12. Kingsley #2
“You sure? You and Cachet can go to my house and chill out if you want to.”
“No, I’m good. As long as I’m with you, I know I’m good.”
I gave her a tight smile as my cousins smiled at me. Ashanni was tending to her little mini-me but still noticed. “Y’all make such a beautiful couple,” she said to us.
Treasure smiled. “Thank you, Shanni.” She looked up at me and asked, “We do, huh?”
“Absolutely. How could we not?”
She giggled as I leaned over and kissed her lips.
When I saw Kane, Ace, Royal, PJ, and Seven watching us, I knew the jokes would be coming.
It seemed everyone was conscious of Treasure’s mental state.
I wasn’t the only one walking on eggshells around here.
Everyone filtered themselves whenever they were around her, even before the suicide attempt.
It was like we all treated her like a delicate flower since the attack on her life.
When Uncle Storm finally joined us in the waiting area and Mr. Legend smiled, I knew they were about to act entire fools.
“She’s dilated to seven.”
“See, even in labor, seven ain’t enough,” Mr. Legend said.
I bit my bottom lip, and Treasure lowered her head.
Uncle Storm frowned as he sat next to SS and Remy.
I swore, they looked like triplets right now.
When Uncle Jasper chuckled, everyone else lost it .
. . except Kane. I saw him glance at Uncle Jasper, then lower his head.
They must have had their conversation. Apparently, Uncle Jasper seemed to be cool, but Kane was everything but that.
I wondered if my dad was in on what they talked about.
There was no way I could leave Treasure’s side right now with the way she was clinging to me. My phone buzzed, so I pulled it out of my pocket to see it was from Seven. I frowned and looked up at him. He had a smirk on his lips, so I knew it was some bullshit in that text.
Before I could look at it, Uncle Storm said, “It’s better than being a has been. The only thing legendary about your ass is your ability to hate on greatness. Don’t get these winds to howling. These twisters in here gon’ spin off my winds and shut all this shit down.”
Everybody rolled their eyes as Seven slapped his hand.
Noni was prepping for delivery, and Maui was in the room with her mama and Bali, so the only twisters in the vicinity were Seven and Remy.
Remy was so laid-back these days, though, he would probably just watch the action instead of being a part of it.
“That’s okay. Your daughter knows what’s up. That’s why my name is first.”
“Your name only describes the main event. You’re only an adjective to my action. Fuck outta here, nigga.”
I supposed Uncle Storm won that round. Of course they didn’t stop there, but after that, I had tuned them out. Treasure giggled at their foolishness while I checked my message.
Soft ass nigga.
I rolled my eyes and shot Seven the finger. He acted like his ass wasn’t just groveling at Iesha’s feet a few months ago. She was seated next to him, reading something on her kindle. Ashanni had leaned over to peek at what she was reading, then they started chatting about it.
Treasure leaned against me, so I put my arm around her.
My parents had been pretty quiet, just like Kane.
I didn’t know what was going on, but KJ was gon’ definitely have to get me in the loop.
I wondered if their demeanors had anything to do with why Kane was quiet.
KJ and Karima seemed to be their normal selves.
Somebody was gonna definitely have to clue me in.
“Treasure, you wanna go in the room to see Bali before all the action?” Mrs. Harper asked.
She smiled and nodded, then kissed my cheek and stood. I watched her walk away and immediately went and sat next to Karima.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey, Rima. What’s up with Mama, Daddy, and Kane?”
Her smile faded a bit. “Too much. Uncle Jasper tore Kane a new asshole. He wasn’t blaming him for what Crew did, per say, but he was pissed that Kane didn’t say anything to anyone.
Ryder J and PJ got the business too. Honestly, I think Unc is just taking this shit hard.
He blames himself too, so ain’t nobody safe.
Although he told Kane that he loved him, I think Kane is still somewhat uncomfortable around him. ”
“Damn. Okay. Is that what’s up with Mama and Daddy?”
She shook her head, then leaned over and kissed the baby’s head.
“No. Mama wants Daddy to just pay that man, so he can stay out of jail. Daddy said fuck no. That was his exact words. He said if he pays him, it will never end. He’ll come back for more money.
Mama just doesn’t want to see Daddy end up in jail. ”
I nodded. “He’s right. They will keep holding that shit over his head. The family said they were gonna get Watchful Eyes on that shit.”
“Yeah. Rhodes is working with them on that. I just pray that they all stay out of harm’s way. Unfortunately, I feel like Daddy’s gonna get arrested . . . him and Uncle Marcus. Whether they admit to it or not, vocal recognition software will prove it’s their voices.”
“How long did he give Dad to pay?”
“He has another week. After that, he said he will turn in the recording. I can only pray that God will show Dad mercy. That man terrorized him and Mama. He terrorized the entire family. I remember him. He approached me at school one time, when I was at China Elementary.”
My eyebrows lifted. Yeah, that nigga was bold if he tried messing with Karima. That’s the surest way to get fucked up. You don’t mess with anybody’s kids.
“He wasn’t mean to me or anything. He just talked, asking me my name and saying he knew the entire family. Then when Mama picked me up, he put me in the car. I can remember how fast Mama got out of there.”
She shook her head. “That man has been a nuisance to the entire family. He was messing with Aunt Jen and Uncle WJ, then Aunt Syn to get under Uncle Marcus’s skin.”
“Yeah, I somewhat remember that. Uncle Jasper and Uncle Storm beat the fuck out of him and got arrested.”
“Yeah. Uncle Storm beat his ass again along with Uncle Marcus when he was stalking Aunt Syn. So he had plenty of warnings. Got his ass whupped at least five times. I just gotta keep fasting and praying, because this ain’t giving me good vibes at all.
Daddy is such a good person. That man just made him snap.
He was reported a couple of times, and law enforcement did absolutely nothing about it. ”
I nodded, remembering the family talks about it.
I was just a kid when all that shit was going down, but the fact that it went on for years kept it relevant.
Even after he was dead, his name still came up every now and then, especially with that shit going on with Decaurey and Tyeis a few years ago.
Treasure came from the back with a smile on her face. I smiled back at her and went to where we were originally sitting. When she sat next to me, she asked, “You wanna go see her? Time is getting really close. She’s at an eight now, since they have her on medication.”
“Naw. She ain’t finna cuss me out. I’ll wait until the baby is born. Bali is naturally unhinged at times. I’m pretty sure she’s worse right now.”
Treasure giggled slightly. “Yeah, she told her mom to shut up.”
“Yeah, see . . . It’s a no for me.”
She giggled again while I intertwined my fingers with hers, then leaned against me.
I kissed her forehead and relaxed in my seat.
My eyes went to my dad’s, and somehow, I knew he could see all the emotions running through me.
If he got arrested, I could only pray that this beautiful flower was nowhere near me when it happened.
I wouldn’t be able to control myself at that point.
My dad nodded at me, and I nodded back, then closed my eyes. Lord keep me near the cross.