15. Treasure #2
Malia rolled her eyes as Kingsley appeared next to me. He reached for my hand and helped me stand. He pulled me away from them, and said, “You looked a little uncomfortable. You okay?”
“I’m okay. I just didn’t know if I wanted to hear what Malia had to say about her mom, so thank you.”
“Of course. I saw you tense up. They always into it. I don’t know why Malia keep entertaining that bullshit. You wanna sit with us?”
“Yeah.”
I slid my arm around his and followed him to their table where Royal was holding his babies. They were so cute. I lowered my head slightly as I stared at them. I would never have kids. I began silently counting from ten to one. I smiled at them as the guys all spoke to me.
“You couldn’t let her be, huh? Treasure if Kingsley ever breathing down your neck too hard, just blink twice,” Seven said.
I chuckled. “Never that. If I could be in his skin, that’s where I would be.”
I kissed Kingsley’s cheek as he smiled. He leaned over and kissed my lips as Seven fake gagged.
The door opened, and I saw Lauren and her brother, Zacardi, come inside.
We used to hang together all the time when we were young, but our personalities were no longer compatible.
Uncle Zay and Aunt Kortlynn still came around, but their kids rarely did.
When they went to the counter, I noticed Ace staring at her.
“I thought you was gon’ leave that alone. You was asking about Taj,” Kingsley said.
“Yeah, but PJ got his sights set on her. Lauren just gon’ have to get her shit together. She know she want a nigga. Look at how she keep glancing over here.” He bit his bottom lip, revealing his platinum grill. “Be right back.”
Kingsley slowly shook his head as we watched him. “Lauren gon’ hurt his feelings,” I said, causing everybody to chuckle.
Lauren turned to him and frowned as everybody tried to hold in their laughter.
When Zacardi frowned too, I knew Ace had probably said something out of pocket.
Mythic said Ace didn’t give a fuck and said whatever crossed his mind to say.
Zacardi looked just like Uncle Zayson: tall and thick.
He was just a shade or so darker, like Mrs. Kortlynn.
Lauren said something to him, and I could see Ace shrug his shoulders. When he walked off, Lauren’s eyes stayed on him. She wanted him. She never gave anybody that much attention. I slowly shook my head, and she saw me. She gave me a tight smile, then turned back to the counter.
Ace flopped down and Aunt Chrissy set a platter of chicken on the table. “Hey, babies. Here y’all go. Hey, Miss Treasure. What else would you like to eat, baby?”
I smiled so big. Aunt Chrissy was sweet like honey. It was impossible to be in her presence without smiling. “Umm . . . just some green beans to go with the chicken, if you have some.”
“Of course, baby. I’ll be back with everybody’s choices.”
“Thanks, Aunt Chrissy,” they all said in unison.
“Y’all know I’m gon’ get that, right?” Ace said as soon as Aunt Chrissy walked off.
“Nigga, her ass gon’ fuck you up. You gon’ be softer than Kingsley in a minute,” Seven said.
Kingsley shot him the finger, then turned to me and placed his fingers under my chin, tilting my head back, and kissed my lips. I smiled as my body heated up. I continued staring at him, ready to get back to his place.
The table was quiet until I broke out of the trance he had me in.
“And that’s just how Lauren gon’ be with me when I tap that ass,” Ace said, causing the entire table to go into an uproar.
I laughed so hard I nearly got choked.
“Hi, baby! It’s so good to have you in our home. We’ve been waiting for this day,” Mrs. Keisha said as Kingsley and I walked inside.
My face heated up as I said, “I’ve been waiting for this day too.”
She hugged me loosely, then Mr. Kenny extended his hand. I gave him a tight smile as I put my hand in his, and said in a soft voice, “Hi.”
“Nice to see you, Treasure.”
He was always soft-spoken. That was where Kingsley got that from.
We had moments where we were both quiet, and it didn’t feel the least bit awkward.
Kingsley led me to the family room where Karima, her husband Rhodes, KJ, his wife Cassie, and the three kids were.
Kane and Kambel walked in behind us. I turned to Kambel and hugged her, then turned back for my introduction to Cassie.
I’d seen her in passing but had never talked to her.
“Hi, Treasure! I’m Cassie. It’s nice to officially meet you. This is K-3,” she said as she picked him up. “He’s big as hell but still likes to be babied. I ain’t gon’ be able to do this much longer.”
I chuckled as she leaned in for a hug. “It’s nice to officially meet you too.”
She seemed extremely nice. I spoke to everyone else.
I’d known Karima and KJ for a while because of the rodeos.
We were always at the same ones they were at, especially since Karima and my dad were with the same association.
Rima also talked to me a couple of times after my attack.
I should’ve stayed talking to her. I probably would’ve been better off.
She was feeding her baby, so she just smiled and said, “Hey, Treasure! As soon as I’m done, I promise I’m gonna get a big hug from you.”
I smiled at her, and said, “I can’t wait.”
After being introduced to Rhodes and hugging KJ and Kane, I sat next to Kingsley.
Whew! All these K names were gonna have me confused.
I was gonna mess around and call my man Kane, Kenny, Kendrall, or KJ.
Then, there was Karima, Katrice, Keisha, and Cassie.
Although Cassie started with a C, it was the same starting sound.
As I watched K-3 run around and Roselynn play in the playpen, I got a weird feeling inside.
My body began trembling like I was about to have an anxiety attack.
Kingsley turned to me and grabbed my hand. “You okay?”
“I think so. I’m not sure what’s happening.”
Karima came and sat next to me with the baby. “I feel it too. I’m not sure what it is either.”
She grabbed my hand, and I was immediately calmed.
I stared at her as she closed her eyes. Everyone began moving around to give her room.
Rhodes took the baby, and she started crying.
Karima was breastfeeding, so the baby wasn’t done.
He quickly lowered Rima’s shirt and fished a bottle from Katrice’s bag to calm her down.
As we sat here in silence, the doorbell rang. Her eyes popped open, and she stood, prompting all of us to stand. We all just stared at her as she stared at the door. “Daddy, they’re here.”
When she said that, it seemed like everything that happened that day felt fresh. They think they’ve gotten away with all the lives they’ve taken, but they will be in for a rude awakening, including Kenny Henderson for killing Reggie.
My body was trembling as Kingsley wrapped his arms around me.
He was trying to calm me down, but it wasn’t helping me at all.
Mr. Kenny headed to the door and when he opened it, I expected cops to come rushing in.
I didn’t see anybody at first, but then he walked through the door, and I went stiff as board.
Kingsley caught me before I hit the floor. Special Agent Peyton Cochran.