Chapter 5
My eyes snapped open, and as my vision cleared, the first thing I saw was the inside of Milani’s mouth.
It hung wide open, her head tilted back as if she’d fallen asleep staring up at me.
If it weren’t for the visual confirmation, I probably would’ve thought Candace slipped something in my drink at the lounge that had me hallucinating.
However, her soft breasts pressing up against my chest were very real.
I lifted my hand to cup Milani’s breast and leaned down to lick her nipple, but the beeping from the alarm stopped me.
Milani stirred in her sleep while I sat up in bed, reaching around on the nightstand for my phone to see who was entering my home.
It was Levi and Terrel, and they were carrying the Chanel bag and cupcakes that Deja brought over for me the day prior.
Hearing Milani’s name made me forget everything I already had going on.
Sauntering into my closet, I grabbed a running set and sports bra from the drawers and slipped them on.
When I sauntered down the stairs, Levi and Terrel were standing around my kitchen, dressed in their running gear.
“I’m removing y’all codes to the door. You have to start knocking,” I announced once I was on the first level of the home.
“Aye, now that you got Milani back, you gone be mad if I see what’s up with Deja? You was playing. Thick shit fine as fuck, and she can bake her ass off. Why you left this stuff on the porch across the street?” Terrel questioned, devouring a cupcake.
“I don’t give a fuck what you do with her. But those cupcakes have been sitting out there since yesterday morning. Yo ass is going to be sick,” I laughed, taking a seat on one of the stools to slip on my socks and running shoes.
Terrel spat chewed chunks of cupcake and frosting all over my kitchen.
“You finna get the fuck out. Why would you assume I left that shit over there today when it’s eight o’clock in the morning? Why are y’all even up and over here this early?” I interrogated, pointing at the closet across from the kitchen. “Get the broom and Swiffer to clean this shit up.”
“I told his stupid ass that they were probably there all night because you act like Deja repulsed you. He talkin’ ‘bout they look fine,” Levi shook his head at Terrel, then turned to face me.
He stared me down, quiet and infuriating because it was like he wanted to read my soul.
Clearly, he was perturbed about my actions last night, and I could understand that.
“Let’s run off some of that steam, big man,” I directed once my shoes were on.
Terrel put the cleaning supplies back in the closet, and we headed out the door.
Levi was right next to me while Terrel struggled to keep up as usual.
He used to go to the strip club every weekend.
Now that he bought one, he was in there every night.
Smoking and drinking until the wee hours of the morning, it was rare that he ever woke up early enough to run with us.
Jogging off the property, we greeted the armed guards before they opened the gates for us to jog out of.
As soon as we were out of earshot, Levi started his lecture.
“I understand you found Milani after all of these years, but this ain’t a fucking honeymoon.
As soon as that nigga gets back and realizes his fiancée is in the wind, what the fuck do you think is going to happen?
He’s probably cutting his trip short because I’m sure Deja had to call her people when she left the lounge without her. ”
Levi was always serious, barely taking the time to unwind and enjoy the fruits of our labor.
I hadn’t even run down the intimate details of last night, but he already knew it all.
His low, dark eyes were impenetrable; I could never read them like I could others.
It was difficult to tell if Levi slept a wink or was up until the wee hours of the morning, combing through security footage to piece my night together and try to figure out who the shooter was.
Once I drove onto the Black Family Estates, I let all that shit leave my mind and engaged in some of the most mind blowing sex.
I didn’t give a fuck about the consequences.
That was my favorite way to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
“Levi, you gotta relax sometimes,” I encouraged through quick, steady breaths. “Whoever shot at me will be handled. If AC wants to beef about Milani, then it is what it is. Y’all know good and fucking well I’m not about to surrender the love of my life to him. What do we gain from his family?”
“Not a damn thing!” Terrel shouted from behind us, breathing hard as hell.
“Just because somebody sister, baby daddy, cousin decided to marry one of them niggas in a far off land don’t really mean shit to me.
When the four families started, there were four families.
That’s the only thing I respect. Could you figure out who shot at me last night since you clearly have been mulling over it all day? ”
“Nah. The shooter hopped in a rental car that came back to a pediatrician out of Michigan named Henry Walker. Quinn looked into him this morning, and he’s clean.
Doesn’t trace back to anybody within our circles or beyond.
Reported his credit cards stolen this morning.
The few angles where he didn’t shield his face from the camera, the motha fucka was wearing a ski mask. ”
“Maybe Milani was the target,” Terrel suggested. “Where the fuck did she even come from?”
“I don’t know where she has been. I just know she ain’t going back.”
“I never thought I’d have to talk to you like I do Terrel,” Levi grumbled and abruptly stopped running, causing Terrel to run into his solid frame.
I slowed up, jogging back to them, but continued to jog in place while I waited for whatever disrespectful shit Levi was about to spit out.
We were stopped just past the last stretch of trees on the street, leaving us exposed to the blazing sun.
I looked up at my cousin, lifting my hands to shield my face from the blinding sun.
He needed to spit whatever he had to say out; the sun was already scalding my skin, and I could feel myself perspiring more than I was a few seconds ago.
“You’re thinking with your pussy! Milani is laid up in your house, unsupervised, and you don’t know where the fuck she been for the last nine years?
You too busy eating pussy to ask the questions that need answers! ”
“Nah, don’t put me in the mix with Sneaux. She takes the cake now. This is a thousand times worse than any of the shit I’ve pulled. I ain’t never left no suspicious bitch in…”
I stopped jogging in place and lifted my left foot to kick Terrel in the dick. My movements were swift, and he didn’t have time to react because he was too busy gloating. Terrel crumpled to the ground, his hands flying to his dick before emitting a low, mangled gasp.
“Don’t call her out of her name. What the fuck is wrong with you?” I snapped.
“I’mma—kill you, bi–”
“Call me a bitch so I can kick you while you’re down,” I challenged him, cutting off his labored threat.
Terrel lifted a middle finger, knowing that I would make good on my threat and play soccer with his head while he was down.
He knew he couldn’t retaliate because that would be writing a check that his ass couldn’t cash.
One of the few perks of being a woman in this patriarchal society.
Luis Black wouldn’t give a damn why Terrel laid hands on me; he would just see red.
“You ain’t going to say shit to her, Levi? She’s going against me for some pussy. I never thought I’d see the day.” He uttered slowly, and I burst out laughing.
“I hate you,” I laughed, and reached down to help Terrel off the ground.
“I can’t get up yet dickhead. I’m barely breathing,” he swatted my hand away.
“You definitely putting me down with Deja now. Tell me everything you know about her thick ass to make it easy for me to get in her panties. My homies said single mother pussy be fire. That’s why niggas couldn’t pull out fast enough. ”
“I wouldn’t know. Never tried it before,” I shrugged.
“What about you, Levi?” Terrel queried, still holding himself on the ground, but he was slightly relaxed now.
Levi mugged us, arms folded across his chest like a father wishing he could whoop his bad ass kids, but DCF was looking over his shoulder. He ignored Terrel’s ignorant ass question and narrowed his eyes on me.
“You need to figure out where the fuck she has been for the last nine years, since that’s a code no one has bothered to crack yet.
Somebody was hiding her, and maybe that’s who shot at her.
Also, where is her mother? We haven’t had bullets aimed at us in nine years.
It’s mighty convenient that she pops up and you’re dodging bullets. ”
Levi said his piece then continued jogging down the sidewalk.
“He’s fucking pissed,” I laughed, running behind Levi, leaving Terrel on the ground.
“Okay. I’ll just be here!” Terrel shouted from his spot on the ground.
Levi and I completed the two mile run in silence.
The sound of our shoes pounding against the pavement and our rhythmic breathing filled the space.
We were both in deep thought about the situation at hand.
When we made it back to the estate, I veered off towards my home while Levi continued to his parents’ house next door.
“I’m not blowing you off. I’ll have answers to all of our questions soon,” I shouted across the yard.
Levi raised his thumb and continued jogging towards his house. Upon entering my house, something felt off. Immediately on high alert, I slowly slid open the drawer to the entryway table and pulled out the Baby 9.
“Milani!” I called out to her and received no answer as I maneuvered slowly and quietly through the house.
My feet picked up speed once I ensured the common areas were clear of threats.
I took the stairs two by two until I was in my bedroom, where there was no sign of Milani.
Lifting my phone from the nightstand, I went to call the security at the gate.
“Y’all let a woman walk off the property and didn’t say shit?” I barked into the phone.
“We didn’t let anybody walk off the property.
Whoever you took in your house last night drove out of the gate in your truck with Bill.
We never received instructions to keep anyone on property, and Bill has unfettered access, so we followed protocol,” he replied, and I hung up, rushing down the stairs.
When I got to the last step on the stairs, I noticed a folded piece of paper sitting on the counter next to the Chanel bag. I dialed Bill’s number while reading the note.
Sneaux,
I meant every word I said last night. However, the reality of the world we live in will require us to wait. You gave me nine years. I just need you to let me figure a few things out, and then I’m all yours.
Please just let me have a few days.
Milani
Smacking the Chanel giftbag across the counter, it slammed into the wall, then landed with a hard thud. I grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and headed back out the door.
“Hello,” Bill finally answered the phone.
“Why the fuck did you drive off the property with Milani? Bring her the fuck back!” I demanded, pacing the floor.
“I received a text from your phone that told me to take her where she needed to be. When I got there, Milani was waiting at the door. I thought y’all got into it or something,” he detailed.
“Just bring her back!” I barked.
“I kinda already dropped her off,” he faltered, and I knew Bill well enough to know that he was rubbing that bald ass head.
“What the fuck do you mean kinda! Either you did or you didn’t!”
“The Publix outside of the neighborhood. Somebody picked her up from there about ten minutes ago. I’m already back at the estate. I’m pulling through the gates now.”
I hung up on Bill and shot Terrel and Levi a group text.
Me: 911.
Terrel: Milani already over there beating yo ass?? Good. My dick still hurts. I hope she kicked you in the pussy.
I was too furious to respond to Terrel. The loud whirring of my garage door lifting sent me in that direction. “Don’t even turn that truck off! Back it out of the garage!”
Bill nodded and backed out of the garage.
“What happened?” Levi questioned, cutting across the grass with a plate of toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs in his hands. He shoveled another spoonful of eggs into his mouth anticipating my answer.
“Milani went back to AC. I don’t care about the consequences, I’m willing to accept whatever smoke comes with the move I’m about to make.”
“Yo, she so fuckin’ tenda. Don’t ever play on my top again,” Terrel shouted, walking slowly from the opposite direction.
“You were still laying down over there?”
“Maybe,” he flashed a crooked grin. “But that’s not the issue at hand. I’ve done some shit in my life, but taking a nigga’s bitch up out of his crib ain’t one of them. I’m down to ride though. Just be prepared to return the favor if I ever need it in the future.”
“Just let me eat right quick.”
“Whatever you are going to do has to be done now to minimize issues. I had Quinn track their family's private jet, and they said AC is on his way back because his fiancée and sister are missing,” Levi detailed, eyeing me suspiciously.
“I didn’t do shit to Deja,” I refuted.
“Damn, not thick shit missing,” Terrel sighed.
“If you are attracted to her, why didn’t my father arrange a marriage between you and Deja since her family wants ties so bad?”
“Uncle Luis knows good and fucking well I’m not getting married no time soon. I wanna smash. I’m not trying to wife her.”
“You do realize that time is ticking for you as well? I have three years, you have three and a half, and Levi has four.”
“Y’all going to gossip or get on the move?” Levi monotoned.
From the outside looking in, everyone thought Levi was the oldest of the three of us. He was definitely the most mature of the three, and I always gave credit where it was due. Oddly enough, Levi was the baby of the group.
“Damn nigga. We movin’, we movin’,” Terrel confirmed. “Did ma make some breakfast for me too? Let me grab my plate, and I’mma ride with you, Sneaux. Levi is running off no sleep, and it shows.”
“Fuck you nigga,” Levi spat.
“Love you too nigga.”