Chapter 10
Trek
Christmas Eve
I glanced back just to take another look at my sleeping beauty. Travel slept soundly in my bed with Deshoni in his new portable bed next to the closet. It was the perfect place for us not to be seen, just in case I wanted to dig her out.
The clock had just struck midnight, displaying that today was Christmas Eve. All my heartbeats were sound asleep, but not me. I had business to take care of. Mook had already tried to hurt Travel twice. I'd grant him no space for a third strike because he might actually succeed.
Travel shouldn't have to live in fear, and she wouldn't. My bag was already packed, so I headed down the stairs to the garage. Once inside, I climbed into my sports car and headed to my destination.
I blew the horn at my associate Will. He'd covered my house while I took care of business. Garrett revealed to me that Mook laid low at some girl's house named Gia, in the hood. It was the same neighborhood that supplied him with his pills and cocaine. After tonight, he'd make no more deals.
<<<
I drove for forty-five minutes until I reached that shitty neighborhood.
There were a few addicts who milled the street, but they were focused on getting their next high.
I parked, grabbed my bag of supplies, and got out of my car.
I then hurriedly adjusted my skully and hightailed it to Gia's back door.
Dogs barked in the distance, and rats scattered away when I walked past her garbage.
I then removed my two tools and picked at her lock until it popped.
It was music to my ears. I stood and twisted the silencer on my gun before I crept through the door, pausing to check out the scene.
The kitchen was dark, and I didn't hear anything, so I kept going. The house was tidy and smelled pretty good. It appeared that the girl Mook stayed with tried to do the best with what she had.
I eased up the stairs and made it into the dark hallway. There were only two bedrooms, with a bathroom separating them. Both doors were closed, and I had no idea which room Mook was held up in. I decided to head to the door on the right first.
I slowly twisted the knob and partially looked inside. It was dark, but the blinds were open. The room was filled with women's clothes, shoes, and accessories. I exhaled. Thank God there were no kids here. It was his girl's second closet, so that made me feel much better.
On to the next room. I closed the door behind me and crept down the hall. I slowly twisted the knob and peered inside. Mook was sound asleep and cuddled up with his bitch.
That shit was about to end. I stepped around the bed and aimed my gun at his head. Nah, that was too easy. I wanted him to see my face before he died.
I nudged the silencer into the flesh of his back until he woke up. Mook turned over and opened his eyes. I waved at him with the gun in my hand. His eyes widened, and his hands shot up.
He went to open his mouth, but I stopped him. "Ain't nothin' to say, nigga. I told you that you'd see me again.
"Travel is my whole world, and you tried to take her away from me twice. I knew her years before you, yet you thought you could control her. Now I'll be knee deep in her guts and you'll have maggots in yours." I aimed and fired twice in his heart.
Mook's body shook as he gasped for air. I placed my glove-covered hand over his mouth, cutting off his air supply. Mook weakly tried to move, but he couldn't. I watched as his body went slack, and his eyes went dull. His ass was in the afterlife now.
With expertise, I wrapped his ass in the trash bags and then taped him up good. There were a few drops of blood on Gia's floor, but not on her sheet, so I wiped them up. Afterward, I packed up and tossed his ass in the big dumpster in her backyard before I quickly made my exit and sped home.
<<<
When I made it home, I put my weapon away and showered. Once I was done, I slid into bed ass naked and pulled Travel's warm body on top of mine. She was naked too. It was the only preference I had in our relationship.
She snuggled against me while I kissed her neck and toyed with her pussy with the tip of my dick.
"Mmm," she moaned, caressing my chest and rubbing her pussy over my dick. "I wanna feel you, baby."
It sounded as if she were stirring a pot of her famous mac and cheese, which only made me harder. "Say less," I whispered in her ear. My hands gripped her ass while I licked up the base of her neck until I took her mouth hostage.
I eased inside of Travel, spreading her cheeks apart.
Damn, she felt so good and tight. The warmth and wetness of her pussy just sucked me right in.
Her pussy needed a caution sign because it was surely slippery as hell when it was wet.
Travel rode me as she looked into my eyes, and I gazed into hers.
She was officially my girl. There were no longer any obstacles in our way. I could love her the way I'd always wanted.
"I love you, Travel, with every fiber of my being. You are mine, all mine. Do you understand me?"
She nodded. "Yes, I understand because I love you with my whole mind and heart. You, too, are mine, Trek."
We crashed our lips together. I gripped the back of her neck, making sure she couldn't leave me, while the other hand was placed between her ass cheeks.
I made sure she felt every stroke as her body trembled and revealed her orgasm.
I followed right behind her, stroking that pussy until she had a belly full of my cum.
<<<
"Hurry up, babe. I don't want you to miss out." Travel encouraged me.
It was Christmas Eve evening, and our new tradition was to allow the kids to open one gift and watch as many Christmas movies as we could until we grew tired. I moved as fast as I could with the tray that carried our hot chocolate mugs and snacks. The joy I felt couldn't even be described.
With Travel, I've never been happier. I couldn't believe she had me doing shit like this as well, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm sure she was the woman I chose to wait for because life was so much better with her.
"I'm here now, babe."
I set the tray down and handed Travel and Junior their mugs of hot chocolate.
They could add whatever toppings they wanted.
Next, I handed Deshoni his safety cup with slightly warmed apple cider.
He drank it so damn fast, and all I could do was shake my head.
He really was the greediest toddler I knew.
I couldn't blame my lil' patna'. He had a hearty appetite.
I placed some snacks on Deshoni's food tray, then took my seat next to Travel.
She handed me my mug of hot chocolate with a big grin on her face.
Travel lived for this holiday shit. Whatever made her happy, I'd gladly participate in. I pulled her legs onto my lap, and Junior queued up Home Alone part one, and we were all locked in. We were an hour into the movie when we heard light snores.
I looked to my left, and Deshoni was knocked out on the plush carpet. Chunky man was out for the count. I looked at Travel. "You want me to put him in his bed or just place a cover over him?"
Travel swallowed her bite of the large marshmallow she was snacking on. I hated marshmallows with a passion, but she loved them. "You can just cover him up. We can take him upstairs once we're ready for bed," she answered.
"Okay." I covered Deshoni with a blanket and kissed his forehead before retaking my seat next to Travel.
She stuffed more snacks into her mouth and paused when she noticed I was looking at her. "What?" she probed with a smile as she munched on her mouthful of food.
"And you wonder where Deshoni's appetite comes from?"
She giggled and nudged my shoulder. "Leave me alone. You know I love to snack."
"Indeed, I do. That's why I keep you with them."
Junior cleared his throat. "I need to tell y'all something."
"What's on your mind, son?"
"Please share, baby boy," Travel encouraged him.
Junior set down his mug on the table. He sat on the floor next to his lil' bro. I watched as he locked his phone and pulled his headphones from his ears and down to his neck.
"Mom is scaring me. She ain't been the same since y'all got together.
I see a change in her that's not healthy.
Before I came over here for the holidays, she had stopped going out.
Now all she does is work, come home, and drink in her room.
We barely talk anymore. Yeah, we have our differences, but we're always able to come back to each other and make up.
She hardly asks me about my day or school anymore.
What's bothering me now is the text she just sent me," Junior disclosed.
"I think she left me with you for good."
"Let me see, son."
Junior unlocked his phone and handed it to me. My eyes scanned the short yet heartfelt message. June mentioned she'd always love him, but she couldn't stay in the same place as me.
It was a fuckin' goodbye message. She sent our son a goodbye message on fuckin' Christmas Eve. I exhaled and handed Junior back his phone. "Hold on, son."
I snatched my phone off the table and clicked on June's contact. It went straight to voicemail. I called a couple of more times, and the same thing happened.
"Y'all, I need to run to June's house. I can't see her just up and leaving Junior. Give me a minute."
"It's okay, Dad. I understand," Junior stated in a sad tone.
I looked at Travel. She hurriedly wiped off her hands and went to Junior. "I got him. Handle your business but be careful."
"I'm on, baby. Thank you." I kissed her lips and then raced off upstairs. Once I was dressed, I raced away from my house, fuming inside.
I know June ain't break my son's fuckin heart like that.
Secondly, I was warm and comfy at home and didn't want to be outside again today.
My sports model car ate up the miles between us on the expressway.
June was so foul if she abandoned Junior.
I hoped she was just in her feelings, and she sent that message just to get under my skin.
That was a foul move either way, but I hope like hell she was at home. I floored my car to her.
<<<
After thirty minutes of driving, I stopped in front of her building and parked. I quickly got out of my car and ran up to her building. Adamantly, I rang her doorbell, but June didn't answer. I stepped back and looked up at her windows, but her entire apartment was dark. What the fuck, man?
I rang her bell a little more until her elder neighbor across from her opened her door. She stepped out of her house in her small brown robe with a large white envelope in her hand. I had known Ms. Edna since June and Junior had moved into the building eight years ago.
She moved like a turtle until she made it to the door.
Ms. Edna gave the door a little push, and I opened it the rest of the way.
"Hey there, Trek. It's nice to see you, son.
I have a letter for you from June. The sound of the buzzer woke me, so I looked out the window and saw you. " She handed me the envelope.
"It's nice seeing you, but I wish it were on better terms. Do you know what this letter is about?"
Her brows scrunched, and she tightened her robe around her. "You don't know?"
"Know what?" I asked, completely confused.
"June moved out. She left the next day when you picked Junior up for the holidays. I asked her if Junior was going with her, and she said he was better off with you. I'm sorry you are just finding out. Poor Junior. Does that child know?"
"June just sent him a goodbye message. I can't believe this. That woman is unbelievable." I shook my head. I could not believe that shit. June's selfish ass abandoned Junior, and during the holidays at that.
"I'm so sorry, Trek. We all know that June was a lost soul, but that move was so selfish. You and Junior are certainly in my prayers. Have the best night and holiday you could possibly have."
"You too, Ms. Edna. Thanks again."
We both turned and walked away. I climbed into my car and opened the envelope. The contents were sprawled on the passenger's seat, which contained Junior's birth certificate, social security card, his medical forms, and a letter. I opened the letter and read over it.
Dear Trek,
I hope this letter finds you well. I know you think I'm a coward or a terrible mother right now, but I did what was best for Junior and me. For years, I've loved you. I've been in love with you since we were teenagers, but I knew I wasn't the girl for you.
Travel will always be that girl for you, and I can't handle that. I thought I was strong enough to deal with seeing y'all together, but I can't. My heart is broken. No, it's fuckin' shattered.
You know exactly how I feel, though, because you sat back for years and watched Travel and Mook together.
Whereas now you've got your heart, I don't have mine.
I'm not mature enough to sit back and see you happy with her, so I granted your wish.
You've now got your dream girl and your son.
You don't have to worry about me popping up and destroying your happiness and peace.
Tell Junior I really am sorry, but I had to do what's best for me.
Goodbye, Trek. I love you and I always will.
-June
The letter ended, and I leaned against my seat.
My heart ached for June. I hated that I hurt her. I never wanted my happiness to hurt her, but there was a part of me that always knew she'd never be able to handle Travel and me together, which was why I never wanted to tell her. I knew she'd do something drastic.
Taking care of my son would never be an issue. I've wanted Junior for myself ever since he was born. I'm overjoyed to have him to myself, but there was the issue of fulfilling the abandonment issues he'd just inherited.
Would he view the holidays as a happy time, or would he forever associate them with June walking out of his life from here on out?
Only time would tell, but I'd get him whatever counseling he may need.
I pulled away from June's house with my mind focused on the full family I'd just inherited, and I was prepared never to fumble.
My girl and the boys depended on me, and I'd show up every day for them.
With Travel by my side, we'd get through whatever life threw at us.