Promise Kept. Stephanie Perry Moore

      KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.

       http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

      For Nicole (my dear friend).

       Best friends are supposed to keep their promise!

       Unfortunately, not all do.

       Take comfort in knowing, my strong friend,

       that God is with you.

       As we go through, may we all remember

       that He always keeps His word.

      Acknowledgments

      Doesn’t it just tick you off when folks don’t keep their word? Some mess you up so much when they back out of their commitment that you don’t want to fool with them anymore. Guess God has a right to be angry with us when we back out of what we commit to Him, huh? Well thankfully, He gives us grace. Unfortunately, the judicial system isn’t so kind. You break the law, you pay.

      I was watching the news the other night and saw a case where someone was accused of something he didn’t do and needed a good legal team to get him off. I got to thinking, in writing a book I always need a good writing team to help me get out a good novel. Now that I’m at the end of the series I feel like I’m on trial. I promised to be committed to a series that would move young people to walk right for Him. Did I stay true to my cause? Well, I think so. And here is a thank you for all the folks that held me accountable to doing just what I said I would.

      To my family, parents Dr. Franklin and Shirley Perry Sr., brother Dennis and sister-in-law Leslie, my mother-in-law Ms. Ann, and extended family Bobby and Sarah Lundy, and Walter and Marjorie Kimbrough, and Paul and Tammy Garnes, you remind me of a great defense team. You always back me up. Like a tenacious defense law firm, thanks for keeping me out of trouble.

      To my publisher, Kensington/Dafina Books, and the distribution companies that move the product, especially Pam Nelson at Levy Books. I appreciate you constantly helping me get my books out there. My message is heard with you on the team. Like the truthful broadcaster ready to tell the world the events that unfold, you help me make sure the world knows they need to get behind what I’ve got to share.

      For my writing team, Calvin Johnson, James Johnson, Ciara Roundtree, Jessica Phillips, Randy Roberts, Ron Whitehurst, Vanessa Davis Griggs, Larry Spurill, John Rainey, Carolyn O’Hara, Jason Spellen, Teri Anton, and the Georgia Tech Parent Buzz organization, you hold me accountable to every word. Thanks for combing over the pages to make sure it will hit home to many. Like an accurate court reporter, you help me tell it like it is.

      To the dynamic and talented authors that were with me on the historic first African-American Levy Bus tour: my Dafina cohorts Daaimah Poole, Earl Sewell, Rochelle Alers, Brenda Jackson, Francis Ray, Lori Bryant Woolridge, Teri Woods, Donna Hill, Nina Foxx, Selena Montgomery, Grace Akallo, Francis Ray, Naleighna Kai, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Nikki Turner, Crystal Hubbard, Trisha R. Thomas, Tracie Howard, and my dear author mentor Beverly Jenkins, you are my witnesses that writing isn’t in vain. Thanks for your support and I pray your books keep blessing many. Like a good witness, we can attest to the impact our books have on the world.

      To my girlfriends Jackie Dixon, Jenell Clark, Loni Perriman, Gloria London, Taiwanna Bolds, Tabatha Palmer, Deborah Bradley, Cynthia Peace, Vickie Davis, Kim Monroe, Jan Hatchett, Veida Evans, Joy Nixon, Lakeba Williams, and Perlicia Floyd, you are the best parents I know. I know God placed you in my life for such a time as this. Like a sound therapist, you confirm to me that though I live mostly in a made-up world and write about much drama, I’m sane.

      To my children, Dustyn Leon, Sydni Derek, and Sheldyn Ashley, I wish I could give you the world. Though I can’t, I can give you the key that holds everything you’ll need…Love and serve God and you’ll be more than fine. Like the posse that surrounds most defendants, you keep me going when the going gets rough.

      To my beau, Derrick Moore, I’m stronger with you by my side. Though you are swamped, please keep your word and read more of my stuff. Like a prison guard that any defendant tries to befriend for lenience, you are strong, never waver, don’t bend the rules, but protect me well.

      To my readers, I’m hoping you all get on my writing bandwagon to stay. I pray each book in the Perry Skky Jr. series stirred your soul to live for Him. Like a unified jury, always stand for justice and lock the enemy away.

      And to my precious Savior, You helped me complete another series. I pray I have pleased You with each book. You are the only judge that matters.

      Contents

      1. Trying to Win

      2. Dealing with Trouble

      3. Clinging to Hope

      4. Recruiting New Ideas

      5. Showing True Feelings

      6. Following the Soul

      7. Checking Things Out

      8. Getting into Danger

      9. Calming My Heart

      10. Running from Love

      11. Circling the Wagons

      12. Spreading God’s Word

      13. Pouting for Sure

      14. Feeling Real Joy

      15. Finding Our Way

      1

      Trying to Win

      Okay, I couldn’t believe that Savoy just slapped me. It was Christmas break and everyone was hanging out at Howard’s Bar-be-que, in my home town. I was with my boys, Cole and Damarius and some chicks were hanging around us, but I was being a good boy. I only had a few days till I had to head back to school and get ready to play in the National Championship college game.

      After the slap, I didn’t know how to feel. First of all, it hurt. So I was pissed. Second, my boys were just sitting there looking at me like they knew I wasn’t going to take it. So I was angry.

      Then I looked into Savoy’s eyes. Through the tears that began to fall from her lashes, I could see she was hurting. So I felt bad. There was a little crowd of honeys watching and though I didn’t want to be punked, something was going on with my girl.

      “You two, don’t even say anything to me!” I shouted to Damarius and Cole.

      Damarius jerked me by the back of my shirt and said, “I know you ain’t gon’ just let her talk to you like that.”

      “It’s obvious that something is wrong with her. Can’t you see? Come on, man. Give me some space,” I said as I pulled away from Damarius.

      “Aight, aight! Whatever, but you the one that’s gonna miss out on all the fun,” he said as he tapped Cole and they walked a few feet away.

      Savoy just looked at me and wiped her face. I knew she was disappointed and for whatever reason she thought I had let her down. I could understand her being upset and all, but to come at me swinging and hitting me in public was unacceptable.

      Her first semester in college must have been harder than I thought for her to lash out at me this way. Her bold gesture was dumb. We were working on rebuilding what we had after deciding to get back together. Just because I didn’t play things her way she was going to pitch a fit, like some out-of-control toddler. I took a deep breath and motioned her to talk to me. After all, since she’d made such a bold stand to call me out, she certainly had something to say.

      Savoy angrily snarled, “I can’t believe you! You haven’t talked to me in two days. And before that, you claimed you were so busy. Either you got to work out