Men After God's Own Heart by Dijorn Moss Page A

size advantage Odell had over him, but Will did not back down, nor was he intimidated.
    â€œIt seems like I’m going to have to show you who the alpha dog is in this family,” Odell growled.
    â€œA year ago you came to this shop and told me that you were a changed man. You remember that? What happened?”
    â€œWill, you got me?” a customer yelled from inside the barbershop.
    â€œIn a minute. Just wait in the chair,” Will said.
    â€œThe false sense of freedom wore off. The truth is that I’m not truly free, even out here, and people won’t let me change, so what else is there? I had to wake up,” Odell said. And with that statement, Will’s father backed up, as if he was scared to turn his back on his son. “Get in the car now, Josh.”
    Josh got in the car, and the emotional tug-of-war was over. Will stood in the parking lot even after his father sped off, leaving burning tire track marks in his wake. He was transfixed by what had transpired. Will wanted so much for his father to go back to prison, where he could destroy his own life and not the lives of those around him.
    Will walked back into the shop with his head spinning from the revelation. His brother was in a gang. The only question was, what would Will have to do to get his brother out?

Chapter Seven
    Quincy
    The store smelled like old shoe polish and looked like it hadn’t been dusted in quite a while. Within the confines of the gun shop was every tool built for destruction, and Quincy got giddy at the sight of it. Quincy held the Taurus 24-pistol firmly in his hand. The power to control someone’s fate lay in his hands, and Quincy felt like a god, small g.
    â€œDon’t you think that the ‘disapproving father with the gun’ act is a little cliché?” Jamal asked while positioned next to the sporting wear.
    â€œI admit that it’s not the most novel idea I’ve come up with, but it will work, nonetheless.” Quincy aimed the gun toward a mannequin that was dressed in army fatigues.
    â€œBrother Page, I don’t think that you have consulted the Lord on this matter. I know that the enemy is at work,” Chauncey said.
    â€œI already know what God will say. He’ll tell me to turn the other cheek or something like that.... He knows my heart.” Quincy then looked at Will. “What about this one?”
    â€œJamming problems,” Will said.
    Quincy put down the Glock pistol and picked up the Beretta that the gun dealer had sat on top of the display case for Quincy’s viewing. “Now we’re talking. This is some Mel Gibson Lethal Weapon type of madness.”
    â€œBeretta nine millimeter has both double and single action. Firm grip and can hold fifteen rounds. Its design came from military. . . .” Will stopped when he looked at Jamal.
    Jamal made a hand gesture to Will to not encourage Quincy. Jamal walked over to a knife rack and started to examine the different knives. “I know this might be difficult, but Sasha is what? Twenty? She’s a grown woman.”
    â€œShe’s too young to throw her life away. She was being irresponsible and reckless,” Quincy said.
    â€œWhere I’m from, we call that being something else,” Will said.
    â€œThe Bible has also got a word for it,” Chauncey said before Quincy shot him a disconcerted look.
    Quincy could not understand where he had gone wrong. Private schools, piano lessons, study groups, and church activities. He and Karen had raised their daughter not to be passive, not to live in a constant state of waiting. Waiting for her check to arrive, waiting for her EBT card, waiting for her Section 8 housing to get approved. Waiting for her Prince Charming, who was a cross between 50 Cent and Obama with an obese bank account. He had raised Sasha not to be a recipient in life, but a participant.
    â€œLook, I know that the Bible teaches that we’re to respect life and that