Chapter 7
WILDE
I approached Nina’s door and prayed to God I’d be able to keep my cool.
I had known Nina for a long time, and she didn’t give grimey.
Never once did I have a reason to look at her sideways.
She could be livid with Pierre, and I’d never suspect her of doing anything to cross him or me.
But I didn’t put anything past anybody, and I’d put a bullet in her head if I thought for one second that she’d sent that nigga to Wonder’s shop.
I was practically foaming at the mouth the entire time I drove to Nina’s crib.
Before I could make it to the door, it flew open, and she came storming out of the house frowning.
When she saw me, she stopped in her tracks.
“What are you doing here? Did dumb ass call you?”
“Who is dumb ass?” I asked in a flat tone. My trigger finger was itching.
“Pierre. This bastard got pulled over with my kids in the car. He had weed and a gun, and his stupid ass is going to jail. I have to go get my kids.”
Nina was visibly pissed, but I didn’t give a fuck about that shit.
“That nigga Nine is dead,” I stated in a menacing tone.
I knew the police would look at the video footage from Wonder’s security system, so I chose to stick around and talk to the police with her even though I hated them.
I was tired and fucking annoyed, but I was going to get to the bottom of that shit.
“W-what? What are you talking about?” the anger had disappeared from Nina’s face, and she was scared. “How?”
“Him and two other niggas ran up in Wonder’s shop and tried to rob her.”
“Oh my God! What the fuck?” Nina appeared genuine. I didn’t want to be na?ve as hell, but I also didn’t want to kill an innocent person.
I explained everything that happened to her, and she began to cry immediately.
“Oh my God. That night he asked me if Wonder was the person that wrapped cars, and he said he heard she was nice with it. That’s all he said, and we never discussed her again.
You know I love Wonder. Please tell me you don’t think I had anything to do with this.
I haven’t even talked to Nine in a few days.
I think he was just a thrill for the moment, but he wasn’t anyone I could be with long term.
Is Wonder okay?” Nina’s eyes darted back and forth across my face, and I could tell she was concerned.
If shorty was acting, she needed to be on the big screen because I was convinced she was telling the truth.
“She’s good.”
Nina breathed a sigh of relief. “I have to go get my babies, but I swear to God first thing in the morning I’m going to check on her. She has to know I didn’t know about this. I swear I didn’t.”
“It’s all good, G. I can tell you’re telling the truth.”
Once I was confident that Nina was being honest the reality of what she said about Pierre hit me.
That nigga just wasn’t going to get his shit together.
I tried to help him, but he obviously didn’t want it, and I wasn’t big on wasting my time.
He would have to figure his own shit out.
Nina didn’t appear convinced. Her face was crumpled as her eyes darted back and forth across my face.
“Go get the kids, Nina. Let me know how much Pierre’s bail is.”
“Fuck, Pierre,” she spat. “I have terrible fucking taste in men.”
Life was determined not to let up off me.
I ran one hand over my curls before getting back inside my car.
I made it clear to Wonder that at no time was she to ever be at the shop alone.
I was also going to hire security to come in around three in the evening and stay until she closed.
I didn’t want to end up in prison and leave Wonder alone with the kids, but I’d burn the city down behind her, and I needed niggas to know that before they tried her.
I had no issue being alone, but I was used to being able to confide in and kick it with Pierre.
His idiotic ass couldn’t stay free long enough to take my advice or give me any.
Wonder had become my best friend, but I felt like there was certain shit I couldn’t tell her.
I was supposed to be the provider and the protector.
I felt whining to her about being stressed out would make me seem weak.
Like she couldn’t trust me to hold us down.
I didn’t want to leave her alone for too long with the kids, but I needed to take the edge off, and weed wasn’t going to cut it.
I stopped by the nearest bar and ordered a double shot of cognac.
When I was done, I ordered another. All in the past month, I could have lost my daughter and my girl.
That shit made chills run down my spine.
A stranger would have assumed I’d known Wonder for years because even in the short time that we’d been together, I barely remembered what life was like before her.
The alcohol did what I needed it to do. I felt a bit better as I sat in my car and rolled a blunt. On the way home I drove slow, so I could enjoy the weed. When I got home, the house was quiet. Wonder was in the kitchen washing dishes.
“Bae, we have a dish washer. Why you in here washing dishes when you could be in bed?”
Wonder turned around to face me. “It was only a few dishes, Wilde. I’m not made of glass. I won’t break. What did Nina say?” the same fear I saw in Nina’s eyes, I saw in Wonder’s. She really liked Nina and didn’t want to believe that she had anything to do with Nine robbing her.
“She said she didn’t know, and I believe her. You the coldest in the state when it comes to wrapping cars. Muhfuckas know you get money. She didn’t have to be in on it for him to get at you.”
I could see the relief practically oozing off Wonder. “That’s good to know. I really didn’t think she would do that, but you never can be too sure.”
“I know.” Grabbing her waist, I pulled her into me. “I’m going to take a quick shower then get in the tub. Join me?” The idea of soaking in a tub with my lady sounded good, but I wasn’t a fan of soaking in my own dirt.
“I think I will.” Wonder’s subtle smile made my dick jump. “I love you.” Briefly, I peered into her eyes before pecking her on the lips.
“I love you too.”
“I got us, G. You know that, right? No matter what happens. I got you, and I got my kids.”
Wonder’s brows furrowed. “Did something happen?”
“No. Nothing happened, I just,” I shook my head. “I don’t know. Shit been feeling heavy lately, G.”
“I know. We’re a team, Wilde. You take great care of me and the kids but sometimes, you need to be taken care of too. Don’t forget that. Teamwork makes the dream work. Remember?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
I let Wonder go and went to wash the day’s germs and sweat off my body. Shit was gon’ be aight. I had no choice but to believe that.
Exhaustion, stress, the four shots of cognac, weed, and Wonder’s good pussy, put me on my ass.
When I woke up the next morning, Wonder was already out of bed, and the house was quiet.
I went to take a piss, wash my face, and brush my teeth.
After slipping on some pajama pants, I walked down the stairs and almost went back for my gun when I saw a woman in my living room next to a folding table.
“Who are you?” I looked around for Wonder.
“Your girlfriend, let me in. She went to take the kids to school, and she assured me that I could wait for you to wake up. She hired me to give you a pedicure and a massage. She also asked me to tell you that breakfast is in the kitchen if you’d like to eat first.”
My brows hiked. We had cameras in the house, and I knew Wonder trusted me, but her leaving me alone in the house with a shorty that didn’t look bad at all was a little shocking.
“Aight. Let me grab some food,” I replied slowly while calling Wonder. She answered on the first ring. “Where you at, G? You setting me up?”
Wonder laughed. “Setting you up how? And for what?”
“I don’t know. Most women wouldn’t leave another woman alone in the house with their man.”
“I was running late and didn’t want her to have to wait in her car. I’m not worried about either one of y’all but just in case anything stupid crosses either of your minds, I’ll beat both y’all’s asses. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
I had started to laugh until that last sentence. “G!” I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at the date. “Fuck, I forgot it’s Valentine’s Day. Baby, I don’t have anything for you.”
“It’s fine, Wilde. Life has been hectic lately.”
I felt like shit. Wonder wasn’t a brat, and she wasn’t gon’ trip over one holiday, but it didn’t sit well with me that I forgot about Valentine’s Day.
I didn’t even have gifts for the kids. As I scarfed the food Wonder made down, I frantically tried to find a place that could deliver three dozen roses and chocolate covered strawberries.
Muhfuckas were taxing, but money wasn’t an issue.
I felt a little better after I had the delivery secured, but that still wasn’t good enough.
When Wonder got home, ole girl had just started on my massage.
I had to admit, I needed that shit. My body was so damn tense and tight, it didn’t make any sense.
She rubbed the kinks right out of my ass.
Even when I was getting a pedicure, and she massaged my feet that shit felt good.
When she left, Wonder was folding laundry.
I removed the shirt she was holding from her hands.
“Why you doing domestic duties on Valentine’s Day? I feel like shit for forgetting.”
“Wilde, it’s okay. Every day is Valentine’s Day when I’m with you.”
I glanced down at my watch. “Let’s see if we can get a marriage license and get married today. You down?”
“What?” Wonder giggled. “You want to go right now and get a marriage license and then get married.”
“Hell yes. Why should we wait? I want you to be my wife. We already live together and have kids. You can plan the reception for after you have the baby, so you drink and turn up. But I want to marry you today.”
“Okay,” she replied slowly.
“Word G? Aight, we gotta find some witnesses. Let’s get ready to do this shit.”
Wonder called KoKo to see if she could be our witness.
We needed one more, so I asked my grandmother to come.
Wonder showered and changed into a red sleeveless romper and black platform heels with the peep toe.
I felt like being cheesy so since my lady was wearing red, I donned black jeans with a red Polo sweater and wheat colored Timbs.
The entire time I drove to the courthouse my free hand gripped Wonder’s thigh.
Knowing that I was going to grow old with shorty had me lowkey hype.
She was it for me. I loved the fuck out of her to the point that it was almost scary.
No other human should have that much control over my emotions.
But she did. If Wonder ever left me, I’d be sick.
So, I just had to get on my job and make sure that I never gave her a reason to leave my ass.