PIGGY and MATTIE MAE :Unconditional

So ok, Axel is good at what he do. I give him that. But he starting to get on my last nerve. I mean he won't let up. Everything I do he scrutinizes and his reason for it is always that that is what the general public of Houston has already done. Yeah so he says. He don't know that Houston is mine. I don't think he's quite grasp that just yet. "Soo all in all how does this look for me, Axel?" I watch him scratch and rub his chin. Rolex watch. Opal cuff links. Tailored slacks. Power adorns this man. "Well Coyle, I'd say we have about a seventy five percent chance of acquittal. There's a twenty five percent chance that they'll convict based on the evidence that they have against you, Courtney. But now I want you to understand that you have me for an attorney so there won't be any room for that twenty five percent. My completion rate is up there with the Mannings." He was confident. Sure. Besides that I knew they didn't have much on me anyhow. Most of their evidence was circumstantial. They didn't have a murder weapon and no proof that I had even been in the apartment that night. I watched my attorney study me. "Question?" "Go ahead, Axel." He's hesitant. He has plenty he wants to ask me just don't know how to approach  me. "You wanna know if things could've been different, huh?" He nodded. "I loved him. If there had been any other way then yes I would have gone that route. But I'm a survivor Axel. That's what I know how to do. I thought that Drell and I had a future." Axel listened. "You know sometimes I'm nervous about being so candid with you about all of this." He didn't flinch. "I told you. Lawyer-Client confidentiality protect you and holds me to certain standards. I could either get disbarred or in this situation with you get killed. I don't prefer that either of those things happen." You would think that this upcoming trial would consume most of my attention these days but  I was more concerned about my business and running the city of Houston. It was something I thought about night and day. It had consumed me. It had been a few days though since I had checked on or heard from Mattie Mae. She was dying and I felt helpless because there was nothing I could do about it. I needed her now more than ever but the crazy thing was she needed me too. We needed each other. I touch my grandmother's cross around my neck. I can't explain the solace it brought me. "Axel, I need to see my grandmother. Check on her." "You talking about Ms. Hayes?" "Yeah. I haven't mentioned her to you before." He nodded. "That's my job. I've already talked to her. She loves you dearly, Coyle." "That's why I need to go and see about her." "Okay, cool. I'll drive." I wasn't asking him to chauffer me but I really wasn't in the mood to argue with him. We rode in silence. I saw the reason he then want me coming here by myself. We turned on my street and there was Channel ll, Channel 13, Channel 2 and Channel 26 news vans everywhere. "You trust me now, Courtney?" "Of course not, Axel. I've admitted to you several times that I'm guilty of murder and you don't react." He laughs. "Let me get out first." Its like the flood gates have opened. Axel opens my door and a swarm of reporters are in my face. "Sgt. Coyle, what are your feelings about what the state is saying about you?"  "Are you guilty Coyle?" "Sgt. Coyle, where is your son during all of this?" "What was the nature of your and Agent Spivey's relationship?" "What is your relationship to Madison Hayes?" "Is it true that you're in association with Reginald Blount?" Axel squeezes my hand and addresses the mob. "Excuse me but my client has no comment at this time and asks that you give her and her family some privacy during this time." They pushed further but we made it to my Mattie Mae's door. I walked in and she looked frail. She rushed to put on a wig but I forbade it. "No maam, Ms. Madison. This is your home." She smiled. "I look a mess Courtney. And you brought this handsome young man back to see me." Axel bowed. "Beautiful as a Texas sunset Ms. Hayes, a wig could do you no justice." He gently kissed her hand. My heart skipped a beat. "Courtney, I like him. Y'all hungry? I could whip something up real quick." "No Mattie. I wanted to see you. I miss you." She rubbed her hand down my face and kissed my cheek and I was a five year old little girl again. I didn't want to be anywhere but here. "Young man can you help me over to my chair? I'm feeling a little winded." Axel gently took her hand and she hung on to him. I was seeing a different side of Jeremy Axel. He wasn't the shark I normally saw in the courtroom. No this was a gentleman that had been obviously raised right. "Your hair is so pretty, Courtney. Let me see it." I went and got a comb and some Ultra Sheen grease with Tea Tree oil. I sat down on the floor between her knees and she ran her hands through my mane. "You been taking care of it I see. Jeremy this child here loves her locks you hear. This scalp a little dry but Mattie Mae will take care of that for my sweet girl." I closed my eyes while she parted my hair and rubbed grease on my scalp. She hummed No Ways Tired and I could smell Rare Gold and Sanka Coffee. "Mattie Mae, I'm so sorry about all this." She shushed me. "I did my last round of chemo last week. I'm not doing anymore." I opened my eyes and saw Axel seated across from us on the loveseat. "That means my days are numbered. I spoke with Jeremy here about my will and last arrangements Courtney." I feel tears stinging my eyes and now my cheeks. "You and Cobee are the only family I have. I want you and him to be taken care of." She rubbed more grease on my scalp. "I just need your signature to finalize everything." "Don't leave me, Mattie Mae." I hear myself saying this. Axel hangs his head. "Its okay, Courtney. I won't leave you. But I'm dying and we have to face this." I held onto her leg. Jeremy stood up. "Ms. Hayes I'll give you and Courtney a minute." He sniffled and left. I just wanted her to hold me. She held my face in her hands. "Courtney, I know this is hard for you. I know but I've lived a full life especially since you and that baby came into it. I like to think that I've raised you too and I know you'll make it out of this and do the right thing. Take care of my great grand baby." She kissed my forehead and I cried like a baby. I couldn't help it. All the money and power in the world couldn't stop this. I signed papers making me the last and only heir to her estate. Fact is I had been searching for love all of my life but Madison Hayes had taught me a different kind of love and it was unconditional.

Piggy and Calamity Calandra

I swear C.C. ain't changed but then again why the hell would she? Walked up on my shit like she was Obama. Gave me some things to think about though. I've been doing alright. Reggie got sent up and I had to pick up the slack. My family was comfortable but we could be doing better. Fact is Courtney owned Houston. She had killed Ivory Albro and now she had all his money too. Reckon she a lil bit better than Albro because since he been out the picture we all been able to eat. Albro was greedy. Wonder what she done about that shoe habit of hers. I wonder if them chirren in bed yet? Better be. I swear my mama let em get away with murder. I guess that's what grannies are for. Right now I pretty much have Mo City sowed up. I mean what Reggie B ain't got cornered. It's crazy how years can separate people but circumstances put us rght back in the loop together. Here Piggy is a cop being tried for murder. She the underworld Queen. Reggie B on kingpin status. I hear Cookie is doing awesome things with her makeup business but now even she has picked up a side business laying bricks. Damn. I think I'll put some pork bones on tonight for tomorrow. Yeah cook em slow. I think I got some cabbage greens in there too. I don't know. I had to do what I had to do. Reggie had made us comfortable. I had lil Reggie. I was doing the collections thing and was good at it too. Had made it all the way to manager where I was training other people on how to get that money. United Recovery Systems was paying me a grip in salary and bonuses. One day Reggie was just like quit. So I did. I'm old fashioned I guess. I stand by my man. Mama always said you take care of a man that's working and providing. One and twenty years is what they gave Mr. Dearmon. I hate talking about it or even thinking about it really. I knew I had to do what I had to for my children. I needed them to know that Daddy and mama loves em. So I picked up where my old left off. Let me stop here in Sunny's and get me a few cigars. I go home I'm in for the night. This Suburban sho look familiar. It's been behind me since I turned onto 2234. My pistol in reach. That's where I keep it most times anyway. I know if they pull up in this Sunny's behind me I know they following me. "Baby, if a mf following you for more than five miles in Houston, they asses is up to no good." I hear Reggie clear as day saying that. And these assholes are pulling up behind me. Let me call Liv. "Where you at?" "I'm turning down Paiter St. On my way to my mama's house. Why?" "I got a situation." Liv hung up. Both driver side doors and passenger doors open up. Two older guys get out. Oh shit, its ______ wonder where the hell he been!? Surely Piggy knows he's home. I relaxed a little bit. Lately I was constantly feeling like somebody was after me. See Courtney had been following me for about two weeks. Little did she know I almost peeled her cap a couple times. With her leopard spotted ass. I gotta hand it to my friend though. She had a beautiful head full of blonde locks. She was in my face earlier and I wanted to touch em. Let me put this pistol back. I still feel funny though. Something ain't right. I look around and the only two cars in this here parking lot is mine and ______'s Suburban. I got dope in my trunk.Pistol on me off safety. "Bitch I know you got weight. Today aint your lucky day in the hood." Fuck! I"m being jacked. This nigga was by himself. "Nigga are you serious? You know who I am?" He looking around. "Bitch, I ain't tryna hear that shit. Open this muthafuckin trunk. Do it slow." I keep seeing my babies and how they need me to come home every night. Corner of my eye I see him slippin. I fire two shots center mass. He falls. I look down on him. He a baby. Maybe twenty. I'm not distracted by that. He would've killed me for less than what was in my trunk. All was quiet around me. Two cars flew past me on 2234. All lights went out off inside Sunnys. I pumped one more into him. Let me get my ass outta here. I hit the back side of Quail Run on my way to Hunters Glen. My phone rings. Unknown number. "Hello." "I saw what you did. Wait its cool. It was justified. You did what you had to do Boone. Its a pecking order that can't be crossed." "Where are you Piggy?" I hear her take a breath. "This my city. I love it and everything about it. Even the bottom feeders. Leverage Calandra." "Piggy, I'm in." "Call me tomorrow, we'll go shoe shopping." So now ain't no turning back. Shit! Still didn't stop and get nothing to make no cornbread with. Fondren and Main playing in my car. First Lady, you done jumped down now. Question is what though?

When the BOONE drops!!!!!!

She's calm. Thick. Curvy. Ain't tall as nothing. Reckon she stout like me. Maybe 5'4. Dressed in a wife beater. She had on Levis. They hugged that big butt of hers. Another horse. Tameika and I watched her yards away. One by one she stood out there on the court dumping shots into that basket. If she was a professional she'd definitely be point guard. Meika and I got out the car. I left my pistol in the car but Texas Tea stayed strapped. I had been watching Calandra for weeks now. She was modest. Paid but she wasn't flashy. She donated back to her hood. She made her money in real estate and dope. Took care of her children. Reggie D's ole lady. But hell he would spend the rest of his life in a federal penitentiary so she took over. I could smell weed as I got closer. I nodded to her entourage. One had his hand behind his back till he recognized me. Another approached me. "Wait a minute lady, Landra aint seeing no company right now!" I looked at him in his eye. He looked away. I wasn't armed but you see the rest of her calvary knew to get the fuck back. "Landra can see me." She looked up. Her facial expression didn't change. "Hold up man, this here Piggy. Get back! Piggy you aight?" I nodded at him. With my eyes on Calandra Boone, I hollered at Tameika Benford. "Easy Bae, its under control." Tameika put tht .50 back on safety. "This nigga, only you come up here and disturb me schoolin these out here." I laughed. "Girl, please you stil ain't got no game yo!" Calandra and I went back to high school. We never ran in the same circles but there was always a mutual respect. "We need to talk baby." She nodded. "Hey, I need to talk to Piggy. We need privacy." The court cleared. Tameika stayed and so did Liv. Liv was a bitch from another side of Ridgemont. She was loyal to Calandra. "Hear you into a lotta shit these days, King Piggy." "I'm doing alright. Tryna beat these murder charges." I grabbed the ball and dumped it. "Oh I heard and seen you on television. You looked good. Damn near had me convinced. What you want, Piggy?" I hit another one. "Boone, won't you jump down with the Embassy and stop small timing? Huh? Ain't you tired of this?" She laughs. Drinks Gatorade and laughs. "Coyle, you know Umma simple country girl. I just want my family taken care of and as long as we all fat and eating that's fine with me." I hit another basket. "Hey Tameika." Meika B just nodded. "Calandra, you jump down with me and you and your family can do more than just eat." "All due respect, Courtney, how I know that? Word is you on  your way to death row." I looked around Missouri City and I remember what this community used to be. Things had changed. Economy. Culture. Generation Gaps. It was crazy. I looked over at Calandra. There was a calmness about her that unnerved me. I got as close to her as I possibly could. "I don't have to lay out all the particulars right now do I? You see you owe me. It ain't been that long ago. You in business right now because of me Remember what I did?" Her face hardened. "Liv fall back!" "Tameika, wait for me by the car!" Both Meika and Liv left. "Bitch, I hear you loud and clear. Yeah you did help me out. Told you I owe you for that. But now you gone muscle me into your organization? You know that ain't how I operate." So here we are face to face toe to toe. I love this haircut on her. Boone has gorgeous bone structure. I bend down to tie her air force. Many of the women I knew were manic. "Boone, I'm not gone argue with you. I'm offering you opportunity. Take it." She stared me down. This heffa here hard headed which is why I felt the Embassy needed her. I hit one more bucket on her ass and walked away. "Hey Coyle?" "Yeah?" "Stop with all this Boone. It's Dearmon now." I turned around and she had a smile on her face more beautiful than the sun setting over the Astrodome. Some dudes across the street was playing Let Me Roll. I smiled listening to Brad Jordan knowing that now my circle was complete. So I got a text from my Captain. Katy's dead. Yeah I know. I'm knowing full well somehow I would have to answer questions about that too. It costs to be the boss I guess.

TEN TOES DINE!!!!

"What in the hell was that, Axel? You made me look weak and foolish on live T.V.!!!" I'm pissed. He didn't even let me respond to those assholes. "I could've handled them. This is my city!" I can't even sit down. Tie loosened. Shirt sleeves pulled up. Feet up. He's calm. "I mean how I come back from this now!" He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Courtney, you're going to lower your voice. Calm down. I told you, YOU do as I say. That's your problem. The public can't see you as no kingpin. A menance? Really that's what you want? Think about it. Half the public has already condemned you. I want you to take this in. If you don't listen to anything else I tell you know that there is a difference between fear and respect. You tripping." I relaxed a bit. Axel had a point. I mean he was calm but then again it wasn't his life that was on the line. I agreed to do exactly as Jeremy said. He had been doing this and he knew what to expect. We had spent the better part of six hours together. They set my bail at four hundred grand. Only because I was a cop. I paid forty grand and answered questions on where it had come from. I wondered if I was going have to surrender my badge. You see I love the Embassy but I loved that shield also. I had been through so much to get there. "Courtney, I told you that we need to soften your image. I look at you and I see vixen. I don't see remorse. I see reign. Thing is Houston isn't a kingdom. Its a municipal city. We don't have a monarchy here. Do you get that?" I turned to look at him. Handsome he was and he had to know that. I dug him intellectually though. We had talked about a wide range of things on that drive back from Galveston County. He asked me what I had done with the murder weapon. I giggled when he said that. Truth is I never went anywhere without that. I wasn't no dummy though so I gave him my service pistol. He knew the truth anyway. That attorney client priviledge wasn't something else. I was getting claustophobic. I texted Meika B to come and get me. I needed to get in the streets. I had stuff to do. "Axel, I'll be in touch. I gotta go." He raised an eyebrow at me. "No, Coyle I don't think that's a good idea. You're coming home with me." I raised an eyebrow back at him.  "Axel, this ain't what you want." I licked my lips. He chuckled. "I swear Houston ain't big enough for you and your ego Piggy. You're staying with me because its the only way I can keep an eye on you. You'll have your own guest bedroom and bathroom." I look at him. He was staring into my eyes. "I tell you what. Give me a key. I got some stuff I gotta do. I'll be in at a decent hour." He looked me up and down. "Don't get in any more trouble." I pouted a bit. Kissed his cheek and made sure I smeared my lipgloss across it. Axel didn't have a woman. He was married to his work. Workaholic. He obsessed over the law and loopholes. His assistant Trina, I couldn't stand but I had a feeling that she had a thing for her boss. She didn't think too much of me either. We would have our time I'm sure. Meika B said she was outside. I needed to take care of something. I needed to know that everybody in my circle was Team Piggy or the Embassy. I was going to send Meika B to test Reggie B only to really test her. I love Tameika. I think she live but I've put her into some shit she maybe didnt wanna be a part of. She been here ten toes down. I needed to be sure that she wanted to go all the way. Funny thing is I knew she felt the same way about me. I had to get out these clothes. I stripped out of these angry white women clothes. Gray wife beater tights black air maxs and a Houston Astros fitted. DSW pendant around my neck. I put Axel's key in my harness next to my .40. "Meika B, let's go." I put on Just Like Candy. Eightball and MJG. Threw my feet on her dash. She glared at me. There has got to be more to life than this. Mattie Mae is dying. My daddy is back but risking his life. My son barely get to see me. Meanwhile I got more money than the law allow. This chain heavy around my neck but I did the ultimate to get it. "When the last time you talked to L.V." I smile. "I need to see him today." At the end of the day I was gone have to trust Jeremy Axel Esq. No way around that.  I believed him when he said he could get me off. I giggle. I mean get me off this murder rap. I lay my head back while Meika drives through Houston. Close my eyes and think about when times were simpler. Would I trade all this and go back? I don't know. Did I care whether I lived or died? It didn't matter to me. I would be remembered. I'm assumig that's a problem I feel that way. I do. But I was true to whatever I did tho. TEN TOES DINE!

Piggy's Keeper: Fine Texas Tea

Same ole Reggie. I needed to come see him on behalf of King Piggy and the Embassy. We knew each other from way back. Reggie B was cool. Straight forward and it had to be something about him because Courtney think the sun rise and shine on him.. Still he had to be handled with a certain kind of finesse. These were Piggy's exact instructions for me when dealing with Reggie B. Said he didn't mind a thorough woman but he was like most men only in the way of aestethics. You see you could be a gutter bitch but you need to appease his eye first. "Reggie B smell foolery a mile a away Meika B. Tight jeans. Sweet perfume. Lipgloss. These things won't cloud his judgement. They'll just tame him a lil bit." I laugh thinking about my friend. She definitely had a way with the opposite sex. I won't take that away from her. "Well ain't you gone let me in?" He eased the door open. Bent down a little and kissed my cheek. Modest digs for a nigga of his stature. It was clean though. Nice furniture. Impressive television and gaming system. Such a man. "What you doing here? Piggy sent you?" I watched him pour a drink. He sat it in front of me. "I don't drink cognac." He ignored me and sat the drink on a cocktail napkin. "Drink it in good health and be content," he barked. I did what I was told. "Why are you here? It ain't to reminisce." Piggy said he was about his business, didn't waste no time either. "Reggie, we need you. Piggy in a bind now. I'm sure you know this. She say you bout the only one in these streets she can trust right now." He rubbed his goatee. Sipped Hennessy and listened. "The Embassy and its business will go on. As normal. She got a big shipment coming in. We need to meet with connects. This connect is expecting a woman and I need you to play the part of my goon.." He chuckled. "What? Piggy said you was gone do it for her anyway." "Did she now? How would she know that if she ain't never ask me? You bitches crazy." I let that one slide. "Come on Reggie, we'll take care of you. Its a big pop and we need this to go smoothly. I just need you to ride with me. Make sure we come out on top. Courtney going through this court mess and she really need to be off the scene for a little bit. You understand that." He hit play on his bose stereo system and I immediately hear Milllie Jackson hollering. I smile. "Grown folks music, Reggie." He finish his drink and waits for me to finish mine. Ugh. I can't stand this shit but I swear Courtney consume it like it's water. He takes my glass. "Meika B, I tell you what, anything Piggy need me to do I'm with it. You didn't need to come over here and sell me though. But she knows me though. Tell her I appreciate her wanting to hold my hand. Ten toes down." I got up to leave. "Well bae, I'll be in touch." I kissed his cheek and then he wraps his arm around my waist. "You still married, Meika?" I bite my lip and in true Piggy fashion, "Yeah but it ain't like you care one way or the other." I winked. He pat my backside and walked me to the door. I know she been playing with the buttons on my car radio. LV says she does that when you leave her alone in your car. She's on the phone. "Hey bae. Oh yeah? When? Uh huh. What she say? What she wanted? Right. Well its cool. Naw. That's what we need. I need you to be there for her. Uh huh. She a little nervous about it so I figured  you would handle it for me. Ok. I'll get at you later about it." I applied more lipgloss. Where the hell did I put my shades. "Meika B, I can trust him." "Damn Piggy, he didn't wait till I got out the door good fore he called you." She smiled. "He thorough." "Where to next?" "Let's see Walton. I need to put my eyes on him." She put on shades and laid her seat all the way back. I knew Piggy better than most but my friend was still a mystery to me. I'm watching this game consume her. Yet and still I didn't mind being Piggy's keeper just needed to be sure that Piggy was Texas Tea's keeper.

Reggie B the Truth

Damn she looks good on T.V. But then again why wouldn't she? She had the same attorney I kept on retainer. Jeremy Axel. I know _____ had somethng to do with that. They set her bail at two and a half million dollars. I would've  done her hair up in a bun like that too. I see Axel dressed her up real nice. He do the whole nine. You get your money's worth with him. Kind of nice seeing Piggy as a square. Axel couldn't do nothing ahout those eyes though. They pierced back at me through the television camera lense. She texted me after she made it to Galveston to let me know she was safe. Told me where I could pick up my slab. I still had her phone and because of that the feds were on my black ass. It was cool though. She needed to put some distance between herself and them. Piggy had always kept it real with me so I was glad to do it. Truth was I was kind of worried about her. Last time I saw her she looked like she was falling apart. I did what I knew to do to get her mind back right. Shit even I if I had to slap the taste out her mouth I would've because ultimately I believed in her because I knew she believed in me. Meanwhile business has been slow but steady. Yeah sometimes I sit back and entertain ideas of me quitting this game. I knew it didn't love me like I loved it but I was made for this. AMGM would be a global brand. Now I was seriously branching out into this real estate thing so I would be alright and so would my family. She about to address these allegations I see. Where is the remote? "City of Houston, I was born and raised here. I love this city and most importantly I love my shield. I am NOT guilty of this and I have faith in our justice system and I am ready to prove my innocence." "Sgt. Coyle, what about the rumors spectulating that you and the deceased were in a relationship?" Axel cuts in. "I'm sorry but at this time my client has no further comment." He guided her off but not before those eyes of hers almost glowed. I didn't see a dirty cop being accused of murder. I didn't see a grieving girlfriend who was being accused of her boyfriend's murder. What I saw was a kingpin who would do whatever to hold on to an empire she had been building. I wasn't mad at her. Word was that this federal agent was tailing her and lil team on the job. Axel was a good attorney. He could probably cast doubt on Piggy's team. Maybe they had something to do with it. I know most people wouldn't wanna do a bid like this by theirself. But I knew my nigga Piggy. She was like the rest of us. We didn't need no codefendants. And now I hear Dollar is in Nacogdoches. Hell that may have been the best place for him. Me and him didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things particularly money. We cool, don't get me wrong. But as we've gotten older I prefer to keep him at a distance. It'll be time for me to go pick half a mil from school in a lil bit. I don't know, this life crazy.You figure the more shit changes, hell it really stay the same. I had a plan for some subdivisions to be built close to Pearland. They would be moderatley priced houses for the middle class. Nice houses though and I wanted strict deed restrictions. I wasn't no fool. You see could rebuild and jack up prices all you want. It wouldn't matter if you had the same class of nig-I mean people there who didn't care nothing about it. I had enough capital and plenty of connects to get this started. My dogs barking now. I hear Still Get No Love playing on Pandora. Aint heard this in a minute. What the hell is she doing here? Standing on my porch in Seven jeans and air max. Blunt Bob haircut and that chocolate skin of hers. "Long time, Reggie B. You gone let me in?" "I don't know Meika B, where that .50 you lug around?" Dear God, save me from this sexy creature at my door. This one was just as poisonous as Piggy. "Reggie, we need to talk."

King Piggy v. Consequence

It's crazy. After all this mess happened with Drell, no one had really bothered asking me what happened. I mean I was guilty of this. I was but he betrayed me. Point blank. "I loved Drell. I did. Just like I had when we were little. He used me, Axel." Jeremy sat and listened. I half expected him to be writing or taking notes. Instead, he poured himself some brandy. Poured me another shot of Hennessy and just listened. I cried while I described in detail what I had done. From me making love to him to the truth serum I had injected into Drell Spivey to get the truth from him. Axel is attracted to me. This I know. But he's determined not to let that deter him from doing his job. I dig that. He handles me and I'm okay with that. He finished his drink and got up and sat closer to me. We're face to face. "Okay Coyle, here's what you are going to do. You're my client. Let's be clear about that from jump. I will fight and give it my all for your defense. Whatever it takes. You know I'm good at what I do. But from this moment and moving forward, you do what I say. You dress the way I say. You talk and act in public the way I say. You don't speak to anybody unless I approve and you are to be where I allocate. Got it?" This man had done something to me. His orders didn't piss me off. No they caused me to want to surrender to him. I didn't speak. I nodded. "For starters, when at all possible I want your hair pulled back in a bun. The general public is gonna form opinions about you and so we want them to see you as a wholesome southern girl with southern traditions and values who also loves her badge. Your shoes need to be nice but boring. Anne Klein pumps. If you go with Steve Madden they should be taupe or black." He moved forward and wiped tears from my eyes. "We don't cry. No time for that. Inevitably you are not a victim. And the state of Texas nor the federal government will see you that way either. Today is the day you learn to control your emotions." He's right. I had to man up. He opened his briefcase and showed me the evidence they had on me. Mostly circumstantial. They had no proof that I had been in Drell's place. They had shell casings that would match a pistol of mine but they would have to find it. I had completely wiped that apartment down. I even took the condom we had used. I told all of this to Axel. I reckon criminal law was the best thing for this powerhouse that sat next to me. "We won't discuss strategy today. I don't want to overwhelm you. What I want you to focus on is what do you really wanna do for the rest of your life. Either you're a cop or a kingpin. You can't straddle both sides of the fence, Courtney. Either you'll be dead in five years from these streets or dead in two after they stick a needle in your arm. This is Texas, and they won't give a damn about how beautiful you are or the fact that you're a woman." I put my head down. He lifted it. "I'm here and I promised your father that I would go into this full throttle. He told me that you were the most important thing to him. Think about what's important." "So what now?" "Well, I want you to get your ass dressed. I got your sizes. Black slacks. White silk blouse. Black blazer. Anne Klein pumps. Pearl earrings. You need to look polished. We're going in to answer to that warrant and get you bail." Damn he had it all planned out. He went back out to his car to get my clothes. I decided to be childish. I undressed and got stark naked. I sat back on the bed with my drink. He knocked on the door and so I opened it. He stood there for a minute and just stared. "Courtney get dressed. I'll be waiting for you in the car." I walked up to Jeremy Axel Esq. close enough for my nipples to graze his chest. I licked my lips and told him thank you. He just looked at me. "You are poison, Coyle. Luckily for me I can read and understand the warning label." He moved a lock of hair from my face. "Now get dressed." I sashayed into the bathroom. I put on a black bra and panty set. Sprayed Forever Red into my cleavage locks between my legs and the balls of my feet. Stepped into the slacks. They had a silk lining in them. Axel had immaculate taste. I watched him watch me from the wingback chair in the room. I sprayed Mixed Chicks curl spray into my blonde locks and gently twisted them into a bun on top of my head. A few curly tendrils fanned my face. Put on red lipstick and pearl earrings. My Mattie Mae's cross around my neck. I couldn't help but think about LV and how I wished he was here. He bought me comfort like you wouldnt believe. "Just be ok Piggie." I smiled. I needed to call him. I got Axel's approval. I rode back with him in his car. He was listening to Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. He needed a laid back kind of girl. I threw my arms up. "Aye, what you know about this Axel!!!! This before your time." He smiled one of the sexiest smiles I had ever seen. I had loosened him up. I turned down the radio. "Axel, I appreciate you doing this for me. I gotta tell you. I was super uneasy about you handling my case. And if you hadda came here wrong. I was gone kill you." Did I have to say that? No I didn't but I needed to test Axel's guts. "Ten toes down Piggy. I say my prayers every nite and the fact that you didn't kill me is duly noted. Hey you into Earth, Wind and Fire?" I chuckle. Fact is Gangstas come from all walks of life.