Epilogue
“Daddy, they won’t let me play.” Kys’sen pushed her little body between my legs, climbing into my lap with her lips poked out. My spoiled ass baby girl folded her arms across her chest like she meant business before pushing her demand out. “Tell them to let me play.”
My eyes traveled across the yard where my son and nephew were running from each other, pausing every few minutes to spray the other with the massive water guns they held.
“You don’t need to play with them, Kys.” I stood, lifting her little body into my arms, and she frowned more.
“But I want to and they’re being mean.”
“Nah, they’re not being mean. They’re just being boys.
What I tell you about that?” I kissed her cheek, glancing at them again.
At six and five, neither my son nor nephew wanted my baby girl slowing them down.
They also knew if they made her cry from playing too rough, I’d be in their asses.
So to stay out of trouble, they just ignored her.
A’keer loved his little sister as did Amir Jr. love his cousin, but right now, they were more interested in blasting each other with their Super Soakers to be concerned with her hurt feelings.
“But I want to play with them.”
“How about Daddy comes swimming with you instead?” I held my head back and she nodded wildly, looking just like her damn mother when that dimple surfaced.
“Aight, come on.”
As soon as I made it to the pool, I peeled her body from mine and tossed her in. She hit the water, arms and legs flailing, but giggling like she was having the time of her life.
“Why are you always trying me about my baby, Sim?” I smirked as soon as I took the steps, easing into the pool while Kys swam right to me.
“Mommy, did you see that? Do it again, Daddy!”
I lifted her into my arms, above my head, and tossed her a few feet away, toward the deep end but a little less aggressively this time since Ky was watching.
“She’s good. Why you always tripping?”
I walked over to the edge where she sat, legs spread wide, waiting for me.
The white suit she wore looked good against her tanned, brown skin and her hair was pulled up into a curly mass on top of her head, exposing her neck which had me lifting slightly to kiss it before I turned back, settling between her thighs.
Ky’s fingers raked through my hair before she rested her arms on my shoulders.
“She’s a girl. Don’t try to rough her up like you do the boys. AJ and Keer can handle it. She can’t. You’re gonna make my baby drown out here.”
“All that damn money we spent on swim lessons; I’m just trying to make sure we get our money’s worth. She better not even act like she can’t handle this water.”
“Shut up. There was no way I was going to have my babies out here with access to a pool and not knowing how to swim.”
“Cost me a damn fortune too.”
“And you paid it so what difference does it make?”
I chuckled then nodded because she was right. There wasn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t provide for my family, no matter the cost. They were worth it.
“Move, AJ.” I looked up to see A’keer shove his cousin away before he hopped onto the diving board, thrusting his body into the deep end. AJ was right behind him and they missed each other by inches.
Wild asses!
“Tell them to be careful.” Ky narrowed her eyes, watching them wrestle in the deep end, but I didn’t say a word because they were going to keep at it regardless.
“Sim,” she warned and I angled my head back to find her face tight, which had me smiling.
“What, man? Let them play. I’m right here and you know they’re wild as shit. They’re good.”
“Aight, let something happen and I’m beating your ass.
” Her eyes shot over to the stairs where Kys had settled.
She was in her own little world, singing some song while she tossed a set of plastic rings at the floating cone a few feet from her.
Being the only girl taught her to entertain herself, which was a good thing.
With the kids occupied, I turned and lifted Ky from the side, pulling her into the water, backing her against the wall while she smiled, circling my waist. The second her body was close to mine; I felt my trunks tenting.
“How you know I wanted to be in here?”
“I didn’t, but I wanted you in here.”
I buried my face into her neck, placing a trail of kisses across her skin until I heard Amir’s big ass mouth.
“Ay, don’t be out here trying to make another baby in the pool while my son is a few feet away.”
When I lifted my eyes to him, he had a smirk on his face as he stretched out on the lounge chair and Learah stepped into the pool, grabbing Kys, kissing her cheeks.
“Mind your business the same way we’re minding ours.” Ky cut her eyes at him and he tilted his head to the side.
“What you mean?” I already knew what she meant, considering the fact that an hour ago, he’d tossed out that he needed to holla at Lear inside for a minute. The grin on his face was proof of what the conversation was about, but he told on himself when his eyes went right to Learah.
“You know she’s loud as hell. I just came from inside. I could hear y’all all the way downstairs.”
Learah’s eyes shot over to Ky quickly before she laughed. “Yeah, mind your business.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Amir chuckled and shrugged. “My wife is fine as fuck. I’m not gon’ act like I don’t hit that every chance I get.”
“Horny ass.” Ky rolled her eyes and I pulled her to me, leaning down to her ear.
“Shit me too. How about you come talk to me inside for a minute?”
“Nope.” She smiled big, pushing me away, but I pulled her right back, easing my hands down her back until they reached her ass.
“You sure?”
“Positive. We talked enough this morning.” She pecked my lips then separated again, but this time I let her go and moved to the edge, lifting out of the pool to join Amir since Kys was now occupied with Learah and her mother.
The boys were in and out the pool on the deep end, competing to see who could create the biggest splash.
When I filled the chair next to Amir’s, he looked past me at the boys, smiling with pride. Our kids were our world and the fact that we both had the full package, wives who loved us and were loved without question, was something neither of us took for granted.
I thanked God daily for blessing me.
“Ay, you talked to Calhoun?”
Nodding, I kept my eyes on Ky who had Kys clinging to her, both smiling big with identical faces. “Yeah, he put Laron with someone he trusted since he’s stepping down. He reached out a few days ago after Laron hit me up.”
Laron had been running things smoothly since we walked away years ago, but Calhoun checked in from time to time.
He had even invited us out to a few events which we declined.
Leaving that life meant leaving it totally but he still had love for the history that existed between our families, a mutual respect in a sense.
I was sure that was why he reached out to me first before he hit Laron up about connecting him with a new supplier since he had made the decision a few months back to walk away himself.
“So they’re straight?”
“Yeah, he just wanted to let me know he wasn’t fucking him over and Laron would be taken care of.”
Amir chuckled and nodded. “Laron thought he wouldn’t be?”
“Nah, he didn’t, but you know how Calhoun is. His word is more important than anything, and since we put Laron in place, he just wanted to assure me that even with him stepping away Laron would be straight.”
“We’ve been out this shit for years and the chain of command still feels the same.”
“Respect is still respect.”
“You’re right. You talked to Kane?”
I raked my hand down my face and nodded. “A few days ago. They’re in Miami this week. He didn’t hit you up?”
“Yeah, yesterday. They’re down there wilding the fuck out. Esha’s on his nerves hard.” Amir chuckled, causing me to laugh at the same time.
“He can’t say shit though.”
“True, she was mad as fuck when she found out his hands were dirty again.”
“She left him for a whole month. He was sad as fuck too.” I shook my head at the thought.
Kane survived a year being legit but the streets were his home.
He eased back into it but never told his wife.
She wasn’t feeling it but she wasn’t feeling the fact that he’d kept it from her even more.
I understood, even if I worried about him still being out there.
It was in his blood and always would be.
That’s where he was most comfortable. Kane would always be my people, no matter what, so when he hit me up to let me know he was going back in; I could only respect his decision.
He chose to do it on a small scale instead of partnering with Laron, but Laron made it clear he could step back anytime he wanted.
Kane made sure to keep that life away from me and my family out of respect for how he knew I was moving, so we were still ten toes down and always would be.
Amir smirked. “He sure as fuck was. He was at my crib for like a week, damn near crying and shit, until Lear told him he had to go. She was mad as fuck with me because she was on Esha’s side. Fucking with him had my house unbalanced.”
I could only agree because Ky was in my shit for supporting him and not telling Esha, but it wasn’t my business or hers, so I made her keep her damn mouth shut about it. She was still hot with me though.
“Babe, you still letting us use the hotel for our event?” Ky called out from the steps of the pool where she was now sitting with Learah. Kys was on her way to me, which had me smiling. She looked just like her mother but she was a daddy’s girl through and through.
“You’re not using one of your locations?”
“No, they’re too small. Lear has fifteen artists signed up to showcase.”
“And I think I have five more. I just have to check their catalogs,” Learah cut in.
“See, we need more space. I also want a full runway.” She batted her eyelashes, smiling like I would ever tell her no.
After two years of being completely on her own, Ky had two locations.
The first was the building I’d purchased for her and she cried for a whole hour when I handed over the keys.
Big ass baby. The next she purchased on her own and both were doing well.
She partnered with Learah a lot, doing art and fashion shows, so both ladies were holding their own in the business lane.
Ky gave up on her degree after the first year being overwhelmed but she didn’t need it.
She was smart as shit and what she didn’t know was I had her covered.
“Aight, get with Sasha and let her know the dates, so she can make sure she has it on the calendar.” The hotel I’d purchased had only been up and running under my brand for six months, so it would help to bring in business from an event.
The numbers were good but it was still growing, so hosting Ky’s event would help.
Satisfied with my answer, Ky nodded and Amir snatched Kys up just before she was about to climb on my chair.
“Ay, I can’t get no love, baby girl?” He lifted her into his chest and she giggled, circling his neck with her little arms before kissing his face and singing, “yeeeeessss”.
“Well you ain’t acting like it. You’re about to hurt Unc’s feelings.
” Kys laid back on his chest, smiling while she snitched on her brother and cousin for not allowing her to play with them earlier.
Amir listened intently, like she was handing over serious intel, and Kys ate it up.
She was the baby, the only girl, and spoiled like crazy by everyone.
I watched, laughing at her throwing them under the bus while Amir promised to get them right. When she was satisfied, she left him and found her way next to me, tucking her little body under my arm against my side.
He kept his eyes on her for a long time and I knew exactly where his mind was.
“You can always adopt.”
Amir didn’t speak right away but his loaded gaze landed on Lear before he shook his head.
“Nah, we’re good. I have my king. And besides, we only need one princess in this family.
I don’t think we can handle more than one.
” He laughed, raking his hand down his face, smiling at Kys.
I knew it hurt his heart that Lear wouldn’t be able to have more kids but he handled it well.
A few months after she delivered they had to do a hysterectomy and it was hard on them both but they loved my nephew.
And if nothing else, they would pour all of their love into him.
“I’m the only girl.” Kys spoke up quickly with her little nosy ass, causing me and Amir both to laugh.
“That’s right, baby girl. The one and only.” Amir winked at her and she smiled big.
“Ay, you good though, for real?” When his eyes shot over to me briefly and landed on Lear next, he nodded.
“Hell yeah. You see my fine ass wife over there, right? Ain’t nothing better than that.”
As if she felt his energy, Learah looked right at him, eyes squinting and smiling big.
When I found Ky next, she was looking right at me with that same goofy ass grin on her face.
There wasn’t a damn thing in the world more important than the love I knew she had for me and our family. It was returned a million times over.
Life wasn’t always how you planned it, but no matter what, family could make the worst of situations feel like nothing at all and the best times feel like you lived your entire life just to experience them.
The love we all had as a unit would always get us through and that right there was priceless.