Chapter 12 #2
She was talking to her in that baby voice, and Iara smiled sweetly. Kong carried the tray of what was left of the sushi into the kitchen and moved around to clean up.
“What are you doing here?” she asked her sister.
“Checking on you. Coast and I are going to the nail shop before the barbecue. Get dressed so you can come with us. I’m sure Kong can get Rara to the house with her daddy,” Inari suggested.
“Yeah, that sounds good.” Ayla handed Rara over to Inari, and she blew strawberries on her little fat cheeks. “Give me like ten minutes.”
“What’s up with her?” Inari turned to Kong when her sister walked away.
“I guess you gotta ask her,” Kong mumbled.
Clearly, he was upset, and so was she. Inari wasn’t going to press, though.
. At least not yet. Ayla used to be the type to wear her heart on her sleeve and express everything.
Now she hid behind this reserved, resting bitch mask that scared Inari.
She wondered what type of hell she’d gone through that would wield that kind of character change.
Mira had done a number on her. Which only made her hate that bitch even more. She was glad she was dead.
While Ayla got dressed, Kong went to wake Kara and Kyro so they could get ready to go as well.
She sailed down the stairs in an orange tube top with a pair of floral print beach shorts and brown sandals.
A small Chanel crossbody bag was over her chest as she scrolled her phone.
Kong admired her hair pulled up into a high ponytail as she adjusted the layered gold chain against her chest.
“Ready,” she announced.
Kong provided the kids with cereal bars for the road until they got to the estate. He’d already gotten his wake-up call from Desiree, so he knew he had to move or risk getting cursed the hell out. Inari handed Rara over to Kong, and she immediately reached for his chain.
“Daddy, I want real food. Why can’t Lala make breakfast?” Kara pouted.
“Tell you what, how about you come back tonight and spend the night with me, and tomorrow I can make you a big breakfast?” Ayla said, wrapping her arms across Kara’s shoulders from behind and hugging her.
“Can I, Daddy?” Kara lit up excitedly.
“Yeah.” Kong bobbed his head, and Rara reached out to fist some of his beard.
“Yay!”
“I want a big breakfast, too,” Kyro chimed in.
“You know you can stay too.” Ayla reached out and ran her fingers through his locs. “How about a retwist for the new school week too?”
“Alright, enough small talk. Let’s go. Coast is almost at the nail shop.” Inari hooked her arm through her sister’s and pulled her toward the door.
Kong gathered the kids, strapped Rara into her car seat, and they all stepped out of Ayla’s condo together and separated at their cars.
Ayla hopped into the passenger seat of her sister’s car and watched Kong through her rearview mirror.
When he closed the door and reached for his keys, he paused and gave Inari’s car a glance.
He didn’t want to leave things with Ayla like this, but he didn’t know what to say or do.
So he remained stoic. Hopping into the car, he pulled off and Ayla’s eyes fixated on the back of his truck until he was out of sight.
Inari could tell something was up the minute she glanced her way.
Ayla pulled her seat belt across her chest, and sat back calmly.
“So, is Kong the reason you couldn’t talk last night?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, and you’re not going to dish about it? Maybe save it for therapy?”
“What is wrong with you?” Ayla’s head swung in her direction.
“Me?” Inari seemed appalled.
“Yes, you.”
“I’m the one with the problem but you can’t spend an hour alone with your sister anymore and you’ve been back a few months now. I don’t even know what’s going on with you anymore. I have to follow all your social media shit to keep up. Clearly you and Kong are doing…whatever it is you’re doing.”
“I’ve been busy.” Ayla sighed, but her tone was sharp with annoyance. “Being back has been a lot. Look at the era we live in. Everything is content, everyone wants a sound bite. I’m getting paid.”
“I get all that, and I’m happy for you, but everything is so politically correct now, Ayla. Like, do I have to comment on your reels and shit to gain some interaction from my own sister?”
“You’re being dramatic,” Ayla mumbled.
“Am I?” Inari quipped.
“I already had to go there last night with Kong, Inari. I really don’t know what y’all want from me.”
The rest of the drive was quiet, but when Inari parked, and Ayla tried to rush out of the car, she stopped her.
“You know I would never judge you for anything, right? You can talk to me about anything.”
“I know,” Ayla whispered, voice suddenly quaking as her chest and lungs tightened. “You just don’t feel the need to share everything, right?”
“What are you talking about?” Inari’s brows cinched together.
“I’m talking about letting me believe all this time that Leron’s blood was on your hands!” Ayla shrieked, which caused Inari to cower.
She’d been waiting for it. The impact hit a lot harder than expected when she caught her baby sister’s lip quivering as her big brown eyes filled with tears.
“How could you not tell me what really happened?”
“How was I supposed to do that, Lala? You didn’t remember. You really wanted to be traumatized by some shit you didn’t even realize happened?” Inari queried.
With misting eyes, she faced her best friend in the entire world. No matter how much older she was than her, Inari always felt that way. Their relationship was special.
“If you want to be mad about that, it’s fine. I’ll eat that. I did what I did to protect you. I’m your big sister, that’s my job. I didn’t want to force you to relive that shit. If you didn’t remember, that would have been fine, too.”
“I killed a man,” she whispered.
“You killed a predator. A monster. A fucking demon, Ayla. Do you hear me? He was a junkie. Don’t you dare sit there and feel bad about that. The world is a better place without him in it,” Inari declared.
Ayla nodded. She was right. Hearing her reasoning, she knew her sister loved her more than anybody in the world.
She’d been her keeper since she was born, but especially after their parents died.
Without Inari, Ayla wasn’t sure where she’d be.
The two could have easily gone into state custody and been separated, but she wouldn’t allow that.
Instead, she thugged it out and made a way for them.
Ayla knew she could never repay her for that.
“I don’t think things with Kong are ever going to work,” Ayla confessed, needing to vent to someone.
“What are you talking about?”
“He asked me about Mira and my time there. What I did.”
Ayla’s thoughts got the best of her. One spiraling after another as she thought about the look in Kong’s eyes last night.
She hadn’t lied. After she gave birth, Mira gave her time to heal, but the whole time, she was only looking out for what she considered another business investment.
Ayla was practically fresh meat, new baby and all.
Men were willing to pay a high price to lay with her.
“And how did that go?” Inari didn’t want to pry, but she’d also wondered about what her time was like when she was gone.
“Not well.” Ayla tittered. “He’s never going to look at me the same.”
“You don’t know that. You need time—”
“How much time, Nari?” Ayla blinked back tears.
“It’s been months. I’m going through the motions.
Trying to pick up where I left off and make a life for myself.
But when it gets quiet, or I fall asleep at night, it’s always the same nightmare on repeat.
I was taken. My son is gone. And I was forced to have sex with men I knew nothing about.
I’ve been tested since I’ve been home, more than once.
I’m clean, but do you think that can erase Kong’s thoughts of how many men had their way with me when I wasn’t with him? ”
Inari didn’t have an answer. Ayla scoffed, shook her head, and looked down at her hands in her lap.
“Yeah, I don’t know either.” Ayla reached for the door handle and pushed it open.
She planted both feet on the ground and stepped out of the car.
A little self-care was needed. She was hoping it would reset her mood.
Although she wasn’t up for being in the mix, she’d told Audiemar that she would make an appearance.
When she got back, he offered her the room and her position as his chef, but she declined.
He wasn’t upset about it. In fact, he was more understanding than anything.
She appreciated it. Her world and priorities had shifted significantly, and unfortunately, his house brought back painful memories.
Mozzi carried Iara like a sack of potatoes in his arms, with her facing Moose and Kong when they arrived outside at a patio table.
The two sat under an umbrella with two empty chairs.
Moose rolled a blunt while Kong sipped a cold brew and scrolled through his phone.
The two had changed since they’d done all the heavy lifting Desiree wanted them to do.
Mozzi opted for no shirt with his linen shorts, while his brothers both rocked white tank tops and shorts.
Rara was wide awake from her nap and ready to turn up.
Smoke from the meats grilling filled the yard; real summertime vibes were in effect.
Kool and Smoke were in attendance, working as usual and talking shit with Brim and a few of their other guards.
They’d been out smoking meat since early that morning, bringing half of it with them when they came to finish the rest. Kong stroked his beard and skimmed his phone.
When he heard laughter, he looked up and caught Coast, Inari, and Ayla sailing outside together.
He noticed that Ayla seemed to be in better spirits than this morning as his eyes swept over her figure.