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"So what's this really about, E?" Korina squinted at him, brushing back a curl that clung to her cheek. "You ain't the type to call people back just to talk."

Eazy-E smirked, that same slick grin that said he knew something she didn't. "Just thought you should meet somebody."

Korina raised an eyebrow. "Somebody like who?"

"I signed a new artist." He said it like it was casual, like he hadn't just dropped something important mid-walk.

Korina glanced over, confused. "Okay... and what that got to do with me?"

Eazy looked at her with a slight shrug. "If you ever really get serious 'bout this artist thing, she could teach you a thing or two. Maybe even make you better."

Korina rolled her eyes and nudged him with her elbow. "Boy, don't play with me. I laid my verse down just fine yesterday."

Eazy grinned wider. "I ain't say it was bad. I'm sayin' it could be better."

Korina sucked her teeth. "Oh, so we just hiring singers now? Since when Ruthless start sounding like Motown?"

He laughed at that, hands in his pockets. "Business tactic, baby. Gotta diversify the portfolio. One genre don't pay all the bills. Plus, you know how folks love a girl that can sang."

Korina shook her head, laughing a little herself. "Alright, alright. Let me see what this Motown princess look like then."

As they walked into the studio, the heavy door closed behind them with a low thud. The air shifted, cooler, thick with the low thump of bass and someone's vocals echoing through the walls.

Eazy nodded toward one of the back rooms. "She's in there with Yella. Go on."

Korina stepped through the door and there she was-Navira.

Her skin was warm honey, soft and golden under the dim studio lights. Big brown eyes framed by long lashes, and a face that carried both innocence and strength. She had deep, full dimples when she smiled and locs tied up in a loose bun with a few falling naturally around her shoulders. There was something familiar about her-not just her look, but her energy. Like a walking lullaby with a Southern edge.

Navira turned when she saw Korina, her soft voice trailing off in the middle of a run as she paused the track. "Oh shoot," she said with a surprised smile. "You must be Korina."

"And you must be Motown," Korina smirked, folding her arms.

Navira laughed gently, stepping closer. "Nah, just Ruthless Records' little detour into R&B."

There was a beat of quiet between them. A strange one. Neither of them said it, but something clicked. The way they looked at each other wasn't how strangers looked-it was how people from the same place looked.

"Wait a second..." Korina squinted. "You from down South, ain't you?"

"Louisiana," Navira said instantly. "Lafayette."

Korina's mouth dropped open. "Stop playin'. I'm from Opelousas!"

Navira's eyes lit up. "You lyin'."

They both broke into laughter like two old friends bumping into each other after years apart.

"You was the one who sang at the Zydeco festival back in '08, huh?" Korina said, pointing.

Navira covered her mouth, blushing. "Girl, that was forever ago. I had the braids and the yellow dress!"

"I knew I knew your face!" Korina laughed. "You had all the grown folks standing up, talmbout 'that baby got soul!'"

Navira grinned. "And you was the one that snuck up on stage and started dancing like it was your show."

"Guilty." Korina tilted her head proudly. "I had to steal the spotlight somehow."

They both laughed again, and the tension that might've been there dissolved completely. It was like picking up in the middle of a conversation that had never ended.

Navira took a sip from her water bottle and sat on the edge of the couch. "I heard your verse. You got something real, girl. Like, that attitude? It's fire."

"Appreciate that." Korina smirked, sliding into the chair across from her. "You ain't bad yourself. You sound like somebody's grandma that's been through love and war."

Navira laughed. "That's Louisiana pain. It come with the food and the church hats."

They both cracked up.

"Cube was in here yesterday," Navira added. "Said the track's gonna be big."

Korina perked up. "Oh, Cube? He alright?"

"He fine," Navira nodded, then smiled wider. "Still giving that same mean-mug, but he real sweet under all that. You just gotta catch him in the right mood."

Korina shook her head. "He be actin' like he mad at the world sometimes."

They both sat back, the kind of ease between them that made it feel like time slowed. For the next little while, they talked about everything-missing home, the way California didn't smell like rain, how they missed the old-school bounce of Southern parties, and how they both swore nobody could season food like somebody from Louisiana.

"And don't get me started on these L.A. crawfish boils," Korina said, disgusted. "I saw somebody put ketchup in the pot the other day."

Navira nearly fell over laughing. "Girl, no! That's a crime!"

Their laughter echoed through the studio halls. Yella peeked through the glass, smirking.

Eazy leaned in from the hallway, arms crossed. "Guess y'all got more in common than just music."

Korina looked over and shrugged. "Yeah, guess we do."

Navira smiled, locking eyes with Korina. "Feels like home a little now."

"Yeah," Korina nodded slowly. "It really do."

Want me to continue this into a studio session where they do a track together or have Yella or Dre step in?

The club was fuckin' packed. Loud as hell, damn near hazy from smoke, and every corner had a crew of groupies posted like they was auditioning for a music video. Some chicks was already in VIP, some on laps, some just watchin' for the right moment to slide in.

Ren sat back in the booth, arms crossed, eyes skimming the room with a bitch on his lap

. The whole squad had just killed it on stage, and now they were unwindin' in the only way they knew-drinks, weed, music, and more bad bitches than any one of them could keep track of.

Yella was two shots deep, talkin' slick with some girl with red hair and thick ass thighs. Cube was off somewhere tellin' jokes, bein' his usual loud-ass self. And Dre was posted on the couch with his phone to his ear, tone calm but clipped. All business.

Ren watched Dre with a little curiosity. The rest of them were caught up in the vibe, but Dre? He was locked in.

"Who the fuck he talkin' to so long?" Ren asked, noddin' toward him.

Eazy lit a blunt, took a deep pull, then passed it over. "Tyree. That's his little bro."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "Tyree? I ain't even know Dre had a younger brother."

"Yeah, he keep him lowkey. Kid got potential though. Dre been talkin' to him heavy, sayin' he smart as fuck and raw with it."

Ren took the blunt, noddin' slowly. "Shit... well, if he Dre's blood, guess that talent run deep."

They sat in silence for a second, bass from the speakers thumpin' against their ribs. A girl walked by in a see-through dress, no bra, no shame. Eazy didn't even blink. Ren noticed, but he didn't say shit-yet.

Then Eazy smirked like he had somethin' smart in his pocket.

"You gon' keep pretendin' like you don't wanna know what's up with me and Korina?"

Ren turned his head, exhalin' a cloud of smoke slow. "You really wanna go there right now?"

Eazy laughed. "C'mon, Ren. You been mean-muggin' me every time she in the room. You act like I'm fuckin' her behind your back."

Ren gave him a look. "Ain't that what you doin', though?"

Eazy leaned forward, elbows on his knees, amused as fuck. "Nah, man. I ain't even touched her like that. We cool, we vibin'. She's sweet. Got that Southern charm and shit. But I ain't promised her nothin'."

Ren scoffed. "You leadin' her on, though. Got her thinkin' y'all might be somethin'. And you out here... partyin' with bitches, flirtin' with hoes, gettin' your dick sucked probably before the chorus even drop."

Eazy shrugged, still smirkin'. "That ain't her business."

Ren narrowed his eyes. "That's my fuckin' sister."

Before Eazy could respond, one of them baddies that had been eyein' the table all night strutted over-curves for days, lookin' like she stepped out a rap fantasy. She didn't even say hi. Just bent over, pressed a kiss to Eazy's cheek, and slid into the seat beside him like she owned the place.

Eazy ain't even flinch.

Ren stared hard. "The fuck is this?"

Eazy gave a lazy smirk. "That's my girl."

Ren blinked slow, chest gettin' tight. "Your what?"

"She been around. I just ain't talk about her 'cause-well, y'know how shit is. I wasn't tryna start nothin' with Korina."

Ren leaned forward, voice low and full of heat. "So you got a whole-ass girlfriend and you still lettin' Korina think y'all vibin'? Are you fuckin' serious, E?"

"I didn't tell her nothin' false," Eazy said, still way too calm for Ren's liking. "I ain't tell her we together. She just... assumed."

Ren's hand balled into a fist. "You playin' games with her head, man. She ain't like these club rats up in here."

The girl beside Eazy shifted, brows furrowin'. "Club rats?"

"Not talkin' to you, sweetheart," Ren snapped without lookin' at her.

Eazy raised a brow. "You need to chill, bro."

"I'ma chill when you stop bein' a fuckboy with my sister."

The girl looked at Eazy like, you gon' let him talk like that? But Eazy just leaned back and shook his head.

"Ren, I ain't tryna fuck her over. That's why I ain't tell her the full story. I'm keepin' it quiet so she can focus on her music. She in the studio with Yella, writin', recordin'... I'm not tryna mess that up."

Ren glared at him. "You already messed it up, dumbass."

Eazy held up a hand. "Look, just... don't say shit yet. I'll handle it when the time's right."

Ren got up from the booth, snatched the blunt off the table and took a hard hit.

"Nah, you don't get to decide the 'right time.' I'm watchin' her now. And if she cries over your sorry ass? That's on you."

He walked off, chest tight, head buzzin'.

Dre finally got off the phone and caught up to him.

"What's good?" Dre asked.

Ren shook his head. "Your boy need his ass whooped."

"Who, E?"

"Yeah."

Dre exhaled. "Damn. What now?"

Ren didn't answer right away. He looked around at the hoes dancin', the money flyin', and the mess that came with it all. This was the life they chose. But it didn't mean they had to drag everyone they cared about through the mud with them.

Especially not his Grandma sister.