Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
RHODES
J ust as I was covering my SUV, my phone started ringing. I nearly tripped over my own feet, trying to get it out of my pocket. Karima was already inside my pickup, waiting for me. When I saw Ali’s number, I answered quick as hell. I’d been waiting to hear from him since the night before last. I had been trying to stay calm, so I didn’t upset Karima, but I felt like I was about to lose my mind waiting to hear something.
“Hello?”
“What’s up, nigga? You good?” he asked then laughed.
That was a good sign. “Man, quit fucking with me. What happened?”
“He was waiting for reinforcement in case shit went south. He had a nigga flying in from South Carolina and a another from Killeen. Once they were in place, he met with that nigga. After talking and catching up for about thirty minutes, they got into a heated debate about the shit. Your cousin that took over, left his territory alone, so our dude used that to his advantage. Later that night, though, they had to take that nigga out. He had niggas following him to do the exact same thing. It didn’t end well for them either.”
“Shit! I’m glad he had a team.”
I realized he wasn’t using names, but I got the gist of what he was saying. Trouble and Ryan got into it and that nigga was gonna try to take Ryan out. He must’ve forgotten who he was dealing with. My pops was the shit, but against the power and respect Ryan had, he was nothing. He wasn’t upset about that either. He knew his place. Trouble’s problem was that he wanted that same respect and couldn’t get it. I didn’t think anyone would.
“Yep. He’s a smart man. That’s why them niggas can’t do nothing with his ass.”
I chuckled. “So I’m good?”
“Yep. It’s done.”
I released a sigh that came from my soul. I owed these men my life. “Okay. Well, one day soon, we have to hook up.”
“That we do. We have to welcome you and your lady to the crew.”
“That’s what’s up. See y’all this weekend?”
“Yep.”
“A’ight, my nigga.”
I ended the call and got in the truck with Karima. She had a permanent smile on her face it seemed, but I knew it wouldn’t last long. We were about to head back to Nome to go see her cousin. I smiled at her and grabbed her hand. “Sorry it took me so long. I was on the phone with Ali. I’m clear. No more protection needed.”
“Really? That’s great, baby. Although you didn’t say so, I know you were worried about it.”
“I really was, but you already have a lot on your plate. Not to mention, you have another appointment next week, right?”
“Yes, but I never have too much on my plate to where I can’t see to you and your needs, baby. Something will get pushed off before I ignore you.”
I leaned over and said, “Bring yo’ pretty ass lips here, baby.”
She giggled and kissed me, then we headed to her uncle Marcus’s house. We talked about random things on the ten-minute drive there, from the baby to our future. There were no secrets or surprise conversations between the two of us. Ever since my fuck up, there hadn’t been a lapse in communication. She knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, just like I knew she wanted to be married. There was no way I would allow Roselynn to be born before I locked her down. She wanted to be married before having a baby, and she would get that.
When we got to her uncle’s house, cars were everywhere. I could see the tremble course through her body then her eyes closed. I didn’t know if God was speaking to her or if she was just trying to calm down. I remained still until she reopened her eyes. “You good, KD?”
“Yes,” she said then gave me a tight smile.
I never wanted to interrupt her communion with God, so that was why I waited for her to reopen her eyes. I got out to help her out of the truck and saw a few of her cousins on the porch smoking. After helping her out, I noticed they’d put their weed out. She took a deep breath and walked toward the porch. I fell in behind her, resting my hand at the small of her back.
“Hey, y’all,” she said as she got to the porch.
They all spoke and began hugging her individually. She turned to me and said, “Rhodes, this is Ryder J, Aunt Tiff’s son; SS, Uncle Storm’s son; Royal and Crew, Uncle Jasper’s sons, and PJ, Uncle Philly’s son.”
They all shook my hand as I nodded at each one of them. She said, “This is my?—”
“Baby daddy,” SS said then laughed. She gave him the side-eye, and he said, “Chill out. I’m just fucking wit’chu. We know who that nigga is to you, cuz.”
I slowly shook my head. He was definitely Storm’s son. She pushed him in the head as we headed inside. There were people everywhere. The ones we didn’t get a chance to see earlier came and greeted us. Karima made her way to the kitchen, and I swore I thought she was about to eat again. Before I could say anything, I saw a guy stand. He had to be Ace.
She went to him and hugged him tightly as his face reddened somewhat. He wasn’t as light skinned as his father, who was seated next to him, but I could truly see the resemblance. It didn’t help they both had grills and long hair. When she released him, he gave me a head nod and a handshake as she hugged her uncle. I shook his hand as well, then we all sat at the table.
“Ace, I’m not going to ask how you’re doing. I can only imagine the turmoil you’re in. I just want to say thank you for doing your best to defend Grandpa.”
His nose started twitching, and his face got redder, along with his eyes. She grabbed his hands and said, “I know your anger got the best of you, but at the same time, I’m so proud to call you my cousin.”
After that, he broke. She quickly stood and went around the table to him. He stood and hugged her as he cried audibly. Marcus’s face was red as hell too. He slid his hand down his face as he watched them.
“They killed the only grandfather I had! That shit hurts, man. To see him on the ground like that, like he was nobody to them, brought me to a level of anger I ain’t never felt. I went straight to those muthafuckas and blew their brains out. I had just enough bullets in my shit to make it happen. I would’ve unloaded that fucking clip.”
“It’s okay, baby. You did good,” Karima said.
“No! I stopped to fucking holla at a nigga at the traffic light about bullshit! I could have gotten there sooner! Grandpa would still be here!”
I looked around to see everybody gathered around us. Marcus had dropped tears, and two women had made their way to him. He was doing his best to console them both while containing his own emotions. Karima was dropping tears as well. It was almost impossible to witness this without crying.
“Look at me, Ace,” she said as she pulled away from him and brought her hands to his face. “You had no way of knowing what was happening. Grandpa was probably the last person you expected to see on your way home. He was never out that late by himself. This is not your fault. The people at fault paid the ultimate price. No one in the family blames you, baby.”
He hugged her tightly again as he said, “He looked right into my eyes before he completely passed out.”
“What did he say to you?” she asked.
I didn’t know how she knew her Grandfather had said anything, but she did. Ace pulled away from her and stared into her eyes. “He was just saying Joan over and over. Before he passed out, he said he loved me.”
When I heard an audible cry, I saw Mrs. Tiffany holding on to Mr. Jasper. I turned my attention back to them as Karima said, “He did love you.” Turning to everyone else, she said, “He loved all of us, and I believe he was relaying that through Ace.”
Ace sat back in his seat, and Karima came back to where she was seated next to me. Once she sat, I grabbed her hand and gently wiped her tears with my other hand.
“What is Mister Berotte and Missus Taylor saying?” she asked.
“They are seeking a life sentence, but Sidney said wasn’t no way in hell,” Marcus said. “She said without proof of any wrongdoing on Ace’s part, they won’t get away with it. There are witnesses that saw them beating Pop.” He swallowed hard. “The only thing they are unsure about is them saying it was unnecessary force. However, they are both going to defend Ace like their lives depend on it. This is going to be an extremely high-profile case, simply because of who Pop was.”
Karima nodded. “Have they set a trial date?”
“Yeah. Two months from now. I believe the beginning of May… right around everybody’s graduation from Lamar.”
Karima nodded as her aunt placed a bowl of peach cobbler in front of her. “Thanks, Aunt Chrissy.”
As they continued to talk, I kissed her head and stood to go find Mr. Kenny. When I found him, he was huddled up with his other brothers and his brothers-in-law. I approached and he smiled at me. Everyone turned and gave me head nods. I shook his hand.
“I heard your situation is a done deal.”
“Yes, sir. I’m glad as hell too.”
“I know you are.”
I turned my attention to Mr. Ryder and extended my hand. He shook it as he waited for what I was about to say. “I hear you the man I need to see if I need a fresh tatt.”
He gave me a one-cheeked smile. “Well, I mean every nigga in here and outside are my walking advertisements. What’chu looking for?”
“I need Karima Denali tatted in cursive either on my neck or my chest, with the initials KD behind it in block letters, like the background.”
“I think something like that will look good on your chest. You got shit on there already?”
I smiled slightly. “Yeah. I got an angel wing on each peck, but there’s enough room to put KD in the middle. That’ll be perfect, because she is definitely my heart and my angel. You have any openings?”
“I got’chu Tuesday.”
I nodded as I watched Mr. Storm roll his eyes. I braced myself for what I knew was probably coming. He didn’t disappoint. “Yo’ soft ass fit right in with Kenny and KJ. I see why he like you.”
I frowned slightly then laughed as Mr. Kenny said, “Says the one who was all depressed, thinking his wife was gonna leave him some years back.” Mr. Kenny then turned to me and said, “If the woman you love don’t have you questioning your manhood at least once a week, she ain’t the one. I know my daughter push all them buttons, because she have all four of us weaker than wet toilet paper.”
“I need your blessing for whenever it happens. She completes me. We’ve already talked about it, and I know I would want her hand in marriage before the baby comes. We have about eighteen weeks before her due date.”
Mr. Kenny nodded repeatedly. “I would be proud to have you as a son, Rhodes.”
We shook hands as Mr. Storm said, “He proud now, but a little over a month ago, he wanted to feed yo’ ass to the hogs. I was gon’ help him too. As the mayor of Big City Nome, I would have acted like I didn’t see a got damn thing.”
“Damn, Unc. You telling me a nigga ain’t halfway grew on you yet?”
He gave me a slight smirk. “Yeah, nigga. Just like a fucking fungus. You better be glad I respect my lil ass niece and her gift. I would have took you out before Kenny knew you showed up.”
He chuckled for a second then extended his hand. I shook it as he said, “Now what kind of diet you tryna put together for our cattle?”
“Storm, wait until the meeting next week,” Mr. WJ said. “Jenahra, Chrissy, Tiff, and Marcus need to hear about it too… along with Jakari, Nesha, Rylan, and Philly.”
He frowned at him. “How many of y’all actually take care of the cattle? I don’t hear shit…” he said, putting his hand to his earlobe. “Just me, Kenny, and Jasper.”
Mr. Jasper frowned as he blew out smoke. “Leave me out of your fuckery before you fuck up my high. You want a pull, nephew?”
“Thought you’d never ask,” I said as he chuckled.
Before Storm could continue, his daughter interrupted him. “Daddy, we need you outside… you and Uncle Ryder,” she said as she glanced at him.
I glanced toward the kitchen table to see Karima was still talking to Marcus and Ace. For her to need both of them, it had to be about Milana and Mrs. Tiffany. When all the men took off outside, she looked over with a frown on her gorgeous face. Making my way to her, I knew she would want to be out there.
By the time I got to her, she was already standing and grabbing her phone from the table. The worried expression on her face only caused me to embrace her. Tuesday, while I was getting my tatt, I would make sure she was in someone’s parlor getting a pregnancy massage to rid her of all this tension and stress.