was met with DeGrate's ugly and irritating face.

"Takin' big shits at work, huh? Just couldn't hold it?" He chuckled. "I hope that comes out of your paycheck."

"Fuck off, DeGrate."

"No, thank you." He chuckled.

"I'm offended that you really think I'd actually want to fuck you, community dick." I laughed. I grabbed my things to go.

"YOU said it, not me."

"Can you give me the directions?" I asked him.

"No." He shook his head.

"No?" I stepped back.

"I'm driving, Ms. Second Place." He snickered.

"Nola Darling comes second to NONE." I told him.

~Donald's P.O.V~

We walked out the door. "Alright, the first rule is that you will either call me Big D or Big Daddy," I told Nola.

She burst out into laughter. "You gotta be smokin' something STRONG to believe imma call you either one of those RIDICULOUS names! You're DeGrate, Ass Wipe, or Shit For Brains." I unlocked the doors and opened her for her before jogging to my side. "He has SOME manners!?" She said shocked.

"I only open the door for women. I just hope that's what you claim you are. Be grateful because chivalry is dead these days." I got inside.

"Thanks." She whispered.

"You welcome, bitch." I whispered that last part.

She yanked my hair back, pulling my head towards her. "Call me another one!" She stuck her fingers up my nostrils, pulling it up.

I breathed through my mouth, grabbed her wrist that's attached to the hand up my nose, and squeezed the forcing her to release me. I laughed at her.

"I kinda like that hair pullin' shit," I said looking up at her. Her face scrunched up and she pushed my head away. "Why'd you stop? I was kinda getting off to that." I joked.

"Fucking yucky." She mumbled then strapped herself in.

I chuckled and strapped myself in. "Second rule. Every time I call your name I want you to bark. Understand?"

"Tuhhh, I'm tired of your bullshit." She muttered.

"Rule number three, imma need you to clean your litter box at least three times a week.

I looked over to her and she had earbuds in her ear while staring out the window. Her hand is covering part of her face. Is she scared? She should be because I'm going to be on her ass all day, every day. Call me an asshole, but I'm reporting everything! Okay, I should give her a break, right? She has been through a lot of shit in the past twenty-four hours. Hell, NO! Her face just irritates me to the core. I hate how she and her brother have it the easiest. They have the upper hand with EVERYTHING. A whole ass blended version of The Cosby Show.

I don't even know why Nola or Jacob are out here risking her life as if she has to. They got money running through their fucking veins. Their mother's a doctor and their father is the chief of the state police. I would NOT do this shit, but that just tells you how much they kiss his ass and he falls for it. They should be treated like everyone else.

Do I kiss ass? Yeah... But I have to try and stay on the chief's good side. He just like everyone else loves me. I don't kiss my father's ass and that's why I was kicked out. I always had becoming a cop ingrained in my brain. Music is number two. That was my plan B just in case I didn't make it into the police academy. I pulled her earbud out her ear.

"I'm in charge of you. YOU do what I say. AS the boss, I order you to take those earbuds out." I instructed.

"Negro PUHH-lease. I order you to brush them teeth. You got all these windows up with your breath humming the way it is." She spoke. "Got the nerve to lock the windows too."

I put my hand in front of my mouth and blew. Shit, my eyes. "I have a clear explanation for that. I had a cheesesteak sandwich with-"

"Onions. Because I could smell the fucking onions dragon breath. Breath so strong that if you try to blow the little pig's house away, they'll turn into bacon. Hot breath ass." Her nose twitched.

I glanced at her. "CORRECTION: EXTRA ONIONS I wouldn't have to talk so much if you'd just listen."

"Repeat that to yourself and see how much sense it makes." She snatched her earbud out of my hand and put it back in her ear.

We pulled up to Da Basement and put the car in park. (I know it isn't spelled the same, but ehhh it goes with the whole COP theme.) It's a small building in a regular-looking spot. Nothing too out there. It didn't choose this. I was just assigned here like everyone else.

"Hey girl!" I called out. "Hey girl!" I screamed on her face.

She pushed my head away and got out of the car. I followed suit and made sure to lock my car doors. I can see Joel's car. He's here before me because old shitty booty here wanted to drop a deuce before leaving.

"Cunt breath." She muttered.

"I must've been eating yours then." I chuckled, opening the door. "You were supposed to bark when I called on you anyways."

"You should flap your ears and fly the fuck away from me. You and that dragon breath of yours." Nola rolled her eyes and stepped inside the palace.

"Nola Darling!"

"Lucky!" They hugged and all that unnecessary bullshit.

"Alright!" I pulled them apart. "Rule number four, NO hugging!"

"Don't be such a sourpuss, DeGrate!" Joel yelled.

"Yeah, Dragon Breath. Brush them teeth before you start a fire." Nola shot at me.

"I told you to call me Big Daddy." I corrected her.

"Don't listen to this clown!" Joel told Nola Darling.

"Don't worry. I have heard a word he said since I stepped foot in his car." Nola chuckled.

"Is that why you pulled my hair?" I asked her.

"After the fact." She corrected herself.

"I'm the boss, Joel," I told him.

"Who's boss? Nigga, last I checked, we are on the SAME damn level. You ain't no lieutenant or chief. If I tell Lieutenant what you said, he'd buss a cap in your ass." Joel laughed.

I kissed my teeth. "Step into my office, Hailey."

"Nigga, the corner?" He chuckled. "We ain't got no fucking offices here."

"My corner then, nigga! Damn!" I pulled him. "Don't embarrass me in front of the company."

"Big Daddy? Really? Ain't no fuckin' way you thought somebody was gon' call yo virgin ass no Big Daddy." He said laughing.

"Shhhh..." I hushed him. "Don't be tellin' my fuckin' business, you bald-headed ass nigga."

Joel shook his head. "Be careful talking to her the way you have been. Remember, that's Chief's daughter."

"That bitch has it too easy and has all her damn life. She needs some rules in her life." I told him.

"Chill, the woman just lost her partner and almost half of her team. Both of them who you decided to break apart. It hasn't even been a full twenty-four hours before you started with her again. At least give her that you obsessive mothafucka." Joel said then walked away.

"You supposed to be my friend," I told him.

"I'm also supposed to call you out on your bullshit." He said pulling me back to the side out of the eagle's eye. You know who.

"Bullshit? Nigga, I KNOW you are not taking up for that bitch." I said appalled by his statement.

"What did she ever do to you? I'll wait." Joel stood there.

I thought about it. "Um... She fucking exists in the field I'm in and her father is chief."

"De, you sound childish as fuck right now. Again, she IS the chief's daughter. When the fame is played long enough, the rules end up changin' on YOU," Joel shook his head and walked away. "Welcome to the crew." He shook her hand.

"Thank you, Hailey." She smiled.

"Need me to show you around?"

"Yes, please." Nola nodded.

"Follow me, please" Joel told and she did just that.

What an obedient doggy. I think she has earned herself a Scooby Snack. I'll hand her one later. He showed her around and I went upstairs to see the lieutenant. Guess what? He's the new pet's uncle and the younger brother of her mother. A fucking family affair!

(Lieutenant/ Dominique Bryant)

"Lieutenant Bryant?" I said knocking on the door then entering.

"What I tell you about that shit, DeGrate? Knock and the door shall be answered. It's in the bible, look it up." He told me.

"I'm sorry, lieutenant. The newbies have arrived." I announced.

"Good, when they're done, send them here." He requested.

"Yes, sir," I said about to shut the door.

"DeGrate, did you tell them who your boss is?" He asked me.

"No, I followed directions," I replied.

"Good." He chuckled.

I left and closed the door behind me. I told him about how her father treats her better than the rest of us beforehand and he straight up told me that he ain't having that shit. He knew nothing of it, surprisingly. Lieutenant is cool as fuck.

Our team isn't at its maximum capacity, but it's enough. There are currently nine people on our team. I hope they don't add any more slackers to our team like Darling. She failed her team. It's all over the main office. She won't be putting my life at risk, that's for damn sure!

"Y'all through?" I asked Joel.

"I would hope so if we back down here," Joel replied with a snarky tone.

"Damn, the dog bit yo ass, huh? Already foaming at the mouth." I shook my head at them. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." I opened the Scooby snacks and held one up at her. "Darling, if I give you a Scooby Snack, will you promise to not sink your teeth into anyone else?"

She grabbed something and threw it at my head. "Only if you promise not to breathe, especially my way. These eyebrows are homegrown and I don't need them to be charred. Balls over there smelling like hotdog water."

"I must've screwed you with no protection." I shot back.

"Why is it always about you screwing me, DeGrate? Is that what you want?" She asked walking closer to me. "Huh? Because THAT will NEVER happen." She tilted her head with one hand gripping each side of my chair.

"HELL NO!" I spat.

Nola's face scrunched up. "Gahhhh- damned!" She said backing up. "Yo breath smells worse than a shit-filled toilet bowl!"

"Yeah... I was gonna tell you that earlier when you pulled me inside your office." Joel chuckled.

"I told you, I had-"

"A Cheesesteak with extra onions!" Joel and Nola said in sync.

"Lieutenant wants to meet you Marmaduke and Lucky Charms," I said standing up. "Or whatever the fuck yo name is, nigga!"

This shall be fun! Can't wait to see the look on her face.

Author's Note: THIS was actually supposed to be a new INDIVIDUAL book, but this sounds better and makes much more sense. It's the reason that it's written from a first-person point of view. I have a book cover and everything for THIS- what was supposed to be a book. Y'all like the first short story?