Chapter 15
Amari awoke to the sounds of crying. He sat up, kicking his legs off the bed. He looked over to see the bed was empty. The light was on under the bathroom door which let him know that Greer was inside. He picked Amaya up.
“Shhh, it’s okay baby, don’t cry.” He put her pacifier in her mouth. She sniffled as her tears stopped. He grabbed the bottle out of the warmer. He checked the temperature of the milk then removed her pacifier. He put the bottle in her mouth. Then he knocked on the bathroom door.
“Baby, you okay?”
“Yes I’m okay. I had to throw up. I’m about to come out.”
Amari sat in the rocking chair on Greer’s side of the bed. Once he was done feeding Amaya, he burped her. The door opened to the bathroom and Greer walked out. Amari laid Amaya on the bed to change her diaper. Greer climbed back in the bed.
“Momma sorry I didn’t mean to leave you crying, stinky.” Greer kissed her cheek then laid back. Amaya’s eyes roamed as she looked for her.
“She’s looking for you, look. Are you sure you’re okay, baby?” He picked Amaya up. He leaned into Greer, repeatedly kissing her lips.
“I’m so nauseous. I know it’s expected but it’s too much.” She reached for Amaya who stuck her tiny arms out. Amari passed Amaya over then he walked into the bathroom to relieve his bladder. He washed his hands and brushed his teeth.
“Come back and lay down with us, baby.”
“I need to go link with my brothers. I can’t stay long.” He got in the bed with them. Amaya climbed all over Amari while he rubbed Greer’s stomach from behind.
“Can you take Amaya to Ace, please?” She groggily asked.
“I’ll just take her with me. Go to sleep. I love you.”
“I love you too, thank you.” He rubbed until he was sure she was asleep.
By the time him and Amaya was dressed, Greer was snoring. They left the house. He strapped Amaya into her car seat in the back seat of his blacked out bulletproofed Maybach truck. He drove out of his driveway. He glanced in the backseat at his daughter who was playing with her feet.
“You rolling with daddy today, Moo.” He cooed while she laughed as if she knew what he was saying. He passed by a gas station. The commotion going on gained his attention. A man was dragging a woman out of a car while a little boy cried as he watched the scene unfold.
Something told him to keep going but he couldn’t. He parked his Maybach alongside them. He hopped out with his gun tucked on his waist.
“Wassup, lil man?” Amari kneeled, dapping the boy up. He had to be no more than five years old.
“He’s hurting my momma,” he said, gaining the man’s attention.
“Nigga, you better mind your business,” he warned. Amari ignored the man reaching for the woman. She hesitantly put her hand in his. He pulled her up.
“You good?” He asked and she quickly shook her head with tears streaming down her face.
“Come on. Y’all get all y’all stuff?”
“That bitch ain’t getting shit back, leave with what your broke ass came with.”
“Please let me just have my purse.”
“Fuck you!” He spat.
“Y’all get in,” Amari demanded. He walked towards the man, gripping the front of his shirt. He slammed him into the side of the car, knocking the wind out of him. He tossed him to the side like a rag doll. The man laid on the ground, trying to catch his breath.
Amari reached inside, grabbing her purse. Then, he kneeled beside the man.
“Give me your ID,” Amari demanded.
“Nah man.”
Amari went to hit him when he reached into his pocket, retrieving his wallet. He quickly passed over his ID.
“If I catch you anywhere near them, I’ma break every bone in your body.
” He snapped a photo of the ID. He tossed it down after kicking him.
He took the short steps back to his vehicle.
He looked in the backseat where Amaya was now sleeping.
The little boy was across from her. Amari flashed him a warm smile and he returned it. He passed the woman her purse.
“Thank you. I’m so glad you stopped. Nobody else was helping.”
“Where can I take you?” He pulled off. His phone rang with a call from Nautica.
“Yeah?”
“Nigga, wea you at? Everybody waiting on you.”
“I’ll be there. I had to stop and take care of something. Y’all go ahead and get started. You can fill me in when I get there.”
“Bet.” Nautica hung up.
“I’m so sorry.” The woman sighed.
“Don’t trip, I’ma drop y’all wherever y’all need to go. I’ll get there when I get there. What’s your name?” Amari looked over at her, noticing that even behind all the bruises on her face, she was beautiful. Her natural hair was all over her head in a curly Afro.
“My name is Klover that’s Keyon. We moved here two months ago.
I met him and it was the worst thing that ever happened to me.
We don’t have anywhere to go.” She dropped her head in her hands, silently crying.
Amari turned the radio up while he drove so that her son didn’t see her crying.
Amari headed to the Westin. He got out, then got Amaya out.
He walked inside while she laid her head on his shoulder.
“Hi there what can I do for you today?” The woman perked up at the sight of Amari.
“Wassup. I need a room for the next three months.” He figured three months would buy them some time until they figured out their next move.
After he paid and got the keys in hand, he walked back outside. He strapped Amaya back in her seat, sticking her pacifier in her mouth. He got back behind the wheel.
“She’s so cute.”
“Thank you. I got y’all a suite for the next three months, hopefully that’ll give you some time to figure out your next move.”
Her eyes filled with tears. She quickly wiped them away for more to fall. “Thank you so much, I’ll pay you back,” she choked out.
“Don’t even worry about it. You don’t owe me nothing. If you still haven’t figured it out by then call me.”
“He broke my phone.” She wiped her face with her sleeve. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a wad of bills. He counted out five thousand dollars.
“I’ll get somebody to drop you a phone and groceries off at the front desk. I’ll have my number inside. Take care of your momma, little man.” Amari reached in the backseat, dapping him up.
“Thank you, I can’t believe this. I really appreciate this. I didn’t even get to ask you… what’s your name?”
“Amari. That’s my daughter, Amaya.”
“It was nice to meet y’all. Thanks again.” She opened the door, getting out. She got Keyon out. Amari watched as they walked inside hand in hand. He pulled off, headed towards Nautica’s.