Chapter 11 #2
Watching how natural Kong was with her son was something.
Emeric rarely spent time with him since the adoption.
He hadn’t changed one diaper or contributed to one feeding since he’d been home either.
Although Darcy loved the little boy with everything and looked forward to whatever motherhood brought, she couldn’t sit there and lie that it wasn’t hard without the proper support system.
It was obvious that Kong was a hands-on type of dad, even if it was something he had to grow into as well. At least he’d taken the time to do so.
“It wasn’t easy,” Kong revealed, rocking and looking into Neo’s eyes as they explored his while he spoke.
Seeing this little baby damn sure tugged at his heart strings.
He and Ayla both were trying to remind themselves to live, even though there had been no news about their son out there.
He remained hopeful that someone, somewhere knew something.
He’d seen Moose with Tiara, and he couldn’t imagine missing out on Kyro or Kara’s lives, no matter how hard it got.
Ayla being home put everything into perspective for him.
He was more grateful than ever for all the blessings in his life.
“You want more kids?” Darcy saw how he was watching Neo.
“Not sure yet. We lost a baby not too long ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Nah, you didn’t know. We’re pushing through, but it’s a work in progress.
Some days are better than others. I think I might want more kids, though, maybe.
She’s good to mine, so she deserves her own.
I just don’t think she’s ready for that yet.
” Sighing, Kong raised his gaze to meet Darcy's, filled with empathy and admiration.
She blinked away fresh tears when Emeric came to join them, full of energy.
“Aight, my attorney wants me to bring these by so he can look them over tonight. We’ll have everything signed, sealed, and delivered by end of day tomorrow. Is that cool?” Emeric queried, holding his open hand for Kong to shake.
“Yeah, that’s fine.” Kong nodded, adjusting Neo in his arms.
He had settled down significantly. Now Darcy was hesitant to even take him back; he was so content.
Emeric didn’t even hold him, and she did not want to raise him as one of those Velcro babies.
She had somewhat of a life that she wanted to get back to as well.
She thought having this baby would get her invited to more of the events that the wives and girlfriends of Emeric’s other associates, but they all seemed to shun her for one reason or another.
She wasn’t stupid. She’d heard the rumors about her husband, and given all the late hours he kept, both in the office and in the streets, she assumed a lot of it was true.
She’d had multiple STDs during their marriage.
Instead of taking accountability for his infidelity, Emeric would beat her ass and swear she was the one cheating.
“I better head to this meeting.” Kong handed the infant back to his mother.
“No doubt. We’ll get out of here. I can take the wife out for a late lunch to celebrate.” Emeric placed his arm around Darcy and kissed the side of her head.
Sadly, it was the most affection he’d shown her in months.
She missed the old Emeric. When she met him ten years ago, he was just an up-and-coming hustler.
Now, he had bossed up some and was making plays and investments all on his own.
It seemed the more money he accumulated, the worse it got.
Every now and then, in brief, very sporadic moments, she caught glimpses of that young, hungry, passionate dude he used to be.
She wondered if he would ever come back.
Kong walked them out, excusing himself when they reached the elevator to go.
Emeric nodded to a few people, including the receptionist who’d been side-eyeing him earlier when she heard him talking to his wife crazy.
He hated a nosy bitch. The moment they were on the elevator and the door closed, he turned on Darcy.
“The fuck was that!” he growled, forcing her into the corner.
“What are you talking about?”
“You in there getting a little too comfortable with the nigga is what I’m talking about. You got me fucked up, bitch!”
“Em, baby, that’s not what was—”
Smack! He slapped her so hard, her back hit the wall. She held onto Neo for dear life. Emeric gave not one fuck that the infant was in her arms.
“I know what the fuck I saw!” he spat, eyes swirling with rage, saliva dripping from his curled lip. “You think I’m fucking stupid, some bitch nigga! You think you can play in my fucking face!” he roared, making Neo erupt in high pitched cries of distress.
“Shh.” Darcy rocked him with tears in her eyes.
The elevator door dinged, and Emeric switched personalities in an instant.
He swiped his beard, stuck his chest out, and walked out ahead of her.
Darcy’s head remained low all the way to the car parked out front on the curb.
Once she was settled in her seat, and Emeric had started the car, he paused before slowly swiveling his head in her direction.
Contempt typically lived in his eyes for Darcy.
Sometimes he didn’t know why he kept her around.
Out of some sick kind of loyalty and control.
He had molded her into what she was today.
On the outside, she was perfect for him.
The opposite of the hoes he loved to entertain.
In a lot of ways, she had held him down and helped him build what was slowly becoming his own empire.
Darcy took care of him when he was sick.
She cooked his meals, did his laundry, and kept his home up to par.
These other bitches weren’t out there doing none of that, and a man like him needed order in his home above all else.
It was just the kind of program he was used to, thanks to his own father.
“Boss, before you go, it’s something I want you to see.” Dedric, one of the security guards for the building, addressed Kong as he strolled off the elevator.
Typing a message to Bee in his phone that he was coming to get Kyro and Kara, he looked up when Dedric stood behind the security desk.
“What’s up?”
“Now you know I be minding the business that pays me…” Dedric began, breathing heavily since he was on the husky side. “But I can’t help what I see when I’m doing my job, right?”
Kong paused, cut his eyes at Dedric, and approached the side of his desk where he had a view of the camera monitors for the building.
“So, what did you not see?” he questioned.
“Check it out for yourself.” Dedric ran back the elevator footage from the time Emeric and Darcy left.
Seeing their interaction in the car alarmed Kong for several reasons. Emeric came off as impatient and detached, but watching him slap Darcy with no regard for her holding that baby was wild. Some shit you just don’t do. Dedric looked to Kong, waiting for his reaction with both brows raised.
“Now, my mama always told me stay out of folks relationship business.” Dedric held his hands up.
“Your mama was right.” Kong pushed away from the desk, notating the information as he shot a text to Mozzi. “Thanks for showing it to me, though.”
“You know I gotta let you know what’s going on in your building.”
“I’m out for the night, D. Take care.” Kong waved over his shoulder and exited into the breezy evening.
There were still remnants left of the sun in the distance.
He stepped off the curb, and his car doors unlocked for him to get inside.
He’d ordered the sushi ahead from Pho Kitchen, grabbing a little of everything for them to try.
By the time he got there and grabbed the kids about fifteen minutes from the restaurant, it was almost 7pm.
Kyro and Kara talked his ear off the whole ride about their day.
Apparently, Marina took them on a field trip in the fields where she’d been gardening and teaching them about plants and herbs.
He thought it was dope that they were learning something and seemed to be retaining the information.
Coast had her issues with her mother, and from what Mozzi said about their relationship, she seemed to always be waiting for her to up and leave.
Kong had a few conversations with Marina while dropping the kids off and going back and forth the last few months, though.
She didn’t sound like a woman ready to pick up and go any time soon.
“Are we here?” Kara sat up in her seat and peeked out her window as Kong parked beside Ayla’s Camry outside her condo.
“Yeah, grab your stuff,” he told them. Thunder rumbled the ground under them as a flicker of light bounced through the sky.
When Ayla opened the door, bouncing Iara in her arms, it was the last thing Kong expected to see, and it sent a sweeping chill up his spine.
She was a natural with her resting on her hip, holding a bottle to her mouth to feed her.
A soft grin claimed her pouty mouth, and she tipped her head to the side.
“Rara’s here!” Kyro rushed inside, his Sonic backpack slung over his shoulder, and his iPad tucked under his arm, with Kara right behind him.
“How did you get suckered into that?” Kong knelt to kiss Iara’s forehead, and she touched his cheek with her chubby palm.
She was the sweetest, feistiest little baby he’d ever met.
Raising kids and being around them as babies was damn sure different as you got older.
Seeing Ayla so happy is what really brought a smile to his face.
“Coast and Mozzi wanted some alone time.” She shrugged and turned her attention to Iara, who stared back and forth between them like she knew what they were talking about. “She’s going through some post-partum shit, and they haven’t had any alone time in months. Plus, I like being around her.”