Chapter 54
fifty-four
He watched his heartbeats outside of his body.
They soundly slept holding on to one another.
For Kai, his grip of Kamilla’s shirt was nothing new, but hers was a product of guilt.
He didn’t know how he could fix that, but he knew all he needed to do was provide safety and security until this storm passed.
Cairo watched them for hours until restlessness took over him.
He eased out of the room and ambled down the stairs.
Fredo was sitting in the dimly-lit living room.
From Cairo’s vantage point, he could tell that the house was full of their family.
Even Haddon and Charlie had opted to stay to make sure there wouldn’t be any bullshit that could pop off.
Today taught Cairo two things – the Azul ran deeper than just street shit.
They were all family and would be until the casket dropped.
The other – that his lady was his covering.
She came in with love and a gang of people who would step for her and everything she was attached to.
Cairo took a seat next to Fredo, who poured him a drink and slid the glass over. “‘Preciate it.”
Fredo nodded, not saying anything immediately until he refreshed his glass. “I don’t want the shit we committed to stealing her light. That’s the second time something we could have controlled forced her into darkness. Twice while pregnant.”
“She told you?”
Fredo swayed his head. “You just did. And anyone can look at her and tell there’s another Hendrix on the way. I love it. Watching you grow your family – our family. Our legacy. KP is shining down. I know. But we got to tighten this shit up. You understand me?” Fredo posed.
“Overstand you. What happened today will never fuckin’ happen again,” Cairo assured.
“And when I say tighten it up, she won’t survive with herself intact if you leave her again. So be smart, nigga. Be here to raise your kids, to love your woman. Don’t be like me living with regrets and trying to make up time on the backend,” Fredo continued.
“I hate I even have to ask you for this when everything is so heavy,” Cairo started, taking a sip from the glass and putting it back on the table. “Yeah, I’m good on that shit.”
Fredo watched him push the drink away and chuckled.
“Hell nah,” Cairo grumbled, screwing his face.
“Anyway, straight up and down, I want to marry her. I’m not trying to wait another five years or another baby born without making her honest. Feel me?
KP asked me to do one thing before he took his last breath, and I will do that every day until I die.
And he’s not here to give me the official nod, but you are.
I’d very much love to marry your granddaughter. ”
Fredo finished his drink and smiled. “I’d love for you to do that. I’d love for you to keep her happy, safe, and secure. I’d love to watch it.”
“I got you. On my life, I do. And thank you for taking care of them the way you have. “
Fredo’s head swayed. “Don’t ever thank me. Y’all are my family. Before I let you lay down your life, I’ll stand in front of you. Thank you for evolving so you can love her fully.”
“Would do it a million times over.”
Fredo and Cairo exchanged a handshake before retiring to opposite sides of the house. When morning came, Cairo and Nate beat Cherayne in the kitchen, thanks to the pair of cousins’ need for pancakes. When they had their food plated, Cherayne came in and shooed them out.
“How you feeling, blue?” Nate asked, checking Cairo’s temperature.
Cairo pulled in a deep breath. “When you don’t go into the dark place as frequently, it gets harder to come out.
I’ve never wanted to put a nigga back together to do it all over again.
You know this shit was a set up from the jump?
Armon was Tiny’s cousin. Aunt J got a job working at the spot Armon was managing and started running credit cards with him.
When that shit caught up to them, they locked in with Tiny and came up with a death plan. ”
“I didn’t like that nigga from the rip, but Dania wanted Kamilla to get out there and date,” Nate spoke, earning a cut of the eyes from Cairo.
“You the man of your house; you should have never let that shit fly,” he stated. “The shit is over now. My family is safe, we safe. The streets is done. It’s fine.”
“What else?” Nate asked, knowing his friend. “What’s that twinkle in your eyes, C4?”
“Unofficially, K is pregnant, and officially, Fredo gave me the green light,” Cairo happily shared.
“Ay, boy!” Nate cheered. “You up by a hundred, nigga!”
Cairo laughed. “What can I say, you inspired a nigga. I need you to work some magic for me though. Everyone is in the same place, I’m trying to get that done tonight. You got all those videos?”
“Yeah. I got my laptop too.”
“Can you put together some fire shit?” Cairo asked.
“You know I do what I can,” Nate shared, as Cherayne grabbed their attention. Both men moved into the house and received the plates for their women, a little bit extra for Kamilla.
“Thank you, Ms. Cherayne. You wanna do me a favor?” Cairo asked, smiling down at her.
“You want me to make dinner? I’m already ahead of you, Mila texted me and asked for some oxtail. Fredo is headed to the store. I got you. That ring better be something good.”
“You’ll see.”
Cairo hiked the stairs and eased into the dark room. Kamilla was still knocked out. Placing the tray down in the spot their son took up previously, he kissed her face and rubbed her back.
“Mhmm,” she groaned. “Keep doing that. It’s so stiff. This is why my daddy didn’t want me fighting. I left you something in the bathroom.”
He moved from her to the bathroom, spotting the positive pregnancy test on the counter.
“I figured you didn’t get the moment last time. It’s official, Hendrix baby number two is on the way. You got me first night in the desert because you’re a menace.”
“Your menace. I think I got you our first time too.”
“You did, actually. Right out the gate pregnant. I don’t stand a chance against you,” Kamilla sweetly buzzed. Cairo climbed in bed behind her and held her. “Don’t let me go.”
“I’ll never let you go.”