Chapter 33
I sat downstairs at my father-in-law’s house, waiting for him to come down. It never failed that anytime someone had a meeting with Senior, he had to make a grand entrance. In his defense this time, I was here early, and he hadn’t quite gotten out of bed yet. The last couple of days had been emotional for me, and I’d been suppressing it. My heart was hurting for Amp. I’d known him for so long, and he died protecting me.
That would never sit right with me. The police reported it as a robbery gone wrong, but I knew the truth. His funeral was sad. They didn’t even open the casket because of how bad the gunshot wound to his head was. Hearing his mother cry out the way she did broke my spirit. Salima and I had gone to her house yesterday to visit, and she was a mess. His girlfriend was there, and she was a mess too. Every time they cried, I cried because the guilt was eating me alive.
I hadn’t told my parents about Charity kidnapping me. We’d just gotten back right after the shootout on my wedding day, and I couldn’t have another thing take us back to that place. I also couldn’t have them hating Maceo for something I willingly became a part of. I just couldn’t. They knew the problem was taken care of. That was all they needed to know.
Charity was dead. I didn’t feel any type of way about that because the bitch had it coming, and she deserved it. There was no big meeting about what the family was going to do with her. There were no debates about her life hanging in the balance. The only thing I wanted to know was that she suffered, and Maceo assured me she did. That was good enough for me.
Life was moving on, but there was still this cloud looming over my head. Maceo was constantly asking me if I was okay, and while I was physically, the whole thing was an eye opener for me. That was why I was here to see my father-in-law.
The sound of footsteps approaching pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up, expecting to see Senior, but instead, I saw Maddie. She was dressed in a long, floral Kimono robe and furry slippers, with her long hair flowing freely.
“Ms. Maddie? What are you doing here?”
“Chile, I think you already know. Let’s not play games.”
I smirked. “You couldn’t stay away, huh?”
“I have needs. That’s all.” She sat next to me and pulled me into a motherly hug. “What brings you by?”
“I just wanted to talk to Senior about something.”
She nodded. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m… fine. As fine as I can be.”
“I’m here if you want to talk.”
“I appreciate that.”
Approaching footsteps alerted us of Senior’s presence. Maddie kissed my cheek before standing and leaving the room. Senior took a seat across from me and leaned forward on his elbows.
“What can I do for you, baby girl?” he asked, sitting back.
“I um… I wanted to ask you for something.”
“What is it?”
“I want to join your organization.”
“Sharina—”
“Let me finish. You know I used to be a CNA. I may be hard on the outside, but I have a soft spot for caring for others.”
He nodded. “I see that with Salima and Darlyn.”
“Working with Maceo and the guys only softened that spot even more, especially for people who, otherwise, would have been forgotten by the masses. I don’t want to be in the field, but I still want to help in some way. I know your family has several nonprofits. Either I can help with those or start my own. Either way, I want… I need … to be a part of something bigger.”
“How are you going to explain this to your parents?”
“As long as I’m working within the community, they will understand.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because they know my heart better than anyone.”
He stared at me for a moment before a smile broke out on his face. “Okay. I’m sure I can find a position for you. If not, I’ll create one.”
I smiled. “Thank you, Senior.”
“You might as well call me Pops. You’re my daughter at this point. I still can’t believe you niggas went and got married without us.”
“How did you even find out?” I questioned, genuinely curious.
He chuckled. “I was coming to talk to y’all, and I heard your vows. Man, that shit brought a grown man to tears. I know I didn’t provide the best example of a loving relationship to my kids, but the fact that at least two of them know how to love with their whole hearts makes me feel like I did something right.”
“You may not have provided the best example of a loving relationship, but you want to know what I see when I look at Maceo? A man that was provided with unconditional love. He was taught to be a provider. He knows that it’s okay to be vulnerable as a man while still being the fiercest protector. I know that’s because of you and Mrs. Allison. Even if you two didn’t work out, you both raised a good man.”
He reached for my hands, and I was happy to give them to him.
“He just needed a good woman to bring it out of him. Thank you for seeing more than dollar signs in my son.”
I giggled. “I can’t lie… those dollar signs are nice.” We shared a laugh before I added, “Seriously, though. The charm won me over.”
“And we get babies out of it. Darlyn needs a cousin, and Pop Pop needs another grandbaby. Now that all this shit is over, I expect one in the next nine months.”
I laughed. “Damn! Can we enjoy marriage a little first?”
“I’ll give you a year.”
“How kind of you.” I playfully rolled my eyes. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“You really think this is over?”
“I do. If it’s not, we’ll handle it like any other task. Hopefully, it’s over. I’m getting too old to have my ass out in the field like that. Let’s just pray whoever my other kids end up with doesn’t fuck around and get kidnapped. I love y’all, but y’all are trying to take me outta here quicker than I’m ready to go.”
“I don’t know. According to Maceo, Mia and Titan might give you a run for your money.”
He palmed his head. “I don’t wanna think about that. I just have the strongest feeling that those two will end up together, and all hell is gonna break loose. I can see it now.”
We talked for a little while longer before I got a text from Maceo, asking me where I was like he didn’t have my location. I said my goodbyes to Senior and hopped on my golf cart to head back home. As I drove past Mia’s house, I saw none other than Titan DeLuca coming out the front door with Mia behind him.
“Fuck you, DeLuca. I never wanna see you again!”
“Yeah, you say that until you hit my line asking me to come through and tap that ass.”
“I hope you enjoyed it this last time, because you will never get the chance to smell my pussy again, fuck nigga.”
“How much you wanna bet? I guarantee I can have you face down, ass up by tonight if I wanted to. Take your little ass back in the house and smoke something to calm your fucking nerves.”
I shook my head as I kept going about my business. When I pulled up in the yard, I could smell whatever my man was cooking. I hopped off the golf cart and practically floated inside. Music bumped through the speakers as I made my way to the kitchen. I stopped and covered my mouth to avoid cackling at the sight of this man in nothing but his boxers, socks, a chef hat, and an apron that read, Season Yo’ Shit .
The sounds of “Poledancer” by Wale and Megan Thee Stallion filled the space as he rapped along to the song. I fought to hold back my laughter as he jigged to the beat. I watched until Meg’s part was about to drop. Walking over, I turned him to face me as I rapped along to the lyrics. He grinned as he silently hyped me up.
Grabbing my hand, he twirled me around until my ass was in his crotch. I twerked on him as I kept rapping the lyrics until his nasty ass tried to pull my pants down.
“Baby! Stop!” I shrieked, playfully slapping his chest.
He yanked me to him and wrapped an arm around my waist. “You know you can’t put that ass on me without me getting excited. I don’t know why you even played with me like that.” He dropped a sweet kiss on my lips. “Where you been, woman?”
“Why? You missed me?”
“I did. I’m used to waking up before you most of the time. I didn’t get my creep time in this morning.”
I laughed. “Creep time?”
“Time where I just stare at your pretty ass and wonder how I got so damn lucky.”
I blushed. “Maceo, you really watch me sleep?”
“I do. That’s the only time I can really stare at you without you asking me what the fuck I’m looking at.”
I laughed, because I was quick to ask him that if he stared at me for too long.
“I went to talk to your dad. Sidenote, you know him and Maddie are messing around?”
“Shiiiit, she lasted longer than I gave her credit for.”
“Sidenote number two. Did you know Titan was on the compound over at Mia’s?”
“Now that I didn’t know.” He shook his head. “All that bitching she does at that nigga, and she has him over here. Toxic ass shit. I’m not saying a word when they start fighting again.”
“They are already fighting again. They were going at it as I was coming home. Anyway, I went to talk to your dad about becoming part of the organization.”
“Absolutely not. Did you forget that quick what we just went through?”
“Shut up and let me finish. I don’t want to be in the field. I just want to be a part of the nonprofit.”
“Oh… well that’s cool. You can do that. I don’t have a problem with that. At least that way, I’m safe with your pops, and him and my dad are safe from each other.”
I snickered. “Right.”
“So… since my family already knows we’re married, are we gonna break the news to your people?”
I nervously rubbed the back of my neck. “Do you think we should?”
“I mean, there is no time like the present. I’m low-key ready to wear my ring all the time. Let a female approach me. Bitch, I’m married! You see this shit?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, Shug Avery.”
He mushed my head. “We can go over there when we finish eating.”
I groaned and stomped my feet. “Can we tell them from the car so you can just press the gas when my daddy pulls out his gun?”
“That’s dramatic.”
“No, that’s my daddy.”
He chuckled as he turned back to the stove. “Everything will be fine. I’m sure they’ll be upset, but they’ll get over it. I mean, now we have time to plan the wedding we want and deserve and include everybody.”
I sighed. “You promise it’s gonna be fine?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“No.”
“A’ight then. Now, sit your ass down and let me feed you. If you’re still nervous after we eat, I have a remedy for that.”
“What remedy?”
He grinned. “This dick.”
I rolled my eyes as I went to sit at the table. Dick might cure my attitude and my nerves in most cases, but this one… I wasn’t sure about that. But hey! It didn’t hurt to try!