Chapter 28 Teo #2
At the top shelf sat more goodies, more skincare products for her to get lost in.
On her tiptoes, she stretched to reach for a different bottle perched just out of her grasp.
Brushing her back with my body, I leaned in, grabbing the clear bottle filled with a lavender-shaded substance and handed it to her.
Watching her sample the lotions, she rubbed a tiny bit into the palm of her hands and brought them to her nose.
The sudden buzzing from her bags broke through our quiet moment.
“Baby, can you grab my phone?” she asked, attempting to screw the top back on the bottle and free her hands. “It’s in the bag with the fig jam. Or the perfume bottle. Whichever one I handed you last.”
Biting back a grin, I shook my head. I didn’t even ask why her phone was in there instead of the small crossbody she’d had on all day. I just rummaged through the items and grabbed the vibrating phone, glancing at the screen first.
Mrs. Antoinette.
Then I felt my own phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled mine out to see Bash flashing across the display.
“Hmm.” I hummed, praying this wasn’t about to fuck up the mood. Extending her phone, I said. “It’s your mama... and Bash.”
She took it, her brow creasing as she stared at the screen. The worry was already replacing the peace I’d watched her find, and I hated seeing it. I brushed my lips against her forehead gently.
“Go ahead and answer. It could be important,” I told her gently. “I’ll see what your brother needs.”
When she nodded lightly to answer her mother’s call, I swiped to accept the one from her brother. “What’s good, Bash?”
“Pops is awake,” he said right away, getting straight to the point. “Been up since this morning.”
I could hear the relief buried under his controlled tone, but also something else. Men like us didn’t get a whole lot of time to be overly excited. Even when something as significant as his father’s waking from a poison inflicted coma. It was all business, all the time.
“How’s he doing?”
“Alive. Talking. But...” Bash paused, and I could practically feel the anxiety over the phone. “He’s not the same, and probably will never be. Doc says the ricin did permanent damage. Cognitive shit... motor skills. He knows who we are, remembers most things, but he’s... slower. Weaker,” he sighed.
In the background, I could hear Ayanna’s voice getting louder as she talked to her mother. Excitement was oozing with every word and I caught bits and pieces about booking the first flight out.
“When can you get Yanna back here?” Bash asked. “Mama wants her here.”
“I figured as much. Sounds like my wife is making plans as we speak.” I glanced back at her as she wrapped her call, catching the bright smile spreading across her face as she said her goodbyes.
That smile made something ease in my chest. I pulled out my wallet and fished out my card and walked over to her.
“Pay for your things, Amore,” I told her, picking up the rest of her market finds, then pressing my phone back to my ear as my tone shifted into straight business mode. “He ask about what went down at the wedding yet?”
“You know he has. First thing out his mouth, was who was responsible for the hit. Two minutes after his fuckin’ eyes open, that nigga was all business like his ass ain’t been fighting for his life for weeks.”
“That sounds like your Pops,” I chuckled.
That was one thing I’ve always respected. He was a fighter and never let anything get in his way, not even a little brush with death.
Bash sucked his teeth. “Man... I had to tell his old ass to calm down.”
That also made me laugh. “So, what is it that he wants? I know he woke up making demands.”
“He wanted to know the state of the faction with him being out and with your family transitioning power. When I told him about Isabella and what she did to Yanna... he was pissed. He wants me to officially take his place, so we... the faction can properly handle Gianni. He knows business must go on.”
“I have plans for Gianni.” I told him matter of factly.
“We’ll rap about it when you touch down. You thinking tomorrow?”
“Yeah, at the earliest.” I glanced at my watch. “Set up a private meeting. You, me, Gianni.... Neutral. Next week. Yanna will wanna see and spend some time with Samuel. But I’m not leaving her in Atlanta. A week gives us plenty of time to put shit in motion.”
“Bet,” he chimed, and I ended the call, sliding the phone back into my pocket just as Yanna walked up with her hands full.
“The lady threw in a free candle since I bought so much,” she beamed, holding up a small jar wrapped in ribbon. “Ugh, I’m gonna miss this. I can’t wait until we visit again. But I’m ready to go home.”
She looked lighter now, energized from the call with her mother. I could tell her mind was already shifting back to our life back home.
Taking the rest of her things and placing my hand at the small of her back, I asked. “You ready to head back to the villa and pack?”
This time, there was no hesitation when she said, “Yeah.”