Chapter Fifteen. #2
Crown nodded, hoping she was right. The possibility of them having to cut her open again weighed heavily on his mind. Dr. Harris had explained that while it wasn’t a certainty, it all hinged on the circumstances surrounding the delivery. That uncertainty left Crown feeling uneasy.
Nivéa slightly turned her head to face him, and they shared a deep kiss. They were lost in the moment until the sound of the doorbell shattered the intimacy.
“That’s them.” She said.
Crown kissed her neck one last time before releasing her to check on the food.
As she moved toward the kitchen, he made his way to the front door and opened it.
Tanya greeted him with her usual warmth, arms wide open, but Smoky stood awkwardly on the porch, clutching a bottle of wine and a BUILD-A-BEAR gift bag for Nyla.
There was a moment of hesitation in his expression, as if he had spent the drive over contemplating how Crown would treat him now that the truth was out.
After greeting Tanya, Crown stepped aside to let her in. He then glanced at Smoky. “You coming in or staying out there, nigga?”
Smoky’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “Coming in, nigga.”
“Aight then, hurry yo’ ass up, lettin’ all my AC out.” Crown replied as they slapped hands.
“Where the baby?” Tanya asked.
“Sleep. Just got her down.” Crown told her.
“Where mama at? Thought you said she’s staying here?” Smoky asked.
“She is. She sleep, too.”
Nivéa entered the living room, and Tanya walked over to hug her.
“You look so pretty, Niv.”
“Girl, what? Not as pretty as you. I love that dress.”
“Thank you.” Tanya smiled, spinning around slightly. “I try.”
Smoky placed the bottle of wine on the counter, then handed Nivéa the gift bag, which held a pink Teddy Bear Tanya had built for Nyla. She’d spent an hour at Build-A-Bear personalizing it.
“For baby girl.” He said, hugging her.
“Aww, this is so pretty. I love it. Y’all didn’t have to bring her anything.” She said.
“Girl, we wanted to.” Tanya told her. “I love kids.”
“Well, I appreciate it. Thank you.”
After the women set the table, they all sat down to eat.
Dinner was relaxed. Tanya complimented the food several times, while the men returned for seconds quickly.
They discussed Nivéa’s growing business, Tanya’s day at home, and her desire to start working just to get out of the house.
Nivéa could relate to that, given her own circumstances at the moment.
Crown joined the conversation when he felt like it, but his mind lingered on the war, strategizing his next move.
Occasionally, his gaze drifted toward Smoky, sensing that he too had something weighing on his mind.
Both men were quieter than usual, letting the women carry most of the conversation while they listened.
Once dinner wrapped up, Tanya followed Nivéa into the kitchen, despite her insistence that she didn’t need help cleaning. Crown seized the moment, glancing at Smoky.
“Come outside, bro.”
Grabbing his drink, Smoky stood and followed him through the back door.
Crown stepped onto the spacious back patio and settled into one of the outdoor chairs.
He wasted no time bringing Smoky up to speed on his conversation with Pete and Spencer, detailing everything they had learned about Maino and Lawson.
Smoky listened intently, absorbing every word.
Part of him felt relieved at the information, but a nagging worry persisted… was it enough to save Maino?
By the time Crown finished catching him up, the glass of cognac in his hand was empty. He set it down on the patio table and looked Smoky directly in the eyes.
“I done sat on this shit for a few days, hoping I’m making the right decision.
You the only reason that nigga still breathing.
I’m doing what I’m doing and moving how I’m moving because you asked me to, and because I love the shit out of you, bro.
But understand this…if that muthafucka makes another move or becomes a threat in any way, there ain’t no more chances. I’ll deliver him to you in pieces.”
Without waiting for a response, Crown stood up and headed back inside to refill his glass, leaving Smoky alone on the porch with his thoughts.
∞∞∞
It was almost one in the morning when Smoky and Tanya finally pulled away from Crown and Nivéa’s place. They had been drinking, and Smoky wanted it to wear off before getting on the road.
The ride kicked off quietly. Too quiet for Tanya.
She sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window, watching the streetlights blur by.
Normally, the silence between them didn’t bother her.
Smoky was one of the few people she could sit next to without needing to fill the space with words.
Just his presence was enough. Their bond was that tight.
But tonight felt different. A lot of things had felt off lately.
It was like something had settled between them. Or someone, rather.
For years, it had been just them. Everyone else came and went in her life, but Smoky was the one person who never left. The one who always showed up when she needed him most.
Tanya met Smoky in high school. Back then, her life was like a horror story on repeat.
Her childhood was filled with every kind of pain imaginable: verbal abuse, emotional turmoil, physical scars, and sexual abuse.
With a mother who was more absorbed in her own needs than in caring for her child and a revolving door of men coming in and out of their home, Tanya never felt safe.
Home wasn’t a place to relax; it was where she fought to survive.
Then she met Smoky, the tall, intimidating biker everyone knew was destined for something greater.
At the time, he was only riding with Crown for fun, spending time around the Knights and being mentored by the older members.
Even then, people could sense there was something different about him.
He carried himself with purpose, like a boss.
Everyone knew that once he graduated, he would become a prospect…
and eventually a full-fledged member of the Knights.
One day after class, Smoky made his move on Tanya in the hallway.
She still remembered her shock. Not because she didn’t know she was attractive; she did.
She was pretty, but she had never been that girl everyone noticed.
Quiet and reserved, she kept to herself and was always lost in her thoughts.
Her upbringing had a lot to do with that.
Her body might be present, but her mind was often miles away.
Some days, she was preoccupied with what awaited her at home.
Other days, she was lost in dreams of another life, a life where she didn’t have to constantly look over her shoulder.
But Smoky saw her. He truly saw her. To him, she was the prettiest girl in their class.
At that time, Smoky was still trying to figure himself out, grappling with the expectations that surrounded him.
Tanya didn’t know the whole truth about him then; she only recognized the boy who made her feel noticed for the first time. She decided to give him a chance.
Their bond grew quickly, and soon Smoky became her boyfriend.
It didn’t take long for him to sense that something was wrong at her home.
One summer night, Tanya called him, just needing someone to listen.
She confided that her mother’s current boyfriend was just like all the others from her past—he wouldn’t leave her alone.
She felt exhausted, tired of being afraid and trapped.
She thought she was merely venting, unaware that Smoky was about to take action that would change her life forever.
Without telling her, Smoky showed up with Crown, and together they confronted the nigga and beat his ass.
The man who had made Tanya’s life miserable ended up fleeing, scared of what would happen next.
The last thing he wanted was to deal with Smoky and Crown, not to mention the potential trouble from the entire Knights club.
By then, Smoky was eighteen, freshly graduated, and had just secured his own place.
After everything that had happened, he offered Tanya to live with him, and she accepted.
Her mother didn’t put up a fight or ask questions.
She was too angry that Tanya had driven her man away.
She didn’t give a fuck where her daughter was going.
At seventeen, Tanya left home and never looked back.
She had no reason to. Smoky took care of her, and together they built a life.
Every few years, he upgraded their living situation.
They moved from an apartment in a rough neighborhood to one in a better area, then to a stylish loft, and finally to a lovely home.
When Smoky eventually came to terms with his true self and shared that truth with her, Tanya stood firmly by his side. She never judged him or abandoned him.
Instead, she married him because Smoky was Smoky…
the person who saved her, the one who had always chosen her.
He was her hero, and she promised to choose him as well whenever he needed her, no matter the circumstances.
Now, for the first time in their relationship, Tanya felt as though she was losing her place, and it was all because of Maino.
The truth had finally reached Crown, and with it came uncertainty.
Tanya glanced over at Smoky. “What did Crown say?” She asked.
Smoky kept his eyes fixed on the road, leaning back in his seat with one hand gripping the steering wheel.
“He good.”
Tanya frowned at his dry response. “What does that mean?”
“It means he good. We good. It’s all good.”