She knows that her father is an entrepreneur, but he dismisses questions about his business with a simple, mo' money, mo' problems (some readers will recognize this quote as the title of a Notorious BIG song and, as a result, may guess at the source of his wealth). When Mercedes falls in love with sexy, confident, 17-year-old Dalvin, her father prohibits the relationship and reveals to his daughter that he and Dalvin's father are big-time criminals who each own half of Chicago's streets. The star-crossed lovers break up under duress, but a near tragedy brings them back together and later even strengthens their bond.

    And yet, like so many others in Corey's neighborhood, he finds the temptations of the lucrative drug trade too great to resist. While he makes fast money for a while, it is inevitable that it is he who has to pay, with his time and maybe even his life: by the age of sixteen Corey is locked up. Incarcerated in Riker's Island and then in prisons upstate, Corey lives through experiences that threaten to destroy his body, his mind, and eventually his spirit. But in the midst of his horrific imprisonment he discovers new strength to keep himself together and survive. Corey meets a few kind souls who mean him well, including a teacher who encourages him to get out of prison and make something of himself. The teacher also advises Corey to "never go home again." Though the homesick Corey does not immediately understand, he ultimately realizes the wisdom of his mentor's words. Unflinching and riveting, this story is the firsthand account of the brutal, unforgiving inner-city streets and prison life, as well as a difficult lesson in accepting responsibility and moving on.

    Unlike most her age, all she does is go to school and work, to help her mother pay bills, and take care of her younger sister, Khadijah. On her 23rd birthday, her friend Priya persuades her to go to the club for the first time. Yani encounters a man who seems like all the others, but she’ll find out that may not be the case. Handsome, aspiring rapper, Ramello, is a no-nonsense kind of man. He takes his love of music serious, and refuses to let a woman stand in the way of his career. Meeting Yani, he finds a woman that is not all about being with him for what he can do for her. They hit it off, but his past starts to interfere with what they can be. After shutting Ramello down at the club, he runs into her while she’s at work and shoots his shot again. This time Yani notices that he’s a sight for sore eyes, and finally agrees to go out with him. Mello has this cool, calm, and collected demeanor that wins her heart over, but women from his single life start to stand in the way. They’re popping up at shows and wanting to fight inside of clubs. Yani is a hard woman to crack, but will Ramello be able to open her heart? Will he be able to show her that all men aren’t the same, or will he end up proving her theory correct?

    Emery is reminiscing over the love she had with Wise. She is being pulled two places and she wonders if it is possible for you to love two men at the same time. The feelings that she buried are now bubbling over and she doesn't want anyone to get hurt. Wise is back and ready to claim his rightful place. His time away from Emery did nothing to make his love calm down. She is his soulmate and his prison time couldnt change that. In his opinion there is no competition. So the guy that she is with now is the least of his worries. Wise is sadly mistaken if he thinks that Shad is just going to sit by and let the love of his life go that easily. Shad is ready to go toe to toe because Wise's lost was his gain. He will play dirty if he has to, but he will not let her slip away. Secrets will be revealed, plotting is at an all time high and everyone's life will be changed

    Raised by her father, a ruthless Mexican drug cartel boss, and her mother, a strong-spirited black woman with an MBA from Harvard, it's no surprise that when Alexus graduates from high school text books to kilos of cocaine and heroin, she quickly becomes one of the best to ever do it in the dope game. After her father, Juan "Papi" Costilla, is sent away to federal prison, Alexus soon finds herself in Michigan City, Indiana with her mother, Rita Mae Bishop. With $250,000 in cash and 48 kilos of pure cocaine--stuffed inside large soup cans and smuggled into the country through her family's drug tunnel-- Alexus sets out to build herself a BMF-like drug-dealing ring, utilizing the connections of her numerous lovers to maximize her bankroll. But will she survive the wrath of the Costilla cartel when a portion of it turns against her? Find out in...