Chapter 21
Crew
Wifey P!” I burst in the kitchen fresh out of the shower because I spent some time in my meditation room this morning.
When we moved into the house, I made sure there was one room where I could still practice smudging to keep me grounded.
I don’t smoke weed anymore, I don’t drink like that, so it was one of my only forms of relaxation.
Well, that and being waist deep inside of Pernelle.
She brought a nigga a different level of peace every time I made love to her.
“Yes, baby?”
“Ciara just called my phone and asked if the nacho dip is ready because you didn’t answer. She said they are starting to set up the food under the tent.”
“Shit, my phone is in the bedroom, but it is almost ready. I just have to pour it into this crockpot, and then you can run it across the street.”
“Okay, bet.”
I grabbed one of the homemade tortilla chips she made from the rack, scooped up some dip, and tasted it before Jas called me out.
“Greedy ass is always taking some food,” Jas commented on me stealing from the pot.
“Fuck off, this is my wife food and my house. I can eat whatever is made in here.”
I reached for my baby girl, taking her from Jas's hands. As I did, Jas playfully punched me in the side.
“Don’t take my baby from me, jack ass.”
Amira reached back for her.
Amira was now attached to Jas, probably because she was always hanging out at my house and enjoying the laid-back vibe. Recently, since Jas and P became friends, it felt like I couldn’t take a step without seeing her or my mama here.
While I played with Amira in the kitchen, tossing her in the air, I glanced over and saw Pernelle carrying the heavy crockpot, handling it with ease even while pregnant with our first son.
“Whoa, whoa, baby, watch yourself, superwoman. You know you're carrying valuable luggage in there.”
“Crew, Messiah is fine. The way he kicks me all night, he can stand a little bumping from me.”
Pernelle brushed me off.
She was now seven months pregnant and having my son just in time because Cashmier’s son not being mine had a nigga down for a while.
Apparently, King was in the custody of his real father, that nigga Tech, who used to be their family’s personal bodyguard.
She had been fucking him the whole time and he wanted to step up as his dad when she got that ten-year sentence.
My guess is that he wanted that money from her estate every month that I would’ve turned down if he was mine.
Once the dip got poured into the crockpot, I carried it out the front door and over across the street where Faith’s 1st party was being hosted in their yard.
Ciara and Hov had gone all out for their baby girl's first birthday party. Bouncy houses everywhere, a pony out here to give rides, a clown that actually looked scary as hell, but I wasn’t going to tell anybody I was scared.
All I know is that I was staying far away from his ass today.
A clown ass nigga I hate, but a straight up clown, I’m terrified of. Been that way since I was a kid.
“Cici.” I got Ciara’s attention as she laid a stack of plates on the table.
“Hey!”
“Here is the dip.” I sat it down on the table.
“Thank you, brother. Now tell Pernelle she can sit down now and she better relax. Her ass tried to baby me my whole pregnancy with Faith, and now she thinks she can do anything she wants while carrying your son.”
“I ain’t saying shit to her stubborn mean ass.” We laughed.
“Maybe you can get through to her, but I’ll go get the chips now because I couldn’t carry all that shit at once.”
“Okay. Thank you, brother.”
“You welcome sis.”
I started off across the street.
“Ayy.”
I stopped in my tracks when I heard a whistle come from the top step of their house and saw it was Hov standing up there, holding Faith, who wouldn’t let him put her down for a minute.
She reminded me of how Amira was at that age.
Clingy as hell to her daddy, but my boy was enjoying every bit of it.
“Birthday girl!” I spoke to Faith as I walked up on them.
She was the perfect mixture between Ciara and Hov.
Pretty like her mama and brown skin like her daddy.
She was mean like him too. She was only nice to my family and her family.
Everybody else could kiss her ass. When I think about it, that was just like someone else I know, her pops.
“Say what’s up, Uncle Crew. Ask him to take you to see the clown.”
“Oh, you're trying to be funny nigga. I forgot you knew I was scared of them muthafucka’s.”
“Nigga you know I know everything about your ass, but I was coming out here to tell you. Actually, hold on.” Hov stopped talking after looking at Faith. He put her down on the ground.
“Go get mama or grandma.” Faith hesitated at first until Hov’s grandma turned around and started calling for her attention.
“Anyway. I wanted to tell you that Gio was just caught up at a bus station in Little Italy about an hour ago.”
“Caught up like he was seen or he’s now in the past.”
“The past. That nigga is no longer existing. The deed is done.”
I exhaled, slapping hands with Hov after hearing the news.
Hov made it his personal vendetta to track down Gio and get rid of him because of the snake as shit he did to me. Hov said because I had his back when he was down, he was going to forever have mine. He's been looking for that nigga since before I got sentenced.
“Who got his ass?”
“Amir, did. You know that nigga like a fuckin FBI agent when it comes to finding mutha fuckas. Shit, I’m still sure he’s the one who found your spot back then. He’s the best hitman I’ve ever hired for sho.”
I squinted my eyes.
“Oh, so the nigga better than I was? That’s what you're saying, bro?”
“Uhh, well.” Hov smiled, pushing me playfully.
“I’m fucking with you nigga. There wasn't nobody more deadly than the Slim Reaper.”
“You god damn right!”
I talked my shit because I knew I was that nigga back in my day.
I haven’t killed a man since we took out the Quatar family at that funeral that day.
Now, with Amir on the roster and that nigga Elijah, who asked for work, Hov and I retired from doing any dirty work.
Any vendettas we had, we gave to them to handle, along with Scotty and Bam overseeing it all and they did their jobs pretty well.
Me and him were able to be family men now without needing ski mask ever.
“Nigga, I talked to your old girl Bria this morning when she called my wife to wish Faith a happy birthday, she asked about you.”
“Oh yeah? Where is she living now?”
“She said she up in Virginia near her niece somewhere. She told me that she had a nice little spot and an office space to practice law in again. That money we gave her after finding out she looked out for your case got her set up nice, from what I’m hearing.
I’m glad they believed what she said about that nigga and didn’t strip her of her license.
Now she thriving and he got 20 years for obstruction of justice. ”
“Good for that dumb ass nigga.”
“Oh, yoo-hoo.” Our conversation was interrupted and we turned towards the street to see by who.
“Hi, Jehovah.” Ciara and Pernelle's homegirl, Mindy from the center, walked up in the yard holding a bag in her hand.
“Where do I put my gift? I know I’m early, but I wanted to see if Ciara needed any help setting up.”
“Thanks. I’ll show you where you can sit them over here.” Hov grabbed the bag from her, and they walked away.
I ran back across the street to check on P, and when I walked through the door, the commotion from the kitchen made me pick up my pace in stride.
“Oh lord Jesus!”
“What’s going on?”
I asked, hitting the corner, almost busting my ass.
“Crewshon, your wife’s water just broke. Messiah is on the way.”
My mama said frantically because she was dramatic as hell.
Pernelle was sitting down calmly on a barstool next to the center island rubbing her stomach.
“You okay, baby?”
“Yes, but I was supposed to help Ciara with the party today. I’m about to have to miss my Goddaughter’s first party. Plus, I wasn’t prepared to have him today. He wasn't supposed to come today.” She started to get upset, and I rubbed her back, kissing her on the forehead.
“Look at me, P. Everything will be okay, and I’m here with you this time. We are about to get your bags and call the doctor to let him know we are on the way, alright?”
“Okay.” She wiped a teardrop away from her cheeks.
“Just breathe, Pretty P. You know I got you. You're tough as hell and I'm here with you this time. I'm right by your side baby.”I saw the relief slowly cover her face.
I already have my wife, my daughter, and the businesses I been opening, but now my life is getting that much better with Messiah making his way into our lives. To think, years ago I didn't know I wanted a family, now fast forward to now and that’s all I ever wanted.
I got these three forever and a day, and I will love them all past death.
I put that shit on me.
The End