Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
Grand.
I had no idea what to expect when it came to a birthday dinner with Saniya’s family but it damn sure wasn’t pizza, wings, and multiple decks of cards. We spent the night in battles with Uno, Spades, Twenty-one, and the current challenge, War. The final hand of the evening was between Saniya and her father. While they laughed and taunted each other, intensely going at it over a game of chance, I sat on the sofa enjoying the unguarded way she existed.
This was her family, her safe space. A place where she could be herself uninhibited. Watching Saniya with her family proved that everything I was feeling was legitimate. She was completely exposed and still the same person I had been falling for over the past couple months.
There was nothing about her actions that made me believe I hadn’t experienced the purest form of this woman. She had exposed her true self freely which sealed the deal. If I was offering my true self, I had to receive the same in return. Seeing Saniya tonight with her family proved there were no pretenses. No performances with this woman. Simply the woman I wanted a future with. Being here together also fucking crushed me in some ways because Aleah’s family should have loved her the same way.
“She’s a daddy’s girl.” The spot next to me on the sofa sank and I glanced to my left to find Audra, Saniya’s mother, next to me, cuffing a mug of something steamy. I could smell the honey and lemon and assumed it was tea.
“I see that.” I turned my attention back to Saniya and her dad. Both had massive smiles on their faces while they slapped cards down on the table. Sameena filled the chair between them with her knees pulled into her chest while she hyped them both, remaining neutral as to who she was truly rooting for. It brought another smile to my face before I focused on Audra again.
“And as much of a daddy’s girl as she may be, she never seems to let his love guide her choice with men.”
I kept my expression neutral and nodded but didn’t say anything. She kept talking. “Is this temporary?”
I shook my head and she sighed.
“I didn’t think so.”
“Would you prefer that we were temporary?” I asked, not that I gave damn what she preferred. I wanted something serious with her daughter and any conflicts she harbored with my wants wouldn’t change my mind.
“I would prefer that she fall in love with a man who won’t break her heart. One who will love Saniya the way her father loves me.” She lifted the mug, took a cautious sip while watching her husband and daughter, then turned her eyes on me. “You love your son, correct?”
“Yeah…”
We’d discussed Raiden briefly but not beyond surface details.
“If you feel his well-being is threatened, you would do anything in your power to ensure his safety, wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah…”
I frowned, trying to see where the hell this was going.
“This is me protecting my baby.”
“If you’re protecting her, you feel I’m a threat.”
She smiled. “You’re definitely a threat. Saniya invited you in which means she’s vulnerable to you and your actions. As for whether or not you’ll do damage remains to be seen. I don’t care about your past, Grand. We are not the sum total of our life choices. I’ve had a few missteps in life. I’m sure every living person has. Now your future with her? That’s another story altogether. She’s happy. If you can’t promise at least the effort to ensure she remains that way; then you should leave because she won’t.”
“What makes you think she won’t?”
“I know my daughter and this, whatever this is between the two of you, is something new for Saniya. She wants it enough to ignore the signs if you don’t .” Before I could respond, things erupted into a clamorous explosion of shouts and laughs between the three of them challenging the victory Kevin secured over his daughter. Audra vacated the spot beside me and joined them before Kevin pushed out of his chair and waved me over.
“As much as I’ve enjoyed my birthday, we’re not going to hold you guys too late. Come help me get this table and chairs back to the garage before you head out.”
Saniya made her way to me, lifted onto her toes to deliver a kiss respectable enough to be witnessed by her parents, and removed the beer from my hand. One I’d nursed most of the evening. I barely took down a few swallows at best and only accepted to be polite. She turned it up and winked at me before turning to her sister. “Come on, Meen. Let’s help Mom get this cleaned up.”
They moved, dumping paper plates and empty pizza boxes into trash bags while I joined Kevin and began folding metal chairs, which I stacked near the wall before helping him with the oversized card table.
“Let’s get these first.” He motioned to the chairs then clasped a hand on my shoulder. “And you can relax. Based on the look you had a few minutes ago, my wife already had the ‘don’t break our daughter's heart’ talk with you. I won’t double down.”
I chuckled, nodded, and lifted two of the metal chairs, following him to the garage. We made two more trips, the last being the table which we moved together. After everything was stacked neatly in one corner of the garage, he slipped his hands into his pockets. “I get her once a month so she can kick my ass at bowling.”
I frowned briefly then nodded, understanding what he was saying. This was his acceptance of me being a solid fixture in his daughter’s life.
“That’s doable.” He rolled his shoulders back and peered at me sternly.
“I wasn’t asking, son.”
“Understood.” I smirked and extended a hand which he accepted and shook, sealing our unspoken agreement that I was taking on the role of the man in his daughter’s life. Kevin was also letting it be known that whatever happened between Saniya and me, success or failure, he would be here for her. Whether that be to celebrate our happiness or pick up the pieces if I fucked this up.
He moved closer and clasped me on the shoulder once more, smiling amusedly. “So I hear you and I share something in common.”
“What’s that?”
“Our kids having the ability to humble us when it comes to athleticism.”
I barked a laugh, thinking about how terrible my game was today with miniature golf. “Yeah, and that’s a very humbling experience.”
He nodded, heading to the door to enter the house. “Depends on how you look at it, son. The time together and memories far outweigh my ability to break one hundred against my daughters. I’ll gladly take that L for what I get in return.”
I had to agree. Spending time with Raiden, no matter the activity or outcome, was damn sure worth any L I would suffer.
As soon as we were inside, he stopped just beyond the door. “How are you with bowling? I’m fairly decent with a golf club. Maybe between the two of us, we can soften the blow of those Ls we’re subjecting ourselves to.”
I laughed lightly. “I’m decent. Maybe we can.”
“Good, good. Sounds like a plan.”
By the time we made it back to the kitchen, Audra had containers with birthday cake packed and ready to take with us. She also made sure to let me know she added extra for Raiden. I appreciated the consideration. I thanked her parents for including me tonight and we said our goodbyes so we could be back to my place before ten. Yet another reminder that my life wasn’t my own. This fucking curfew was annoying as hell but the alternative was worse. I didn’t know how the hell I would survive these restrictions for the next five years but it wasn’t like I had a choice.
When we arrived back at my apartment, Tali gave us the rundown then was out the door to meet some woman he’d recently met. After checking on Raiden, who was fast asleep, I had Saniya trapped between my body and the wall just outside my bedroom. As much as I wanted her to stay, she kept insisting it wasn’t a good idea.
“I should leave,” she moaned into my mouth while my tongue greedily attacked hers.
“Nah, you should take these off.”
“That’s not a good idea or I’ll never get out of here.”
“Who said you were going anywhere?”
Saniya smiled but didn’t stop me when I tugged at her shirt and helped her out of it. Her jeans were next to go.
“I’m not staying. There’s only one bed and we’re not putting your son on the couch. It’s bad enough I stole his time tonight.”
I yanked my shirt off, then removed my jeans. “You didn’t steal his time. He gave me up when the offer of tattoos was placed on the table.”
“But…”
“He can have the bed. We’ll sleep on the couch.”
I brushed my thumb over her lips at the same time my other hand slipped into her panties and I stroked my fingers over her pussy.
I smiled in confidence when she moaned her approval and her lids fluttered closed.
“There’s no way we’ll both fit on the couch.”
I leaned in and brushed my mouth over hers. “We can, if we’re really fucking close.” Two fingers pushed into her and I hooked them upward, using my thumb to apply pressure to her clit. Her hips jutted forward and she spread her legs wider, slouching against the wall for support.
“I think she agrees that making the sofa work is the best option.”
Saniya swallowed another moan before she peered at me through hooded lids. “She doesn’t get a vote.”
I smirked. “I disagree. She’s voicing her thoughts about you staying right now. So fucking wet.” When I looked down, I caught the muscles in her abs flex and felt the muscles in her pussy tighten and pulse around my fingers. I slowly pulled them back and thrust in deeper, picking up the pace.
I watched obsessively as her lids lowered into a hazy, narrowed glare and her lips parted just before she reached her climax. So fucking perfect. I shoved my tongue into her mouth, greedily sucking on her tongue while I continued hard deep plunges with my fingers, pushing in as deep as they would go. She came so fucking hard. I wasn’t done.
I picked her up and carried Saniya to the sofa, spread her thighs wide, and buried my face between them, punishing her clit.
“Oh, shit…I can’t…hang on…” She tensed her thighs and pushed against the force of my palms while I spread her wide.
Not happening.
I took my time devouring her until her muscles tensed and her body trembled while she jerked hard, thrashing against my mouth.
She came twice more, and while she recovered, I dipped in my room, found a condom, then pushed between her legs, issuing slow lazy thrusts. Now that she was fully satisfied, I could take my time and fuck her like I wanted.
The next morning, a pounding on my door had me squinting into the darkness of the living room, struggling to peel my eyes open. It had to be early because the sunlight hadn’t filled the room yet. I glanced down at the body weighing me down and frowned at the door when another round of heavy pounding landed hard against it, but this time, an agitated voice followed.
“Grand Sinclair. DFPD. You have thirty seconds to get your ass to the door.”
I gently nudged Saniya awake. “Hey, I need you to get up.”
“Hmmm…” she mumbled and snuggled deeper into my chest.
When they were pounding at my door again, I felt a blaze of fire rush through my body. This was my life. I understood the consequences, but disrupting the normalcy of her life wasn’t something I could take lightly.
“Baby, get up.” I pressed my palm into her back, moved my hand under her shirt, and let my fingers glide up her spine while I kissed her forehead.
“What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s at the door.”
“Who?”
She lifted her head from my chest, blinked me into focus, then turned to look at the door at the exact time another warning came through.
“Sinclair, open the gotdamn door.”
“Grand, who is that?”
“DFPD.” She pushed away from my chest and climbed off my body. I sat up and brushed my hands over my head.
“What’s wrong? Why are they here?”
“They can do random visits anytime they want.” I narrowed my eyes, taking in her bare legs. “Go put some clothes on and stay in my room with Raiden until they leave.”
She didn’t move right away, and I could see the defiance flickering in her eyes, but she eventually gave in and left the room. I waited until I heard my bedroom door close before I lifted from the sofa and moved so I could get this shit over with.
I turned the lock and came face to face with two uniformed officers, with another guy waiting a few feet behind him.
“This your guy?” One of the officers turned, addressing the plainclothes man before swinging his eyes back to me. Both had their hands positioned on the weapons at their sides. The guy flipped open a folder I hadn’t realized he clutched at his side, glanced at something, then nodded.
“That’s him.”
“Step aside, Sinclair,” the officer to the left demanded.
“What is this?”
“Curfew check.”
Bullshit .
My curfew was ten p.m. to six a.m. No one initiated a curfew check at five-fifty in the gotdamn morning.
“You see me. There’s no need for you to come inside.”
The plainclothes asshole pushed through the officers, flashed his badge to identify himself as a Parole Probation Officer, then smiled smugly. “I see you but I also have reason to believe you have illegal substances on the premises, which is also a violation of your parole. Now would you like to willingly move out of the way or would you prefer to be cuffed and wait in the back of their car while I do my job?”
My jaw flexed in anger but my hands were fucking tied. Saniya and Raiden were here. I refused to let this touch them, so I stepped aside. The more I resisted, the more he would have pushed. This wasn’t random. Someone sent this guy here to fuck with me.
The officers moved inside but remained near the door while the guy walked in, handing the folder off to one of them before he moved to the sofa and began yanking the pillows from it. He carelessly tossed them on the floor then scaled his hands down the sides and back, coming up empty. There weren’t any drugs here but I had a feeling he didn’t assume there were. This was just to provoke a reaction. One I was struggling not to provide.
“I didn’t get your name.”
“I didn’t give it,” he said after lifting the edge of the sofa and tossing it back so that it flipped over.
I cut my eyes at the officers who smirked but didn’t say a word. They knew this shit wasn’t protocol but were allowing it to happen.
“Then at least explain why it’s you and not Lenette Knowles. You’re not who I report to.”
“She was busy.”
I ground my teeth when he moved to my kitchen and began yanking items from the cabinets, tossing them to the floor. Plastic plates, bowls, and cups scattered everywhere.
“Whatever the fuck she told you?—”
“She didn’t tell me anything. I’m not here on behalf of Ms. Knowles.”
“Then why are you here?” I gritted. He lifted my trash can and emptied the contents on the floor.
“I have the right to be. You’re property of the state, Sinclair.”
He yanked drawers open and roughly dumped the contents on the floor before the drawers followed.
“My son’s in the back asleep. If you’re going to do this, let me get him out of here.”
“No.”
I crossed the room and got in his face. “You want to trash my place, fine, do it. You won’t find a damn thing but he doesn’t need to witness this bullshit.”
“Back the fuck up.”
My fists clenched at my sides. The only thing that made my feet move was the potential to end up back in a cell. I refused to allow my ego to land me right where I came from. The place I swore I would never return to.
“You can’t leave; so your son stays put.” He smirked and pushed past me.
“I can take him.” I closed my eyes at the sound of Saniya’s voice behind me. When I turned in the direction it traveled from, I found her standing defensively with her arms locked over her chest. Thank fuck she listened and put some damn clothes on or I wasn’t going to survive this.
“Fine, but anybody and anything that leaves here gets searched before they bypass that door. I need to be sure she’s not hiding anything for you. I know how this shit works.”
“You’re not touching her,” I demanded.
“Is there a problem, Lenox?”
The minute I heard that voice, everything began to fall in place. I was wrong for believing this had anything to do with Lanette. She wasn’t here because she likely didn’t have a damn clue the visit was scheduled.
“He wants her to take the kid out of here. I told him no one’s leaving without being searched first.”
“Where is he?” Aleah’s father asked calmly but his tone was cold and uncaring.
“Bedroom, I’m assuming. I haven’t seen him yet. Just these two.” Lennox pointed to me then flicked his wrist toward Saniya.
“No one leaves.” He turned his eyes on me. “This couldn’t be any more perfect. Maybe seeing his piece of shit father dragged out of here in handcuffs will scare him into making better life choices so the little bastard doesn’t end up just like you. You can consider this my contribution to society since I couldn’t convince Aleah to get rid of him like we demanded.”
He demanded she kill my son. He wanted her to end his life before it even began.
My mind blanked. Everything happened in slow motion. My fist crashing against his face. The cops rushing me. Me being dragged out of there. Saniya screaming for them to let me go, then everything went still with one word…
“Daddy…”