25. Patience #2
“But there’s only one recognized, legitimate Geronimo son. You see, cuz, another one of our most revered laws is the Law of Legitimacy. Especially in Council families, you have to be born of married parents or formally recognized in the event of one or both parents’ death.”
Royce hops up from his seat and takes out some papers from beneath his bullet proof vest. “I’m so glad you brought that up, Montavious. If you guys could please take three and pass it down.” He hands Bloodmoon the papers, who obeys him.
The first gasp comes from him before Royce moves to the middle of the floor.
“Mr. Beverly’s taking a long time to pass, so I’ll go ahead and kill the suspense now.
A copy of Geronimo Grimes’s will. Specifying that in the event of his death, the Geronimo estate shall pass to his two nephews, Montavious Grimes and a one Royce Taylor Grimes.
Apparently, when Taylor got killed in prison, word got back to ole Geri that he needed to get his affairs in order.
The next paper should be a birth certificate and name-change form for a Royce Taylor Atkins, aka yours truly. ”
He glares at Monty and rubs his eyebrow. “Copies of these forms were found among the old Geronimo Family lawyer’s effects. You really should visit Ms. Lorraine, you know her and Ed never had kids. Old people get real chatty when they not used to having visitors.”
Monty stands but Mr. Nabahi holds his hand, making his sit back down.
“She couldn’t shut up about how Taylor filed for a marriage license and set me up with an account a month before I was born.
When he pulled up to the hospital the first time, she signed that and a birth certificate, and he gave it to good ole Ed, but told him to hold off on it until he can talk to his mother.
When he got popped, Ed reached out to Ma Dukes a month later and they filled out a name change form so we could all move here, but his mother wasn’t fucking with it.
He kept the papers for when he’d get out, only he died in prison.
“Good thing he told his brother everything.”
My head is fucking spinning. I keep looking between Royce and Monty to see any resemblance, but they don’t look alike. Their actions though?
Wow, I really do like bad boys.
Monty cackles and slow claps. “Nice story. But none of these papers were ever filed with the city nor our own records clerk, so you’re still just a bastard ass nigga, Turk.”
Royce just grins and nods. “That will was, muthafucka. The old head of the Geronimo Family name dropped my bastard ass as his nephew, complete with my social to identify me. You just never cared to check because by default you’re older than me. Check, bitch.”
“Order! I understand it’s a new era but please clean up your language! He’s right, Montavious. The will counts as being formally recognized as part of the Geronimo Family. Since you’ve already ruled the Covenant is still valid, Miss Beverly must choose which Geronimo brother–”
“Him!” I point to the demon standing and nod profusely. “Royce.”
“And that’s checkmate.” I can hear the grin in Royce’s voice just barely over the sound of blood rushing in my ears.
A ferocious roar comes from the south front corner as Monty jumps over the panel onto the floor. Cochise is up and grabs him before he can get to Royce, who doesn’t move an inch.
“FOX IS MINE YOU BITCH ASS NIGGA!”
Cochise is struggling to hold him back, and I find myself standing and walking slowly over to him. When Royce notices me, I see the warning in his eyes, but I shake my head and focus on Monty.
He stops struggling when he shifts to me. Tears gather in his eyes immediately as I run my fingertips down his cheek.
“I’m sorry for leaving like I did, Monty. But you have to let me go,” I whisper.
He pushes Cochise off him and I feel the line shifting into place between us, separating us permanently.
At one point, before puberty, Monty was one of my best friends. He and the others were my brothers, my protectors. Part of me wishes we’d never made that leap. But then I don’t know if I’d have met Autumn and Royce.
Monty glares at Cochise, then Nutty, before landing on Royce. “The lady’s made her choice.”
He glances at me, eyes softening momentarily before storming back toward the Council chambers.
“So Foxy’s marrying Taylor’s second son? Is this tribunal adjourned?” Sonny Spear says over a yawn.
“Yes, let’s get this over with,” Bloodmoon grumbles.
My father bangs his gavel. “You and Royce must be married in a traditional First Nations Ceremony by one year from today. Any other stipulations of your Covenant can be resolved between yourselves.”
“And… now that I’m thinking about it. If you are to have a little boy, his last name must be Beverly to continue the Beverly line.” Bloodmoon smirks, glancing in disdain toward my brother. He smirks at me, already knowing I’m having a girl, and I shrug, feigning ignorance.
“Fine.”
“What’s the deal if we don’t live in East Kenton on FN land?”
Mr. Nabahi just lifts a shoulder. “You’ll always have claims to the Geronimo estate, but especially as the second son, your rules are more lenient.”
“Alright. Can we adjourn Patch? It’s Thanksgiving and you know my stores are a madhouse,” Sonny complains.
My father bangs the gavel, and Royce and the others whisk me away.
It isn’t until we’re out of East Kenton that I realize Rico isn’t in the van with us.
We pull up to a house I’ve never seen before. Royce hops out immediately, then turns around to help me out.
I look around at all of his friends. Men I thought wouldn’t like me because Autumn chose me over Royce. Men I've grown to love, and have clearly grown to love me.
“Are you guys going back for Rico?”
Ty looks up from his phone and smirks. “Rico will find his way back. Don’t worry, sis.”
The endearment mixed with pregnancy hormones makes me sniffle as I regard them one more time. “Thank you for having Royce’s back today. For having my back, even after everything. I appreciate–”
“Then make that peach cobbler you usually make for Thanksgiving,” Nut cuts me off from the driver’s seat.
“And the mac. Y’all muthafuckas got us playing ‘Extraction’ on my favorite holiday.
Thought I had to smoke one of my homies and shit…
We moved Thanksgiving to Saturday for yo’ ass, and I’m expecting payment at Brina’s then, since you appreciate yo brothers so damn much.
” Once he’s done ranting, he finally turns around, giving me his famous scowl.
I nod and glance around. “Any other requests?”
“C’mon, princess. You shouldn’t even be doing all that cooking in your condition anyway.”
“Condition?! “
That’s all I hear before Royce closes the van door.
Taking my hand, he leads me to the gorgeous house. It looks just like the one in my favorite Angela Bassett movie, and as soon as we walk inside the energy brings a smile to my face.
It stays there when I see my love walking toward me.
I let Royce go and run to her, pulling her so close, trying to get into her skin.
“Ay, don’t be squishing my baby,” Royce says from behind me, but I don’t care. I continue kissing Autumn all over her face before taking her lips.
She leans back to wipe my tears but they keep coming.
I lay my head on her shoulder and squeeze her tighter. “I missed you so much… I thought–”
“You were always coming home, bae,” she whispers. “Always.”
Autumn and I are pulled into a hard chest, and soft lips kiss my forehead. “We all good, we all here. Now we all need to be heard. C’mon.”
Autumn giggles and when I peer at her, the look she’s giving Royce is unburdened. My chest starts to feel funny, and it’s not the negative feelings and jealousy I thought I would be feeling. Royce’s hand moves, rubbing my back and when I meet his eyes he winks.
“No more secrets.”
I nod, and he leads the way to a dining room off by the immaculate kitchen.
Part of me wants to stall and ask for a tour, but judging by how I see the couch I picked out for our old place years ago, I know I’ll have time for it later.
Autumn sits at the head of the table, while Royce and I take the sets on either side of her. Royce, always so confident and sure, takes the lead.
“I know y’all both be wanting to keep shit close to the chest, so I’ll go first. Pay, or is it Fox now?” he smirks, breaking the ice.
“My name has legally been Patience Fox since I was nineteen.” I don’t tell him I’d rather be called his honey crisp, but the crooked smile on his face has me thinking he’s reading my mind.
“Aight. Pay, I love Autumn, and I love you. And I want us all to be together. I’ve wanted that since Autumn’s birthday. You challenge me. You honestly infuriate me. But I’d rather bump heads with you every day than be without you, either one of y’all.”
These damn waterworks. I reach nd grab his and Autumn’s hands, nodding. “I wanna be with you both, too.” When I look over at Autumn, she winks and squeezes my hand. “I’m down, too. I love Turk, I always will, just like I’ll always love you, too. And not having to choose, feels amazing.”
“But for this shit to work, the lines of communication have to stay open at all times,” Royce says.
“Not only for us but for Deuce and our lil nugget. I could give a fuck about anyone else knowing shit, including my brothers. I’ve never cared.
But I do care about us all always being on the same page.
So again, I’ll start by airing my own shit out.
“Recently, I learned Grimey and I are brothers. His dad was one of the grocery store robbers, and apparently was trying to set some shit up with Ma Dukes before he got hemmed up. Grimey and Apache knew, too.”
He looks at me with what looks like remorse before he continues. “Renelle, my sister, has been fucking with Grimey since y’all all were in high school. She’s the one who told Grimey you were back. But I have a feeling she’s gonna be dealt with by him.”