“Trust, but verify.” Ronald Reagan
“Where are you laying your head since Dad threw you and Mom out of the house?” Khalil asked his brother as they walked the treadmill at the gym.
“With a friend,” Xavier responded without giving information about him sharing Ian’s bed.
“I know this friend?”
“Maybe or maybe not. But what’s it to you? Long as I have a place to lay my head.”
“Look, bruh, I don’t care where you lay your head, long as you’re laying it somewhere safe. But you’re a grown man, you know. You can handle your own spot right about now. You feel me?”
“Yeah, and I got one up on you. I already put in an application for my own spot. S’pose to hear something in a few days. I don’t see why I wouldn’t be approved though.”
“Where is it?”
“The same complex where your girl lives.”
“My girl? Who? Which one? I got several, you know.” Khalil laughed as he turned up the treadmill a notch.
“I’m sure you do, but I’m talking about Eliana.”
“Oh, now I see.”
“What do you mean now you see?”
“First, don’t try to make this about me. What you’re saying is you want to be close to ole boy, huh? Look, bruh, you live your life the way you wanna. All I’m going to say about it is to be careful who you lay down next to and be careful who you let come up in your spot. You feel me?”
“Yeah, I do.”
The brothers continued with their workout, something they did at least three times a week, though Khalil preferred to work out everyday.
They finished their workout, took showers, and then left the gym. Xavier drove off first, leaving Khalil behind talking to some girl he was pushing up on. He was pastor, but he was still a woman thirsty man who loved flirting and testing the strength of his game with the ladies.
After he walked away and headed outside to his car, he was approached by a man who he noticed when he first walked outside into the night.
“Hey, man,” the short, but muscular and bearded white guy said.
“What up?” Khalil said, detecting that the guy was up to no good. He could sense trouble from being on the streets himself for so many years. “What you need, potna?”
“You that pastor from Holy Rock?” the stranger asked.
“Yeah, I am. What can I do for you?” Khalil’s radar was on full force. What did this dude want?
“I just wanted to tell you that I been to your church a few times. I thought that was you when I saw you in the gym. I enjoy your messages. You for real, for real,” the stranger said.
“Thanks, man. What’s your name?”
“Danny,” he answered.
“Well, Danny, I’m glad you enjoy the services. I hope you become a member, but even if you don’t, I hope you continue to attend the church.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that. See you, bruh.”
Khalil extended his hand to the guy and they shook.
“Be safe,” the guy said, and walked off.
Khalil got inside his ride and sped off the parking lot of the gym.
As he drove home, he thought about the television ministry he was working on. It would be broadcast live on Sunday mornings and again on Wednesday evenings during Bible Study. It was going to cost a pretty penny for him to have a live broadcast but he was going to find a way to fund the program with Holy Rock footing most of the bill, of course. He still had some out of pocket expenses that he needed covered and he already knew the perfect person to set out the funds. No way was he going to use any of the stash he found of his father’s. That was for his own personal use. He had set up several bank accounts, spreading the money in increments of under ten thousand dollars so as not to be detected or raise suspicion. He also invested some of it in a money market account and a couple savings accounts that paid hefty interest.
Lately, he had been studying about the stock market, and he used another portion of the money to purchase stocks with the help of a financial advisor. He was definitely going to have that money working for him rather than having it stashed away behind a vent where it couldn’t earn a dime. His father wasn’t so smart after all.
He called Detria. She had long since stopped texting him like she was crazy, but instead he would receive a phone call or text from her every couple weeks. Khalil guessed that she was trying to keep his mind on her but he mostly ignored her. Now that the opportunity for the television ministry was about to happen, it was time he talked to her.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asked as she quickly answered the phone.
“Khalil? What a surprise. How are you, baby?”
“I’m good, just missing you. Can I stop by? I got a proposition for you.”
“Uh, sure. I miss you. I’d love to see you. When will you be here?” she asked.
“What? I’m on a time frame or something? It’s like that now?”
“No, of course, not. I just wanted to know so I could tell Priscilla to be on the lookout for you. I’m upstairs. I’ll be waiting on you. Bye, sugar.”
Khalil didn’t reply. He ended the call and made the turn that lead to Detria’s crib.