Chapter 21 #3
“OK. Now arms up.”
I wrapped the towel around her when she lifted her arms up and then lifted her into my arms. Essence was finishing up her shower and wrapping herself in a towel, too. I grabbed her hand on the way out of the bathroom, and we all headed back into their bedroom.
Essence was the first to get dressed with Emorey and me coming in second place. With matching pajamas on, they marched down to the kitchen with me. It was pitch black when we entered, but I quickly flipped the light switch and illuminated the space.
“ABCs. I wan’ ABCs!” Emorey continued to shout.
“What do you want, Essence?”
“Noodles. The chicken kind.”
“Spaghetti-Os and noodles. Y’all staying in here or y’all going in there to sit down?”
“Staying here,” they answered simultaneously. I should’ve known not to even ask.
“Aight.”
One by one, I sat them on the counter so that I could fix their food.
Essence was up first since it took her dish longer in the microwave.
When her noodles were finished, I’d pop Emorey’s ABCs in while I fixed Essence’s food up.
She liked seasoning in addition to half of the sauce pack in hers.
According to her and Ever, they were eating Ramen.
Most times she’d hook it up with shrimp, eggs, and a bunch of other shit that Essence wouldn’t be getting tonight.
Tonight, she was eating noodles… straight out the pack.
As we waited for their food to cool, I could hardly contain the secret that Ever and I was now withholding.
The girls would be welcoming a baby in some months, and I wanted to share it with them to bring some joy to their worlds after the turmoil, but I knew I had to wait.
Ever was more than likely planning something special for them, so I forced my mouth shut and tried not to think about it. The task was nearly impossible.
Once both of their dishes were ready, I sat them on the counter next to them.
I didn’t bother taking them to the table because they were already seated.
Emorey laid down in front of her food and ate it just like that.
Essence placed her bowl in her lap and ate her noodles from there, eventually ending up sharing them with Emorey who’d eaten her food as quickly as I’d set it down.
“Everybody ready?”
I’d cleaned faces, wiped hands, and washed the dishes they’d used. They were clean, and they were fed. It was officially bedtime for everyone, including me. I only needed an hour. Now that they were home, I could get a little shuteye. It had been a long day.
“I sleep with you?” Emorey asked as she jumped into my arms.
“Woah.” I laughed because the impact of her little move was a bit more than expected.
“I sleep with you?”
“Yes, baby. You can sleep with me.”
“In you bed?”
“Yes. In my bed, Emorey.”
“Me, too,” Essence added.
“Aight. I got to take a quick shower before I lay down with y’all. Can y’all wait on me?”
“We took a bath,” the little one informed me as if I didn’t know already.
“I know, Em. Come on, Essence.”
With both girls in my arms, I hurried toward the stairs and then up them. Emorey was a big ball of laughter the entire way. I got them settled in my bed in no time.
“OK. I’m about to shower.”
“No. Pwease stay.”
“Emorey, we talked about this. I need to bathe, too. I’m dirty.”
“No you not. Pwease,” she repeated, her hands in front of her clasped together.
I looked to Essence for some type of help, but she was useless. She had the same look on her face as Emorey. Neither one of them wanted me to leave them for long.
“Aight. Let me use the bathroom, then, and I’ll be right back.”
The fact that they were about to make me take a wash up was insane, but it was whatever when it came to them, and they knew it.
I rushed into the bathroom and grabbed the closest towel I could find.
It was one of the decorative ones that Ever had put there, so I knew she’d have my ass for it.
But under the circumstances, I didn’t give a damn.
I soaped it up and hit all the important spots before moving on to my arms, legs, and chest. With the same rag, I rinsed my body of the soap.
I grabbed one of the larger towels and wrapped it around me before stepping out of the door.
“You all clean now?” Emorey wasn’t missing a beat.
“I’m clean now, baby.”
“Come sleep with me.” She patted the bed beside her.
“OK. Let me grab some clothes out of the closet right quick.”
“OK.”
I grabbed the first pair of shorts that I saw, which happened to be blue.
Along with a pair of briefs, I pulled them on.
When I made it back into the room, the same two sets of eyes were staring at me.
Shaking my head at their commitment, I climbed between them.
To my right was Essence, laying on my chest. To my left was Emorey, laying on my chest.
I ran my hands through both of their hair to relax them a bit.
I knew it wouldn’t be long before they were asleep.
They just needed some comfort and to feel protected.
Not long after I laid down, I heard Essence’s light snores.
Emorey was next to go down. I was in last place, but having the girls in my arms put me to sleep with ease.
I stirred awake, checking the time on my phone. An hour and a half had passed since I’d fallen asleep with the girls in my arm. As if on cue, my phone buzzed in my hand. My father was calling.
“Pops?” I yawned.
“I’m outside.”
“Outside of my house?”
“Yeah, Luca. Where else?”
“For what? I told Moms to have you meet me at the warehouse.”
“I’m taking you and I brought your mother to stay with the girls. I don’t want you driving right now, son. Come outside when you’re ready.”
“Appreciate you. I’ll be out in a few minutes. I need to get dressed.”
“Alright. I’m sending your mother on inside.”
Our call ended and I was up on my feet instantly.
Inside my closet, I pulled out a few pieces that reflected my mood.
The black pants, shirt, and hat were on my body and I was on my way downstairs before my mother could make it in the door good.
In passing, she grabbed me, pulling me into her chest for a hug.
“Be safe, Luca.”
“I will.”
“I love you, son.”
“Always.”
“Where are they?”
“In my bed. I’m sorry to have you out so late.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m going to lay down with them until you two get back. I doubt I’ll be able to get any sleep.”
“Try… for me.”
“I will.”
I kissed her cheek and was out of the door in a split second. My father was waiting in the driveway in a vehicle that I was unfamiliar with, but knew better than to question when I finally sat next to him in the passenger seat.
“Bare hands, huh?”
He knew me well. Very fucking well.
“Getting hit with a few bullets would be too easy of a death for this pussy. I’m going to beat this bitch the same way he beat my Ever and then I’m going to break his fucking neck.”
“Luca.” My father sighed.
“It’s personal, Pops. Very fucking personal.”
“I understand.”
Nothing else was said as we made the thirty-minute drive to the warehouse where I noticed a few whips at the dock. Before I could ask, my father was informing me.
“The clean-up crew, your brother, that boy Cane, and Mook.”
Nodding, I waited until the vehicle came to a complete stop before slowly exiting.
Without haste, I made my way up the dock and through the side door.
Laike was waiting in the front for me, massaging his fist as he stood to greet me.
I pointed at his swollen fingers as I squinted in his direction.
He tossed both his hands in the air, shrugging as he warned me about what I was walking into.
“I couldn’t help myself.”
Deciding against chastising him and respecting his stance in protecting my family, I pushed through the door and entered the large, empty space where Dewayne sat in a chair.
As I approached, I called out to him, needing his full attention.
Recalling the days that I’d laid niggas flat on their backs, I removed my shirt from my body, refusing to stain it with his blood.
“Aye, pussy.”
His head lifted as he searched for my voice. Evidence of Laike’s presence was left on his face. His right eye was swollen and there was a gash in his lip that leaked profusely.
“Stand up,” I instructed, knowing that the two bullets I’d put in him had gone straight in and out, leaving little to no damage. He was able to stand and he was able to walk.
“Man, listen,” he begged. “Listen.”
“Stand the fuck up!” I barked a second time.
His feet shuffled as he rose, slowly.
“Listen, man. Ever?—”
WHAM! With enough force to do damage but not knock his lights out, I cocked back and landed the first blow. His head jerked as his body shifted, making it hard to maintain his balance.
“Keep her name out your fucking mouth,” I warned. “Now, beat my ass like you did hers. Show me how tough you really are, nigga. Beat my ass, nigga.”
Pride forced his fists in the air as he joined a losing battle.
I paced myself. Though I was ready to rock this nigga to sleep, I wanted him to feel the same pain as Ever and Essence.
He’d put his hands on them both, so dying wasn’t optional tonight.
However, I wasn’t in a rush to end his world.
Not until he felt some degree of the pain he’d caused in mine.
“Luca, kill this nigga,” Laike suggested. “Shoot him in the center of his fucking forehead.”
Ignoring him, I struck again.
WHAM.
And, again.
WHAM.
And, again.
WHAM.
Images of Ever’s bruised skin flashed before my eyes.
WHAM.
The painful kisses she suffered through made my nostrils widened as the next blow was thrown.
WHAM.
I moved to his ribs, hearing them crack upon impact.
WHAM.
I followed up, wanting to crush his shit until his lungs and oxygen levels suffered.
WHAM.
I stayed on him, not allowing him the break I knew he desperately wanted.
WHAM.
He stumbled.
WHAM!