Carmen Royal
The driver had the Maybach gliding real smooth down the causeway as the city lights flickered across the windshield.
Miami always looked like the place to be, and it was too damn beautiful to be so damn cruel.
People loved this place but if they only knew what went on in the underworld as well as the hood, they might not view it the same anymore.
It was too damn beautiful for its own good.
I sat in the backseat with my laptop open, and eyes half on the screen, while half on the reflection of my face in the glass.
O’Shynn sat next to me, scrolling her phone with one hand and sipping a drink with the other like she was born for this life.
She had her hair down tonight, with dark bouncing curls, and huge gold hoops in her ears. Her nails matched the royal blue crop jacket she wore, but O’Shynn usually always dressed like her personality based off ow she felt day by day.
“Girl, you still working?” she asked, leaning over to peek at my screen. “You been on that laptop for hours.”
“Somebody gotta make sure this family don’t end up on the Fed’s dinner menu,” I told her, typing another string of codes into one of the encrypted accounts.
“El Blanca’s death shook the system a little.
I’ve been double checking every payroll transfer, making sure all the shell wires land where they supposed to.
Too much heat in the city right now for loose ends. ”
O’Shynn whistled loudly. “You really be living in spreadsheets baby… the goat.”
I smiled feeling tired but proud. “And that’s exactly why Dom trusts me with this part. I make sure the streets stay clean on paper. It’s not the glam life people think it is.”
She laughed while flipping her hair. “Girl, please. You act like you don’t like being the cartel lawyer and queen all in one. You eat that power up. You have an advantage right now that most women will never get the chance to experience.”
“I like the control,” I admitted. “I like the order too because when the worlds on fire, at least I can make the flames look legal.”
O’Shynn grinned, leaning her head back. “You sound like Dom.”
“Don’t insult me,” I teased, finally closing the laptop.
We both laughed as the music filled the speakers inside of the car with Afrobeats on the radio station.
O’Shynn was vibing to it, tapping her nails against her thigh, lost in her own world.
I studied her for a second. She’d been moving different lately, quieter, and more distant.
The club used to be her playground, but I could tell her mind wasn’t on that lately.
“You okay O’Shynn?” I asked. “You’ve been quiet lately.”
She shrugged. “Just tired I guess. Been up all night dealing with invoices and shipments like I usually am and sometimes I wish I could disappear for a week.”
“You sound like me,” I retorted. “But you know we don’t get that luxury a lot.”
We rode in silence for a moment before she turned her head to look at me. “So, you and Dom… y’all good? You been around each other a lot lately and I’m seeing the difference.”
I smirked. “We’re good.”
“Mmhmm.” She eyed me suspiciously. “That’s your lawyer answer.”
I laughed, looking out the window to hide my smile. “You always notice too much O’Shynn.”
“That’s my job,” she said, still watching me. “You act different lately too. Like a little softer and not in a bad way either. You’ve even been turning down drinks. What’s that about?”
The car got quieter, the music seemed like it was fading in the background. I turned my head to meet her eyes. “You really wanna know?”
Her expression shifted from playful to curious. “Hell yeah.”
I took a slow deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”
O’Shynn froze for a second, blinked a few times, and then stared at me like she thought I was joking. “You lying.”
“I wish I was,” I muttered softly. “I found out right after the shootout when Ramon died. I’ve been trying to keep it quiet until I was sure everything was okay.”
Her mouth dropped open, then formed into a big grin. “Bitch, you for real?!”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Yeah, for real. I’m serious”
“Carmen!” she squealed, smacking my arm. “Oh my God, you pregnant by Dom Royal? The Miami King done knocked up the boss lawyer.”
“Keep your voice down girl,” I hissed, half laughing, half serious. “The driver doesn’t need to know my business.”
O’Shynn covered her mouth, trying to stifle her laugh. “Girl, this is crazy. You really out here carrying the heir to the throne. You gon’ be a mama.”
“Don’t start with that,” I said. “I still have court dates, cartel audits, and now prenatal vitamins to juggle. My life is chaos. I don’t know if I’m ready.”
“But you love him,” she said.
I paused, letting the words hang there. “Yeah,” I admitted proudly. “More than I meant to.”
She nodded slowly, still smiling. “He loves you too. You the only one that ever softened him up without breaking him.”
I gave her a faint smile. “We’ll see. This world doesn’t let you get too comfortable.”
The driver turned onto the long road that led to the Royals’. The security gates were already opening up ahead. The sky above the house glowed with warm lights, and palm trees swaying slowly in the wind.
O’Shynn leaned over, whispering like she was ready to give me some good gossip. “You think Ma gon’ scream when she find out?”
“She better not,” I quietly laughed. “I need peace, not another family explosion.”
“She’s gon’ scream and cut up,” O’Shynn said, chuckling as she fixed her lipstick in the mirror. “She might cry too. You know she’s been wanting grandbabies. Dique gave her one and now Dom? That’s big.”
“I’m not telling her tonight,” I said quickly. “Not yet. I just want to enjoy being in that house without a whole announcement.”
“Girl, that isn’t how this family works, and ma always knows.”
We both laughed again as the car slowed at the circular driveway. Security waved us through like always. I looked over at O’Shynn and smiled softly. “Thanks for not freaking out.”
She smirked. “Girl, please. I been ready for this. Now I just gotta find out if it’s a boy or girl so I can start buying outfits.”
“Not yet,” I said, shaking my head with a grin. “One step at a time.”
The car came to a smooth stop. The driver opened our doors, and the warm humid air instantly hit me. Inside the mansion, I could already hear my mother in law’s voice floating through the hall, laughing about something… probably Dique.
O’Shynn adjusted her jacket and turned to me, with her eyes shining. “You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” I smiled, smoothing my dress and taking a deep breath. “Let’s go see what kind of storm we’re walking into.”
The second we stepped through the front doors.
The good kind full of warmth and joy that made you feel good about being family was felt.
It was the kind that made a house feel like a home even if it wasn’t yours.
The air smelled like soul food and mixtures of perfumes cents and candles.
You heard Mrs. Darlene before you even saw her.
“Lord, look who the wind done blew in!” she shouted from the living room as soon as we appeared. “My lawyer baby and my quiet one! Come here and hug me, girls!”
O’Shynn and I both broke into smiles. She walked ahead, with her hips moving, while I followed behind trying not to laugh at the way she had already started waving her hands like she was giving directions to a marching band.
She looked like she always did when company was over with her fancy robe, heavy jewelry, and perfect hair.
She opened her arms wide and hugged us both tight, smelling all good.
“My babies are finally home!” she shouted. “Dom said y’all were coming but you know I don’t believe it until I see it.”
Pops stood behind her near the bar, with his glass of bourbon in his hand, smiling the way only a proud father could.
His eyes always said more than his mouth ever did because he wasn’t a man of many words, but I loved hearing his stories from back in the day because he was worse than his boys back then.
O’Shynn grinned, pulling away. “We couldn’t miss mama’s cooking!”
“You got that right,” Dique called from the couch, holding a plate in one hand and a piece of cornbread in the other.
“We been waitin’ on y’all. I had to sneak a second plate; she act like she didn’t even wanna let us have seconds when she knew ya’ll was comin’.
Talkin’ ‘bout we gotta save some food for ya’ll.
Almost pissed me off. We don’t feed no dogs. ”
“You the damn dog she was talkin’ about,” O’Shynn shot back, laughing.
“Watch your mouth in my house,” Mrs. Darlene shot back at her, smacking her lips. “This my day to be classy.”
Everyone laughed, as the sound filled every corner of the living room.
I felt that love all over me, which was the reminder that even in our world, love still existed.
Then my eyes caught Keondra sitting on the couch next to little Amour.
She looked up at me with a smirk, and I swear for a second I forgot everything else.
Her hair was bone straight and sleek back, with light makeup, and a decent outfit too.
It was a soft tan dress that hugged her curves with gold accents.
She looked put together, and confident, which was nothing like the girl I met before. I walked over and hugged her tightly.
“You look beautiful,” I whispered. “Carmen’s touch still holding strong.”
She giggled holding onto me a little longer. “You the reason I even halfway fit in here. I been practicin’ everything you told me. It ain’t that bad. Shit, when I’m outside, I’ma act right but when I’m home, I’ma cut the fuck up again.”
I grinned and leaned back, proud. “You’re doing more than fitting in, Ke. You’re belonging now and don’t forget that.”
Her smile grew wide. “Thank you.”