Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Marz
As much as I wanted to buck against what was happening, I knew there was nothing I could do to change their minds.
Even though I’d taken care of Jay, Pops believed it would be a bit more difficult to handle Iman.
He didn’t have the volatility of youth or emotional attachment clouding his judgment and making him move recklessly like his son.
Because of that, Pops knew he would have to be taken out through offense, not defense.
I watched as he, Beethoven, Karrington, and Aspen loaded their ammunition.
“That’s my big brotha,” Neptune argued quietly out of respect. “I’m tryna figure out why you think I’m not about to ride for him, Pops.”
Pops smiled and cupped Neptune’s cheek briefly before looking at me. “That’s your brother, but both of y’all are my sons. You’re staying here and letting us handle it. That’s the last I’ma say on the matter.”
Neptune cursed under his breath as he stormed out of Pops man cave.
I knew he wouldn’t calm down until we got word that everything was done and they were making their way back home safely.
Instead of going after him, I looked at my OGs and asked, “Are y’all sure? I never wanted y’all involved in this.”
“Jay involved us the moment he involved my daughter,” Pops said calmly. “Keep an eye on ya brother. You know how he gets. Make sure he doesn’t leave this house and get into no shit.”
“Yes, sir,” I surrendered unwillingly.
He chuckled and shook his head. “Never thought I’d see the day my sons would be sad they couldn’t go shoot a nigga up. How did y’all turn out so crazy?”
Him making light of the situation made us all laugh.
I started to tell him it was his fault. The more he tried to shield us from that dangerous part of his life, the more it appealed to us.
After this situation, though, I could honestly say I wasn’t sure I wanted to be an enforcer anymore.
The senseless killings and danger Heir was in just because of a man who felt entitled to her made me not want to have anything to do with the streets.
And even though I wasn’t sure if Kiana’s baby was mine or not, just the thought of having a baby on the way made me want to stay completely legit.
As quietly as I tried to get into bed, as soon as it dented, Heir woke up.
I’d been home long enough to shower and take a shot.
It was supposed to be celebratory because Pops and my uncles had found Iman’s compound, infiltrated it, and took out him and a few of his men.
But as the brown liquor slid down my throat, it felt more like a calming shot to seal Iman’s fate.
I’d be lying if I said I hated that he and Jay had lost their lives.
When it came down to my wife, anybody could get it.
What I hated was the fact that it had even come to this, but at least Heir was free and it was over.
“Babe,” she called, reaching for me.
“I’m here.”
As soon as I was within reach, she pulled me down to her and hugged me, wrapping her leg around me.
“What happened? Is it over?”
Sighing, I ran my hand down her hair and neck. She must have accidentally fallen asleep because she never went to bed without wrapping her hair.
“We did our statements. Based on camera footage, we’re cleared for Jay and his partnas. Self-defense for me and defense of others for my folks.” I felt her body deflate against me. “And Iman has been handled.”
“All of your people made it out okay?”
“They did.”
She thanked God and then me. “I’m so glad this is over.”
“Same,” I mumbled, releasing a long breath.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, sensing my mood.
“I’on know, bae,” I grumbled as she snuggled against me.
After kissing my chin, she challenged me with, “Yes, you do. Do you just not want to accept it or talk about it?”
As much as I hated how well she knew me already, I also loved it.
“I don’t think I want to be an enforcer anymore.”
“Why not?”
“This street shit is all fun and games until someone you love is in danger. I was cool with it until you were involved.”
“What happened with me wasn’t your fault, babe. You did what you did protecting me, and things just snowballed after that.”
“That’s true, but I can’t ignore the fact that Iman tried to use you to get to me.
I also can’t ignore that he’s a clear representation of the kind of men I’ll have to deal with in the streets.
And some will be worse.” I sighed and relaxed against her as she rubbed my back.
“And then I’m thinking about the baby. Even if it's not mine, it took Kiana’s pregnancy to realize how my pops felt when he retired from the streets.
I don’t want to be involved with anything that I can’t be proud of, nor do I want my hands in anything that could cause you or our children harm. ”
“Well, whatever you decide, I support you. Do you plan to continue to manage the academy and take on private clients? Or do you want to pivot altogether?”
“For now, I’ma stick to what I’ve been doing. If you going back to school inspires me, I’ll cross that bridge then.”
Her hand slid up and down my arm as she declared, “I’m proud of you. And I’m happy to be your wife.” My smile stretched at the realization that she finally called herself what she’d always been to me. “I love you, Marz.”
Tilting her head, I kissed her lips. “I love you too.”
A week had passed since everything went down, and now that I no longer had to worry about Jay and Iman, Kiana had less grace.
I went up to her job, hoping bringing her favorite salad would make our conversation a little easier.
She eyed me skeptically as she took a small bite, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“What you lookin’ at me like I’m holding you hostage for?” I asked.
“Because I feel like you’re up to something, but I don’t want to know what.”
“I was hoping if you were full and happy that we could agree to a time and day for the paternity test. I’m not leaving here without that being done, Kee.”
“Marz, I…” Scoffing, she shook her head as her hand lifted up and down. Her mouth opened and closed before she closed the salad container. “I really don’t understand why you’re making a big deal out of this.”
“Because you’re not,” I seethed, trying to maintain a bit of my calm.
“You’re the one who said if Daniel found out there was a chance this was my baby that he’d leave you, correct?
You wanted to hold off on telling him the truth to protect your relationship.
” She nodded as her eyes watered. “But you don’t give a fuck about mine,” I gritted.
“I’m trying to plan my future, my life, and I can’t do that with this hovering over me.
I need to know if this baby is mine, Kiana. ”
“I just… I was hoping we could wait until after I gave birth to have the test done.”
My nostrils flared as I gripped the handles of the seat. The laughter that spewed from my core was an unsuccessful attempt to calm me down.
“For what reason?” I asked, cupping my hands as my head tilted. “I really wanna hear this shit.”
“Well…” Her lips parted slightly as she looked down, and then she looked me dead in my eyes and said, “I’m gonna lose. Either way this plays out, I’m gonna lose.”
“The fuck does that mean, Kiana?” I asked, losing my patience.
“If you’re the baby’s father, I lose Daniel. If you’re not the baby’s father, I lose you.”
“How do you figure that?”
“You can’t tell me our friendship is going to survive this, Marz. If this isn’t your baby, you’re going to hate me for putting you through this.”
“I’m not going to hate you because we don’t know who the father is, but I will absolutely stop fucking with your ass if you draw this out unnecessarily.
If you make me wait to find out the truth, I will not forgive you for being so selfish and inconsiderate.
What happens between you and Daniel is not my concern.
I’m not waiting because you’re scared to face the truth.
If you don’t schedule the test, I’m going to tell Daniel about us myself. ”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Oh, I will call his ass right the fuck now, Kiana. Don’t play with me.”
A low growl escaped her before she snatched her phone off the desk. “Can we just do the test ourselves? I can order a kit and—”
“Call your gynecologist and have them schedule you for the blood work. Whoever they refer me to for the swab, I’ll go to. Stop drawing this shit out, Kee, and make the call.”
Huffing, she did as I said—finally. When she was done, I stood and left. A part of me wanted to tell her our friendship wouldn’t change when all of this was over, but the truth was, I couldn’t say that for sure.
Once I made it to the car, I called Heir to check in on her.
She was visiting her grandmother. Heir wanted me to meet her in case she transitioned soon, but unfortunately, it was looking like it wouldn’t matter.
Her grandmother was out of it more than she was present mentally.
They didn’t know if it was dementia or her losing her mental faculties because of her sickness.
Her body was shutting down, and she appeared to be in a lot of pain, but she refused to go to the hospital.
Heir was frustrated because her aunts and uncles went from one extreme to the next.
One minute, they’d elect not to give her what she wanted, which resulted in them sending her to rehab and not letting her go home.
Now that she was finally home, she was suffering physically and didn’t want to go to the hospital, and they were giving in to her with that.
“Hey, babe,” she answered sadly with a sigh.
“Y’all good?”
“I guess. Me and Onesty have been doing some research, and she may have a UTI. Delirium is a symptom of UTIs in the elderly. That would explain the memory loss and confusion along with the rest of her symptoms.”
“Well that would be easy enough to treat, right? Can’t y’all get a prescription for that online, or get a doctor to do a house call?”
“Yes to both. Daddy finally broke down and told his siblings he was going to do the right thing, regardless of how Granny felt about it. She won’t have to go to the hospital, but she is going to get a home visit.
If it’s the UTI, the prescription the doctor writes will clear it up.
He also said he’s going to draw her blood for some lab work while he’s here.
I want to make sure it hasn’t affected her kidneys since they were already looking bad during her hospital stay.
They don’t know how long she’s had the UTI if that’s what it is.
I noticed her clenching in pain and asked what was bothering her, and that’s the only reason I’m thinking that’s what it is. ”
“I’m glad you went to see her then. Prayerfully this will give y’all answers and her relief.”
We continued to talk for a little while longer before I let her go so she could finish her visit with her grandmother. If she was present enough to know who Heir was, I didn’t want to waste their time together on the phone when I could get an update when she made it back home.