by Belleza
“Nah, he will be too high and drunk to realize the drugs is missing.”
“Cool.”
Zayne picked up the duffle bags from my floor and got on the phone with his brother, Johan. I had no clue what I was going to do but relocating did sound like a good idea.
JOHAN
“Where do you think you’re going?” I questioned Natavia from the bathroom.
I eyed her overnight bag that was barely zipped up because everything she brought over here was in it. I walked to the adjoining bathroom and allowed my eyes to dance up her bare legs where her skirt was rising up from her fixing her hair.
“I do have a home I have to return to,” she said staring at me through the mirror.
I approached her and placed my hands on her hips and kissed her cheek.
“A home?”
“Yes,” she giggled. “You know the place where Jeremy and I lived before you trapped us here.”
“You’re not trapped.”
“Oh yeah? So that means I can go whenever I want?”
“Wrong.”
I left out of the bathroom and unzipped the bag taking everything she had out and carefully placed them back where I felt they belonged in my bedroom.
“Really, Johan?” She stood at the threshold of the bathroom door with her hand planted firmly on her hips.
“You don’t gotta go.”
“That’s what your mouth saying, but I’m sure you will get tired of me and my son taking over your house.”
“It’s two of y’all and four of us. Trust me, y’all ain’t taking over shit,” I joked. “Why you trying to leave?”
I sat on the bed giving up on putting her clothes away. She walked up to me and I pulled her between my legs cupping her ass in my hands. I was ready for a quickie. I was addicted to this woman and craved her every second of the day.
It wasn’t as if I never had this kind of peace before because Tabitha was a good woman once upon a time. I was questioning if my feelings were even legit because it was some love at first sight, type thing but waking up next to Natavia for the past couple days helped me realize it was what I wanted.
“I don’t live here.”
“You can though if you want. There’s enough room and it doesn’t make sense for you to pay rent for somewhere you don’t stay.”
Natavia raised her eyebrow at me and I chuckled because I made a very valid point. It felt like her and Jeremy lived here already. The boys and I weren’t complaining at all, so there really wasn’t no issue.
“First I fall in your lap and feel your dick by accident, you watch my son for me, offer me a job, give me a romantic night after stealing my car and now allowing me to move into this huge beautiful home? Am I being punked because this can’t be real.”
“It’s real. Good men do exist.”
“True, but so many good things doesn’t happen all at once. It haven’t been a month yet Johan.”
“So you telling me my feelings are only justified by the time length of our relationship?”
She sighed and tried to pull away but I held on tightly to her waist. I had a point to prove and I was going to erase those negative thoughts about relationships society put into her head.
“Listen, if you didn’t feel the way I feel I know you wouldn’t have been here with me to begin with. I’m digging you and Jeremy is like one of my sons. It doesn’t matter how long we’ve known each other or how fast things are moving. I’m comfortable and I’m happy. I stand firmly on my feelings for you. It’s real and I accepted it them nights I couldn’t get you off my mind. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make you mine, Natavia.”
She stood looking down at me as I waited for her response. “I mean.., you got the good good already and you’re still around so I guess that speaks for something.”
I tapped her on her ass she laughed trying to squirm out of my grip.
“Come on now, I’ll leave my stuff here but I have to run pass my house and get a few things and then head to work.”
“Call out.”
“I need money.”
“How much?”
She rolled her pretty eyes at me and stepped away.
“I work for mine homeboy. I don’t need handouts.”
“Well come work this and then tell me what you need,” I told her looking down at my bulge and she smiled contemplating if she wanted to climb on top real quick. I was hoping she said yes.
“You’re so freaky! I will be back later,” she said picking up her purse and rushing out the room.
“You better not let your man leave the crib horny!” I shouted out to her and she returned with her face balled up.
“Horny or not his ass know better!” she spat back and winked her eye at me.
She had a point there. A quick nut wasn't worth losing her. I just made a mental note to tear her ass up later tonight.
***
“Have you spoken to your brother?”
“Nah… he’s been M.I.A. for the past couple of days. I figured you would’ve heard from him by now.”
Uncle Ern shook his head and took a sip of the Cognac he requested me to bring. This nigga was out of his mind having me bring liquor into a damn hospital but given the circumstances, I knew he needed it.
Zayne explained to me what Asahd hard headed as tried to do and ended up getting his entire feelings hurt. It was fucked up he had to find out this way but at this point what could we do? The man did take care of us most of his life. Shit, he took Zayne and I in when he really ain’t have to.
Just so Unc wouldn’t be left in the dark, I gave him a heads up about everything which was why he was chugging his guilt away in a hospital cafeteria.
“How’s Auntie?”
“Getting better. She’ll have to do a little therapy once we get discharged from out of here.”
“Will it be ok if I see her since we know Ernestine ain’t nowhere to be found.”
“Sure. Why not.”
We both got up from the table and walked to the elevators. After the people got off we got on and it was an awkward silence up to the 15th floor until he spoke.
“I knew your mother since she was a teen, before I met Shirley. She disappeared and then came back around with you and Zayne. One thing led to another a few times and I thought that was what it was, just sex. It wasn’t until I started checking up on her because I heard her addiction got worse that I realized she had Asahd and I saw a resemblance. I asked her so many times if he was my son and she always told me no.”
“Wow,” was all I can say because I didn’t remember him until I was older and he would stop and give us money. I never understood what for, but now looking back it all made sense.
At the end of the day he wasn’t my father and I respect him as such. If he knew Asahd was his child all these years and didn’t tell him that was a conversation that was supposed to be held between them two. My feelings didn’t change between Unc or Asahd, they were both family.
“I gotta talk to him,” Unc sighed heavily swiping his free hand down his face.
I took the bottle from his hand because with the mixture of liquor and emotions running through him he was on.
We walked to the room and as soon as my aunt saw me her face lit up.
“My baby!” she said with tears in her eyes. Closing in the space between us, I embraced her and kissed her cheek. God, knows how much I’ve missed this woman.
Unc went to the bathroom and I took a seat next to the bed.
“Have Asahd spoken to him?”
I shook my head. “He haven’t spoken to any of us.”
“I always told him he should let Asahd know, but you know how these men are.”
“If Asahd wasn’t his, would y’all still have taken us in?”
“Of course. Ern was always fond of the three of you. It wasn’t until your mother passed when he brought up the idea of taking you in.”
“I understand but you know that damn Asahd, it will take a miracle to get him to see the b
igger picture.”
“I hope it doesn’t take long. It doesn’t change anything we have already. We’ve always been family.”
I enclosed my hand in hers and kissed the back of it.
“Enough about this sad shit. How are you feeling auntie?”
“Ready to get my behind home and start this therapy. How’s my babies doing?”
“They’re good. The kids have been asking about you like crazy, but we haven’t told them you were in here, so it’s been nothing but distractions,” I laughed knowing that Unc was not bending on letting us up here. “He wouldn’t let us come see you for shit.”
My aunt laughed lightly. “That damn Ernest. What about Tabitha?”
“We’re divorced and recently she tried to kill herself… so she’s in a mental institution as of right now.”
My aunt got quiet and shook her head. This time sadness flooded her eyes and I gripped her hand tighter.
“What’s wrong?”
She wiped away a tear and pulled in a deep breath. “I didn’t tell your uncle this, but Tabitha was there that night with Ernestine. She was the one who shot me.”
“WHAT?!” I barked standing to my feet. She waved her hand and looked towards the bathroom where Unc was still inside of.
“Listen… it wasn’t like that. I remember Ernestine telling her it was either shoot me or she was going to kill her.”
“So she fucking shoots you?!”
“Johan, what did you expect for her to do? She wasn’t going to give up her life and I’m sure if the shoe was on the other foot I probably would’ve done the same thing. Don’t blame her and please don’t punish her for it. Everything happens for a reason and I’m still here.”
I covered my hands over my face trying to process the fact that my ex-wife played a role in my aunt’s shooting. My mind was all over the place now. Was I really sleeping with the enemy all this time?
“Please don’t tell your uncle. He will kill Tabitha and I don’t think she deserves that.”
I focused on my aunts melancholy eyes wondering if I was able to not pull the trigger myself.
ASAHD
Shutting the door behind me, I stepped into my house and did a quick glance to make sure everything was the way it should’ve been.
Camille text messages went from concern to anger and then nothing at all. I expected everything to be broken and my shit all over the sidewalk. It looked like everything was peaches and cream until Camille emerged from the kitchen and gave me a death stare.
She rolled her eyes hard and went back inside of the kitchen. I followed her inside and the moment my hands connected to her waist she nudged me hard as shit in the ribs with her elbow.
“Don’t touch me!”
“I’m trying to talk to you.”
“You had days to fucking talk, Asahd. You chose to just leave me hanging, so now just deal with things how you see fit and I will handle everything the way I want to.”
“So it’s like that now? Aren’t we in a relationship?”
“Listen, don’t bring that shit up to me. I was very aware of our relationship but something happens and you go running. If you think that’s how relationships work then I don’t want it. I don’t have time to be feeling the way you made me feel.”
“And I’m sorry for that. I really am, Camille but the shit that happened I didn’t know how to deal with it.” Camille ignored me and kept washing the dishes that were in the sink. “I found out Ern is possibly my father.”
That grabbed her attention and she looked my way with her eyes void of all the anger that were in them moments ago.
“How do you know that?”
“I don’t know for sure, but Ernestine mentioned it and now that I think about it, it makes sense.”
“Have you spoken to him about it?”
“Nah, not yet. If I did we would’ve been rumbling and I respect him too much to do some shit like that. I needed the time to clear my head. I got my a hotel room in the city and just fell back.”
I took a seat at the island and placed my keys on the countertop.
“I can’t be too angry right? He’s been in my life longer than he hasn’t.”
“But you didn’t know he was actually your father. That’s what hurts. I’m sure it does even though you’re not saying it.”
“You’re right. But right now it is what it is. What do you have planned today? I gotta a lot of ass kissing to do for the lost time.”
“Yes you do,” she shot back with an eye roll. “We don’t have to do anything but use this as a lesson to not just leave me in the dark like that. This big ass house you can easily pick a room and I’ll holla at you once you’re ready to talk.”
“I got you,” I assured her bringing her closer to me and pressing my lips on hers. I missed her more than ever.
“Oh yeah… I’m not sure if this is my place or not but Keira was about to fight Nina because she called Zayne’s phone looking for you.”
“Yeah, I seen she called but what happened.”
“I’m sure Zayne will tell you. Just be careful,” she told me.
“I will.”
“Ok good, I’ll go up stairs and get showered and the first stop we can make is to the mall,” she stated with a smile. I was up out my seat and on her heels because we had a lot of catching up to do. That mall wasn’t going to see us for a good few hours.
***
Getting out of the bed, I kissed Camille a few times and headed to the closet to get dressed. I put on a black sweat suit and some black air maxes before I pocket my keys and tucked my gun in the pouch of the hoodie. I was tempted to wake the mean ass sleeping beauty up to let her know I was stepping out real quick. God knows I didn’t need another slew of messages because she thought I was dipping out on her.
After giving her some good loving I treated her to a day of whatever she wanted. Camille was simple as fuck and got a pair of sandals, a shirt and we made a quick trip to the movies. To me that was a waste, but yet again that’s how she was. She ain't care about the material things.
Once we got back home we chilled and ordered Chinese food and relaxed for the rest of the night. I made sure to tear that pussy up which was why she was passed out in the bed.
Figuring it was best to let her sleep, I left out my house where my brothers were waiting.
Zayne’s car was parked down the street. I walked up the block and got in the back.
“What’s up,” Johan was the first to acknowledge me.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Explain to me what happened.”
Johan wasn’t there, so Zayne explained how Nina called his phone saying she had stuff that belonged to us. He went to her condo and saw the drugs and money she stole from Burge.
“Shawty still riding hard,” Johan added in. “You sure you ain’t still fucking with that girl?”
“Fuck no. I’m shocked she actually did that. Is she good though? She could’ve possibly put a target on her back by doing that shit.”
“We can only hope. She’s still around him and had let us know that he’s home now which is why we’re on our way. She plan on leaving the city soon. I told her to keep the bread.”
“What if she lining us up?” I questioned for the hell of it.
“Doubt it. That girl still sprung on you.”
I sat back in my seat waving them off. “Whatever. Can we go now instead of discussing her?”
Zayne laughed and finally started his car. That didn’t stop him and Johan one bit from having jokes. That was on thing we always did with each other. If it wasn’t me and Zayne against Johan it was Johan and Zayne against me. Funny Johan and I never tagged teamed Zayne ass but I was waiting for his ass sooner or later and I was going to roast his ass until he wanted to fight.
“Any updates on Ernestine dike ass?”
“Nah, Spence is working on tracking her down.”
“She’s gone somewhere and she took Tabitha with her. She had Tab sign herself out,” Johan spoke
up. He then explained that he saw auntie and she told him what happened that night. It was shocking. Hell it made me angry to hear she pulled the trigger, but it was clear she really ain’t have a choice. My feelings was still torn with Tabitha though. She was so in love with the wrong person and now Ernestine was just dragging her in her mess. Ernestine played this game well and I was ready to end it.
When Zayne parked, we both got out and Johan stayed in the car to answer his phone. I was going to ask him who was hitting him up this late but it could’ve been nobody but ol’ girl.
“Aye… you good? You know Ern been wanting to speaking to you,” Zayne asked me.
“I bet, but I’m better now. Just needed some time to get my mind right.”
“Cool. It doesn’t change shit. The nigga was like a father to all of us. Shit, you the lucky one because Johan and I still don’t know who our daddies are,” he joked making me laugh.
“Doesn’t matter for real for real, we go Ern right?” I asked and he just looked at me and nodded his head.
The sentimental moment couldn’t last a second longer because Zayne stupid ass had to push me and I shoved his ass right back. Johan stepped between us and knocked us both upside the head.
“Y’all can’t ever just chill the fuck out?”
“Fuck outta here. His bitch ass pushed me first with his emotional ass,” I spat.
“Let’s focus.”
“Easy for you to say now that you’re done boo loving,” Zayne added.
We walked up to Burges house and walked to the back where Nina told him she unlocked the door. Stepping into the house we walked through downstairs with guns pointed. Once we saw that the downstairs area was clear we followed the snoring that was coming from upstairs.
“The fuck!” I belted out covering my nose with my hoodie. It smelled like shit as we crept closer to his room. “This nigga stink.”
“Nina loved this dirty ass nigga tho,” Zayne said ready to start his shit. I walked past him and Johan and bashed the butt of my gun on his face. He jumped up out of his sleep howling out in pain.
