Chapter 29 #2
“Dinner at my aunt’s. Your presence is strongly in the words of Aunt G, advised,” Markus said with a chuckle, and climbing back into the bed so he could lie on her.
“You’re going to meet Aunt Lucille. She’s the rock of all this.
Of all of us. Nia said, wouldn’t be no pop-ups, but I am very sure my cousins are going to show up. ”
Reign rubbed his neck and shoulders. “How can I alleviate the tension?”
“The easiest shit? Help me order something to feed these ungrateful niggas,” he grumbled.
Reign picked up her phone. “Any specifics?”
“Auntie Lucille has congestive heart failure, Aunt G has diabetes, and Ms. Ophelia has high blood pressure. The rest of them are on their own,” Markus yawned. “Get my card out of my wallet.”
Reign looked at the nightstand where one of his guns rested. The other was on the dresser. She wasn’t going to reach it without disturbing him, as he was actively getting heavier with every breath.
“When do you want me to wake you up?” she posed.
“Two hours, I want to get there before the rest of them,” he mumbled tiredly. “Your ass is wearing me out.”
“That’s not me. That’s you finally resting. Go to sleep, I got it.”
Hours later, they were up, dressed, Reign’s hair rehydrated, detangled curls framing her face. Markus pushed his hands into her hair and shook it.
“You like it?” she asked with a soft giggle.
“Hell yeah. I love it. You should wear it like this more often.”
Her brows dipped. “You sure.”
“Hell yeah. It’s you,” he confirmed, kissing her forehead, nose, and lips. “Let’s go before I call Nia and tell her we ain’t gonna make it.”
Reign scoffed. “Give the man a little bit of cookie and he’s hooked.”
“It wasn’t a little bit. It was the whole thing. I was in it. When we get home, I want it on my face.”
“Emilliano, please,” Reign giggled, rolling her eyes. “We got to gooooo.”
“I ain’t stopping you from leaving,” he grunted, nipping her chin. “The door is right there.”
“And you’re in my way,” she giggled as he palmed her ass. “Would you stop. There’s nothing there to grab.”
He pulled back. “Nah, you got two handfuls back here.”
“Boy, please.” She waved him off and started for the door. “I’ve never been this small in my whole life.”
He grunted. “Let me take care of you, you’ll be back where you want to in no time.”
“Not if we don’t get this food and show up on time,” Reign stated, standing by the door.
Markus took her in – natural makeup, big curly hair, tan dress, jean jacket, and her thigh-high boots. “You look good.”
“Thank you. Don’t come over here and yank me up, just open the door so we can go.”
“Say please,” he toyed.
“Markus Emilliano Grant. We have to get this food in twenty minutes,” Reign fussed.
He yielded. “Aight, aight. I’ll make you say please later.”
Opening the door, they walked out into the quiet street, heading toward Soul of the City, where Reign had the staff putting together pans of food that catered to everyone’s needs.
The health concerns, as well as knowing that Markus didn’t like nasty, cheaply prepared food.
When they arrived at his Aunt Lucille’s home, her stomach turned over.
Reaching over, he squeezed her knee. “You’re good. Relax.”
“I told you I’ve never done this before, and after twenty-four hours of getting my scent all over you, I’m meeting the matriarch?”
Markus rumbled in laughter, spotting Svyn walking out of the house. “You’ll be fine. Come on.”
He gave her an assuring kiss and stepped out. “Look who came up for air.”
Svyn chuckled. “Don’t start yo shit nigga. You owe me some money,” Svyn said with laughter before mocking Markus. “I ain’t messin’ with that girl, nigga. You a lyin’ ass nigga, Money.”
Before Markus opened the door for Reign, he shot back. “I ain’t sayin’ shit to Nia. That’s what you said, right? Yeah, fuck you nigga. And congratulations, you’ve been promoted!”
Svyn laughed. “Shut the hell up! Where is this food at?”
Markus opened the door, holding his hand out for Reign to take it.
“Hey, Reign,” Svyn spoke up. Instead of the small smile and subtle waves, she smiled, glowed even.
“Hi Svyn, what’s up?”
Svyn grinned and then blew. “Ahhh shit. You know you never gettin’ rid of him now, right? Nigga gon be on your ass.”
Reign giggled. “So I’ve been told. I’m okay with that.”
“Oh damn. He’s brainwashed you. Blink twice if you need me to put him in a choke hold so you can run,” Svyn joked.
Markus spoke up as he escorted her up the steps. “In your dreams is the only place you puttin’ me in a choke hold, nigga.”
“Don’t forget you wasn’t always that big Money,” Svyn continued to joke, going to the trunk to get the food.
In the house, Aunt G beat Ms. Ophelia to the door to greet her nephew and Reign.
“This is what I like to see,” Aunt G crooned, taking Reign’s hand from Markus’. “Go help Svyn with the food. I don’t know what’s come over y’all, all this hand holding and sweet, long eye gazing. Go do something. Set the table, get the food together. Reign, come chat it up with the girls.”
Markus swiped his thumb over her chin. “You good. Go.”
“We don’t bite,” Aunt G spoke, pulling her away from Markus. “You’re looking good. How are you feeling?”
Reign didn’t fight her smile. “Good, actually. I have my moments. I’ve been using that journal.”
“Good, even got a few more pounds on you, face getting fuller, smiling without stopping yourself. I’m proud of you.” Aunt G stopped to hug her. “You’re almost to the other side, beautiful.”
“Thank you for being there,” Reign hummed.
“I know where you’re standing. And there is always light on the other side. Come, let me introduce you to my sister and Ophelia.”
In the living room sat Aunt Lucille, who had a striking resemblance to her sister. Ms. Ophelia sat next to Nia, giggling about something.
“Luci, look who Markus brought?” Aunt G crooned, holding Reign like she was going to fly away.
Aunt Lucille looked and took in the softness of Reign. She was soft but powerful. A smile eased over her face. “Ohhh. Where is Markus?”
Aunt Lucille reached out for Reign’s hand and gazed up at her with the same wonderment that Markus did. Enthralled with all the things she was and Reign had no clue of her power. “You are beautiful.”
“I told you she was,” Nia spoke up from the couch across the living room. “My girl has that brother of mine in check, too.”
Reign laughed nervously. “I don’t think he’s in check.”
“What’s up, Auntie?” Markus’ voice flowed into the space. “Y’all not harassing her too bad.”
“I’m not harassing her,” Aunt Lucille said, looking up at him. “How you get her?”
Reign laughed nervously. “I haven’t always been like this.”
“Oh no, baby,” Aunt Lucille corrected. “You’ve always been just like that. You’re just coming into your power. You don’t even know what kind of power you hold, do you?”
Reign swayed her head no. “Never even knew I had any.”
Aunt Lucille smiled softly at her. “Baby, when you realize who you are, no one is going to be able to stop you.”
Markus sat by his aunt with a piece of chicken in his hand.
Aunt Lucille turned to him. “You couldn’t wait for dinner?”
“If your sons are going to pop up, I wanted to eat before they made me lose my appetite,” Markus quipped, earning him a look. “My bad. How are you?”
“I’m fine. I just want to know how you managed to get this gem?” Lucille accepted the kiss on her cheek.
“She told me no, would barely say two words to me, and then when she did start talking to me, she cussed me out every chance she got. Had to have her,” Markus spoke proudly.
“You treat her right. You need that softness she carries.”
“I know,” Markus said, looking up at Reign. “I need her more than she knows.”
The front door opened, and Brantley and Angel roamed in.
“So y’all weren’t going to tell us you were having a little family dinner?” Brantley asked.
Reign looked at him, finding the evil in his smirk. The mere presence of it made her fall into the background as Markus stood.
“That’s ‘cause you wasn’t invited nigga,” Markus spoke. “I already told you how this shit is going to go.”
“You ain’t say nothing but bullshit,” Brantley spoke, closing the space between him and Markus.
Nia hopped up, moving her aunt out of the way because she knew what was happening next. The bull and the hunter were going to fight, and it was long overdue. Markus should’ve knocked the wind out of his sails when the offense happened instead of extending grace.
“You want yo ass beat in front of your mama, aight,” Markus grunted. “Let’s go nigga.”
Brantley swung only for Markus to dodge it and return the hit. Markus grabbed Brantley by the collar and carried him out of the house onto the sidewalk. Brantley landed one hit, but he’d never been a match for Markus. Especially not with his mind clear.
The two fought until Aunt G stepped out on the stoop and bellowed. “Ay! Get y’all asses in the gotdamn house before I drag you back in this muhfucka.”
Markus held on to Brantley a little while longer before letting him go. “Get your bitch ass off me.”
“You the bitch nigga,” Brantley huffed as Markus stood up. “Take yo ass in that house like auntie said.”
Markus glared at Brantley. “You want me to beat your ass up the steps?”
Brantley stomped up the steps, wiping his face with the back of his hand.
“All four of y’all in the fuckin’ family room. Stressin’ your momma out like this,” Aunt G fussed, shoving each of them toward the family room.
Nia took Reign’s hand. “Come, let’s eat, they’re going to be in there all night.”
“They do that often?” Reign asked.
“Those two haven’t fought since they first started hustlin’. Money don’t take no shit and B and Angel can’t stay out of shit. If you ask me, Money needs to drop the dead wait before we all get caught up in something.”