Chapter 20
TWENTY
Tunk
I rubbed Johnni’s back while she lay on my chest. I didn’t sleep at all. The shit last night let me know the secret he had on her was heavy on her mind, which I hated. Lourdè didn’t need any more stress.
I leaned my face into her wild hair, inhaling deeply.
“I don’t want to go home yet, Chief,” she whined while planting soft kisses on my chest.
“You are home, baby. And good, because you’re never going back to that place,” I said lowly. I knew she could hear me but she didn’t respond so I repeated myself.
“Lou, I’m serious. How I look having my pregnant woman in another situation like last night or worse, another shooting? It’s clear that nigga don’t give a fuck about you. Yet again he knew some shit went down and his only concern was him and this fuck ass election. I can’t send you back to him.”
I felt a tear drop on my chest before the sniffles came.
“Courtland, I know, but I have to go back.”
“No the hell you don’t. As a matter of fact, you can’t. I can put you somewhere safe if staying here is too much.”
“All my stuff is there for my pageant, Courtland.” That was her only response.
“Either I go get it or your mother-in-law brings it, but you’re not going back.”
“Okay.” I was glad she didn’t fight me on this.
“Speaking of the baby, shouldn’t we be making the first appointment?”
“About that, instead of a regular doctor, I’ve decided on a midwife and a doula.
That way I can keep all this quiet for now.
Privacy is a big thing. Hollis found them for me.
My first meeting with them is next week.
” I nodded, accepting that. She lifted, heading for the bathroom with her body completely bare.
I lay there admiring her body as her ass jiggled.
That was my motivation to hop up, moving behind her to join the shower party.
An hour later we were packing up to head to the Keys. Lourdè said she needed a real mental break and to get as far away as this pageant would allow her, which meant a staycation at the beach house that I had to clear with Lando of course.
“Ooh, Chief, can we please stop and get food?”
“Is it for you or the baby?” I asked jokingly as we made our way down the road.
“If I say the baby, will you stop?” I laughed, shaking my head.
“No, Lou. I’ma stop for both.” I grabbed her hand, kissing the back as she blushed.
After stopping and getting her food, we made it to the ferry where I watched her go to work on her biscuit that she covered in hot sauce and honey. I chuckled to myself because Johnni wasn’t even paying attention, her only focus was on finishing her food that she made look so damn good.
“Can I get some?” Of course she nodded, holding the biscuit out so I could get a bite.
I leaned over and stole a kiss in the process, tasting the sweet and spicy mixture on her tongue, loving the flavor.
She looked at me with wide eyes. I wasn’t worried since I knew he couldn’t see inside.
“Courtland! My mouth was full, baby.”
“Woman, so was mine. I don’t give a damn about that. You remember the rules up here. Kisses at stops and red lights.” That had her laughing as she shook her head but put her lips back on mine.
We got to the beach house in no time, with me getting her settled in before I had to return to the mainland to get everything else we needed and doing the pickup of her pageant stuff from Mrs. Steph. She agreed with Lourdè getting away for a little while after the shit last night.
For her to be his mother, the love she had for Lourdè always made me smile. I could tell it was genuine. Then my mind wondered if she knew about her son and that was why she went so hard for her.
Shit, probably. I mean moms be knowing shit, right?
Once I left, I ended up at the one person’s house I knew would give me hell for this shit but would also help me.
I knocked on my pops’ door before I made my way inside.
I already knew where he would be, so I made my way to the back deck but was stopped by him being in the kitchen at the table.
I frowned until I noticed the kids playing in the backyard.
I love my pirates but I was glad they didn’t see me because I needed an adult moment uninterrupted.
“Damn, they got you on babysitting duty?” He looked up and smiled. The other day wasn’t our finest father-son moment but I knew I could always count on him to be here for me.
“Yeah, Liv had her staff meeting and your brother is working. What’s going on? Shouldn’t you be working too?”
“Yeah, surprisingly, I got the day off.” I snorted sarcastically as I took a seat.
“So you must be ready to talk if you showed up here.” I nodded.
“Yeah. My shit’s all fucked up, Pops. I don’t know how I got here.” I looked out the door at the kids and my mind immediately imagined my baby out there playing with their cousins. Then I drifted to Johnni and I finally making things official.
I was so close to my picture perfect that I could feel it in my heart as it beat wildly, setting my whole chest on fire.
“Love.” We shared a light chuckle while I agreed.
“It can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be very ugly if it’s with the wrong person. So tell me, is she your beauty?”
I dragged my hands down my face, blowing out an exasperated breath.
“Yes. Johnni is my lifeline to all things that makes me feel like I’m not just living to die.”
Kelvin smirked as his brows shot up and an amused smirk took over his face.
“Oh, so you got it that bad. You finally found your purpose to live. And how does she feel?”
“The same. And I know me saying she wants to leave him is just words, but I believe she really does. She said something about signing a contract when she got married that makes it hard. Not only is she harboring his secrets, but he’s dragging one of hers along with it.
I swear, Pops, I’m praying for patience, but I hate her being with him. And now she’s pregnant.”
A slap to the back of my head had me wincing as I rubbed the spot he’d hit.
“Ouch, Pops, what was that for?”
“A lot of things. I’ll start with this baby. I swear, between you and your brother, you act like two teenagers who ain’t got their dicks wet. You get grown and forget what condoms are. But you, making babies with a married woman is something else. Are you sure it’s yours?”
“Yeah, I’m a hundred percent sure, trust me.” Kelvin didn’t need to know Quincey was gay and they had never been together.
“Well, you can’t pray for patience when you created a family that needs you. Patience is for a man who has time to wait. Pray for strength to move mountains. If she wants out, get your lady out, contract or not. You know there is always a loophole hidden in plain sight.”
“That’s where it gets tricky. Even if I find a loop, it’s who she’s connected to that might still be a problem. She’s married to Congressman Wilson.”
“It’s only tricky if you can be tricked. You’re trained to see the bullshit before it hits the target. Eliminate the threat and bring your woman home. Remember, even the most powerful men can fall to their knees long enough to take them down.” I nodded, understanding what I had to do.
I got up, ready to go play with my pirates when he called out to me.
“Oh, and remember, in every war there’ll be casualties. Love is no different. What’s important is winning the battle.” I heard him loud and clear. Even if the whole Wilson family had to fall, so be it.
The sound of knocking came before Naja poked her head in the door. I was at the office doing payroll and handling the added changes to the schedule. Since I was out most of the time now with Johnni, I took late hours handling the business side.
“Hey, I’m headed out, but you have a visitor. Is it cool if I send him back? It’s BK.”
“Yes, you can send him back and head out. I’ll see you tomorrow. Oh, and thank you again for staying later tonight to help me get this stuff done.”
“No problem, Tunk. See you tomorrow.” She headed out and a couple seconds later BK was making his way into the office.
“What’s goin’ on, man?” I stood to dap him up.
“Nothing much. I apologize for just popping up but this couldn’t be a phone call.” His tone was serious, way more than I had ever heard him.
“What’s up? You got something for me already?
Or is this about Boss? Is he straight? If we need to go out there, I can probably take a day or two off.
” I was now shoving papers around on the desk so I could get to the handwritten version of the schedule I’d made, seeing who I could switch out and put on Johnni.
“Oh yeah, naw, he cool. This is actually about you. I got a visit from a client the other day who wanted me to get some information on someone and their family just like you.” I sat back, holding my head to the side as I squinted, trying to read him. BK was hard to read.
This nigga is always calm.
“Well, who is it?”
He snorted.
“I knew you would ask and you already know I can’t tell you, but I can show you what I saw.”
He pulled out a single image, sliding it over to me on the desk. I wasted no time picking it up to see who he was following.
I smirked. It was a picture of Johnni and me from the other day, parked in the alley. I had just opened her door to her half ass naked. BK had managed to get us kissing.
I grabbed the back of my neck, rubbing as I released a few chuckles.
“Look, I don’t care to know your business.
Is your shit messy? Hell fucking yeah, but still not mine.
I’m making you aware of the family. I told you before that getting in bed with the Wilsons could be a deadly game and my concern beyond my lady’s friend is this company that is now under your name.
We both agreed Boss would return to a good standing position to sit back and relax.
You doing whatever you’re doing with Johnni will for sure bring him home to ashes of where his hard work once was. ”