Lost One

62

❝TAE❞

               "Give a hand to the fuckin' Booker Brothas!" Applauds erupted around the space that Drink Champs was recorded. The brothers clapped with them, supporting the TUFF CROWD brand rocking in their attire.

               "And let's pour some shots because these Black Kings here for signing the largest deal wit Reebok just last week." DJ EFN announced, getting another set of applause.

               The singular bartender chick poured shots of the Deleon and the brothers drank the shots.

               "The biggest deal," N.O.R.E piggybacked off his co-host with a grin. "Y'all are literally creating generational wealth man and it's beautiful to witness. Tavon I been knowing you since you touched down in the NBA and you as well Toby. Y'all all have a story but I really feel the biggest one I gotta start witchu, De'Aundre."

               "Let's do it." De nods, running the flame of the white TUFF CROWD pocket-lighter along the pre-rolled blunt provided by BKR Dispensary.

               "To the outside, you're the brother that no one knows. However you've been open about getting outta prison after doing a fourteen year bid. You want to talk a little more bout that?"

               "Fasho," De took a pull of the blunt before he continued, "In 2007, I was twenty-one when I was sent to California Rehabilitation Center for voluntary manslaughter. It's pretty public record especially round the LBC. What they claim he was, the "victim", violated my girlfriend around the time and I done what I felt was necessary."

               "So you do that and at the sentencing you hear fourteen years, that didn't make you say "fuck why I do that"? Cause that's a long ass time."

               "Not at all," De answered in the calmest tone, "Cause I actually was told seventeen years, but the last few years was on paper. I knew what I was getting myself into when I done it. I had priors, so I knew they wasn't gon' gimme no slap on the wrist. I took it on the chin and done my time wit no regret."

               "So, do you still feel like you're still transitioning into this new world?" DJ ERN asked De, "Cause you spent yo prime in prison and just coming home into this life because now you're in the public eye basically."

               "Hell yeah. This shit still a transition for me 'cause I'm the brotha that don't give a fuck what come outta my mouth, you hear me?" They laugh with De, "I say what I want to say and honestly don't care, so going from that to this can be a blessing and a curse at the same time for somebody like me. Like I was a street nigga before the prison bid and in there I was even hustlin'. I'ma hustler by nature and to get out and so quick I'm on millionaire status, that's where the curse can come in cause I can stick to my right mind and be good, or I can go another direction, and be on demon time."