

UNBREAKABLE

EDGAR ALAN COLE

MYSTIQUE DEVEREUX

LAYLA LOWE

BASED ON TRUE EVENTS

ONE TEAM PUBLISHING & FILMS

Published by One Team Publishing & Films

Nashville, Tennessee 37216, USA

www.oneteam615.com

Copyright © Edgar Alan Cole, Mystique Devereux, Layla Lowe 2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

REGISTERED TRADEMARK-Edgar Alan Cole, 2014

Printed in the United States of America Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of the book. PUBLISHER'S NOTE This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their control. If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as "unsold and destroyed" to the publisher and neither the author or publisher has received any payment for this "stripped book." The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

DEDICATION

### To the dreamers of the world who refuse to quit until they win

CONTENTS

The Cliffhanger

Part I: The Inspiration

1. Refuse to Lose

2. The Owner's Manuel

Part II: The Information

3. Millionaire Convict

4. Economic Slavery

Part III: The Entertainment

5. A Woman Goes Rogue

6. When Men Kill

7. Street Justice

8. The Neighborhood

9. Inspire Inform & Entertain

Resources

THE CLIFFHANGER

There will come a time in everyone's life, when they feel like they're about to fall off a cliff and hanging on for dear life. A relationship didn't work out. The addiction seems like it can't be conquered. You've lost a loved one, and the pain won't go away. The company had a layoff, and you were the first to go. The doctor's report wasn't in your favor. To no fault of your own, the house went into foreclosure. You keep failing over and over in your business and career. All of the things just mentioned are simply the trials and tribulations of life, and you can pass all of them. Even with the strongest faith and your best efforts, you still feel yourself slipping. This is when it's time to become unbreakable. Even if you do slip and fall, crawl to your knees, get back on your feet, look yourself in the mirror and say, "I refuse to die!"

This anthology contains the true stories of people who refused to die, when life threw a catastrophe their way. The concept of One Team Publishing & Films is for team members to have each other's backs, when no one else will. Even when you feel alone in your journey, have faith and believe in yourself. The writers of this great work simply want you to do one thing, win! Enjoy their work in three amazing parts. The first part was created to inspire you to fulfill your dreams and motivate you to get through any situation life throws at you. The second part gives you the testimony and information needed to always win and never lose again. You will learn about a man who went from being addicted to crack cocaine, to becoming a multi-millionaire. Not only will you learn the keys of his success, you will receive the keys of knowledge for turning your dreams into reality. The last part is when the writers will entertain you. They also want to share with you the creative aspects of their work with excerpts from their bestselling books. When you finish the last page of this book, you will surely know that you are UNBREAKABLE.

PART I

THE INSPIRATION

CHAPTER 1

REFUSE TO LOSE

Let me be the first one to bring light to this journey of never losing. Now everyone in this world takes a loss or a lot of them, but that doesn't mean you should give up. Never give up! I fucking mean that. A winner is simply a person who took a loss or losses but refused to quit. That's who you are. That's what I am, a winner. My name is Edgar Alan Cole, and I'm the CEO and an author at One Team Publishing & Films. This journey into the winner's circle began with my first book, From No Collar to a White Collar. The book was written to inspire others to accomplish their dreams in the face of adversity. After being laid off from my high-paying job and almost losing my home, I decided to fight and fight like hell! When the book was complete, I believed my bad days were behind me. The darkness had only begun. I lost my father, my best friend. Even though he was the one that had passed, I felt like piece of me had died with him, especially since I lost my mother seven years prior to his passing.

I have to be completely honest with you. Those losses, I didn't take them very well. At the same time I thank God I'm alive today after going through the dark valley. The one thing I didn't do was quit on my dreams or life. Instead of letting those losses and many others I took destroy me, I let them fuel my fire and wrote two bestselling novels following the tragedies. My late parents will always be my inspiration and motivation for success. They can see me at all times now, and I don't want to let them down. When something is put in your path to break you, fight harder and become stronger.

Now it's my turn! My name is Author Mystique Devereux. I am a woman who has gone through her share of pitfalls in life. I've lost a child, a marriage, and a couple of jobs. The one thing I have is perseverance. Nothing stops me! I may have stumbling blocks, but one thing is for sure. I get back up and keep it moving towards my goals. I am a divorced mother of three with a daughter in college and boy/girl twins in high school. The one thing I can't do is allow them to see me quit. All they know is that their mother is a fighter. I was laid off from a high-paying job and had to take a lower-paying job just to make ends meet. Shortly thereafter I became terminally ill. I really thought that was the end of the road for me. Little did I know that my voyage to greatness was just beginning. When it came to my illness, I had to realize that it's what you make of it. You can choose to bask in it and let it consume you, or you can be a warrior, fight, and live your life on your terms. Never live by the terms of the illness! I chose to be a warrior. Since I've been deemed disable to work, I've co-written a bestselling book of short stories and started my own custom, t-shirt business. I am currently doing 75% better with my health, and I am thoroughly enjoying writing and creating custom t-shirt designs. No one loves to fight for victory like I do. God has blessed me to be on a winning team who will always fight with me.

Those were beautiful words my teammates just gave you. Let me tell you a little about my journey. My name is Layla Lowe and the latest author to join One Team. I have two children and have lived in my hometown of Bedford, England all of my life. My life hasn't been easy. When I was eight-years-old, my parents split up. I remember that my mum left first, and I would sleep with her photograph and cry every night. After that things kept spiraling out of control. My mum came back, and then my daddy left. I was a daddy's girl; he was my life. When he left, I would spend most days and nights, crying and praying to the Lord to bring him back. To heal my broken heart, I ventured into the land of adventure, the land of make believe. It was just my pen, my paper, and me. In my head I travelled all over the world. It was literally the best therapy. Reading and writing became my best friend. Life didn't get any easier. My mum lost the house, and we were literally homeless. We eventually got a rented property to live in, but my mum's heart wasn't in it any more.

By the time I was 18, I had my first child and was on my own. My mum and I had a rocky relationship, but my beautiful daughter helped mend things between us. Mum became my best friend, but life would come knocking again. I was 26 when I got the call. My mother had a heart attack and was being resuscitated at her home by the paramedics. I remember it had been raining, and I ran outside with no shoes on. With my heart pounding I ran to my neighbor, and she came over to look after the kids. I knew before I got into my brother's car that my mum had gone. You might wonder why I am telling you all of this. This is to show you that everyone has a struggle and a testimony. Life has been a journey, but I'm still here fighting. Bringing up two kids, running a home, and holding down a fulltime job has been a challenge but a challenge that I conquered. I am a fulltime medical secretary, and I love my job. However I never forgot my dream of becoming a writer. The problem was I just didn't know how to go about it and if anyone would take me seriously.

I met the CEO of One Team in the Dominican Republic. It was simply fate. I was there with my friend, but this particular night I was at the bar on my own. I started chatting with Edgar at the bar, and he told me how he was an author and a book publisher. He had come away because he had writer's block. I couldn't believe that I had met an author. The rest of my holiday I gave him loads of my story ideas and told him that I always wanted to write a book. He promised to look at my work when we had gone home. Edgar was a man of his word. We stayed in touch, and my book, Confessions of a Contract Killer, was born. He thought I had a gift in writing. I didn't expect the book to be taken seriously by the public, but to my surprise it became an Amazon bestseller in its first week. The main thing that came out of the book was that I found myself again. For that I will be forever grateful. I have never felt so proud of myself. It feels amazing to be doing something I enjoy, something I love, and something that is just for me. I love getting feedback on my books. When people talk to me about my books, I love them telling me how they visualise the scenes that I set. The way my children talk about me makes me blush, "my mum the author." I want that feeling to continue, so my words keep flowing. This is my story, and I hope my message came through loud and clear. Follow your dreams and always believe in yourself!

After hearing from these amazing writers, do you understand what they are trying to tell you? You never give up and keep going until your dreams manifest. These writers have been through some tough times and situations, but all of them have a story of victory. What is your victory? What is the end result of your journey? How will you get there? You get there by getting in the mud and grinding it out. Think of it like this. If everyone in the world was against you, don't you deserve to have at least one fan? You deserve that and was put on this earth to please that one fan, you. If you want a better life for you and your family, believe you can make it happen and execute. If your business failed, take it as lesson learned and start another one. When one door closes, another door opens. Edgar believes God made us in His image, and we are all little gods down here. He believes all of us possess powers of God that we don't even tap into. Why is that? Fear keeps us from tapping into our full potential. It doesn't matter what religion or belief you associate with; God tells us all in whatever lane we are in that He didn't give us the spirit of fear. Conquer your fear and defeat whatever is holding you back. When in doubt, look that one fan of yours in the mirror and tell him or her, "I refuse to lose. You will win!" Your struggle will be honored with victory if you don't give up. Put yourself in the winner's circle. You deserve to be there.

### CHAPTER 2

THE OWNER'S MANUAL

Are you the boss? If not do you want to be the boss? Chances are you've been the boss this entire time and didn't even realize it. Ownership takes many forms. Even though you might not be a manager or own a company yet, you are still the boss of yourself. This next section is an excerpt from the book From No Collar to a White Collar, by Edgar Alan Cole. Not only does he give you the proper definition and instructions on how to be the boss, he also introduces the "10 Keys of Knowledge." After finishing this section, you will truly know what a boss is and why you are one! Here is the excerpt that can change your life forever:

"Chapter 1: Own Yourself"

The first questions you should ask yourself are, "who am I?" and "what am I worth?" Most individuals are either the owner or the worker. As workers, most individuals believe their worth is minimal compared to the worth of the company. This is far from the truth. Workers are the heartbeat of the company but fail to realize it. Even though being the heartbeat of an organization sounds good, it's still the wrong way to view yourself. Stop viewing yourself as an employee and stop viewing the company you work for as an employer. Instead you should look at yourself as a corporation and your employer as a customer.

For example, the name of my corporation is Edgar Alan Cole. The Edgar Alan Cole Corporation has over 15 years of experience in business management and leading companies in the right direction with outstanding leadership, technical expertise, and knowledge. That is just one example of how you can completely control your situation at all times, in your mind, which translates into reality. In my mind, I refuse to ever work for another individual, and I vow to always be the boss! If you are unemployed, you still are a corporation who presents his or her business plan (your job resume) to potential customers (also known as employers) for the purpose of improving their organizations. Why is it so important to understand this concept? The main reason is that businesses try to meet or exceed the expectations of their customers.

If you always view yourself as a corporation and your employer as a customer, then you are more likely to remove yourself from organizational politics and focus on making money. Too often, I would get a good job and get caught up in organizational politics. I was worried about the boss not liking me and which co-workers were talking about me instead of making money. After I adopted the concept of being my own boss, I wasn't worried about making friends on the job or the boss liking me. My performance would speak for itself. My focus was meeting or exceeding the expectations of the customer and making as much money as I could.

Your worth can be determined by which skills, education, and technical expertise you possess. A self-examination of your worth will help you determine what direction you would like to go with your long-term goals. If you are lacking the skills, education, and technical expertise that customers are seeking, then it is time to acquire the tools customers would like you to have. To accomplish my goals, I had to make sure I had the knowledge to achieve them. To achieve your long-term goals you have to have knowledge. In my experiences I developed 10 skills that helped me get the knowledge and understanding needed to accomplish my goals. I named these skills "the 10 keys of knowledge."

The 10 keys of knowledge are:

  1. Creativity

  2. Networking

  3. Opportunity

  4. Discipline

  5. Leadership

  6. Education

  7. God/Greatness

  8. Faith

  9. Focus

  10. Courage

Creativity

Creativity is the "process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations between existing ideas or concepts, and their substantiation into a product that has novelty and originality."i By this definition, creativity is simply having an idea. Many of which culminate from the recognition of a need. This is the basis for a good invention. In the early 20th century, the British military recognized a need for a vehicle that could take on enemy fire and maneuver through any terrain. The military tank was created to meet this need in World War I. Leonardo da Vinci was the first to design a tank, but the British capitalized on the idea and were very successful in World War I as a result. From this example, it is easy to see that creativity has won wars and can be used to win the war against poverty and hopelessness. When an individual is fighting to get a job, they are actually at war with other applicants, the organization with which they are trying to gain employment, and themselves. This requires an individual to be creative in his or her quest for employment and making potential customers (employers) recognize the need to hire the individual. When I was laid off from my job, I decided to go to war with my economic situation and created a business.

No one or nothing was going to stop me from accomplishing my goals, including myself. I had to get creative in my thought process and find a way to make money. Please, do not interpret this to mean that I went out, bought several firearms, and resorted to violence to get money. The weapon I used was my mind, which is far deadlier than any nuclear weapon.

Networking

Networking is "a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest."ii The common interest of multi-hustlers is making money! Networking is a key component to success in the business environment. How do you network? Talking with as many people as you can and sharing information is the easiest way to network. Music mogul Russell Simmons is well known for his networking skills. I remember watching an interview with Russell on television, and I was shocked at the ease of his networking skills and how well they worked. When Russell was trying to get Def Jam Records established in the late 1970's and early 1980's, he would go to parties and make it his priority to talk to everyone there. Regardless of whom they were or how relevant they were, he talked to them. By having this aggressive attitude, he was able to establish strong communications with his target audience and create a fan base for his artists.

Communication is the cornerstone to networking. You have to be able to put your ego to the side and talk to people you normally would not. To be an effective communicator, you have to eliminate shyness, doubt, and lack of confidence from your character. Being willing to talk to anyone who crosses your path can lead to lifetime relations that could result into making a substantial amount of money. Another example of communicating is when I got an opportunity to work with the Department of Labor. After being laid off, I tried to use my military experience to find an opportunity in the federal system, since veterans have first preference for these positions. For nine months, I applied for at least 100 positions without a single interview. This was very discouraging to say the least. I had a very impressive resume, but no calls were coming. My good friend Laturel had recently completed a contracting job in Iraq and also applied for numerous positions. I was in Tennessee at the time, and Laturel was located in Texas. Within two months of him getting back from Iraq, he was selected for an Information Technology (IT) position in Texas. How in the world did he land a federal position in two months? I had been trying for nine months.

Laturel told me that a perfect stranger, who was also a veteran, told him the key words in the job announcements have to appear in the applicant's resume. He just happened to meet this gentleman at a hiring center for veterans, and the gentlemen was attending orientation for a job he had just secured. Laturel was frustrated about not getting a job in Texas and just happened to strike up a conversation with this gentleman. The gentlemen explained that government positions require individuals to go online and upload a resume. A computer screens the resume for key words that are in the job announcements. If a person doesn't have the key words in the resume, the computer kicks it right out.

For the longest I was battling a computer and losing, because I did not have the key words in my resume. Within a month of Laturel telling me this valuable information, I placed the key words in my resume and was hired by the Department of Labor a few months later. I benefited from someone else's good networking. A perfect stranger helped two struggling veterans get jobs. This was due to the fact that Laturel was not afraid to talk to a perfect stranger, and not too proud to pass the information to me. I haven't seen Laturel in over 10 years, but we have kept in contact and helped each other out whenever we could. This was effective networking at its best.

Opportunity

There are two definitions I would like to examine for "opportunity." The first one states an opportunity is "an appropriate or favorable time or occasion." The next definition states that an opportunity is "a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal." To put it simple, both of these definitions refer to being in the right place at the right time. The only issue I have with the first definition is the need for a "favorable time or occasion." Sometimes, an individual has to take the initiative and create the right place and right time. The second definition states the situation or condition has to be favorable. Again, individuals have to be proactive and create favorable conditions for themselves. There is no perfect condition or favorable time for accomplishing goals and making money. It makes absolutely no sense to wait on opportunity, because it will pass you by without you even knowing it.

There is an opportunity to make money every time I wake up in the morning and go into the world. When I was laid off, I did not have a clue about what I was going to do or from where my next paycheck was coming. My friend Mark was constantly on the go, writing estimates for contracting jobs and managing the construction projects he had going. I decided to ask Mark if I could ride with him a few days of the week for free to get some inspiration and motivation. After a few weeks of riding with Mark, opportunity presented itself. Mark received a disturbing phone call about one of his construction projects. His primary sheetrock crew had done a terrible job hanging drywall, and the client did not want the crew back in their home.

This was my opportunity to make some money and start a business for myself. Mark fired the subcontractor, and after he calmed down from going into a tirade about his crew letting him down, I explained that my brother-in-law was a master carpenter and would be the right person to finish the drywall job. Because I had created a good rapport by riding with Mark for a few weeks, I was able to capitalize on an opportunity that I might have missed if I had not been riding with Mark for free! I could have stayed at home complaining and whining about being laid off, instead I decided to stay positive and motivated in my search for income. From this example, it is easy to recognize that the opportunity was created by me, because I decided to put myself in the right place for opportunity and not sit around and wait for an opportunity to knock on my door. To be successful, one must constantly look for opportunities as well as create situations where opportunity can find them.

Discipline

Discipline is one of my favorite keys of knowledge, because it is one of the most challenging. The definition for discipline is an "activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training." The skill that must be improved when multi-hustling is discipline. An individual's thought process can be his or her biggest downfall. I think Robert De Niro said it best in the movie "Heat." De Niro's character in the movie (Neal) stated, "When you call yourself making moves on the streets, have nothing or no one in your life you are not willing to drop in 30 seconds flat, if you feel the heat around the corner." De Niro played the role of a disciplined bank robber who always had his eye on the prize, which was the next big robbery. Of course, I am not suggesting a person drop everything, go out, and rob a bank. What I am suggesting is that De Niro's character had the right concept and drive, but the wrong hustle. An intelligent person can create positivity out of a negative situation. A positive spin can be placed on this great statement as well. In the case of multi-hustling I believe that a person should not have anyone or anything in their life they are not willing to drop in 30 seconds flat, if they sense opportunity around the corner.

In other words, you should let nothing and no one stop you from accomplishing your goals. This includes family, friends, finances, yourself, or anything else for that matter. I can't count the numerous times I thought I was in love with a beautiful woman and got completely distracted from my goals. In the end, I would lose the woman and the opportunities that came my way. This is no longer a problem for me. I have disciplined my mind to have tunnel vision, and my goals are at the end of the tunnel. If someone or something is hindering you instead of helping you, let them go! This is discipline at its best. The flesh might tell you to stay in that situation, but your disciplined mind will tell you to keep it moving.

When you're trying to accomplish your goals, you will lose friends and sometimes family. Remember, I had to streamline my expenses to get back on my feet. This was the first act of discipline that had to be done to get my finances under control. I didn't want to get rid of my cable TV, because I love watching TV! Again, things must be lost in the short term to accomplish long-term goals.

Another key to discipline is maintaining your own pace and not keeping up with someone else's. You shouldn't worry about what your neighbor has and what you don't. The same applies to your activities as well. I knew plenty of people who cut corners to accomplish the goals that I was trying to achieve, and they were participating in illegal activities to accomplish them. Legal hustling is a long-term process, and not an overnight solution. While it took me a little longer to accomplish my goals, I didn't end up in prison or dead trying to speed up the progress. When people chase fast money, they are in mental prison anyway. In the Army I use to hear the statement "stay alert, stay alive" constantly. When I began multi-hustling, this statement took on a whole new meaning. If I was disciplined and alert of my actions, I would be alive to fight and hustle another day.

Leadership

One of the best definitions for leadership is "an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction." From this definition, I concluded that anyone can be a leader and possess leadership. Anyone can give directions or guidance, but the effectiveness of the directions or guidance is what sets good leaders apart from bad ones. The subject of leadership has been debated for years amongst academic scholars. Are people born with leadership? Can leadership be developed? There is no such thing as a natural-born leader. Anyone can be a leader, and everyone's leadership skills have to be developed. Some people develop quicker than others, but it is never too late to develop leadership skills. Leadership is closely correlated with persuasion. Being able to persuade or instruct others to follow directions is leadership at its core. Another important factor about leadership is that it doesn't always come from the top of the organization. This is why it's very important to recognize your leadership capabilities regardless of your position in an organization. Remember, you are the boss and your employer should be considered a customer. According to logistics expert, Jon R. Katzenbach, "the real change leaders who affect how the majority of people perform come from the ranks of middle and frontline managers." Why is this? The main reason is that leadership requires a person to lead by example; and the tone and directions of one person can affect the performance of many in an organization.

When I started my subcontracting company, I had been recently unemployed and happened to stumble on an opportunity to make money. Even though I was disappointed about losing my job, I kept up a brave front to stay motivated for my team. At the time, my brother-in-law had a great job and was not dependent on the money he made with my company; but my friend Todd was unemployed like me and needed money. Everyday, Todd would come to work motivated. He would come to work laughing and joking. When we would arrive at the job, Todd would say, "let's get this money boss!" Even though Todd did not realize it, he was motivating me to perform my best and not let him down. This is the reason I could never say Todd worked for me, because he was so influential in keeping my spirits high. In a sense, he was actually leading me. I had only been out of work for one month, but Todd had been without a job for months and was still smiling everyday. On top of that, he had a wife and daughter to support! Why was I disappointed about my situation? The only person I had to take care of was me. Todd was leading by example and influenced the entire team. If I would have come to work disgusted and discouraged, that attitude would have spread like a cancer in my organization. At the same time, it took the influence of a teammate for me to get the bigger picture.

As a leader, you have to be able to inspire others to complete the task at hand; and leadership takes place at every level of an organization. Todd took ownership of his situation and influenced me to take ownership of mine. I did not become an effective leader until I stopped worrying about the things I did not have and thankful for the things I did. Because of our leadership, Todd and I were able to work the entire summer-which was the peak season for our industry. Effective leadership was absolutely the key to our success. The development of leadership skills can definitely come from life experiences.

Education

No matter how people try to avoid it, education is essential for creating wealth. Education is "the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself intellectually for mature life." The one thing I want you to notice about this definition is that school is not mentioned one time. In other words, education can be summarized as the act of gaining knowledge. One can gain knowledge in the classroom or outside of the classroom. I recognize the fact that college is not for everyone, but it should be mandatory for a person to graduate from high school or obtain a GED. My friend Chip always says, "I might not be the smartest man in the world, but I can read, write, and count." This is a very powerful statement, because so many people are missing the basic necessities required to learn.

Chip has completed some college, but he acquired his GED after he had to drop out of high school to take care of his family. However, I don't know too many people who are better with numbers than Chip. He's probably better than five of your best accountants put together, seriously. Sometimes, life puts us in situations which require tough decisions, but, regardless, one must acquire the basic tools to be successful. A substantial amount of his education was acquired on the streets of Indianapolis and in the U.S. Army later in his life. Chip did not let his circumstances dictate his life and his pursuit of knowledge. Education can be traditional or non-traditional. Of course, traditional education is receiving instructions in a formal classroom or even online in the 21st century. Non-traditional education can be just as effective when it comes to things such as on-the-job training (OJT) or picking up a book and reading it. You are practicing non-traditional education by reading this book. If a person can discipline themselves to be slow to speak and eager to listen, there is a substantial amount of knowledge that can be gained by simply listening to a person's conversation. During the slavery period of the United States, it was illegal to teach a black person how to read. Frederick Douglas learned how to read and write by watching and listening to the children of slave owners. In the Scriptures, it is written, "My people are destroyed from a lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6, NIV).

I believe a lack of education is self-destruction. As the definition stated, the powers of reasoning and judgment are directly linked to learning. Our brains constantly absorb knowledge and have plenty of room for it. When we stop trying to learn, we hinder our mental growth. Some of the most successful people in the world, such as the founder of Virgin Records, Richard Branson, and founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, did not finish college. At the same time, they did not stop learning and they used life experiences for their education. To get an education, one simply has to seek and they shall find.

God/Greatness

The reason that the seventh key of knowledge consists of God and greatness is to make believers and non-believers understand the importance of believing in something greater than themselves. As far as my beliefs are concerned, I believe everything I have achieved and will achieve comes from the blessings of God. Believing in something greater than oneself gives a person hope, motivation, drive, and deliverance. Even non-believers need to find the essence of greatness as a clear model for whatever they want to achieve in their lives. The definition of God is "the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe." For me, I have reached the conclusion that if I strive for the understanding of God, His power, and glory, there is nothing I can't achieve in my life.

To stay politically correct and reach everyone, greatness needs to be explored as well. Greatness can be defined as "the state, condition, or quality of being great; as, greatness of size, greatness of mind, power, etc." For example, if you are trying to become a computer-software designer and change the world, a great person to study would be Bill Gates, because he literally changed the world with the introduction of Microsoft. Gates has achieved greatness in the software industry, and someone entering this industry might want to study what gives Gates his ambition, motivation, techniques, and drive. How can a person obtain knowledge without studying the source? For me, my source of knowledge is God. For others, their source of knowledge should be someone or something greater than themselves.

Faith

According to the Scripture, "now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1, NIV). The secular definition of faith is "unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence." From these two definitions of faith, it is easy to recognize the fact that you have to believe in your goals, even though you have not accomplished them or lack evidence that they will be fulfilled. If you do not have faith in yourself and your goals, how do you expect others to have faith in you and your ambitions? Faith is about confidence. There is no room for low self-esteem, doubt, or being a skeptic of your own plans. When others see your unchanging faith in yourself and your goals, they will be willing to invest and have faith in your plans as well. You have to sell yourself as an owner, and have confidence that you have the solution for the need you are trying to fill in your environment. The road to success is not going to be easy. If it was, you wouldn't know how to handle adversity when it came your way. When I started subcontracting, I did not know from where or when my next drywall job was coming, but I had unbreakable faith that it was on the way. When the 11th hour would approach with no job in sight, I would miraculously stumble upon my next job. This is because I had faith and kept looking for work. Faith requires the armor of a soldier and not the backbone of a jellyfish. To have unbreakable faith, you must recognize your levels of strength and the endurance that you did not know you possessed.

Focus

Now, I want to examine two descriptions of focus that are relevant to knowledge. The first states that focus is "a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity." The second states that focus is "the clear and sharply defined condition of an image." To accomplish your goals, you must hone in on your short-term and long-term objectives like an eagle flying a mile in the air, focused on a mouse on the ground. Having a sharp focus on your goals requires a practice I refer to as "tunnel vision." I want you to imagine yourself in a five-mile tunnel with darkness all around you. The tunnel has a strong ammonia smell from the urine of thousands of bats in the tunnel. As you walk forward in the tunnel, bats are swarming around your head; urinating and defecating on your body; and the ground is sinking under your feet from all of the bat guano. Even though you have all of these distractions, you notice a dim light at the end of the tunnel which gets bigger and brighter as you walk towards it.

The purpose of this analogy is to illustrate the type of focus you must have to reach your long-term objectives. The bats are symbolic of the trials and tribulations you will encounter while trying to reach your goals. The darkness is the negativity that will surround you when trying to make your dreams come true. Every adversity you can imagine, and some you cannot, will come across your path and try to block you from accomplishing your mission. When you try to get loans from banks, many of them will deny you. When you try to sell your product or service to potential customers, many of them will slam the door in your face. When you try to tell your family and friends about your ideas and goals, many of them will laugh at you and tell you it's not going to work. When you are in the middle of your struggle and hustle, your significant other will tell you they don't want to be with you anymore. Remember, when one door closes, another door of opportunity will open. Please, do not get discouraged when adversity comes your way. Never give up! Don't let anyone or anything make you lose focus. If I had given up when I was laid off, I would have never started my subcontracting company. If I had decided to stop applying for federal positions after the 100th try, I would never have gotten my opportunity at the Department of Labor on the 101st try.

Trying to control your own destiny is not for the weak, so you must recognize your weaknesses and make sure your strengths are greater. Focus is closely correlated with discipline. You cannot take your mind off the main objective, which is creating wealth for yourself. Discipline requires you to have the strength to say no and let go of the things that are holding you back. Focus gives you knowledge, because you are aware of the adversities surrounding you, but smart enough to ignore them. I believe having focus is easier than maintaining discipline, because you simply have to ignore the distractions around you and see only the light at the end of the tunnel.

Courage

The last key of knowledge is the one many people struggle with the most. Courage is "the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc." Who likes to experience pain? I am assuming no one does, but you will endure a significant amount of pain when you decide to release yourself from the chains of despair, poverty, ignorance, and defeat. Pain is nothing more than a sign that weakness is leaving the body and mind. The more pain you learn to endure, the stronger your mind and body will become. When I was in the U.S. Army, my drill sergeants use to constantly drill in my head their definition of courage. From a military perspective, courage is the act of doing a complete 180-degree turn, facing the adversity you fear the most, and going straight at it. If you really think about it, what do you have to fear? Everyone has a date with death, so why fear death? Money can go as easy as it comes, so why fear being broke? The body is made of soft flesh on the outside and breakable bones on the inside, so why fear pain? Fear rests in only one place in our bodies, in our minds. If you can master the strength and knowledge of courage in your mind, there is nothing you cannot accomplish in your life.

With no disrespect to non-believers, the only thing I fear in my life is God. My spirituality teaches me that the fear of God is the beginning of understanding Him. I have the courage to know that I can do all things with God on my side, and nothing or no one is going to stop me. If anyone or anything gets in my way, I turn into a mental freight train and run over any adversity blocking my path. My courage has given me the strength and knowledge to know failure is not an option. When I set a goal, in my mind, I refuse to lose or quit. My mind is not conditioned to accept failure, but to learn from the shortcomings and mishaps I encounter in my life. Being knowledgeable of the fact that fear, pain, and danger only exist in my mind makes my level of courage equivalent to the strength of a million men, unbreakable. To be successful in your ventures, you have to find the courage necessary to overcome adversity.

At this point, you should know who you are and how to view yourself (as a corporation); how much you are worth; how much you owe; what your credit status is; and the knowledge necessary to be successful. These tools are very powerful and should not be wasted on unnecessary conflict, negative people or situations, and meaningless efforts to make someone else wealthy. Owning yourself is taking charge of your life. This requires no money for investment, but it does require an investment of your time and the reconditioning of your mind...

Those powerful words should have made you realize that you are the boss at all times! If you like the inspiration and knowledge you received in this excerpt, order your copy of From No Collar to a White Collar at www.oneteam615.com or Amazon.com

# PART II

THE INFORMATION

### CHAPTER 3

MILLIONAIRE CONVICT

If a millionaire told you how to make a million dollars, would you listen or ignore them? Many of us would probably ignore them without even realizing it. We are too busy talking and not taking the time to just listen. It might sound crazy, but that is exactly what Edgar Alan Cole almost did the day he met his millionaire friend Mark Musgrove. When Edgar was writing the book From No Collar to a White Collar, he created three case studies of entrepreneurs that had a net worth of six figures or more. His favorite case study by far was about his friend Mark. Check out the following excerpt and find out how a man went from being addicted to crack cocaine, to becoming a multi-millionaire. Did I also mention that Mark went to prison as well? WARNING: AFTER READING THIS SECTION, YOU WILL DISMISS EVERY EXCUSE YOU EVER HAD FOR NOT MAKING MONEY AND ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS:

"Chapter 4: From Prison to Prosperity"

I decided to begin my case studies with a gentleman who I greatly admire and has showed me how to make serious money. When I first met Mark, I almost made the crucial mistake of judging a book by its cover. I was having a bad day because the roof on my house was leaking from a recent thunderstorm that passed through my area. At the time, I was a dispatcher for a trucking company and working the graveyard shift. I refer to the time I spent in the trucking industry as the vampire years, due to the fact that I worked at night and slept during the day. On this particular day I could not sleep. I was worried about my roof, worried about getting the money to fix it, and worried about a bunch of other meaningless things.

Since I could not sleep, it was blazing hot outside, and my air conditioner was barely putting out cool air, I decided to go down the street to the gas station and buy an ice-cold beer. When I was in line to purchase my beer, there was this weird guy in front of me. From what I could tell, he wasn't buying anything. His cloths were dirty and he was talking a lot. In my mind, I just knew this guy was intoxicated because his face was beak red and he wouldn't shut up! Now that I think about it, I had some nerve passing judgment on this man while I had a beer in my hand. While I was waiting, this man just kept talking. I was thinking to myself, "Why doesn't this guy just shut up and get out of the store?" Finally, the man started to leave and told the clerk, "Man, I got to get a move on, because I got five roof estimates to give!"

Around this time I noticed he had gotten into a nice Ford F-250, so he couldn't be that big of a drunk. Something in my mind told me to go and talk to the gentleman. I left my beer sitting on the counter and walked up to his truck. I asked him if he did roof work, and he said in a peculiar, high voice, "Man! Do I do roof jobs? I'm the best in the city!" He went on to explain that he was a general contractor and owned a construction company. He continued to explain that roofing was his specialty, and that he would come and check out my roof. After talking with him in the parking lot for awhile, I realized he wasn't drunk but dirty and sunburned from climbing on roofs all day in the hot sun. Mark also told me to get two more estimates before I made a major decision. Not only were the other roofing companies extremely expensive, but they were not willing to work with me on my insurance deductible. Even though I had insurance on my home, I did not have the money to pay my deductible at the time. Not only did Mark have the lowest bid, but he allowed me to pay my deductible in installments. I truly believe that it was God telling me to go and talk to Mark that day at the store.

While I was standing there judging Mark that day in the store, I had no idea that the man in front of me was a millionaire. I thought I was better than him, and he made more money in a week than I made in a year. What if I had blown the man off because I thought he was a drunk and never said anything to him? I would have missed an opportunity to meet someone who could show me how to get serious money in the future. Never judge a book by its cover. You have to be willing to network anytime, anyplace, and with anyone; you never know who God will send across your path. Mark and I have known each other for a few years now, and he actually was the reason I was able to survive my layoff. As I mentioned earlier, he was the one who gave me my break and got me into the subcontracting business. The more I learned from Mark, the more I wanted to know. Other than the big drug dealers I knew growing up, Mark was the first millionaire I had known who had become one, legally.

Even though Mark was a millionaire now, he wasn't always one. He actually had humble beginnings and was addicted to drugs at one time. His addiction eventually landed him in prison, but he was able to overcome many obstacles and became very successful. When I first began the process of selecting individuals for my case studies, I didn't want to study anyone who had not struggled and seen hard times. Everyone I wanted to study had to have a struggle, an awakening, and a legal hustle that culminated into success. Mark met every one of these criteria. I had to get his story because it was so inspiring to me, and I knew it could be inspiring and life-changing to others. When it comes to struggling, Mark is not stranger to hard times and difficult situations. At the early age of 14, his father told him it was time for him to get a job and help out the family. Mark's father dropped out of school at 16 to join the U.S. Army and help out his family. This is how his father developed a strong work ethic, and he wanted to instill the same work ethic into his children. Even though Mark started working at the age of 14, school was still a first priority. After graduating high school, he was hired by a large bread company to work in the factory. Mark was 18 and very ambitious about learning every job in the factory. Not only did he learn every job in the factory, but his boss wanted him to begin training to be in management. The last thing that was going through Mark's mind was management. At the time, he was fresh out of high school and was into chasing women and rebuilding cars. In the beginning, he was very smart about how he spent and invested his money. When he was 21, he bought a two-story house and converted it into a triplex.

By this time, Mark had a good job, a nice Corvette he rebuilt, and his own house. He rented two apartments in the triplex and lived in the third one. This allowed him to live there for free. The entire time Mark was working at the bread company, he wanted to get out and work for himself. The only problem was that he didn't know what business to get into that could equal the pay of his job. Since he had completely restored and converted his house into a triplex, the remodeling business seemed like a good industry to enter. One day, while on his lunch break, he ran into his good friend Ray, who owned a few convenient stores and remodeled houses. Mark was at one of Ray's stores when he noticed a brand new Corvette outside. He knew it probably belonged to Ray because the man kept a new car and a pocket full of cash. Ray was a millionaire and knew the hustle of making money. Even though Mark owned a Corvette, it was rebuilt and a few years old.

Mark proceeded to go into the store and saw Ray in there. He asked Ray how was he able to drive brand new Corvettes and make good money all the time. Ray told him, "Mark, you'll never be a millionaire working for someone else and stuck working a job all day." He continued to tell Mark he made his money by meeting and talking with people who introduced him to remodeling houses. Since Ray was familiar with Mark's work on his triplex and a few more jobs he had done, he told him to look into becoming a general contractor. The reason he told Mark this was that he knew how talented Mark was and didn't want to see him waste that talent working for someone else. Mark knew Ray was right, but it just didn't sink into his head to go ahead and do it.

For a while Mark was living the American dream, until he developed a few bad habits by the time he was 23. He started using and selling crack cocaine, and that is when his troubles began. By the time he was 28, the drugs had started to take over Mark's life. After 10 years, he quit his job to do construction and sell drugs. Even though he had quit his job, he was independent and could sell anything to anybody. Mark claims that this is when he discovered the skill of being able to talk to anyone and sell any product or service.

While his drug business was taking off, his drug habit was taking off as well. He was making poor and dangerous decisions that would eventually set him up for a great fall. The day Mark got arrested for selling drugs started off normal, like any other day. He woke up next to a woman he barely remembered and had been smoking crack with her all night. After he had kicked her out, he made a couple of crack sales that morning. If you know anything about the illegal drug trade, selling drugs is a 24/7 operation. After making a little money from the transactions, he headed out to finish up a roof job. What he did not know was that his partner had sold six pounds of marijuana to an undercover narcotics agent while he was at work. Mark got home that night at approximately 6pm. When he got home, he started preparing to throw a dope party. A dope party is when he would invite a few drug addicts over to sell them drugs and get high with them. Mark said he had a very uneasy feeling the entire day and did not know why. When he was home, he started to get over his uneasiness and was ready for his party. He still noticed that something was not right about the night. Normally, Mark would have addicts waiting outside his door when he got home. Everybody came to his dope parties, but no one showed up this particular night. He still did not pay it any mind.

To prepare for his party, Mark went into his briefcase and brought out a triple-beam scale along with two ounces of cocaine, about 50 prescription painkillers, and an ounce of marijuana. He put the scale and the drugs on the top of his fireplace, sat back in his chair, and waited for the people to show up. While waiting, he decided to take a few hits off of a joint and fired up the crack pipe. Mark was determined there was going to be a party regardless. Around 8pm, someone finally knocked on the door, and he jumped up to answer it. The only thing that was going through his mind was getting high and making money. He didn't even bother to look to see who it was. Everybody in the neighborhood knew Mark and his reputation. He was a fiery redhead who was known for keeping a .45 caliber pistol on his side and a sawed-off shotgun by the front door.

As soon as Mark opened the door, a narcotics agent stuck a shotgun in his face and slammed him to the ground. The agent also had about 10 of his police buddies with him, and they had guns drawn as well. The first things the agents saw were a triple-beam scale, cocaine, pills, and marijuana on the fireplace. Mark was done. He had quit his job, and drugs completely had his mind at this point. After thousands of dollars paid to his lawyer, he received a three-year sentence in prison for three felony drug charges. He was facing nine charges and 10 years in prison, so he considered himself very blessed for not getting more time. Mark actually thought he was going to end up dead before he saw a prison cell. I guess he was wrong.

According to Mark, going to prison saved his life. While he was in prison, Mark had a moment of enlightenment and found the Lord. He hasn't looked back since and credits his success to turning his life over to Jesus. After Mark's enlightenment, the only thing he could think about was getting out of prison and changing his life. Even though he had lost his freedom, Mark believes that prison broke him from his addiction to drugs. His mind was free, and he could finally think clearly. I have often heard that there are a significant number of talented and intelligent individuals in prison. Mark confirmed that for me and was no exception. Many of the inmates Mark was incarcerated with were highly intelligent and had the skills for legitimate jobs. Why were so many of these talented people behind bars? A drug-related conviction was the reason many of them were serving time, including Mark.

Even though the most common conviction for a drug offense is possession and not the intent to resale, drugs take over the minds of good people, and they end up making a wrong decision to get their hands on drugs. Too often, a drug addiction will cause a person who has never committed a crime in his or her life to rob, steal, or even kill to get high. Just because someone goes to prison doesn't mean they lack intelligence or that they are a bad person. At the same time, too many people are making bad decisions to get high or get someone else high which end up costing them their freedom or life. When Mark was incarcerated, he got along with everyone and received some good advice from one of his fellow inmates. One day, Mark and a group of inmates were discussing what skills and talents they possessed besides the ones associated with their criminal careers. The subject of construction came up, and the other inmates were shocked by how much Mark knew about construction. One of the inmates, who was serving a life sentence for murder, got upset with Mark. He got upset with Mark for letting his skills go to waste by ending up in prison.

The inmate told Mark that he should get a general contractor's license when he got out, and he would never see prison again if he got one. This was the second time someone had suggested he get a general contractor's license. Mark was released two years early from prison for good behavior and had to completely start his life over, at the age of 32. His lawyer was able to keep the police from seizing his house after the drug raid because he still had tenants living in the house. Mark still had a lien on the house as well. Besides the property he almost lost while incarcerated, Mark had nothing. The good job with the bread company was gone, and he tried to get it back, to no avail. Fortunately, the police didn't confiscate his construction tools, and Mark was determined to live for Christ and stay out of trouble. Since the police confiscated his vehicles in the raid, Mark didn't have transportation anymore. Even though he had to walk everywhere he went, Mark made no excuses for his situation and worked with what he had.

Every morning Mark would get his 30 pound bag of tools and start walking to find work. After a month of walking with no work, he finally found a contractor that would give him a chance. The job could not have come at a better time since Mark had to find employment to meet his parole obligations. Many companies are hesitant to hire convicted felons, and Mark was rejected by eight construction companies before he got his break. You can never give up or lose your faith. Mark believes that what God has for him can't be taken away by anything or anyone. He had faith that God would provide him with a job, because he believed God would provide him with the things he needed to stay out of trouble.

The contractor who gave Mark his break started him off on a roof job. A month after being released from prison, he was working on his long-term plan of becoming a general contractor. The work was very demanding, and the hours were long. The asphalt shingles used in roofing can reach temperatures well over 100 degrees in the summer, and Mark worked an average of 14 hours a day. These circumstances did not bother Mark at all. He was willing to work hard in the short term to get what he wanted in the long term, and Mark was determined to start his own construction company. His work was impeccable, and his technical expertise was unmatched. The foreman on the roof job noticed the work Mark was doing and had empathy for his daily five-mile walk to work. The reason for this empathy was that the foreman was a convicted felon himself. He knew what Mark was going through and wanted to help him redeem himself. To help Mark, the foreman sold him a 1972 Chevy pickup for $1,200. The foreman knew Mark didn't have all the money, so he let him make weekly payments of $100 until he paid off the truck.

This was the break Mark needed. Now, he could go out and find his own work. The next step he had to make was to save up enough money to get insured and bonded. The reason you have to get insured and bonded is that customers want to know they won't be held liable if a contractor gets hurt on a job. After a few months, he was able to save up enough money to pay off his truck and get insured and bonded. The one gift Mark has always had is the ability to talk to anyone. He got a business license, had some business cards and flyers made, and started his construction business. Since he was an outstanding roofer, Mark stuck with what he knew best and began to do roofing jobs.

Business was slow at first, but his ability to network eventually landed him work. On top of everything else, Mark found out that a young lady he had started dating when he got out of prison was pregnant. Now he had another responsibility besides himself to handle. He had never been married and didn't know anything about raising a child. The only thing he did know was that his child would want for nothing in his or her life. This only motivated him more to accomplish his goals. The only things Mark had working in his favor were his work ethic and his honest word. Establishing a good rapport with customers and keeping your word is essential in business. These attributes worked well for him.

According to Mark, "God gave me the wisdom to know that helping people and hustling for roof jobs was a lot better than hustling drugs, meeting crooks, and drug addicts." Mark's philosophy was to stay honest, and people would give him work. He's always been an honest person and never stole anything from anyone. This philosophy would take Mark very far in his business. He also believed that most drug dealers are not thieves and believe in hard work. Being able to talk to anyone and working hard are attributes Mark believes he developed when he was selling drugs. I am a strong believer that any negative situation can be changed into a positive one. This is one of those situations. Mark's favorite saying is, "I have never met a stranger, because I will talk to anyone!" Again, there is nothing wrong with the ambition and drive of illegal hustlers, but it is the target market, products, and services that need to change.

Mark's philosophy was the beginning of his competitive advantage. He strongly believes that you have to be honest and trustworthy in business, and Mark still tries to give his customers a good deal on their roofs. When a person would get an estimate from one of the big roofing companies, they would give the customers extremely high estimates. In many cases, a roof can cost well over $10,000. When a person would get an estimate from Mark, he would rarely charge a customer over $4,000 for the average roof. The only money he wanted was enough to cover his materials and make a 20% profit. When customers found out Mark was charging 60% less than his competitors, he literally had the neighbors of his customers chasing his truck down the street for his business.

How did they find out? The customers would brag to everyone in the neighborhood, including their friends and family, about the great job Mark did and how affordable he was. Not only did they pay 60% less, but the quality of the roofs was immaculate. Mark also gives a 10-year warranty on his work. Most of his competitors only give five-year warranties. The reason he offers a 10-year warranty is that there are some competitors who might offer a lower price on roofs, but Mark is able to differentiate himself from these competitors with quality as well. Other roofers know their roofs aren't going to last more than five years without a problem. When some customers choose to go with another roofer instead of Mark, they usually end up calling him back because the other roofer ended up doing a terrible job. Quality work will speak for itself every time. Mark never went to college and studied the business philosophy of Total Quality Management (TQM), but he implements it in every aspect of his business.

In his first year, Mark made approximately $15,000, but he made well over $70,000 in his second year of business. He also had a new baby daughter and bought a new Ford F-150 in his second year. By Mark's fourth year in business, he was making well over $100,000. I don't know about anyone else, but I would be more than willing to wait four years to make over $100,000. If an individual is an illegal hustler and tried to get this type of money in the short term, they could end up doing an average of 10 years or more in prison. Instead of planning for the long term, an illegal hustler could end up giving 10 years or more of his or her life to a correctional facility. Including Mark's prison sentence, it took him eight years to make $100,000. Even though he went to prison, he changed his life and now is a millionaire. If an individual works hard and stays legit, he or she could cut the time it took Mark to make $100,000 in half.

The most shocking part of Mark's strategy is the fact that he does not advertise! He doesn't even have a listing in the phone book. All of the business he gets is from referrals. He strongly believes that if you give customers the best deal, be honest, and establish a rapport with them, they will refer you to other customers. According to Mark, he built his business from people trusting him and giving him referrals for other customers. When I rode with him, he used to get a significant amount of calls from the relatives and friends of people he had helped out.

Many of Mark's customers can't afford a roof at all. Either he sets up a payment plan with them, or he stops their roof from leaking if they have no money. The mission of his company is to help as many people as possible and build a relation with customers, built on trust. This strategy has worked for the past 20 years, and Mark's competitors cannot duplicate or imitate his success. The reason for this is that most roofers have to spend a substantial amount of money on advertising and have no room to give customers a break. With Mark eliminating the need to market, the savings of not advertising are passed down to the customer. Mark worked by himself the first couple of years. By his fifth year, Mark had a five-man crew and was looking into the requirements for becoming a general contractor.

Being a general contractor is so lucrative because you are able to subcontract different jobs of a construction project such as painting, electrical, plumbing, and other jobs to other contractors. In other words, you are able to make a profit off the work others are doing. It's very expensive to become a general contractor. Mark stated he has spent approximately $18,000 to get his general contractor's license, and the process took him almost a year to complete. The majority of the money was spent on classes, licenses, liability insurance, and certifications. After he obtained his general contractor's license, he opened up a full construction company and bought several pieces of heavy-duty equipment. The equipment he purchased enabled his company to bid on new construction projects for residential and commercial property. He is currently looking into building a set of condominiums on some land he owns.

On top of generating good revenue from his construction projects, he is still one of the best roofers in the state of Tennessee. His company is able to travel to different states and help rebuild neighborhoods after natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornados. Mark's company was one of the first construction companies to arrive in New Orleans to help rebuild the city after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Even though Mark lost money in New Orleans when he went down there to help the hurricane victims, he was happy to help the people of New Orleans get back on their feet. The losses Mark took on in New Orleans balanced out, because his business made record profits from an active weather season in Tennessee and other parts of the south. From 2006 to 2008, Mark's company made over $12 million.

At this point, I was curious about how Mark was able to make this kind of money. My goal was to find out how he made $100,000, now we were discussing millions. I noticed that his sales went up when there was a series of bad weather conditions. Mark has been able to become the primary contractor for many insurance companies. I recall an incident when my truck was in a traffic accident. When I had my wreck, my insurance company immediately responded and referred me to a body shop. The one thing that I noticed is that the body shop didn't have to advertise for business, because the insurance company was bringing them clients. I asked Mark did he have a similar arrangement with any insurance companies. Mark confirmed that he did have several insurance companies referring customers to him. He went on to explain that only the best contractors are able to get insurance referrals, and he had to be willing to accept the price that insurance companies set.

Anytime there is a major storm, Mark's phone explodes with calls from insurance companies needing his services. Most of the damage that occurs from severe storms affects the roof of a home. Insurance companies want a contractor that will repair or replace the roof for the lowest cost and the highest quality. That is when Mark comes in with his three roofing crews. Not only are his roofing crews very professional and good, but they are extremely fast as well. When his company replaced my roof, they were able to tear off the old roof and install the new one in one day. After they replaced my roof, I didn't find an old shingle or a single nail anywhere on the ground. It was like they were never there, but I had a brand new roof as evidence that they were. This type of quality and service will make you want to tell someone how good of a job Mark does. I witnessed it myself and was more than willing to tell my family and friends. Mark emphasized that being the lowest bidder is just one part of the equation. You have to have the quality in your work along with a fair price.

Since Mark was making so much money, I knew he must have had some investments to maintain his wealth. The first thing that came to mind was stocks and bonds. I was shocked to find out that Mark does not invest in the stock market at all. Even though the housing market was in a serious slump, Mark still invested in real estate. He has been investing in real estate so long that falling prices in the market does not scare him away at all. By Mark being so close to the industry, he is able to find foreclosures and dilapidated properties which he remodels and flips. The key to Mark's strategy is to sell real estate under the market value. According to Mark, one of the biggest myths in the real estate market right now is that Americans are not buying homes. People are still buying real estate, especially first-time homebuyers. The first-time homebuyer market is the one that Mark has targeted, and business is good, to say the least. When Mark is unable to sell a house right away, he simply rents the property until he is able to sell it. He also offers a lease-purchase option where customers can simply rent-to-own his properties. Mark also invests the traditional way, by simply putting his money in a savings account and not spending it. Even though the returns are not very high, his money is safe and waiting for him anytime he's ready for it.

Mark is very active in the community when it comes to giving back. He often gives enormous discounts to seniors, churches, and other organizations in need of his services. In many cases he offers his services for free. One year, he even took his company to Argentina for a few months to build churches for the poor. Mark kept stressing the fact that you have to give back to people to get anything in return. The two-year period that his company made $12 million was the period in which he gave the most to charity as well. You often hear about people giving their money to charities, but you don't hear about people giving their time. Mark spends a lot of his time helping the disenfranchised. I can't help but think that his success is a direct blessing of his giving...

There is a lot more to Mark's incredible story. In the rest of the chapter, he gives specific details and instructions on how he became a multi-millionaire. If you take the time to apply his formula for success, there is nothing you can't achieve. If you like the inspiration and knowledge you received in this excerpt, order your copy of From No Collar to a White Collar at www.oneteam615.com or Amazon.com.

CHAPTER 4

ECONOMIC SLAVERY

This next section asks a simple question. Are you a slave? There are many forms of slavery, and none of them are good. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, that is a form of slavery. If you do not know how to be independent and create income on your own, you could be an economic slave. Relax! All is not lost. In this final excerpt from the book From No Collar to a White Collar, you will get the basics on how to start your own business and be a certified entrepreneur. The first place you want to start is legalizing a business. It sounds simple, but many people never start a business because they don't know how to legalize it. After examining this section, I guarantee you will:

"Chapter 8: Action Plan for Independent Hustlers"

Before I became an independent hustler, I was a slave. The slavery I am referring to is economic slavery. My chains of bondage were overwhelming debt and my dependence on a corporate position. Now, I am economically and financially prepared for any situation that tries to take my economic freedom. Unlike physical slavery, economic slavery doesn't target a particular ethnic group or discriminate against a particular gender. It only knows one color, and that color is green. The only thing economic slavery wants is your money and the freedom that comes with it. I believe in having a corporate hustle, but there will come a time when your autonomy is more important than a comfort zone. When you really think about it, there is absolutely nothing comfortable about an entity having the power over you to say, "You're fired," and your entire life gets turned upside down. When a bank can come and tell you, "This is our house now," that is not a comfortable feeling. When a finance company can knock on your door and tell you, "We need the keys to your car," how is that really a comfort zone? If you believe "slave" is a strong term for being economically disenfranchised, examine the definition of a slave. According to the dictionary, a slave is a "person who is the legal property and has to serve another...helpless victim of some dominating influence...workhorse, hack, laborer."3 Does that description sound familiar to you?

When an individual lives from paycheck-to-paycheck, it creates a helpless, weak, and hopeless feeling. Don't be a slave to your debt or economic situation. Use your mind to gain independence from the tyranny of bondage. Freedom over your situation must manifest from thought before it can become reality. You have to create options for yourself, and that is what independent hustling enables an individual to do. Do I believe the system is designed for individuals to fail? Yes, the system is designed for certain individuals to fail. If you are weak, ignorant, and afraid to get out of your comfort zone, then the system is designed for you to fail. What is the system? The system is "capitalism." The types of individuals who fail in a capitalistic society are the ones who are reactive instead of proactive. Capitalism destroys weak individuals and rewards individuals who are not afraid to step out on faith. According to the Scripture, "for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind" (II Timothy, 1:7, KJV). It's time for individuals to stop fearing the system, tap into their power, love themselves, and use the sound minds God gave them.

An independent hustler refuses to be weak and always prepares for war. There are always wars to be fought in a capitalistic society. If you are not battling fuel costs one minute, you are battling to keep your job the next. When you finally have enough money to put gas in your car, you hear about a big layoff coming at work. Once you have survived the latest layoff, your electricity gets disconnected. Be prepared for the ceiling to cave in on your head at anytime. If a corporate customer terminates your services, have a small business in place that was demanding more of your attention anyway. Having this type of flexibility gives you the ability to be prepared for any economic war you will fight. An independent hustler can adapt to any economic condition.

When the U.S economy really began to get worse in 2008, individuals on Wall Street, who were accustomed to making six and seven-figure incomes, were finding themselves financially ruined and unemployed. Economic slavery has sympathy for no one. An independent hustle is essential for a multi-hustler to create a six-figure income. Many individuals don't have a choice but to become an independent hustler. No matter how members of our society claim that ex-convicts are given a second chance, there are individuals who will never be given an opportunity to corporate hustle because of a criminal past. To overcome this, many ex-convicts return to a life of crime, and they end up back in the penitentiary. This is absolutely the wrong approach, and that is what the system wants individuals to do. Make no mistake about it, capitalism benefits from crime in the 21st century. The reason it does is that many prisons are now owned by private institutions. A private institution is just another way of describing a profit-generating entity. If you have been denied a corporate hustle due to a criminal record, remember Mark's story. He didn't become a millionaire from corporate hustling. His millions came from independent hustling in the construction industry. A million-dollar hustle is not reality right now, but generating a six-figure income would be an excellent start. Creating an independent hustle involves the following three actions:

  1. Legalizing the dream

  2. Writing the dream

  3. Financing the dream

Legalizing the Dream

When you decide to legalize the dream, you have to choose the right business structure and file the proper documents for your business to be a legal entity. There are many types of businesses, but I will only focus on three types. Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and limited-liability companies (LLC) are the three types of business best suited for an independent hustle. The most common business structure is a sole proprietorship. As the name suggests, this type of organization is operated by one person. One of the biggest advantages of a sole proprietorship is complete autonomy. You are the boss, and no one has control over any decision you make. Even your income taxes for the business can be included in your personal income taxes. This alleviates many of the tax issues associated with other business structures. Another advantage of a sole proprietorship is limited government interference. The last thing you want is a significant amount of government interference when you are trying to operate a business. One of the biggest disadvantages of a sole proprietorship is unlimited liability. Unlimited liability means that you are solely responsible for any debt or financial obligations associated with the business. If you default on a loan, or the business gets sued, the bank or suing party can go after any personal assets that belong to you. This means that you could lose your house, car, and other properties associated with your personal assets. Many people are willing to accept unlimited liability, as long as they can have full autonomy over their business.

The next business structure commonly associated with entrepreneurship is a partnership. A partnership is almost identical to a sole proprietorship, but it's owned and operated by two or more individuals. It is up to the partners whether they will share the same percentage in the business, or each partner will have different levels of responsibility. To ensure that every member of the organization is in full cooperation, a formal agreement should be created to address major issues such as responsibilities, ownership, and termination of ownership. If one of the partners die, their percentage of the business doesn't necessarily go to the remaining partners. That is why it is so important to have a contract in place before unforeseen events occur. As with a sole proprietorship, the partners have unlimited liability and take on the risk of losing their personal assets. Many people simply like the freedom that sole proprietorships and partnerships allow them to have. These types of business structures are simple to initiate and don't involve a significant amount of paperwork.

Unlike the first two business structures, an LLC is considered a completely separate entity from the actual owners. I personally think that this is the best business structure for a small business. What is the use of making a six-figure income when someone can take it all away from you with a frivolous lawsuit? An LLC protects you from most liabilities that can occur from owning a business. As far as taxes are concerned, you do have to file separate taxes on behalf of your company. To establish my organization as an LLC, the only thing I did was go down to the Secretary of State's office for Tennessee and filed the proper documents. I had to pay an initial fee of $300 and a filing fee of $20. These prices differ from state to state, so make sure you do the proper research before you plan to establish an LLC. I also had to pay an annual fee of $300 for having an LLC, and the money was well worth it. If my company went into debt, the debtors would have to go after the LLC and not my personal assets. An annual fee of $300 is a small price to pay for a peace of mind.

Once you have decided on what type of business structure you want for your organization, then your next step should be filing the proper documents. For most businesses, you will need to register your business name, obtain a business license, and apply for an employer identification number (EIN). Before you can use the name you have created for your business, you want to make sure it is not already in existence. To do this, you should go to the secretary of state's office for your particular state, and the office can check the availability of your business name. This will ensure that you don't end up in a legal battle over the name of your company. You can also register trademarks in the same location. Registering your business name also prevents others from using your name.

A business license gives you the right to sell your goods or services in the state where you are operating. To obtain a business license, you must go to your county clerk's office or the tax division for your state. The license also requires you to track and pay sales taxes for your state. If you are caught operating a business without a business license, it could result in hefty fines or the loss of your business. Even though you may not have a physical location for your business because you only sell products/services online, you still want to acquire a business license from the state where you reside. If you conduct business outside of the state where you operate, you may still be required to obtain a business license from each state where you conduct business. An EIN is the same as a federal tax identification number, and it is required for the purpose of filing federal income taxes for your business. You can request this number from the IRS Website at http://www.irs.gov.4 Having an EIN also gives you access to companies that only deal with legitimate businesses. For example, my friend Judah buys several goods from wholesalers and sells the goods at retail prices. Without an EIN, many of these companies would not allow him to purchase items in bulk. Many wholesalers do not sell goods to the general public. Having your organization properly registered and documented will open up many doors that would otherwise be closed to you.

A registered business name, business license, and EIN are essential for you to have a legitimate business; but there may be additional industry-related requirements for you to operate.  
To become a general contractor, Mark had to obtain a general contractor's license. He also has to obtain the required permits from the code's office to operate on his construction sites. Do your research to make sure you are in compliance with any rules and regulations that govern your industry. Independent hustlers can lose a significant amount of time and money if their businesses are not operating legitimately. A good online resource for finding industry requirements for operating a particular business is available at http://www.sba.gov.6 The information available on the Website is from several government sources, and it will save you a significant amount of time compared to searching for the same information on your own. If you plan on hiring employees, you will have to file additional documents and be in compliance with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Visit the DOL office for your state to obtain the information related to having employees. Many states have their own DOL Website you can access for information as well...

I hope you realize that starting a business is not as hard as you think it is. The rest of the chapter from the excerpt covers the basics of writing a business plan and financing a business, including how to find FREE money to start your business! If you like the inspiration and knowledge you received in this excerpt, order your copy of From No Collar to a White Collar at www.oneteam615.com or Amazon.com.

# PART III

THE ENTERTAINMENT

### CHAPTER 5

A WOMAN GOES ROGUE

Now that you are inspired and informed about how to be unbreakable, it's time for you to be entertained. The next few sections will explore the fictional writings of One Team Publishing & Films. The first piece of fiction we're going to check out is an excerpt, from the anthology The Last Society. The Last Society is also a bestseller on Amazon.com. Mystique Devereux wrote an incredible short story for the anthology, titled The First Lady. In the short story the beautiful Sinderella was supposed to be living a Holy life, when she married the pastor of a mega church. The first lady has been hiding a deep secret. The love for her husband can't control her erotic, sexual desires. Sinderella's lust and lies lead her down a very dangerous path. WARNING: When it comes to the last society, anything goes:

"Chapter 2: The First Lady"

The lies that I was holding in my soul were killing me. I could feel pieces of me dying every day. Dr. Bailey finally got me to release my demons with one question. "Sinderella, what comes to mind when you hear the word love?" I gave her the only answer that I could. "Dick! I love dick. It's to the point that I can't control myself. I wake up with it on my mind and think about it throughout the day. The worst is when I go to bed thinking about it. Dick haunts me in my dreams. No matter what I do to occupy my mind, it continues to creep into my thoughts, this deep yearning. Even though I know it's wrong, I have to act on it. There's no stopping me. I just can't seem to help myself. My libido is always on a constant level 10. It's always been that way since the day I lost my virginity at 14. I've had over 200 sex partners. At least 50 of those have been female. Doctor, what am I going to do? I'm the first lady of the most prominent mega church in the region. I can't continue conducting myself this way! Sooner or later, what's done in the dark is going to come to light, and I can't deal with the fallout."

Dr. Baily kept a straight face and said, "Thank you for being honest with me. Now tell me how you met your husband." When I told her about Julian, it only made me question myself.

How in the hell did I get here? Never in a million years would I believe that I'd be the first lady of a church. Being from Brazil and living the life that I lived, I never expected all of this. Julian rescued me from a life of poverty and pain. He only knew about a few of my demons. But the main issue that I've always fought, he didn't have a clue. We met when he was in Rio with the church on a mission trip. He had a multicultural congregation. Four times a year they visited an area that was home to one of the parishioners. The year we met, the church member chosen was from my neighborhood and knew very little English. She contacted and asked me to translate for her, when they got there. They were at a center providing shoes and school supplies for the children. She introduced me to her pastor and our eyes locked. I was instantly drawn to him and him to me.

He was tall, dark and handsome. He had cold black wavy hair, slanted honey colored eyes, and the most beautiful straight white teeth. He appeared fit but not overly muscular. His smile made me light up. When he looked at me, it felt as if he was looking straight through me. It's funny when I think about it, because we fit the same description minus the skin color. I'm paper sack brown with long, black wavy hair, not to mention taller than the average Brazilian woman. My body is very curvy and voluptuous, and I'm fit too. Julian was widowed five years prior and left alone to raise his only daughter, who was 12 when we met. I had never been married or had children, only one forced abortion and three miscarriages.

He was very passionate and a lover of all people. That's what made me fall in love. They were there for 30 days. In that time I got to know Julian inside and out. We spent many hours talking about our upbringing. He talked about growing up in a two parent home with two brothers and one sister. He was raised by a mother who was the "virtuous" wife and a father who was the provider and disciplinarian. They were a well to do family and were well respected in the neighborhood and church. He was groomed to look for a wife and to not entertain trial relationships. I spoke of being raised by my avô, which means grandmother in Portuguese. My mother was killed by a John when I was four-years-old. As for my father, God only knows. I was raised catholic and was always made to go to confession weekly. I'm pretty sure Father Valero was blushing and shaking his head, when I confessed my indiscretions. I was raised to find a man to take care of me. My luck was nonexistent. I was cheated on and abused. Julian promised to worship me. When they left to come back to the states, so did I. And I never looked back. We were married within a year. In the seven years that we've been married, the one thing that I've learned is when it comes to your past, you can run but can't hide. Your past follows you, good, bad, or indifferent. If my husband ever opened the closet to my skeletons, he'd be devastated. He'd never view me the same. The only person that I could be completely honest with was this fine bitch. There is no lying when I talked to her.

At that point I could see that Dr. Baily was a little uncomfortable. She kept peering over those dreadful, Buddy Holly black frames and twirling her fingers around those beautiful, long red curls on her head. She always wore those low-cut blouses that showed her ample bosom. I could see a hint of black lace on her bra. Hmmm, I wonder if she was secretly trying to seduce me? She knew I liked pussy too. I especially liked white pussy, even though chocolate was my dick of choice. White women are always clean shaven, and they taste like pineapples and strawberries. She was looking so good in her black pencil skirt, wide peacock feather belt, and crisp, white button down with the wide collar. Her pearls were nestled nicely between her milky white breasts. I wanted to just throw her down on that chaise right then; raise her skirt; pull her panties to the side; and bury my tongue inside her. Damn! I was biting my bottom lip. I wondered if she noticed. If you're going to be a therapist, you need to have thick skin. You never know what kind of encounter a patient may try to engage in. She's probably never had a really good banging in her life, and I know she's never had a good tongue lashing. How in the hell could she help me?

"Well Mrs. Storey," as she sprung out of her black, wingback chair and glided over to the ceiling-to-floor window, "Are you open to maybe going to a support group? You may find it helpful to hear stories from others who also are suffering from nymphomania. Maybe hearing stories of how sex addiction ruined their relationships and families, may prompt you to make better choices regarding your own situation. I can provide you with a list, if you're interested. But in the meantime, I want you to take it one day at a time and try your best to abstain. Abstain with people other than your husband."

"Baily. I'll try, but you know me" I said this as I started to giggle. As I rose from the red, leather chaise lounge, I warned the doctor, "If some good dick approaches me, I have to ride it." While she stared at me grimacing with disapproval and shaking her head, she told me, "All I ask is that you do the best you can Sinderella." I grabbed my Louis Vuitton purse from the glass side table and said, "Thank You for that." As she grabbed her coat from the coat tree, Dr. Bailey looked puzzled and asked, "Thank you for what?" "Thank you for calling me Sinderella. It's about time for us to be on a first name basis." As I grabbed the door knob, all I could think about was the rendezvous I was about to have with Mr. Cox. Umph, Umph, Umph! I know Dr. Baily wanted me to refrain from seeing anybody else, but I couldn't say no to Brandon. His dick just talks to me. It calls me. As I step onto the hardwood in the foyer, I told her, "Well....until next week Dr. Baily." With a half-smile as she locked the office door, Dr. Baily replied, "Until next week Sinderella."

As I'm walking to my car, my phone rang. I pushed the remote start button and then answered, "Hellooo." I said this in my sexiest voice, because I knew it was Brandon. "Hello there my dear. I haven't heard from you all day. How is my beautiful wife this evening?" Dammit it's Julian. Sighing and rolling my eyes in my head, I reluctantly replied, "Hello darling. I'm doing just fine. I've been running errands all day." I said this as I threw my purse into the passenger's seat, of my new Infiniti QX80. As I slumped into the plush, leather heated seats and looked out the windshield into the night sky, I tirelessly listened to his boring chatter about his day at the church, at this meeting, and that meeting. Goodness he bored me to death. All I had to do was keep saying, "Uh huh...uh huh...really...wow."

"So my dear, I'd like to take you to Morton's tonight say 8:30?" He asked as he wrapped it up. I looked at my watch and it read 6:15. "Umm, sure I think I can be there by then. If not it won't be long after." I should be at Brandon's and naked by 6:40 p.m., if there's no traffic. That's plenty of time for me to get my rocks off and make it to dinner. I'll need a good meal after he worked me over. Julian said, "Alrighty my love. I'll see you then, at our usual table of course." I smiled and said, "Well of course," as I pulled into traffic.

As I raced down Brinton Ave., I called Brandon to make sure he's home. All I heard was, "You have reached Mr. Cox. You know what to do." I hung up and called right back. This time he picked up. "Sinderella, Sinderella..." He said this in that deep baritone voice. I could hear him smiling through the phone. With a coy giggle I said, "Mr. Cox, are you ready to take me to C world?" "Baby, I'm always ready. And he's ready too." I mashed the gas pedal and told him, "Mmmmm, now that's what mama wants to hear. I'll be pulling up in about five minutes."

"And I'll be sliding in about nine," then he hung up. Brandon was one of our members that worked in the church tech department. His day job was being the head IT guy at a local hospital.

I worked closely with him on some volunteer projects, and we ended up getting very close. He's 10 years my junior, and he just turned 29. Brandon was about 5'7", brown skinned, bald head, with the body of Adonis. He lived in a beautiful stone condo with a lake view. With no kids, he used one room as an office and the other as a mini gym.

Luckily for me he had a garage, so I could be totally discreet when I visited. I was moving so fast that the garage door was still closing, as I pushed my truck door closed and opened the door, which entered into the laundry area. I walked in taking off my coat and threw it on the washer. I kicked off my red bottoms as I walked straight ahead into the kitchen. Brandon came from the right side and proceeded to press my back against the wall, as he slid his long tongue in and out of my mouth and down my neck. He raised my dress, picked me up, pulled my panties to the side, and rammed his dick in with very slow, hard calculated strokes. I yelled and moaned, "Oh, ohhhhh my goodness! Oh baby its soooo gooood." Then he whispered in my ear, "I missed you Ms. Storey." Bandon then carried me into the laundry area and sat me on the dryer without missing a stroke. The dryer was hot and running, adding to my pleasure. He lifted my legs over his shoulders and starts pounding me with no mercy. Then he went so deep that I started to feel pain. This was the kind of pain that I liked. I screamed in ecstasy,"Ohhhhhhh, ohhhhhhhh My God! Fuck me baby! Fuck me baby! Fuck me!" He asked me, "You like that? Is this dick good to you baby?" I yelled, "Yes, yes!"

At that point I was moaning uncontrollably. All of a sudden I hear the squeaking coming from my pussy. Oh Lord, I knew what's about to happen next. He started pounding harder and harder, hitting my spot. I'm officially at C world, and I have the most intense orgasm, as I splashed all over him and leaked down the front and side of the dryer. Now that he knows I've cum all over the place, he's free to bust. And bust he does, all over my stomach. He yelled out,"Ahhhh, ahhhhh, dayum! That pussy was goooood!" "And Mr. C was on point as usual," as I took a finger full of his sauce and licked it off. He grinned and said, "You're a nasty bitch. That's one of the things I like about you," as he wiped me off with a face towel. I smiled, slid off the dryer, and ran into the bathroom. As I stood at the sink and took a whore's bath, Brandon came up behind me, trying to go for round two.

"Oh I'm sorry baby. But I'm meeting Julian for dinner at 8:30." With a giggle he asked, "Sigh, and where is tight ass taking you tonight?" I thought about it and rolled my eyes in my head, "Morton's as usual. What time is it?" Brandon looked at his iPhone and replied, "Ummm, almost 8." "Dammit! I'm going be late. We fucked that long and you only came once?" He started laughing and said, "Woman you know me. I'm a beast! That's why you're over here three days a week." Then he walked into his bedroom. As he lie back on his bed, I could see that his dick was still hard. As much as I wanted to go straddle him and ride him into the sunset, froggy style, I had to go. I looked at myself in the mirror with disgust. "Why do I keep doing this to my husband? He loves me. He actually adores me."

As I teared up, I sucked it up, continued fixing my hair, adjusted my boobs in my bra, and slid off my panties. They were too wet for me to wear. I turned off the bathroom light, ran into the laundry room, grabbed my shoes, and started putting them on. When I turned around, Brandon was standing there holding my coat. I put my arms in the sleeve, grabbed my keys from the pocket, and I was off. Then Brandon said, "Wait!" Can a brotha get a kiss, a peck or somethin? All that good dick I just served you, and you ain't gon say cat, dog, or nothin'?" He said this with laughter. "I'm sorry dear," as I turned around and gave him a deep passionate kiss. "Mama will see you next week." I ran out the door and jumped in my truck. The garage door rose. I backed out into the street and waved as I pulled off.

The clock read 8:07 p.m. I had to go all the way downtown, and this Friday night traffic was heavy. It was ok. I told him I may be late. As I'm driving down Bugaloo Blvd., I saw a familiar face in the rearview mirror. He's a middle aged, balding white guy wearing an ascot. I'm not sure where I knew this man from, but for some reason his presence behind me was making me feel a certain type of way. I turned left onto Main St. He turned on Main too. I asked myself, "Hmmm, am I being followed?" I certainly hoped not. "Let me cut over to 7th Ave. and see if he follows me..."

As you can see Sinderella is living a very dangerous and adulterous life. Her wicked ways lead to a terrible tragedy in the end. To find out what happens to Sinderella, order your copy of The Last Society at www.oneteam615.com or Amazon.com.

CHAPTER 6

WHEN MEN KILL

If the last excerpt from The Last Society left you with your mouth hanging wide open, we have one more short story from this anthology for you to check out. This short story was written by Edgar Alan Cole. Edgar examines what corruption and mayhem can do when left unchecked. The main character in Edgar's short story, Murder Men, is Ron Farrell. He's a stressed-out homicide detective, working the mean streets of Detroit. Ron is trying to catch a heinous serial killer, while dealing with his own demons. Not only is his cocaine habit out of control, the killer is taunting the detective with Ron's inability to catch him. This short story is no-holds-barred:

"Chapter 1: Murder Men"

As Ron sat on the toilet in the men's bathroom, he took another bump of cocaine and read the letter again. He couldn't figure out why in the fuck this was happening to him. For some reason the killer chose him. The letter read:

Hello Detective,

This blood is not what I wanted to see. These screams are not what I wanted to hear. I never thought that I would be the catalyst of fear. At the same time we are who we are. You and I have a destiny together. I am a deliverer of death, and so are you. You are my hero with your 12 disciples. You know they worship you from their dark boxes full of decay, right? They smell because of you! Now they send you after me? Brothers in blood, that's what we are. Your analogy of the human experience would lead you to think different. When was the last time you took a life? Let me think. Would it be wrong for me to mention the little girl you shot in the chest? Oh! I apologize for Little Betty Detective. You're still in therapy for that one. Well I took one last night. You won't find he or she (lol) until the grim reapers of the sky point you in the right direction. You know what Detective? I slept like a bear in hibernation after I relieved myself with blood. Something tells me you have a peaceful sleep after you feed your beast as well. So how are we different? I tell you one thing. My goal is to make the streets of our great city run black and yellow with expired blood, until we finally meet. While I sit here sipping on my espresso, a beautiful blond has just caught my attention. I promise you that I will definitely sleep well tonight. How will you my brother?

Ron finished reading the letter through the clear evidence bag and yelled out from his porcelain throne, "You sick fuck!" This was the fourth letter Detective Ron Farrell had received in the past six months. The first one arrived on New Year's Day. The city of Detroit hasn't dealt with a serial killer in decades, so why now? Why did such a monster hit the streets taking innocent lives? It took exactly seven days before the body would be discovered, and the vultures always found the body first. Ron was an unlikely choice to head up the investigation. He's been investigated at least a dozen times by internal affairs for questionable, fatal shootings, including the accidental shooting of a little girl the killer mentioned in the letter. His little coke habit and love for Jack Daniels helped him cope, but he still wasn't sleeping much. After two years, Ron still saw Betty Monroe in his nightmares. Even with the demons on his back, Ron was still a star in the department. He earned his tough rep while working undercover in narcotics. That's why his lieutenant gave him a lot of leeway, but this case couldn't have landed in Ron's lap at a worse time. His wife of seven years had just left him and took their three-year-old daughter with her.

Detroit Police didn't give a shit about his personal problems. The city was on the brink of a financial collapse, and the FBI had its hands full with chasing terrorists. A serial killer would normally bring out the feds, but not this time. The Bureau still wasn't convinced the city had a serial killer. It believed the letters were a cruel hoax and didn't think the killings were related. No one wanted to touch Detroit at the time, not even the government. The task of catching this sick bastard rested on the shoulders of Detective Farrell, and he had to wait seven days before the next body would be discovered. Ron made it out of the stall and stared at himself in the mirror. "Get it the fuck together! You're better than this." His hands were trembling from the cocaine running through his veins, and he couldn't stop the sweat from pouring off his face. After drying his face the best he could, he headed towards his desk.

Ron's partner, Derrick, was already hard at work in the desk next to his. He sat down and didn't even look in Derrick's direction. While Ron was digging through his desk looking for his bottle of Tums for his chronic heartburn, he noticed Derrick staring at him. He looked over at him and said, "What? What is it now?" Derrick had a puzzled look on his face and replied, "What is it now? What is it now is the fact that you look like fuckin shit man. You look like shit. You smell like shit, and you're high as a muthafucka man. I know you're going through it but gaddamn man! Get yo shit toghetha." Ron finally found his Tums and ate about six of them. "Listen D. I don't have time for your shit this morning. I always got my shit on point. You have nothing to worry about partner."

Derrick just shook his head in disgust and told him, "Man, you know you fuck up the whole image of your people. You're a drunk, Irish fuck who happens to be a cop. And you playing with yo nose, too? Get the fuck out of here man." Ron got mad as fuck and told him, "My people! Do you really want me to tell you what your Black ass is doing for your people? With your fucking alligator shoes, Cadillac, and silk shirts, you think you're fucking Shaft. Leave me the fuck alone D. I'm not in the mood for this shit, and it's senior detective by the way. I'm not just a fucking Irish cop." Neither one could hold it in any longer and broke out into laughter. "I said drunk, Irish fuck muthafucka." Ron and Derrick worked great together and always joked with each other. They also did a great job of watching each other's backs. All of a sudden Derrick had a concerned look on his face and told Ron, "Heads up man. Here comes the lieutenant?"

Lieutenant Jackson was always in a terrible mood. He was understaffed, under budgeted, and ready to retire. The lieutenant slammed his fist on Ron's desk and yelled, "You two muthafuckas are over here having a good time, while we got a piece of shit killing everything moving in the city! Get in my fucking office now." The entire office went silent and watched the two detectives get their asses chewed. Ron and Derrick made their way to the lieutenant's office. Derrick was rattled and quickly made his way behind the lieutenant. Ron took his time going to the office. He didn't want to hear the inevitable rant that was coming. On the way to the office he saw Detective Robinson smirking at him. "What in the fuck are you looking at Robinson? Do you have something to say?" Detective Robinson kept smirking and said, "I'm cool man. It's your world, but you better hurry up and get your ass in there." Ron quickly responded, "Fuck you Robinson. I'll deal with you later." The lieutenant and Derrick were already sitting down, waiting on Ron. Ron slid into the office, and the lieutenant told him to shut the door behind him.

After Ron sat down the lieutenant starting shaking his head in disgust, pulled out a bottle of aspirin, and chewed about three of them at one time. He told the detectives, "My fucking head is pounding. You want to know why?" Ron and Derrick both looked at each other with confusion and looked back at the lieutenant. "I just got off the phone with the chief, and he's breathing down my neck about these fucking killings. The paper is calling this muthafucka 'The Vulture.' We need to find this bastard ASAP! The chief has already informed me that if we get another letter that predicts another killing, the FBI will have no other choice but to step in. I don't want those suits nowhere near this shop." Derrick tried to ease his concerns and said, "Lieutenant, we're doing everything..." Jackson cut him off and said, "Did I fucking ask you to speak? You're not the lead on this investigation. You're coked out partner there is. Yeah, I said it. You look like shit Ron. I should go make you take a drug test right now and watch you melt the fucking bottle." Ron dropped his head in shame, and sweat was pouring off his face. "Listen gentlemen. The FBI coming in here and taking over this investigation is not good for any of us. We need to get this 'Vulture.' Let me talk to you a minute alone Ron." Derrick took no time in getting the fuck out of the lieutenant's office.

"Now Ron, you know I have a lot of respect for you. We've been in the trenches together working narcotics. Do you remember those stupid muthafuckas used to call us Crocket and Tubbs?" Ron started laughing and said, "Yeah. I remember that." The lieutenant grabbed his head and said, "Fuck Ron! My fucking head won't stop hurting. Anyway, you know how that shit used to get to me. What did you used to tell me?" Ron smiled and told him, "I would tell you that you might be a Brutha, but you're sure as hell not fucking Tubbs. You're too ugly for that shit." The lieutenant eased back in his chair, laughing, and said, "Now that's the Ron I miss. Nothing could rattle you man, and I mean not a gaddamn thing. If it wasn't for all of those shootings, you would be sitting in this chair. Johnson is a good cop man, but he's only had that detective shield for a few months. He wouldn't have even made detective if it wasn't for you."

Ron nodded his head in agreement and replied, "I know lieutenant, but I got some shit going on in my head right now." The lieutenant replied, "Drop that lieutenant shit when no one is around. I'm still Larry to you. You've saved my life so many times that I can't even count. I owe you, but there is only so far I can go to protect you. Stop worrying about what's going on in your head and worry more about what you're putting up your nose. You know what I mean?" "Yeah, I understand Larry." "Ron, I need you. If anybody can catch this muthafucka, it's you. Put that green detective out there under your wing, like you did with me in narcotics, and get this case solved." "OK. I'm on it. Is there anything else?" "Yeah. Get me a drill, so I can put it to my head and stop this fucking pounding. Go get this muthafucka Ron." "I'm on it."

Ron left out of the lieutenant's office and overheard Robinson talking. "You know the only reason that son of a bitch still has a badge is because of the lieutenant, fucking cokehead." Ron came up behind him and asked him, "What in the fuck did you just say?" "Nothing Ron. I'm just talking shit." Robinson was sitting down and began to get up. Out of nowhere Ron struck him dead in his jaw with a hard right, "BAM!" Robinson fell out of his chair and hit the floor. He tried to get up but fell back down, from being completely dazed. Ron stood over him yelling, "Fuck you man! You need to stop talking shit about me." The lieutenant heard all of the commotion and quickly came out of his office. "What in the fuck is going on out here? Robinson, get your ass off that floor. I don't even want to know. Ron, what did I just tell you? You and Johnson get the fuck out of here and hit the streets, now!"

They made their way out the station and headed towards Ron's car. Derrick was fuming at what Ron had just done. He was kind of a heavyset guy, but he could move with a purpose when he wanted. As they made their way through the parking garage, Derrick slowed down his incredible pace and stopped. "What in the fuck is wrong with you Ron? Do you want them to take your badge? When you're fucked up, I'm fucked up. You're my partner, and I'll always back you. But that shit back there was wrong." Ron stopped dead in his tracks as well. He was a tall guy but tended to have a slight hump in his back, anytime he was high. The fast pace Derrick set for him had him kind of winded. "Fucking shit, D. Let me catch my damn breath, haw, haw, haw, haw. Now, haw, that son of a bitch had it coming. Everybody has their demons in this world. Nobody smeared his name through shit, when he drank like a fish after blowing that teacher's head off. He popped his head like a gaddamn can of beer my guy, brains everywhere. The kid had just started teaching and ended up dead over a broken tail light. Son of a bitch was just reaching for his registration."

"I know man, but you're drinking like a fish too, muthafucka! Don't let that silly bastard get you off your game. Now where are we headed?" After all of the mayhem, the cocaine and booze were finally starting to wear off of Ron. He hadn't shaved in days and rubbed his scratchy chin. "Let's head over to the abandoned warehouse off 7th mile, where we found the last victim. I think we're missing something." Derrick finally calmed down and told him, "Sure thing senior detective. Let's go." Ron smirked and said, "We're doing that now?" Derrick laughed and said, "You're the one that got into your feelings earlier and pulled rank." Ron shook his head and said, "Fuck that shit. Let's go." The two hopped into Ron's 1967 Camaro. It was a Z/28 with a 302, V8 engine. The car badly needed a paint job, but Ron kept the engine running sound. He did all the work himself. That was his hobby when he was sober.

He cranked the engine up, and it rumbled like a jotting bull, "Rah, rah, rah, rah." Ron dropped it into gear and sped through the parking lot like a bat out of hell, "Skeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" When they made it to the parking attendant at the booth, it was a guy Derrick helped get the job, Paul. A lot of the cops used to make fun of Paul and called him slow, but they made sure Derrick wasn't around when they did. Derrick yelled across from the passenger seat into the parking booth, "What's up my man! How's it going?" Paul replied, "I'm doing good sir." He lifted the parking arm and let them out of the garage. Only visitors had to pay of course. The downtown police station was huge. It was a revolving door for crooks, cops, bail bondsmen, and any other poor soul who ended up in the station.

Ron and Derrick arrived at the last murder scene off 7th Mile. Both of them got out of the car and walked towards the yellow tape. There was an eerie feeling in the air, like someone was watching. It was the middle of June and around three-o-clock in the evening. The Detroit sun was sizzling. They made their way to the open field behind the dilapidated warehouse, where the yellow tape blocked off the crime scene. Both of them looked around for clues. Ron was looking around and surveying the area.

He told Derrick, "Now you see this? This fucker keeps choosing these abandoned warehouses like this one. They are huge, and no one but the junkies and crack heads want to be over here. The warehouses he's choosing are even too fucked for them. He's also smart enough to choose one that has an open field behind it, so the damn buzzards can pick up the scent." Derrick was shaking his head and saying, "Yeah man, but what about this seven-day shit? He's got to be holding them for a while before dumping them. The vultures take no time in finding the body because it's so decomposed. He's got to be letting the body blow up somewhere, and the smell must be awful. If he lived around people, someone would smell that shit man."

"You're right D. But where in the fuck is he holding them? Alright, I think we're making progress. When we get back to the station, do a search of all vacant factories and warehouses we have in the city." Derrick started frowning and said, "Are you fuckin kiddin man? That's going to take forever. I'm going to run home right quick when we get back. I need to check on my ole lady." Ron started laughing and replied, "Ole lady? Man is this the same chick you met about a week ago?" Derrick nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah man. I think this might be it this time." Ron told him, "Stop falling in love after one fuck. I've never seen a fucker move a chick in so fast. Slow down D." Derrick wasn't hearing it. "I think you're the wrong one to be telling someone to slow down." Ron told him, "You might be right but remember what I said."

When they got back to the station, Ron dropped Derrick off and headed towards Highland Park. He had a girlfriend that stayed over there. Michelle was a beautiful woman at one time, but 20 years of prostitution and drug abuse will do horrible things to the body, mind, and soul. Ron met Michelle before she was too heavy into the drugs. She was new to shooting heroin and selling her body when he met her. Her father used to molest her as a child, and the damage he caused was severe. Ron was a rookie cop assigned to Highland Park and almost beat her pimp to death, when he caught the pimp slapping her around. Ever since that day she has been in love with Ron. He was the only trick that Michelle didn't make use a rubber when he fucked her. She got pregnant, but Ron paid for her to have an abortion. He also used that opportunity to get her out of the life.

Michelle escaped Detroit and went to rehab in Ann Harbor for a while. Her sobriety didn't last, and she was back in Highland Park prostituting in less than a year. Ron had love for her too, but he was smart enough to know she was too damaged for him to help her. He just simply did what he could for her on the streets. What they had was called "street love," which was very dangerous for both of them. Ever since the shooting of Betty Monroe, Ron has been impaired as well. Ron pulled up behind the vacant office building, which the locals referred to as "the tower." It was a one-stop shop for any vice you had. Even though Michelle was a junkie prostitute, she had a lot of respect from the dope dealers and pimps in the building. She was the queen of the tower and stayed on the 8th floor.

This place was a death trap for anyone else, but no one fucked with Ron because he was the police. He had been doing his dirt in the neighborhood for years, and he kept crime in the area contained, at least in the tower. He kept the police out of the tower, and the tower provided him with the best dope he could find. Ron hadn't slept with Michelle in years. She caught HIV years ago, and it's a miracle she's still alive. As a carrier of the virus, her condition has never turned into full-blown AIDS. Michelle even gets paid from the local university to do research on her and collect blood. Ron finally made it up the flight of stairs to the 8th floor. He found Michelle in her favorite room getting high. She had fallen asleep with a needle in her arm. As she was sitting up asleep in a broken, wooden chair, Ron bent down and put his hand on her lap. A stack of bricks were used as one of the legs on the chair. She slowly woke up and said, "Hey hero. How are you?" "I'm doing OK darling. Do you have something for me?" Michelle started smiling and went over to a hole in the wall. She stuck her hand in the wall, and pulled out some dope. She always found the best cocaine for Ron, and he would pay her for it. "Here you go honey." Ron noticed that she handed him two bags of white powder instead of one.  
Michelle told him, "I got the boy for you too. Get on that roller coaster with me. We haven't done that in a while." Riding a roller coaster in street terms is also known as speed balling. That is when cocaine and heroin are mixed. He looked at the two bags and said, "I know where this shit is going, but I need it right now." Michelle told him, "Stop talking and get on the coaster hero." He stuck his car key in the cocaine first and took a bump of it. Then he stuck his key in the heroin and took a bump of it as well. It didn't take long for the drugs to kick in, and he sat on the floor beside Michelle's chair and put his head in her lap. She started rubbing her hands through the hair on his head.

"They still got me seeing that shrink Michelle. I don't know. All of this shit is too much for me." She stopped rubbing his head and said, "You're not saying what I think you are?" He looked up at her and said, "God no. I could never off myself. The shit is just hard you know." Out of nowhere Ron heard someone whisper his name, "Rooon." He jumped up and asked Michelle, "Did you hear that?" "No honey. I didn't hear a thing. That's jussst the coasterrr fuckin wit you. Sit back down and enjoy." "No Michelle. Someone just called my name. Wait right here." Ron pulled out his Glock .40 and slowly made his way out of the room. As he started walking down the empty hallway, he heard what sounded like someone stepping on a crack pipe behind him. He quickly turned around with his weapon drawn and hand on the trigger. It was no one there. Then he heard the whisper again, "Rooon." He turned back around and started walking down the hallway again...

If you can't tell by now, this short story is a real page turner. The deadly outcome in this story will leave you speechless at the end. Does Ron catch his serial killer, or do his own demons catch up with him in the end? To find out what happens to Ron and read all four short stories, order your copy of The Last Society at www.oneteam615.com or Amazon.com.

### CHAPTER 7

STREET JUSTICE

One Team is proud to welcome our first international author, Layla Lowe. Layla's British anthology, Confessions of a Contract Killer, is a bestseller on Amazon.com in the U.S. and the U.K., and you're about to see why. She asks a serious question in her book. Does street justice really exist? Just think about it for a minute. Who do you turn to when justice has failed? The underworld settles its disputes through contracts. If you get out of line, a contract for murder is taken out. There are exceptions to the rules. Some criminals hide amongst ordinary people, and the underworld comes looking for them. You are about to witness four tales of street justice that will have you rooting for the killer. You don't think this is possible? When a pedophile, serial killer, and others escape justice, it's time to call Jack.

If you live in London, you never want a visit from Jack. He lives in Brixton and has been quietly cleaning up the streets for years. Some of the most heinous criminals to walk the earth have been killed by Jack. If you let him tell it, Jack believes that he's doing God's work. On the other hand, Father Patrick believes Jack is a sick maniac, who confesses his crimes to him for forgiveness. With each confession the two of them go deeper, into a world neither of them want to go. Let's check out one of the criminals Jack has his eyes on:

"The Second Confession: Taming the Nurse"

Karen stood in the dock and stared at the jury. It was the first time that she felt nervous. She knew she hadn't slipped up in her perfect murders. In her head she didn't see them as proper murders. Old people were a strain on society, and they rarely wanted to live anyway. They had lived their lives. Old people were sick and frail; why would they want to live? It was the families that kept them going, and Karen thought those families were selfish. She was a nurse and worked in a NHS hospital. The last thing the NHS needed was the strain of paying the medical bills, of someone who was ready to die.

It pissed her off that she had to feed these people, take them to the toilet, clear up their shit and sick, and restrain them from hurting themselves. That wasn't nursing; that wasn't what she signed up for. She wanted life and death situations. Therefore she created her own life and death situations. Karen decided who lived and who died. It was her ward, and she played God. It made her feel great, especially when the family of the patient would thank her for her hard work. Unbeknown to them they were helping her kill their loved ones. The court usher broke her chain of thought. "Please rise." Everyone got to their feet. She put on her desperate innocent face just for the judge and jury. The court was seated, and Karen's palms began to sweat. The judge said, "Will the foreman of the jury please stand. Have the jury reached a verdict in all eight counts of murder." "Yes we have." "In the case of Edith Jones, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?" "We the jury find the defendant not guilty." This was the verdict of all eight counts. Karen couldn't believe her luck. She knew she was good, but even she couldn't believe she got away with everything. Detective Dan looked at his partner opened mouthed.

They couldn't believe what they were hearing. This bitch killed eight people, whilst pretending to be someone that cared for them. They knew that the chief wasn't going to be happy about the verdict. Not only had they got nowhere with the torture murder in Brixton, but this case was supposed to be a no brainer. No ward loses eight patients under the care of the same nurse, in 12 months all in the same way. This is what they called an open and shut case. The verdict couldn't be not guilty. The chief definitely wasn't going to be happy.

Karen waited for at least a couple of hours, before she left the courthouse without being detected by the families of the deceased and the paparazzi. She got on a train and left London as soon as she could. Karen wore a woolly hat, a long coat, and glasses to disguise herself from the public. She knew her face had been all over the local news and papers, and the last thing she needed was agro from the average wannabe hero. She made her way to Milton Keynes. It wasn't too far from London, but she felt it was far enough. She asked the taxi man to take her to a local B&B and proceeded with the transformation from Karen Johnson, suspected killer, to Joyce Jones, nurse, carer, grandma and all round nice person. She dyed her hair grey and cut it dead short. Joyce added glasses and blue contact lenses to her new look and couldn't believe how different she looked. Her fake ID was excellent and well worth the £500 she paid. This was it; this was the new and improved pensioner, Killer Joyce. She was back and back with vengeance.

It was easy getting a job at the local hospital, as they were crying out for nurses, especially ones that preferred working with the elderly. Joyce went into work with a smile on her a face and a spring in her step. Everyone instantly liked her. She offered to do the shitty jobs that everyone hated, and that went down well. However the rest of the staff didn't know that she also hated those shitty jobs. Joyce hated feeding, washing, protecting, and cleaning up the shit of those that could no longer care for themselves. How fucking degrading and pointless. Arnold was 82. He had dementia and was currently admitted to the hospital with a chest infection. Joyce could tell he had given up on life, just by looking at his bony shell of what used to be a healthy male. "Good morning Arnie, my love. Are you hungry?"

Arnold looked at Karen like she had asked him the final question in, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." What do you mean am I hungry? Bloody hell woman, I've just eaten." "No, you haven't Arnie. That was yesterday. It is 8 a.m. now, and you need some breakfast. Now are you going to be good today and eat it all up?" "Why are you talking to me like that? I am not bloody five you know. I have fought in the bloody war." "Yes, so you keep telling me, and what a great job you done. I bet you looked handsome in your uniform." "Well yes, I did. I will have you know that I had the girls fighting over me back then." "I bet you did Arnie. Now here you go. Open wide and show me what a soldier you can be with your breakfast." Joyce didn't wait for a reply. As soon as he opened his mouth slightly, she shoved the spoon in. Breakfast for Arnold this morning was Weetabix laced with skimmed milk and antifreeze. That was just what the doctor ordered and just what Arnold needed to get himself on the road, to his next life. That is what she told herself anyway. Joyce made sure Arnold had every mouthful. She also made him a cup of tea also laced with antifreeze.

Arnold's wife came in just after breakfast. Annie hated seeing her husband like this, but she knew that he was in the right place. Arnold's new nurse was wonderful. She couldn't believe how much attention she gave him and her for that matter. Annie sat watching her husband sleep, when Joyce interrupted her thoughts by saying, "Good morning." "Oh, hello Joyce. Sorry, I was in a world of my own then." "It's fine my lovely, but I have to say that you are looking awfully tired. Are you looking after yourself properly?" "Yes, of course I am." "Well you know Arnie is my priority right now. After all he is the sick one." "That may be Annie my love, but he needs you to be fighting fit to help him pull through." "Pull through? You make it sound like he is going to die. He only has a chest infection"

"Yes, I know that, but he isn't as young as he used to be. And his body takes longer to recover from these episodes of ill health." "Yes, I know. I actually thought to myself when I walked in, he looks no better." "He is in the best possible hands Annie. You can be sure of that." "Oh, I know that, and I can't thank you enough Joyce for everything you and the staff are doing for him." "No need to thank me. It's just my job, and I love it. Between you and me Arnie is one of my special patients. I enjoy looking after him. It is my absolute pleasure." "I am so grateful. I can finally rest easier knowing he has you looking out for him." "That's why you should go home and rest more. After all as you said he has me, and I will make sure he gets everything he needs. I will also make sure he rests too." "Maybe you are right. I am feeling a bit tired. I could come back this evening." "Good idea. Go and rest or go shopping or something. Take advantage of having some you time. He will be safe in my hands." Joyce passed Annie her handbag and ushered her off of the ward. "Go on. I insist, off you go." "OK, I will be back later, and you will tell him that won't you?" "Of course."

Joyce watched Annie leave and smirked to herself. She knew thanks to her it wouldn't be long, until Arnold was in his final resting place. She would no longer have to listen to his crap war stories and tales of his childhood. If she was honest, that was what she really hated, especially patients with dementia. They talked all day about 50 years ago but couldn't remember their arse to their elbow. It was so bloody annoying. She didn't give a shit about their past. All she cared about was making sure they didn't have a fucking future. Joyce knew in her head that she was doing the right thing, by helping them on their way to the next life. Why would anyone want to stay alive without all of their faculties? Why would anyone want to carry on living without being able to walk properly, feed themselves, or use a proper toilet? It made no sense to her. More to the point it made no sense that the taxpayer was paying to keep them alive, and people like her had to clean up their shit and sick for fucking peanuts. It was a disgrace.

Joyce grabbed her jacket and went outside for a cigarette. It had been a pig of a day, and she had found it quite difficult to keep Arnold topped up with the antifreeze. Tomorrow she was going to suggest he goes on a drip, as that would make it so much easier. Joyce was standing in the alley and darkness had already fallen. She had worked a double shift, just to ensure that she could keep an eye on Arnold. Joyce placed the cigarette between her lips and looked in her pocket for her lighter. "Shit!" She realised it wasn't there. "Do you want a light love?" She turned around to see a handsome man holding out a lighter to her. "Cheers mate. I left mine upstairs." "No problem." As she bent her head forward to accept the light for her much needed cigarette, Jack grabbed her hair and smashed her head into the brick wall. She was so shocked that she didn't even scream. He smacked her head until she fell unconscious. Jack then dragged her to his car, which was parked close by. Then he stuck her quickly and efficiently into his boot.

If Jack was honest, he was shocked when he got this job. The bitch had been all over the news, for killing the old folks that she was supposed to look after. He had caught bits of it on the radio, whilst relaxing in his garden. Jack wasn't one for TV. He watched it sometimes but only really for researching his new target or when he had visitors. Jack couldn't understand the fascination in TV. It was full of shit, and he would much rather listen to music or sit in silence with his own thoughts. Joyce woke up and realised she was in the boot of a car. The first thing that sprung to mind was a revenge attack from one of her victims' family. That thought instantly pissed her off. She was convinced no one recognised her, and that her ID was fool proof. Maybe she got followed from the court. Maybe some fucking lunatic was tagging her the whole time.

Great! This was all she needed. Not only was she in the middle of her first kill for over a year, but she was now in a compromising position, which she had to get out of. Joyce knew no one saw her down the alley, apart from the prick that assaulted her of course. She knew she had to think of something and quickly. Joyce was determined that this wasn't the way she was going to die. She would die when she fucking said so. That is what she does. She deals with life and death on a daily basis. Jack was driving his Ford Focus at a steady pace. He wasn't going to get pulled over by the police, with a body in his boot; he never took any chances like that. His favourite CD was playing, which always put him in a good mood and warmed him up for whatever the night entailed. It was Queen. He loved that band and especially loved Freddie Mercury. Jack loved his energy and the way he didn't give a fuck, about what anyone thought of him.

Obviously Freddie was dead now, but he was still a legend. He found himself singing along, which helped drown the kicking and shouting coming from the boot. Jack was shocked she was conscious so quickly. He pulled over on the hard shoulder and decided to shut her up. Jack opened the boot and punched her full in the face. She was petrified, and that just pleased Jack even more. "Shut the fuck up!" Joyce was silently crying and trying to steady her breathing. Jack stuffed cloth in her mouth and tied her hands and feet. That would shut her up. He looked in her eyes just before he closed the boot and said, "Get some sleep. We have a busy night ahead..."

If you think this excerpt was dark and disturbing, it definitely is. I love the way Layla makes you question your own moral compass. If Karen had escaped justice and was still out there killing people, would it be wrong for her to meet her fate in the hands of a vigilante? When you finish this shocking anthology, your answer might surprise you. To dive deeper into the life of Jack and his extreme form of justice, order your copy of Confessions of a Contract Killer at www.oneteam615.com or Amazon.com.

### CHAPTER 8

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

The final excerpt is from another Amazon bestseller, Reporter from Hell. Reporter from Hell was written by Edgar Alan Cole and focuses on the life of Isaiah King. At an early age Isaiah King thought he had it all. He had a loving family that spoiled him rotten, and his neighborhood was full of hustlers and wise guys that he greatly admired. As he started to get older, Isaiah quickly realized that his family and neighborhood held deep, dark secrets that would eventually rule his life. After he witnessed a brutal murder, nothing would ever be the same for him. His life would become a living hell.

When he thought things couldn't get any more complicated, Isaiah finds out that the dark dreams he's been suffering from have a deeper meaning. Even though Isaiah tries to stay on a righteous path in his chaotic life, evil seems to follow him every step of the way. Isaiah gives the reader a vivid, eyewitness account of what it's like to be a good kid growing up amongst so many negative influences. Take an epic journey into the life of a young man trying to find his way, in an environment plagued with drugs, violence, evil and despair. After reading this novel, you will never be the same:

"Chapter 1: A Gangster's Town"

Anytime a city has horseracing, illegal gambling, prohibition and entertainment, it has organized crime. That is the best way to describe Nashville in the 1920s and 1930s. The rest of the country was suffering from the Great Depression, while this city of vices was thriving. My grandparents grew up in this era. While my mother's father learned to gamble by hanging out in the Bottom (any valley in Nashville where Blacks lived) of South Nashville, my father's pops stayed in the church and learned how to eat off White folks by washing their cars and cleaning their dead pigeons (a delicacy amongst the upper class in Nashville). We'll get back to them. Now, if you figured the usual suspects for organized crime, the Italians and Irish, you would be wrong. Nashville has always been run by the White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestants (WASP) and the Jews. While the WASPs were heavily connected with Egan's Rats out of St. Louis, the Jewish gangsters were heavily connected with Myer Lansky out of New York and Mickey Cohen in Los Angeles.

Eventually, the WASP gangsters started to lose their stronghold on the city after prohibition ended in 1933, but the Jewish gangsters actually thrived after prohibition and focused on illegal gambling and entertainment. This was the foundation for organized crime in Nashville, and Black gangsters followed suit. The only thing is that the Black gangsters eventually had to answer to the Jewish gangsters high up in the food chain. Even though Blacks ran the underworld in their areas, they did not own it. Not much had changed when I was growing up in the 1980s. I was a young, Black kid and easily impressed by the gangsters. In 1983, Black gangsters were everywhere on the Eastside of the city. That was my side. They were very flamboyant, drove big Cadillacs, wore suits with loud colors, had a mouth full of gold teeth, and kept ridiculously large rolls of money in their pockets. In other words, they were always shining.

I have to be honest. It was a great time to grow up at least that's what I thought. I was only five and easily impressed by fast cars going up and down the street. The gangsters would drop thousands of dollars on the sidewalk, while they shot craps. You had heavy hitters like Fast Freddie the numbers man, who was the original gangster (OG) on the block; Big Sam, who ran the chop shop on Main Street; Robo who sold cocaine, heroin, and weed out of Silverdene Apartments (the Eastside Bottom); and the entire Brooks Family, who ran everything. I vividly remember Fast Freddie going from house-to-house on Neill Avenue, picking up numbers. He had an '82 red Buick Regal that was so fucking sick! I mean this car was a thing of beauty.

My grandmother, who everyone called Mammy, was a big gambler. She would write out her tickets and play the numbers every morning. I would watch her wait faithfully on the front porch for Freddie. Fast Freddie would stop by Mammy's house, and she would give him anywhere from $0.50 to a few dollars with her tickets. He would pull out a big ass wad of cash from one pocket and a wad of tickets out the other. You see, Tennessee didn't have a legal lottery for decades, and Nashville had illegal number houses all over the city making millions. I loved my Mammy. She was a sweet woman who would give you her last. Mammy made a lot of money gambling too. She hit the numbers for a few hundred dollars at least twice the month.

Her secret weapon was a dream book that she used from her many dreams and visions. My grandmother was a quarter, Cherokee Native-American and viewed as a prophet by many in the neighborhood. I loved staying at my Mammy's house. She treated me like a grown-up instead of a kid. I got to see everything. When Fast Freddie would pull up in front of our house, he would get out the car and almost yell, "Good morning Mrs. Alexander, and hey Isaiah!" It was Mrs. Alexander because she was my mother's Mammy. I remember Fast Freddie had a very deep and loud voice. Fast Freddie was in his early 50s' and worth six figures easily, but he was only a worker and not the owner of the numbers house.

Who ran the numbers racket on the Eastside? You guessed it, the Jews. Ralph Rubenstein owned a little market on Main Street, where he counted his millions in the back. His favorite hangout was his liquor store next door. I remember him as this nice old man who used to give me candy as a kid. Little did I know that one nod of the head from Ralph Rubenstein, and your entire fucking family would be murdered. Mr. Rubenstein didn't have to flex too much by the time I was growing up. He had made his mark in the bloody Nashville bootleg wars of the 20s and 30s, not to mention completely locking down the country music industry in the 50s. He was a silent partner with many of the record companies on Music Row in South Nashville. Even back then, it was a multi-million dollar industry. Mr. Rubenstein was the first Godfather I would know in my life, but he wouldn't be the last.

Big Sam's chop shop was also owned by Ralph, but he was a silent partner and wasn't seen there too often. The front of the shop on Main Street was a repair garage for import cars, but downstairs leading to the back alley was where the real importing and exporting took place. As far as Black gangsters were concerned, Robo was one of a few that was actually independent in my neighborhood. He was only 23 at the time and got his dope from several sources, including the Italian Mafia out of St. Louis and the Puerto Ricans out of Chicago. Silverdene Apartments took up at least 10 square city-blocks, so there was a lot of money to be made.

When it came to the Brooks Family, you just didn't fuck with them. First of all, there were too many of them. Robert and Sissy Brooks had five boys and four girls, not to mention all the cousins, nieces and nephews that were Brooks. The Brooks were the killers of the Eastside. They were the ones who robbed Robo at least a dozen times, and he just let it ride. The fucked up part about it was that Robo was actually a second cousin of the Brooks on his father's side. It was easier to take a loss than a bullet in the head. The Brooks men would kill you for sneezing too close in his direction, and the female Brooks were just as deadly, if not deadlier, than the men.

The oldest daughter, Mandy, had been in prison since the mid-70s for stabbing her boyfriend to death, when she found out he was cheating on her. The night it happened, the neighbors heard what they thought was a baby screaming like someone was beating it to death. When the cops kicked in the door, they found blood splattered all over the walls; Mandy's boyfriend laying on the living room floor; and Mandy standing over him screaming in his bloody face. After Mandy had gouged out her boyfriend's left eye, she stood over him yelling, "I told you muthafucka! Don't fuck with me!" She did this while her boyfriend was on the floor choking on his own blood, with over 50 stab wounds from a butcher knife to his face, torso, and groin. Mandy was hauled away completely soaked in blood from head to toe. Mammy told me that Mandy kept screaming, "I told that muthafucka! I told that muthafucka! I told that muthafucka!"

I loved to hear Mammy's neighborhood stories...

Can you imagine growing up in an environment like this? This excerpt is just the tip of the iceberg of what really goes on in his life. Isaiah's story gets more complicated when he finds out what his true calling is and why he's living in such a dangerous environment. To find out what happens to Isaiah, order your copy of Reporter from Hell at www.oneteam615.com or Amazon.com.

CHAPTER 9

INSIRE INFORM & ENTERTAIN

Thank you so much for checking out the work of these amazing writers, from One Team Publishing & Films! We're so confident in our products and services that we didn't mind giving you this FREE book. Before we leave you, here is more information on our team. One Team Publishing & Films is a team of artists and entrepreneurs that are on a mission to create products and services that inspire, inform, and entertain our audience. The dynamic concept of One Team Publishing & Films is that we have no employees or customers, only members. Members of One Team have their own dreams that they're trying to turn into reality. One Team only has members who share like interests such as creating products and services that reach the masses, becoming entrepreneurs and financially independent, motivating others to accomplish their dreams as well, and changing the lives of many. Our members consist of writers, authors, filmmakers, musicians, producers, graphic artists, small-business consultants, and a variety of other professionals.

Once again, thank you for checking out our work, and we hope you finish the stories you started by ordering them at www.oneteam615.com. Whatever your dream is dedicate yourself to making it happen. As you can see our team leads by example, and we don't let anything stand in our way. Whether it's finances, health challenges, significant struggles, or multiple losses, we don't give up and fight until we win. After reading this book, you should realize one thing. You are UNBREAKABLE.

**i**

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