Thug Millionaire

A Mother's Unconditional Love: Kior's Struggle and Phoenix's Betrayal

Powerful, embracing, warm, genuine, safe, and nourishing—this is the kind of maternal love that 18-year-old Kior and her 14-year-old twin siblings, Zack and Zola, desperately crave. Unfortunately, their mother is the complete opposite: trifling, pill-addicted, alcoholic, vengeful, and vile, undeserving of the title. As Kior's siblings are her world, her primary focus is to provide them with the love and care they have been denied, striving to give them the good life they deserve.

Four years later, Kior's life remains a harsh reality, with only occasional glimpses of sunshine. Working at IHOP and braiding hair on the side, she faces numerous challenges and experiences both highs and lows, including an unexpected and budding friendship with her long-time crush, 18-year-old Phoenix.

Phoenix is a street prodigy, renowned solely due to his father's name, but he is no weakling. His father is his hero, while his mother holds a special place in his heart. Phoenix's top priority is to escape the harsh realities of the hood and secure the degree his mother has asked for. At 22 years old, four years later, Phoenix returns to his old stomping ground with his degree in hand, only to find that everything has changed.

Struggling to find a job and in need of quick cash, Phoenix aligns himself with his best friend's illegal narcotics distribution operation, earning his keep. However, as red flags and rumors swirl around his trusted loved ones, seeing the truth for himself becomes a painful realization. The level of betrayal he uncovers causes his heart and mind to hemorrhage from the deception.

Despite their vastly different upbringings, Kior and Phoenix are both navigating the cruel streets of Chicago and the ruthless struggles of life. In the first book of this African American urban hood series, bestselling and award-winning author Dedra B. presents a captivating story about love, prowess, gumption, and grit, juxtaposed with vindictiveness, lies, deceit, and disloyalty.

Readers will embark on a journey to explore Kior and Phoenix's lives, discovering whether they can prevail after being surrounded by old pain and engulfed in new hurt.

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