Chapter 58
The High Price of Forever
Clover
Today was the day. As a grown-ass man, I was nervous as hell.
Me, Silk, Trent, Rizz, and Donny were gathered on one side of the chapel getting dressed.
I had just gotten my hair freshly pressed, and the barber had just finished giving me a razor-sharp shape-up.
All the guys were matching in custom-tailored gold Versace suits with crisp white shirts, black silk ties, and matching gold dress shoes.
They looked immaculate, clean-cut, and ready.
My mama walked into the room to check on me, wearing a proud, emotional smile. She stepped up and adjusted my gold amulet, smoothing down the lapels of my jacket.
As she looked up at me, her eyes started to well up with tears. “Son, you better make her happy. She’s an amazing girl.”
“I’m going to love her forever, Mama,” I said, meaning every single word from the bottom of my soul.
After a quick final check in the mirror, we lined up and headed out toward the altar.
Tammy
Mercedes, Junie, and Dream were already fully dressed and glowing in the bridal suite.
They wore breathtaking yellow bridesmaid dresses that hugged their shoulders, styled with a high slit up the side and flawless Hollywood waves in their hair.
The makeup artist had given us all a stunning beat, leaving us looking like royalty.
Once the finishing touches were on, the girls helped me zip into my gown.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror, completely stunned.
I damn near couldn’t recognize myself. The gold-and-champagne long-sleeve mermaid-tail dress hugged every single curve of my body, and the vintage waves framed my face like something straight out of a magazine cover. I looked breathtaking.
Finally, it was time to walk down the aisle. My heart hammered against my ribs, but the nervousness dissolved into pure excitement. I couldn't wait to be this man's wife.
As the girls lined up and walked out ahead of me, Socorro stepped up and gently grabbed my hand.
“I guess I’m walking you down the aisle,” he said, a rare warmth in his voice. “It doesn't matter much anyway—I've already accepted you as my granddaughter a long time ago.”
The smooth, soulful sounds of Keith Sweat’s “I’ll Give All My Love to You” began to echo through the chapel speakers.
A soft smile broke across my face as Keith sang, “I love you, and tonight I wanna take it real, real slow.”
I lifted my gaze toward the altar and saw Clover standing there, looking unreal in his custom gold suit. As his eyes locked onto mine, a single tear rolled down his cheek. He quickly brushed it away, trying to keep his composure.
When I finally reached the end of the aisle, the music swelled, playing the lyrics: “I'll give all my love to you, and if you need me, baby, I'll come runnin' only.” That was the exact truth of how I felt in my bones.
Clover and I stood face-to-face, our eyes locked in a world of our own.
“And who gives this young lady away?” the priest asked into the quiet room.
“I do,” Socorro declared proudly.
Clover gently reached out, grabbed both of my hands, and stared deep into my eyes.
“Tammy, I never thought I’d ever love another woman again,” Clo began, his voice thick with emotion.
“I want to thank you for giving me a second and final chance at love. I’ll kill the whole world about you.”
He paused for a fraction of a second, muttering under his breath, “Lord forgive me.”
Then he smiled. “You make me happy. The very first moment I met you, I knew you were my wife. And I’m going to love you for life and long after.”
When it was my turn, my voice was steady, filled with absolute devotion.
“Clover, you’re my peace. You’re my dream guy, the kind of man I never even knew existed. You’re my light on a gloomy day, and the man that God knew I needed. I promise to be a great wife. I promise to continue to be the woman you fell in love with, and I promise to give you beautiful babies.
You bring out the most nurturing parts of me. There is nobody better suited for this life than you.”
The priest stepped forward, his voice carrying across the silent pews.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Marriage is a sacred covenant, entered into with love, honor, and commitment.
If anyone present knows of any lawful reason why these two should not be joined in marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
A heavy, absolute silence filled the room.
“Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do, forever,” Clo said firmly.
“Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” I answered without a single hesitation.
“By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Clover pulled me in and kissed me passionately, and fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. My mama walked up right behind us, gently kissing my cheek.
“I’ve got to go, baby,” she whispered. “I am so proud of the woman you’ve become, and this man right here is an absolute gentleman.”
After the ceremony, we stepped out onto the front steps. With a laugh, I turned around and tossed my bouquet of white roses high into the air. Junie leaped up and caught them cleanly in her hands.
We headed back to the old house to celebrate with family.
Both sides of Clo’s family were packed under one roof, and I could tell Socorro was genuinely happy to see all his descendants gathered together.
Underneath all that tough, gangster exterior, he loved every single one of them—though it was obvious Clo had always been his favorite, given all the major opportunities and trust he placed in him.
Inside the celebration, I had changed out of the heavy gown into a light, elegant white sundress. Clo had ditched his suit jacket, rolling up his sleeves in just his button-down shirt and matching trousers.
The atmosphere was full of joy as we stepped up to the massive multi-tiered wedding cake. We grabbed the silver knife together, cut the first slice, and took turns feeding each other sweet bites while everyone cheered.
Then, out of nowhere, sharp, deafening cracks pierced the air. Shots rang out.
Before my brain could even process what was happening, Clover lunged forward, tackling me hard and pushing me flat to the floor.
“Baby, I love you! Don't ever forget that!” he yelled over the chaos, throwing his heavy body completely over mine to shield me from the line of fire.
My heart felt like it was dropping straight through the floorboards. The gunfire abruptly stopped. Clo sprang up to his feet, scanning the perimeter.
I scrambled up, my eyes darting frantically toward the street.
Silk was already firing back at a speeding black car peeling away from the curb.
But the damage was done. Rizz was lying facedown in the middle of the street, bleeding out rapidly onto the asphalt.
Mercedes was already on her knees beside him, sobbing hysterically as she tried to clutch his wounds.
Clover and Silk didn't waste a second; they hoisted Rizz up by his arms and legs, rushing him toward the nearest vehicle while the rest of the guys scrambled into the doors.
“Get in!” Clo shouted.
Me, Mercedes, Junie, and Dream dove into one of Clo’s backup cars. Clo slammed on the gas, tires screeching as he tore down the road at breakneck speeds, tracking right behind the lead car. I held on for dear life, white-knuckling the door handle as the speedometer climbed higher and higher.
We screeched to a halt in front of the emergency room bay.
Trent burst through the automatic sliding doors, screaming for medical staff.
Within seconds, a team of nurses and doctors rushed out with a rolling stretcher.
The men heaved Rizz’s body onto it, and the medical team sprinted him back through the double doors while we chased after them.
The heavy emergency doors slammed shut in our faces. A nurse blocked our path, holding her hand up. “You can't go any further than this.”
Panic set in. Clover started aggressively pacing back and forth across the sterile linoleum hallway, his jaw clenched tight.
Mercedes collapsed into a chair, completely hyperventilating until she finally fainted dead away.
Trent and Silk rushed over, lifting her limp body while I frantically ran to the nearest restroom, soaked some paper towels under the cold tap, and rushed back out to pat down her face.
She gasped and bolted upright, eyes wide with terror.
Standing there in the harsh fluorescent light of the hospital corridor, it hit me hard. This wasn’t some fairy-tale storybook ending. This was our wedding night, and this was the ruthless, unforgiving life we chose.
Until next time.