30. Saint
My home doesn’t feel like home anymore. I feel empty.
No little feet running around, no girly music blasting from Journey’s room, and no warm body next to me at night.
I never expected this shit to blow up the way it did.
It was never supposed to get this bad. But I lied, and the shit caused me to lose my family—my happiness.
Ever since Blessing walked out that door, everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
We got kicked out of the playoffs after losing by a fucking field goal.
The refs were playing dirty as hell the whole game.
There wasn’t a damn thing we could do about it.
After leaving the game, our team bus was shot up on the way back to the hotel.
Luckily, no one was hurt because the bus is bulletproof.
The police had yet to catch the dummies behind the shooting.
Blessing reached out after hearing about that shooting, but that’s the last time I’d heard from her.
That was a week ago, and I miss my fucking family.
To top it off, the remains that were found weren’t a match to my DNA, so I still had no closure about my pops.
Now, I was lying across the couch listening to Anthony Hamilton cry about being a mess. We were in the same fucking boat.
“Aight, Moo. Get the fuck up. I’m tired of you being in your feelings. I warned you from the jump. I told you that shit was going to blow up in your face.” Dru stood over me, sipping from a bottle of beer.
“Dru, shut the fuck up.” I continued scrolling through the family photos we’d taken for Christmas. My heart ached. Losing Kynnedi didn’t even hurt this bad.
“Naw, get yo’ ass up. You got me beefin’ with my bitch cause you don’t listen.”
I sat up on the couch and ran a hand across my face. “I didn’t think this shit would blow up in my face like this.”
“I told you it would! All you had to do was tell Bless. Now go get dressed so you can get yo’ woman back.”
“Where we goin’?”
“According to Chanel’s close friends, they got a section at Pink’s. So, we finna slide through there.” I could hear Dru chuckling as I hopped up from the couch and sprinted upstairs to my bedroom.
After taking a quick shower, it didn’t take me long to get dressed. I threw on one of the designer outfits Blessing gifted me for Christmas, along with a pair of Air Force Ones. I was in dire need of a haircut, so I decided to wear a hat with my team’s logo that went perfectly with my outfit.
“You ready?” Dru asked, standing outside my bedroom door.
“Yeah.” I nodded as I sprayed a few pumps of cologne. I was about to walk out, but that uneasy feeling sat in my chest. I grabbed my gun and tucked it in the waistband of my jeans. My security was meeting us at the club, but you could never be too safe, especially after our team bus was shot at.
I took a sip of my drink and leaned against the bar.
My chest tightened as I watched Blessing shake her ass while Hot Boys rapped about needing a hot girl.
I gave her a little space, now all of a sudden, she’s on the stage at the club like she’s a fuckin’ party promoter or something, and of course, Chanel was right beside her, hyping her up.
“Hell naw. I’m finna shut this shit down right now.” Messiah scoffed when Blessing squatted down to pop her ass to the beat. If she knew her brother was here, she wouldn’t be doing any of that shit.
“We just gone sit here and watch all night, or are you gonna go get yo’ woman?” Dru said, chuckling.
I couldn’t help but admire the way her ass sat in the leather skirt she wore.
It stopped right below her ass cheeks. Her leg sleeve was on full display.
I swallowed the rest of my drink and walked towards the stage as the song ended.
Dru and Messiah followed close behind me.
As soon as Blessing stepped off the stage, I grabbed her hand, pulling her into me.
She sucked her teeth and shoved me away. “Whatchu want, Moo?” She folded her arms under her breasts, causing her cleavage to slightly spill from her shirt. I could tell she was drunk by the slur of her words.
I licked my lips, looking down at her. “Damn. You look so fuckin’ good Bless baby.”
“Naw Bless why the fuck you out here showin’ your ass?” Messiah said, mugging her.
“Siah, I’m grown as hell.” She rolled her eyes and attempted to walk around me.
“Let me holla at you real quick.”
“No, Moo. Move.”
“Aye, she’ll meet y’all back in the section.
” I turned to our group of friends, motioning for them to leave.
I was done giving her space. I need my family back.
“First off, stop calling me Moo. You know I hate hearing that shit even come from your mouth.” I slowly backed her into the wall, placing my hands on either side of her head.
Her glossy eyes stared up at me as her breath hitched. “Do you think this is the right place to have a conversation?” She asked, placing her hands on her hips.
“You won’t answer my calls or respond to my texts.
I haven’t seen my daughter in almost two weeks, Blessing.
How you think that shit makes me feel? You got me attached to her just for you to take her away because we ain’t seeing eye to eye.
” I don’t give a fuck if Sage isn’t biologically mine. That’s still my daughter.
“I didn’t take her from you! If you wanted to see her, you could’ve.
Why the fuck do you think I have to forgive you just because you apologized!
You had me kickin’ it with a bitch that fucked you!
She knows what you feel like. I feel so fucking stupid.
” Her voice cracked as she pointed a finger in my face. “You did this to us.”
“I know, baby. I swear to God I wasn’t trying to make you look stupid. I just didn’t think shit was that deep. I told her to stay the fuck away from you. Just tell me what I need to do to fix this. I can’t go another day without you.”
“Kill her.”
I stared at her. I couldn’t tell if she was joking or not.
“Bless, come on. That’s a little extreme. But if that’s what you want. It’ll get handled.”
She burst into laughter and shook her head. “Saint chill. I was just kidding. Glad to know you’d kill for me.” Her arms wrapped around my neck as she pulled me into her.
I looped my arms around her waist and gripped her ass. “I’d lay down and die for you, baby.” I leaned down, roughly kissing her before backing away from her. I needed her to understand I meant every single word I said.
I watched the way her hips swayed in her skin-tight skirt as she led me back to the section.
Her walk kept me mesmerized every time I walked behind her.
Messiah was standing outside the section, entertaining one of the bottle girls when we walked up.
Chanel was posted in her usual spot, on Dru’s lap.
She talked about Blessing always being in my lap, but she had it just as bad.
The section was dimly lit by purple lights that gave Blessing’s brown skin a soft glow.
My hands gravitated to her waist as she went to sit down beside me.
I pulled her down into my lap instead. Her throne.
Exactly where she needed to be. It had been too long since I felt her skin against mine.
I wanted to be in her fucking skin. There was no denying my love for her.
She leaned back against my chest, getting comfortable.
“Who told you to come outside lookin’ this good without me beside you?” I asked, burying my face in her neck. Like always, she smelled so good.
“I look this good every day, baby. You know this.” She laughed before grabbing the bottle of tequila from the table. “Open your mouth.”
I did exactly what she asked and allowed her to pour the cool liquor down my throat. She set the bottle on the table, then wrapped her arms around my neck. A surge of energy flowed through me as she pressed her lips against mine. I caressed the back of her head, pulling her closer to me.
The opening notes of Surrender flowed through the speakers of the club. Blessing gasped and pulled away from me.
“Did you tell them to play this?” She asked, smirking.
I shrugged, “Nah I didn’t. That’s the universe letting you know you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. I love you, Blessing. I’m never letting you go. I gave you space, but you’re bringing your ass home tonight. No more running.”
“I love you more, Saint. It’s me and you forever.” She leaned down repeatedly pecking my lips. “I want it boyyy, for the rest of the night.” She sang against my lips.
“About damn time,” Chanel yelled across the section. Blessing raised a hand and gave her the middle finger.
“I’m so hungry.” Blessing slurred as we walked out of the section.
I wasn’t even anticipating staying at the club this long, but once those shots kicked in, nobody wanted to leave.
It had been a minute since I stayed at a club until the lights came on.
There wasn’t a single person in the group sober enough to drive home.
I hit Kam up to pick us up in a sprinter.
Everybody agreed to crash at my house until the morning.
“We can stop and grab something on the way to the crib,” I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulder, tucking her into my side.
My security walked a few feet ahead of us.
A sinking feeling washed over me as we got closer to the exit.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to pop off.
I could feel eyes burning a hole in the side of my face but I couldn’t pinpoint where they were coming from.
Just as I leaned up to tap Messiah, gunshots rang out.
Screams filled the club as the crowd rushed towards the exits.
“Side door!” My security yelled. I tightened my hold on Blessing and hurried out the side door. As soon as we made it outside, I let go of the breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“Everybody straight?” I asked, glancing around our small group of friends. “Have Kam pull the sprinter around this way.” I nodded towards security.
“I might be trippin’, but I swear the nigga that started shooting looked like that nigga Rell,” Messiah said with a scowl on his face. I felt Blessing tense at this statement.
“Hell naw. That nigga fell off the face of the earth. Ain’t no way he just randomly popped back up.” Dru shook his head.
“Who the fuck is Rell?” I questioned.
“Damn, I couldn’t get an invite?”
Everybody’s head snapped towards the door we’d just come out of. Security started towards Symone, but I waved them off.
“Beat it bitch before I beat your ass,” Chanel said, sizing Symone up. Where the fuck did she even come from?
“Shut up, lapdog.” Symone spat before turning to Blessing. I protectively pushed her behind me. “I’m just sayin’ tho. Now we can’t be friends cause we fucked the same dick? Come on, Bless. I thought we were better than this.”
Before I could stop her, Blessing reached around me and snatched Symone by her hair. “Bitch you got some nerve even stepping to me.”
“Chill, Bless baby. She’s not even worth it.” I said, trying to pry the tangled hair from her fingers.
“Nah Moo. Let her get her shit off.” Messiah said. “Let her hair go and square up with her Bless. Give her exactly what she wants.”
Blessing dropped Symone’s hair and backed away. She slid out of her heels and tied her hair in a messy bun. “Come on. Let’s get this shit over with so I can go the fuck home and lay up under my man. The man you’re so pressed about.”
Symone snickered and shook her head. “You’re such an idiot. Nobody came to fight you.” Her eyes slid past Blessing and landed on Messiah. “I was actually hoping to run into you.”
Messiah mugged her, “Fuck you lookin’ for me for?”
Symone’s smile widened. “I heard from a little birdie named Rell that your sweet little sister paid him to murder your trifling ass bestie. Seven right?”
“Bitch stop lying.” I snapped, stepping towards her. Blessing would never set anybody up. She wasn’t even built like that.
Before anybody could blink, Blessing lunged.
Her fist connected to Symone’s face so hard, I swear I heard a crack.
Blood sprayed instantly. Symone screamed as Blessing kept swinging, every punch fueled with anger.
They fell onto the ground, Blessing on top.
Her punches never slowed. Chanel’s heel smashed against Symone’s face once before security stepped in.
“Aight, Bless. That’s enough.” I grabbed Blessing’s waist, pulling her off. She fought me for a second before freezing in my arms.
Symone lay there bleeding, laughing through her bloodied mouth. “Guess I hit a nerve, huh?”
“What the fuck is she talking about, Blessing?” Messiah’s voice boomed through the vacant alley.
She wouldn’t look at him. Wouldn’t look at me either. Her chest rose and fell rapidly with her hands clenched at her side.
“This ain’t even the place for all this,” Dru said, scratching his head. “Where the fuck is Kam-“
“Blessing,” Messiah cut him off, stepping closer. “Look at me.”
Her eyes were filled with tears. Still, she didn’t look at him, just shook her head.
I stared at Blessing, waiting for her to deny it. She never did. Symone wasn’t lying. Blessing set Sage’s father up, and she hid that shit from me. I guess I didn’t know her as well as I thought.