Chapter 32
Bosses, Babies, and Balance
I woke up halfway off the bed with Jada sprawled across my back, Jayla's foot planted firmly on my face, and her head resting comfortably on Tammy's chest. Honestly? I’d trade places with Jayla any day of the week.
Carefully untangling myself, I got out of bed and headed to the kitchen. Rudy was already sitting at the dining room table, enjoying a quiet cup of coffee. I poured myself a mug and pulled out the chair right next to hers.
"How was your night, son?" she asked, offering a warm smile.
"Two little girls stole my bed, my wife, and now they're stealing my peace," I complained playfully.
Just then, I looked up to see Jada skipping into the kitchen, nervously twisting the hem of her shirt.
"Clo-Clo," she whispered, rolling her eyes in that adorable, dramatic way of hers.
"Yes, princess?"
"Can I have a cookie?" she asked, gently rubbing her stomach.
I started to get up to grab her one, but my mom shot me a warning glare. "You better not."
Sighing, I bypassed the cookies, popped two waffles into the toaster, and scrambled some eggs and sausage instead.
Once breakfast was ready, I gently scooped Jayla out of bed so she could eat.
I settled the girls at the table, watching them happily tear into their food and wash it down with apple juice, while I retreated to the living room with my coffee and a fresh cigar.
Midway through my smoke, my phone started ringing—a FaceTime call from Silk.
"Top of the morning," he greeted, flashing a bright smile into the camera.
"Nigga, how did you even know I was already up?"
"Because you’re a dad now, man. Where are my nieces?"
I flipped the camera around just in time for Jada to proudly flip it the middle finger, while Jayla gave a sweet, innocent wave. Knowing Jada, she was going to be the exact reason I had a full head of gray hair by the time I turned twenty-five.
"Damn, you don't even whoop your kids?" Silk asked, staring at me in disbelief.
"No, I didn't get whippings growing up. I believe in gentle parenting."
Right on cue, Jada climbed into my lap and smeared a generous handful of syrup straight across my shirt. I didn't even get mad; at this point, I was entirely used to her messes.
"Uncle Silk!" she chirped, leaning right into the camera frame.
"Yes, Chucky?" he replied, trying to be funny.
"Don't futting call me that, fitch," she fired back without missing a beat.
Silk blinked, utterly stunned. "What the hell did she just say?"
I shrugged my shoulders innocently, doing my best to hide a smirk, knowing full well this little menace had just called him a bitch.
"Hey, Rudy!" I yelled toward the kitchen.
"Just because you're raising your godkids to be utterly disrespectful doesn't mean I'm going to let that slide!" Silk shouted back through the phone.
I rubbed my temples. "I'm sorry, Mommy—can you please give the girls a bath and clean up the kitchen? I didn't sleep well at all."
"Of course, honey. I’ll take them off your hands for the entire weekend, too," Rudy called out.
"Take Mama's titty out of your mouth, you over there sounding like Jada," Silk teased.
I laughed. "If I sounded like Jada, I would have just called you a fucking bitch to your face."
"See? This is why you need a fucking belt."
"And you need your own damn kids," I retorted before hanging up the phone.
Tossing the phone aside, I grabbed a throw blanket, collapsed onto the couch, and immediately drifted off for a well-deserved nap.
When I finally woke up, I felt a familiar weight resting across my legs.
Looking across the room, I saw Tammy carefully braiding Jayla's hair.
Glancing down, I realized Jada was fast asleep on my legs.
While Jayla was always attached to Goldie, Jada was my shadow; I couldn't even shift an inch without waking her.
"Your mom said she's taking the girls for the night, so let's make the most of the day with them," Tammy said softly.
"What do you have in mind?"
"A picnic at the park, followed by ice cream."
"Simple, but I like it."
"Clo-Clo," Jayla mumbled, stirring awake.
"Yes, little one?"
"Can I get the Barbie yacht?"
"Baby, you don't even play with the dream house I bought you last month."
Jayla immediately looked over at Tammy. "Goldie?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Can you buy it for me?"
"Yes, of course. I'm going to order it for you right now using your Clo-Clo's credit card."
"Damn, Tammy, you're really out here teaching our godbabies to plot against me," I joked, shaking my head.
I gently lifted Jada off my legs, pulled her tightly against my chest, and lay back down to watch The Land Before Time with them.
"That’s exactly why she's so spoiled and doesn't listen to anyone," Tammy pointed out, crossing her arms. "You let her get away with murder."
"So? Does it really matter right now?"
"Yes, it matters! What are you going to do when her mother comes home and she expects to run the household like she runs you?"
I sat straight up, carefully sliding Jada to the side and pulling the blanket over her. "Baby, look at me," I said, waiting until her brown eyes locked onto mine. "What's the matter?"
"I'm ovulating, it's been a week, the girls are sleeping in their own beds tonight, and Jada is going to start listening. There is zero chance these two are taking over our bed and stopping me from getting what I want."
I burst out laughing. She was dead serious, and completely exhausted.
"Relax, we have the entire weekend completely alone. And when they come back, they are strictly sleeping in their own rooms."
My phone started ringing again. Seeing Juicy's name on the screen, I answered right away.
"Hello?"
"Wassup, Juicy," I greeted.
"Shit, for real—where are the girls and my baby mama?" she asked, playfully referring to my girl.
"Goldie is over here doing Jayla's hair, and Crazy over there is still waking up. You know what Jada told Silk earlier? She looked right at him and said, 'Don't call me a fucking Chucky bitch.'"
Juicy burst into a loud, uncontrollable laugh. "No way! And what did you do about it?"
"What do you mean? That’s my baby, and I’m going to ride for her no matter what."
"That's what the fuck I'm talking about!" Tammy yelled from across the room.
"See, if you don't check her attitude now, you're going to be in deep trouble later. Give the girls my love, I'm about to go lay back down," Juicy said before hanging up.
An hour later, Tammy had both girls dressed to perfection.
They wore crisp white t-shirts, tailored denim shorts, matching gold heart necklaces I'd bought them, and adorable little white cowboy boots.
You can always tell the difference between when their godmom dresses them versus when I do—when I'm in charge, they end up matching my style.
There's nothing wrong with pretty little faces rocking boy clothes, but Tammy's touch was undeniably chic.
Tammy looked incredible, as always, rocking a effortless, stylish fit.
She grabbed the picnic basket and asked if I was ready.
I tossed my keys in the air, told the girls to line up, and ushered them out the door.
After strapping both kids securely into their booster seats, I opened the passenger door for Tammy, who settled in with the basket resting safely in her lap.
We drove out to a quiet, scenic park and found the perfect shaded spot beneath a massive oak tree.
Tammy laid out a soft blanket and unpacked homemade sandwiches, fresh sliced fruit, cold lemonades, and a variety of chips.
The weather was gorgeous, and Tammy had a smooth playlist of 90s R&B playing softly in the background, setting an absolute vibe for the afternoon.
Afterward, we treated the girls to ice cream before heading back.
True to form, both kids passed out completely during the car ride over to Rudy's house.
When we pulled into the driveway, I carefully carried Jayla inside while Tammy cradled a sleeping Jada with her head resting gently on her shoulder.
My mom met us at the door, whispering as we tucked the little ones safely into her bed.
Once they were settled, Tammy and I headed back out to get ready for the official Ruff Diamond Gang syndicate meeting.
Mario had always been my most valuable soldier—hell, I practically raised the boy. Even after a messy past involving her mother, my woman still loved and respected him. He was the one who brought Rizz into the fold, and looking back, it was one of the best moves he could have made.
Rizz was my guy. Whenever he pulled up to the lounge, he came correct.
He handled business with absolute precision, brought his money upfront, and never came up short.
Silk, on the other hand, absolutely despised how much trust and affection I had for the kid.
But how could I not respect someone who possessed that level of raw ambition and unyielding loyalty?
I felt like Silk's animosity was purely biased—he was letting his personal ego cloud his judgment.
Rizz was my top earner, and I wasn't about to cut ties with my most reliable asset just to soothe my best friend's insecurities.
I stood in my walk-in closet, dressing in the mandated black-and-white formal wear for the Ruff Diamond Gang's exclusive assembly.
Tonight was strictly business to review our operations.
We currently had twenty trusted runners moving product for Donny and me, but the hierarchy was clear: Don and I sat at the top, followed closely by Silk, Rizz, Trent, and Mario, with their respective crews falling neatly in line behind them.
While the crew grabbed a catered meal in the dining hall, my phone buzzed. It was Rizz.
"Hello?"
"Yo, I'm outside."
"Come around to the back entrance. Don't take the front stairs—I'll meet you at the bottom landing."
A moment later, Rizz walked through the rear doors.
He sported a razor-sharp lineup and a sleek, all-black Louis Vuitton fit that matched the strict dress code we enforced for the night.
Tonight, we had locked down the strip club exclusively for the syndicate members.
I had given strict instructions to management: every dancer on the floor had to be dressed in stark white, or they wouldn't be performing at all.
"What's been going on with you lately?" I asked, pouring us both a drink.
"Just grinding in the trap, man. Trying to figure out my next move now that I've almost finished stacking credits for this business degree."
I smiled, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "That's exactly what I like about you, Rizz. You don't think small. You don't let yourself get trapped in the mindset of a standard street hustler—that's how I know you're destined to go far in this game."
"I appreciate you, Clo. For real. That means a lot coming from the top dog."