Chapter 6
CARTER LEGEND
“It’s okay, baby girl. We got’chu.” Kingsley lowered his head slightly, then looked back at her, and said, “I got’chu.”
My eyebrows lifted slightly. I was surprised he’d finally made a move.
I noticed him watching her months ago, before all the bullshit.
At rodeos, whenever he and Kane team roped, he paid close attention to her.
As the oldest Semien, I made it my business to look out for my siblings.
I took it to heart when Mythic started selling drugs.
I felt like I didn’t do my job. What happened with Treasure only made that feeling worse.
She gave Kingsley a slight smile, and said, “Thank you, King.”
He rubbed her hand between his, then scooted closer to her as he glanced at me.
I moved my arm from around her. When he extended his arm and she leaned into him, I knew that he would be the one to restore her faith in men.
She had a long way to go, but simply by this gesture, I knew she somewhat trusted him.
I turned my attention to Bali and could see she was ready to crash out. Sliding my hand to hers, I could feel her flinch. She looked at me and gave me a small smile.
“Come here, baby.” She glanced over at Treasure and Kingsley, then leaned into me.
After she took a deep breath and exhaled, I said, “I’m going to always do my best to be your source of peace.
I know you’re angry. I’m low-key pissed, and I barely know Marcus.
So I understand what you’re feeling right now. ”
She wrapped her arms around my waist, and said, “Thank you, baby. You make me better.”
“You make me better, too.”
When the door opened, Bali lifted her head, and said, “Oh shit. Watchful Eyes is here.”
I turned to see around ten niggas walk in, along with a Hispanic-looking lady with them.
They went over to where Marcus was, in the kitchen.
If those muthafuckas showed up here, it was going to be hell to pay.
I still didn’t understand why they were after him.
No matter where he was born, if at least one parent was a U.S.
citizen, he should be fine. He was a descendant of a citizen.
Plus, he was married to a citizen. Mybe since Mr. Henderson didn’t claim him until he was grown was where the confusion came in at.
Bali’s attention was on them, and I noticed Noni’s was, too.
Red looked frustrated. That nigga was so fucking hotheaded and selfish at times.
He was going to find himself by himself.
A light skinned dude came from the back, and said, “We need to get y’all to the family barn.
We need to be able to speak to everyone at once.
If you have a kid at the daycare, go help Angel with those lil monsters. ”
I chuckled as Jakari shot him the finger. I had to assume he had bad kids.
“You know JJ lil ass fuck shit up at that daycare. My baby done already had to repaint. You know that shit, because you had to pay for it. Lil nigga drew on all the walls with a marker. Now Jari over there following in his footsteps,” Decaurey said.
“Your twins and no damn angels either, nigga,” Jakari said as Christian chuckled.
“All y’all kids bad except Rylan’s. Renzo is an angel, just like his parents,” Ashanni added.
“You better not talk too loud. You pregnant and could be having a monster yourself,” the light skinned man said.
“Come on, na. Shy,” she said. “You gon’ turn on me like that?”
He lifted his hands and shrugged his shoulders. “Me and Ali ain’t got no hope in the next generation being mild, because y’all muthafuckas rowdy. Start making y’all way to the family barn. Be aware of your surroundings. Watchful Eyes is spread out along the journey there.”
As he said that, I noticed my parents at the door.
Jacob let them in. When my mama looked at us, she frowned slightly.
I knew she was trying to figure out who was comforting Treasure, since she couldn’t see his face.
My dad was frowning as well. Treasure was their baby, but ever since what happened, they were even more protective of her.
When they got closer and they saw Kingsley, their eyebrows lifted from the frown they were in. I chuckled silently. I swore, it was like they were related. They’d been together for so long their asses were starting to look alike.
When Kingsley saw them, he grabbed Treasure’s hand and stood. He nodded at my parents as Treasure turned around and saw them. She quickly made her way to my mama. I shook my dad’s hand as he said, “What’s going on around here now?”
I chuckled and slid my hand down the back of my head. He knew these Hendersons were rowdy. “ICE is after Marcus. These niggas gearing up for war. They are not about to just stand idle and let those people take Marcus.”
“Fuck.” He glanced around, and said, “I know you wanna be here for Bali, but be careful. Your sponsors will look for anything to drop you. Coca Cola is MAGA. I’m not saying to kiss nobody ass. I just want you to be aware of what’s at stake.”
I nodded. He knew I was chasing his record for NFR appearances.
I still had two more after the one coming to beat him.
However, when it came to Bali, those sponsors could go to hell.
I knew she wouldn’t intentionally put me in an unnecessary predicament.
ICE was a nuisance to the people of this country, and that was putting it mildly.
I would fuck somebody up to protect her.
“I understand fully. That shit don’t matter when it comes to her. The time is coming. I’ve already talked to—”
“You better get your Black ass out of here before they try to send you to Africa.”
I bit my bottom lip, trying to contain my laughter. I swore Mr. Storm and my Pop stayed at each other’s throats. The fact that they were about to share a grandchild was insane. My dad turned around and shot him the finger. They laughed and shook hands.
“Baby girl and Mythic are talking about getting married soon. They just wanna do it at the family barn,” Mr. Storm said as he gave me a head nod.
I extended my hand, and he shook it.
“I know. Mythic told me earlier. He said end of next month, after nationals.”
I smiled slightly. They already knew everybody would be in Vegas, especially, Milana, Rylan, Red, Karima, and me. Hell, Maui and Mythic would probably be on the trip. Mythic had always made sure he was in Vegas to support me, even when he was involved in bullshit. He didn’t miss.
“A’ight. Well, I’ll let y’all get Treasure home,” Mr. Storm said and shook my dad’s hand.
I glanced at Bali to see her talking to Noni.
Before I could give my attention back to my dad, I saw Kingsley standing there just watching Treasure.
Damn. That nigga had it bad. There was no doubt in my mind that his country ass would take care of my sister, though.
If that nigga could fight an alligator, I knew he would fight another nigga without a problem.
Treasure turned to him and gave him a tight smile. He did the same to her and slid his hands in his pockets.
“We gon’ see you later, son. You still on for Mississippi next weekend, right?”
“Yes, sir. It’s the last rodeo before nationals.”
He nodded. “A’ight. Remember what I said.”
I nodded. There wasn’t shit to think about. If them people came at my baby, they would meet the barrel of my gun. Plain and simple.
“She always got her nose in shit. Can’t even hold a fucking conversation with her without having to repeat myself.”
“Squared, you can’t be serious, dawg. ICE is trying to fuck with her uncle, which could lead to them fucking with the entire family. You wanted her to disregard her family and what was going on to cater to you? I know I didn’t hear that shit right.”
He slid his hand down his face as we practiced. His mama was getting situated in the box to haze for him as I sat at the back of the chute.
“Man, I know she had shit going on, but what could she do about it? They’d already talked and told them what was pertinent for them to know.”
“Nigga, that shit is still affecting their mental. You need to get yourself together before Noni snap and fuck you up. I’m surprised she ain’t done that shit yet.”
“I’m not you. She not gon’ put her hands on me without consequence. She know that shit.”
I slowly shook my head. “You can try to throw shade all you want, nigga. I got who I want, and our relationship is on the up and up. Instead of hating, you need to be taking notes. Now get yo’ mind right to wrestle this steer.”
He shot me the finger. That was his fucking problem. He was way too hotheaded and selfish. The world didn’t revolve around his ass.
“Yo, nigga! You ready to stop running yo’ fucking mouth and work?” my dad asked.
Squared huffed and got himself together as his dad slowly shook his head.
Whenever we were practicing, everybody referred to him as Squared, since the original Red was here.
Squared tried to crack a joke and said we should be calling his dad Old Man Red.
Uncle Red had to prove a point and wrestle a steer, showing Squared that he still had it.
He got a better time than him. That killed that shit.
Finally, Squared gave the head nod and his dad released the steer. That nigga took off and wrestled him to the ground in four seconds flat. That was good as hell. He still wasn’t as good as Uncle Red in his hay day, but it was still good.
When I told his time, he yelled, “Fuck!”
I slowly shook my head. I understood where he was coming from, but he was letting that shit consume him.
He was constantly comparing himself to his dad.
I couldn’t do that. There would never be another Legend Semien.
I still hadn’t broken his high score. I didn’t give a fuck.
As long as I was leading the muthafuckas I was competing against, that was all that mattered.
Me trying to break his National Finals Rodeo appearances record was just a friendly competition between the two of us.
I didn’t allow that shit to consume me. Whether I did or didn’t, I would still be good.
I was proud of how far I’d come in my career.
Having eight appearances at nationals was a big deal.
I glanced at the time and saw it was already eleven.
I told Bali I would go meet her for lunch.
I’d already practiced, but I still needed to go shower.
She went to lunch at twelve thirty. Squared had one more run, then I would be done for the day.
I did my best not to ever renege on our time together, because we didn’t always see each other every day.
After the bullshit Friday, I spent the day with her Saturday until she had to go to work, and I didn’t see her at all yesterday.
Whenever I didn’t see her, it felt like my day was missing something.
I couldn’t wait until she was my wife. I pulled out my phone and texted her. Are we still on for lunch?
Yep.
Just as I was about to slide my phone back in my pocket, she sent another text.
Is it cool if Noni comes with us?
I frowned slightly. Something was up. Noni never wanted to go anywhere with us unless Squared was going, too. I responded, Of course, baby.
I watched Squared back up in the box and Uncle Red re-attach the barrier. That nigga was about to lose his woman. I thought all would be cool after our last talk. Apparently, their issues didn’t have shit to do with Bali. Her concerns were warranted, and now he was proving that very thing.