Henry looked around. The people were slowly leaving the party. The president had stayed a bit longer but before he left, he walked towards Henry again for the umpteenth time. He grabbed him and hugged him“Thank you.” He paused as if to take in a deep breath. His voice changed a bit. “ I really appreciate Mr. Barlow”Henry smiled. “ It’s an honor your Excellency” The president looked up and wiped a stray tear off his eyes.“I have sent in some cash to relay my gratitude” the president smiled fondly at him.“Your Excellency you don’t have—”“Sssh don’t say no” he interrupted Henry.The president proceeded to leave the party but that was not without giving Henry another hug. People smiled at him as he moved around and for the first time in his life, he had truly felt seen. Acknowledged. Appreciated.He sat and looked around. It was time to leave but he couldn’t find his people. Where was Marcus and Jackson and Hercules.As for Hercules, he had an idea where he could be.He turned to on

It all happened after Danny and Elena began to date. Elaine, Elena’s mother got into a problem. She was dating a man who was into blackmailing women for money. She didn’t leave him when he saw what he was into until he also began to blackmail her. He had her nudes and he threatened to post it not just online but at the office website. She walked with children. The parents of these children paid her huge amount of money to teach their children. Elaine had never been paid that amount of money before. She was able to afford her mother’s drugs and pay the rent all at once, without having to borrow to buy groceries. She gave in to his demands and kept giving him money. Until she ran out. Elena noticed her mother was zoning out and doing so much thinking lately. So she began to ask questions. Her mother could not afford certain things, she had to take money from Danny to foot their bills. So when she kept asking and her mother wouldn’t say anything, she watched her. Eavesdropped on her ph

Henry's eyes blazed with fury through the dimly garden. "Dammit, Jackson, do you have any idea what's been going on here? While I was handling business in Russia, you let things slip!"Jackson stood across from him, his usual calm demeanor strained by Henry's accusation. He didn’t look an inch like one that had blood gushing from his lips. He wiped his mouth and turned to Henry. "I did everything I could, Henry. Things got out of hand, but I've been trying to fix it." The last thing he expected was being questioned like some thief. Henry paced the garden and sat by the concrete seat. Then Henry shot up from the seat, walking over to Jackson. "Fix it? Two of our own turned against us, set a trap! And you didn't see it coming?" The fight between Damian and Marco, the trap set by the rival gang to get them... it's all on you."Jackson's eyes narrowed. "That wasn't my fault. Vinnie and Marco have always been hotheads. And the rival gang was just looking for an opportunity to strike when

As soon as Hercules and Ruby walked past the gate that night, ruby sighed.“Hey babe, what is wrong?” Hercules questioned. Ruby plastered a big smile on her face. She was happy she agreed to really date Hercules when he asked her out at the hotel. He sure did play a fast joke on her but then he reassured her that he would never take advantage of her. She didn’t know what she would have done without him, especially in moments like this.“Oh it’s nothing” she continued walking like nothing ever happened. Hercules knew she was lying. He stood watching her go. The ruby he knew would immediately be smiling as soon as she woke up. Ruby was a happy soul actually.Hercules' gentle touch stirred Ruby to look up at him. She tried to smile but did an awfully bad job at it. Her eyes fluttered open, her face pale and clammy. "Hey, you were having a nightmare, it was just night mare" he whispered, his brow furrowed with concern.Ruby's breath came in short gasps as she tried to speak, her eyes d

Ruby stood there watching as Marissa ended the call. Just as she turned to leave, she too froze on seeing Ruby. When Marissa regained herself, she looked at everywhere but at Ruby’s face.“How could you Marissa?” Ruby’s voice boomed over the quiet nights. Marissa flinched at the loudness. “We took you in and fed you. Treated you like you are family.” Ruby sneered. Tears burned at the back of her eyes. She had seen this happen time and time gain in the Mafia. Trust was a very heavy and expensive. A big and well feared Mafia lord is nothing without the people he trusts. Ruby had seen maids betray each other because one gang boy or the other. A mafia lord was nothing without, his loyal people.“I have to do this” Marissa finally said, still not looking at Ruby’s face.“Do what? Have you not done enough dirty work? How much did they promise you” ruby said. She swallowed as she got a hold of herself. Marissa was quiet.“You know at Windsor’s they never treated us like people. Why do you li