Chapter 21
I watched Romi opening her baby’s gifts while on the back porch with my brothers, Pops, and Mr. Mitchell. We’d come outside to smoke while she and the women fawned over the presents. It felt good to give her a small slice of happiness in the midst of emotional turmoil.
“Look at this nigga,” Maceo said, slapping my shoulder. “How you feeling, Big Papa?”
I shoved him off. “Shut up.”
“Don’t bitch up on us now.” He looked at Mr. Mitchell. “Aye, my bad, Mr. M. This is just how we talk to each other. It’s our expression of love.”
Mr. Mitchell chuckled. “It’s alright. You’ve met my very expressive Renay. I’m used to colorful language.”
I turned to Mr. Mitchell, thankful Romi wasn’t around for what I was about to ask him.
“Can I ask you something, Mr. Mitchell?”
“Go ahead.”
“How do you feel about this Patrick nigga?”
He sighed. “He’s caused my baby girl a lot of stress. She hasn’t had much peace the last couple of months because of him and this whole situation. The police haven’t been much help. She files reports, and somehow, things end up missing. We suspect it’s because of who his father is. If it were up to me, the nigga could drop dead.”
“Say less.”
He looked at me with wide eyes. “I didn’t say that for you to?—”
My father raised a hand. “Listen. We can make this go away. All we need is a word.”
“Renay already gave the word,” I revealed. “So has Romi.”
He looked around at us. “Y’all are serious.”
I nodded. “Dead ass. If it makes your decision any easier, Romi told me that Patrick was the one that pushed her and made her fall. He’s the reason your granddaughter came early. The reason she is fighting for her little life right now.”
“Is that what she wanted to talk to you and Renay about the other day?”
“Yes, sir.”
He was quiet for a moment, seemingly contemplating the offer on the table. What he didn’t know was, even if I didn’t have his blessing, I was going to take care of the problem. I couldn’t let that man walk around thinking he had gotten away with what he did. He was going to see and feel me. Every person that covered up for him was gonna feel me too.
“Would we need an alibi?” Mr. Mitchell asked.
I shook my head. “Nah. They’ll know who it was.”
“I just have one question.”
“What’s that?”
“Why would you do this for my daughter?”
Steel snickered. “’Cause the nigga is in love. If he’s not, he’s almost there.”
Mr. Mitchell looked at me for confirmation.
“I care about Romi,” I admitted. “When she first came to me to buy a gun, there was something in her eyes that drew me to her. There was this innocence about her. Then she told me what was going on and how nobody was taking her seriously or trying to help because of who this nigga’s father was. Now, I have certain privileges because of my father, but none of them include harassing a woman that’s pregnant with my kid. I can’t respect a nigga who does shit like that. I can’t respect a nigga that has to use other people to elevate his hustle. Especially a fake ass gangsta. So since he wants to play with the big dawgs, I’ma check how big his bite is compared to his bark.”
Mr. Mitchell nodded. “As long as my daughter and granddaughters are safe at the end of this.”
“Look who her man is,” I said, chuckling.
Steel laughed. “Y’all ain’t even together!”
I waved him off. “What’s understood won’t ever be explained. That’s my woman.”
“Nigga ’bout to be stepdaddy of the year,” Deuce said, lighting another blunt. “Y’all saw him with that baby. Once you do skin to skin, it’s a wrap. That shit unlocks something feral. Why do you think my baby is obsessed with me? Hell, why do you think Pops and Mr. Paul were scrapping like that over you and Shar?”
Pops chuckled. “Good times.”
“All I ask is that you treat my daughter right,” Mr. Mitchell said. “Be good to her. Be good to my grandbabies.”
Pops slapped his back. “One thing about this family, we don’t trust too many people, but once we lock in, we lock in for life.”
Me and my brothers looked at each other before breaking into laughter. That was hilarious coming from a man with four baby mamas and no ex-wives.
“Shut the fuck up,” he told us, knowing exactly what we were laughing at. “I might not have married any of your mothers, but I’ll hold them down forever because they gave me y’all. Real niggas take care of their responsibilities even when those responsibilities are grown and aggravating as fuck.”
“Not too much on me or my siblings, Stanley,” I told him.
“Y’all came from my nut sack. I’ll do as much as I want ’cause ain’t one of y’all can check me.”
“Let me call my mama,” Deuce said, pulling out his phone.
We all laughed because Mama Stephanie was the only person that could check this fool. She was my favorite auntie because she didn’t play with or about any of us.
Pops glared at him. “Watch me beat your ass.”
“You scared of your baby mama, old man?”
They started going back and forth, and of course, my brothers joined in. Mr. Mitchell sat there grinning and shaking his head. I had to shake my own head because you really couldn’t take us anywhere.
The house was empty.
Our families had finally left about seven, leaving me and Romi to ourselves. Currently, she was sitting in the recliner in Juri’s room, instructing me where to put all her things. Our families had gone all out with gifts. She had diapers for damn near every stage plus bottles, bibs, wipes, and onesies out the ass.
Jaeda and Mia gifted her the entire baby line from Polished Styles , so baby girl had clothes for days. Deuce and Salima gave her a convertible stroller, while Maceo and Shar gave her a luxury car seat. My mother gifted her a handmade crochet blanket she’d been working on since I told her about Romi. Her parents gave her a bassinet. Steel gifted her a designer baby bag, and Pops was feeling real generous by gifting two ten-thousand-dollar savings bonds for Juri and Korri.
Romi cried for fifteen minutes after he presented them to her.
“I can’t believe you put all of this together,” she said, rocking back and forth. “No one has ever done something like this for me.”
I turned from putting the last of the clothes up in the closet. “It really wasn’t nothing, baby.”
“Would you stop saying that? Every time I try to thank you for something, you brush it off like it’s no big deal. Learn to accept genuine gratitude, Devin.”
I did have a hard time with that. All I knew was to serve and protect. I’d never been one to do shit for recognition or for something in return. She had a need, and I had the means to fulfill it.
“I hear you, love,” I said, closing the closet. I walked over and stooped in front of her. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m a little tired. I want to check on Juri though.”
The hospital offered live camera services where she could log in and check on baby girl. The nurse helped her set up the account before we left for the day. She pulled out her phone and logged into the app. After a minute or so, Juri’s little face populated on the screen. She was sleeping soundly as the nurse checked on her. When she noticed the green light, indicating we were watching, she smiled and waved. She pointed to Juri and gave a thumbs up, signifying that she was okay.
A small sigh of relief left Romi as she stared at the screen.
“I miss her already,” she whispered.
“I know. But you can go see her tomorrow as soon as we wake up.”
“Okay.”
“Come on here so you can shower and lay down.”
I slid my arms under hers and helped her to her feet. Leading her out of the nursery, I took her down the hall to her bedroom and into the bathroom. While the water adjusted to her preferred temperature, I got her undressed and washed her face. After helping her into the shower, I stripped down and climbed in with her.
Grabbing her loofah and body wash, I squirted a generous amount before giving her a good lather, being careful with her incision. She stood there with her eyes closed, like she was fighting back tears. I could only imagine what was going through her head. As I finished washing her legs, I stood to find those same tears streaming down her cheeks. Cupping the side of her face, I kissed them away before pulling her into my chest.
“I got you,” I said, softly. “Whatever you need, I got you.”
For a while, we stood there with her wrapped up in my arms, until she got herself together and got out of the shower. I gave my body a generous lather before rinsing off and getting out myself. With my oral hygiene taken care of immediately after, I left the bathroom and slipped into a pair of pajama bottoms.
Romi had gathered the supplies needed to clean her incision. I’d been at the hospital when the nurse explained it all, so I took the items from her and dropped to my knees in front of her. As she watched me cleaning the fresh cut, she reached out and ran her fingers through my fade.
“I’m lucky to have you,” she said. “I was prepared to do this with the help of my mom or sister.”
“What kind of man would I be if I let my lady go through this without me?”
“Your lady?”
“Yeah, my lady.”
“You haven’t asked me to be yours, Devin.”
“I needed to ask? Have I not been doing the shit your nigga is supposed to do?”
“Yes, but?—”
“Do I not spend most of my free time with you?”
“Yes, but?—”
“But nothing.” I stood, towering over her. “You were mine from the moment you walked your pretty ass through my doors. We solidified that the night you let me eat your pussy. I don’t care that you were pregnant when I met you. I don’t care that you have two children. I want you. If you think I won’t nut the fuck up about you or those girls, you have another thing coming. I’m not asking you to be mine because you are already mine. Understood?”
She nodded. “Understood.”
“Now. I’m gonna help you get dressed. You’re gonna lay down, and we’re gonna chill and relax because you need that.”
She didn’t say anything in protest, just allowed me to do exactly what I said. Before long, she was knocked out.
Two A.M.
I felt my phone vibrate next to me on the dresser. Romi was beside me, sleeping soundly. Easing my arm from under her, I sat up and grabbed my phone to see that it was Jaeda calling me. If she was up this late, she was working. I slipped out of the room to answer the call.
“What’s up, Jae.”
“Did I wake you?”
“Yeah, but it’s cool.”
“Okay, well I’ve got movement on the cameras at Romi’s shop.”
Since confirming my suspicions that Patrick was the cause of Romi’s fall, I had my sister monitoring the shop. I told her I didn’t care what time it was; if she saw that nigga there, call me.
“What do you see?”
“It’s him and looks like two other men and a female heading in through the back.”
“Bet. I’m on my way. Make sure you erase that footage.”
“I got you.”
I hung up and called Steel, knowing he was in the area at his spot in the city.
“What up, fam?” he answered.
“What you doing?”
“Shit, me, Don, and Kobi over here about to spark up this last blunt before we call it a night. Why? What’s up?”
“I’m sending you an address. Meet me there. Bring cuzzo with you.”
“What we doing?”
“Just a lil’ snatching.”
“Bet.”
We disconnected the call, and I shot him the address of the shop. Heading back into Romi’s room, I quickly got dressed and headed back out. After grabbing her keys so I could let myself back in, I left the house and headed in the direction of the beauty bar. The drive only took about ten minutes. I drove past first to make sure nobody was outside before I backed into the darkest part of the parking lot.
A tap on the window caused me to look over and see Steel and our cousin Jakobi. After retrieving my gun from the center console and screwing on the silencer, I got out of the car. I slapped hands with my brother and cousin.
“I appreciate y’all coming,” I said.
Steel nodded. “Baby daddy?”
“Baby daddy. Jae said it’s him, two other niggas, and a female inside.”
“I’ve got the cleanup crew on the way,” Jakobi said.
“Good. I just want him and the girl, especially if it’s the bitch I think it is.”
“I got my shit,” Steel said, patting the bag on his back.
They nodded in agreement. We headed for the back door, guns drawn. I checked the door, finding it unlocked. Slowly, I twisted the knob and pulled it open. Quietly, we entered the building. I’d had Jaeda pull the blueprints so I’d be familiar with the layout when the time came. We made our way down the hall to the basement door. Again, I slowly twisted the knob and pulled it open.
Voices could be heard at the bottom of the stairs. With the layout being the way it was, we could sneak down without being seen. It was a matter of being heard. Slowly, we descended the concrete steps. Peeping around the corner, I saw Patrick standing at a table, counting money, while the other two men sorted baggies of cocaine. That bitch Laurel sat in the corner, scrolling on her phone.
I knew a snake ass ho when I saw one. It was gonna break Romi’s heart to know she’d been crossed by yet another someone she trusted. It didn’t matter though. I was going to get justice for her. Justice began with me sending a bullet through the back of one of the unknown men’s heads. He fell against the table before falling to the floor.
Laurel screamed and ran to hide, while Patrick and the other man fumbled for their guns. By the time they got them, Steel had given the other man a headshot while Jakobi shot the gun out of Patrick’s hand.
“Get that bitch,” I said, motioning to Laurel as I approached Patrick with my gun drawn.
He held his hand, muttering curses from the pain.
“You know me, my nigga?” I asked.
“The fuck do you want?”
“You.”
“Please don’t shoot me!” Laurel begged, as Jakobi had her hemmed up. “I’m sorry. I just?—”
“Bitch, shut the fuck up!” I snapped. “You ungrateful ass hos make my nuts itch. How long have you been fucking with this nigga?”
She was quiet until I pointed the gun at her. “A few months!”
“Triflin’ slut.”
“Look, if this is about the drugs, just take it,” Patrick said.
I laughed. “This pussy ass nigga thinks this is over some fucking drugs. Nah, see. You touched something that now belongs to me, and I don’t play about a nigga touching what’s mine. Bitch, the drugs are the least of your problems with me, personally. I do have a few people who want to speak with you about that, however.”
“What do you want! I can pay?—”
I shot him in the other hand.
“I don’t want your fucking money, nigga. I will take what you have on you, however. You see, my girl just had your baby, and she’s gonna need some compensation for that. This will make a great push present for her.”
“My baby—Romi?”
“You got it, my nigga. That’s mine. I’m gonna enjoy raising your daughter too. Got my baby in the NICU fighting for her muthafuckin life. And you, you stupid bitch,” I said to Laurel. “Romi trusted you, and you out here fucking her trifling ass baby daddy. You hos love fucking ain’t shit ass niggas. Your life is gone off principles alone.”
Before she could blink, I gave her a headshot as well. Jakobi let her body drop to the floor.
“Muthafucka, you could have warned me,” he complained.
“My bad, cuzzo. These niggas got my trigger finger happy. Grab this bitch so we can be out.”
Steel unzipped his backpack and pulled out the chloroform and a cloth. After dousing the cloth with the substance, he went over and placed it over Patrick’s nose and mouth. He tried to fight it, but Jakobi shot him in both kneecaps, sending him to the floor. His fight slowly ended as his body went limp, and his eyes drifted closed.
While my brother and cousin lifted him from the floor, I grabbed the stacks of money and tossed them in the duffel bag before following them upstairs. Just as we made it to the back door, the cleanup crew was pulling in. I gave them a head nod as I opened my trunk, and Patrick’s body was tossed in.
“You need us to follow you?” Steel asked.
“Yeah. I’m taking him to the spot. I’ll get back to him in a few days.”
Steel chuckled. “A few days?”
“I have a kid to tend to, nigga.”
He shook his head. “Ok, Big Papa. Let’s get the shit show started.”
We slapped hands before parting ways. I spoke with the cleanup crew briefly about confiscating the drugs and bringing them to my uncle, before hopping in my car. Patrick LaStrange had no idea what I had in store for him. Sure, my uncle and Roux wanted to see him, but first, I was gonna have a little fun.