by D. Camille
Toya sat in thought for a moment then snapped her fingers. “She married that fine ass Lance Johnson. If he hadn’t been such a hoe, he might’ve got it.”
Danielle frowned. “Okay, so don’t ever say that around Khalil when you meet him.”
“In fact, don’t ever say that around me again, please.”
Toya laughed. “You know I don’t do married men, hoes, or the undecided.”
“Anyway,” Danielle ignored Toya’s response. “Now you see why I’m crazy over this man?”
“Yeah, I do D., he’s fine, strong, smart, sweet and not afraid of the ‘M” word apparently.”
Danielle smiled. “Khalil’s not afraid of anything.”
Toya reared back. “Look at you, sounding all Queen of Junglish. My man’s not afraid of anything.”
“First of all, that’s not what I said,” Danielle said laughing. “Secondly, you’re a nut but that’s why I love you.”
“We’re Day Ones for life, you know that.”
Danielle peeked over at Toya. “You’ve always been there for me.”
Toya took her hand. “We’ve been there for each other and always will. I will fight your King, for real, if he tries to step between this.”
“You won’t have to fight Khalil. I think you two will get along fine,” Danielle told her.
“As long as he makes my girl glow and smile, Khalil Lewis is my best friend.” She squeezed Danielle’s hand. “I love you too D., and you deserve happiness. You’re the smartest, strongest and sweetest woman I know.”
“I watched you go through that ordeal and you never gave up even when you were in so much pain that you could barely talk. So Khalil Lewis had better love you and give you everything you desire or I’m on his ass.”
Danielle sniffed. “You would be, too.”
“Hey, I’m still watching Mr. I Got Two Kids Now. He has a permanent spot on my Hit List,” Toya told her firmly while releasing her hand.
“Leave him alone Toya. It wasn’t meant to be,” Danielle soothed her.
Toya frowned. “So, he didn’t have to be an ass about it.”
Danielle sighed. “Let it go. I’ve moved on and if I had to pass him up to get to Khalil…then deuces!” Danielle chucked up the sign and Toya mimicked her.
“Deuces!” Toya agreed.
Danielle laughed. “I’m so glad you took your vacation this week so we can hang out together.”
Toya frowned again. “We could’ve been on a cruise somewhere in bikinis, but no…you wanted to stay in cold ass Detroit.”
“I told you, I promised Kam that I’d go with her school and I’m taking her to a pizza birthday party,” Danielle explained.
“See, when you have your own baby, I’m never going to see you.” Toya complained.
Danielle frowned. “What are you talking about? You know I can’t have a baby.”
Toya looked at her. “No, it may be complicated but you can have a baby D. I was there when the doctors told you.”
“Didn’t you hear how complicated?” Danielle questioned. “It was nearly impossible.”
“That’s what you heard D.”
Danielle paused. “That’s what he said T.”
Toya sighed. “He said it could become complicated and that you’d have to be emotionally ready to even try.”
“Exactly,” Danielle agreed.
“That doesn’t mean impossible, Danielle. It only means when you’re ready.”
Danielle pulled the car over to the side of the road and sat for a few minutes with her hands tightly on the wheel. “Why haven’t you told me this before?” she whispered.
Toya shrugged. “You heard what you wanted to hear and you weren’t ready to listen to anything else at that time.”
Putting a hand to her mouth, Danielle’s lips trembled as her eyes watered. Toya watched as her tears fell and allowed her friend to come to terms with her new reality.
After a few minutes, Danielle turned to her friend. “You really think it’s possible?” she whispered.
Toya wiped Danielle’s cheek. “I think with a King, anything is possible.”
******
That evening, Khalil met with the Negus to discuss Melody and the situation with Kyros. They gathered at his parent’s home where Kyros could be entertained and monitored by his grandparents. In the room, Rion, Corvus and their father, Mr. Shaw sat on one side of the room. Brandon, Lance and Khali’s father sat on the other side, with Khalil in the middle.
As usual, Brandon led the group. “So the first thing that needs to happen is that Melody needs to drop the case before we do anything. Once we have confirmation from the courts, we can move forward with busting Melody and this fiancé.”
Khalil agreed. “I’ll tell her that when I talk to her tonight.”
“So what do you think she’s up to Khalil?” Rion asked.
Turning to his friend, Khalil shook his head. “I think she’s going to try to take Kyros. For some reason they seem in a hurry…almost desperate. It’s weird as hell.”
“Desperate people do reckless things,” Mr. Shaw warned him. “You need to be on guard at all time Khalil.”
“He is,” Khalil’s father said firmly.
“Yes, I am, and when it comes to my son…doubly so.”
“So how is this going down?” Lance asked as he and Corvus shared a look.
Khalil responded, “After she drops the case, I’ll set an appointment for her to meet with Kyros. Whatever she’s planning, I believe it’s going to go down then.”
Rion frowned. “I mean, but if she kidnapped Kyros, she’d be the first suspect. That would be stupid.”
Brandon agreed. “That’s why we have to be prepared for anything.”
Mr. Shaw looked at Khalil. “Listen son, I know how you like to do things, but let us protect you and Kyros.”
Mr. Lewis looked at his son and knowing his short fuse, said, “Listen to him and let’s do this right.”
Khalil sat quietly. “I’m not going to let anything happen to my son.”
“None of us are, Khalil,” Brandon said firmly.
Rion moved over and placed a hand on Khalil’s shoulder. “Look brother, we’re here for you.”
“I know and I appreciate all of you, but like I said…this is my son and all bets are off,” Khalil confirmed.
Lance and Corvus shook their heads. This was Khalil, all day and all night. Throw in Kyros and it was a wrap.
Brandon sighed. “Okay then, when should I call in Mackenzie?”
“She might be picking up bodies again,” Khalil told him.
“She really doesn’t like that,” Brandon commented.
Rion looked at Khalil. “Okay Khalil, now you listen. If you are anywhere near the murders of your son’s mother and fiancé, right after a custody battle, who the hell do you think is going to be the first suspect?”
“Tauri will send your ass to prison!” Rion told him, speaking of his wife who was a Prosecutor for the City.
Khalil frowned. “Isn’t she working on those five kids of yours?”
Everyone looked at Rion and waited while Mr. Shaw lifted a brow. “Are you withholding some information from us son?”
Rion looked at Khalil then at his father. “If you’re asking if Tauri is pregnant, then the answer is yes.” He looked back at Khalil. “Although we hadn’t planned to announce it just yet.”
Khalil put his hands up. “My brother, I didn’t know…but congratulations!”
“Damn, already?” Corvus asked. “Isn’t little Rion like two months old?”
Rion turned to his brother. “You know damn well that Little Rion is almost walking.”
Lance laughed and Corvus turned to him. “What about you Lance? You got a bun in the oven too?”
All eyes turned to Lance and he froze. “Since we sharing information that has nothing to do with this meeting… we just found out today that Katydids is currently expecting.” Khalil and Mr. Lewis looked at Lance.
Corvus frown
ed. “Well damn!!!” He looked at Khalil. “You got somebody pregnant too?”
Khalil shook his head. “No, but there is a future Mrs. Lewis in the picture.”
“Ah hell! It’s the end of the damn world!” Corvus said and Khalil frowned at him.
“Shut up Corvus.” Everyone said in unison before Mr. Lewis turned to his son.
Khalid Lewis moved closer. “I must hear about this new Queen.”
Khalil nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Lance shook his head. “Damn, Khayla’s going to be so mad that she didn’t win this time.”
Brandon’s green eyes glared at Lance remembering the bet that the Nigist and Negus had placed on him getting married to Mackenzie.
Corvus frowned. “Who could’ve picked a woman for Khalil? She’d have to be the Queen of Sheba.”
Khalil smiled slightly. “She is my Queen, brother.”
Chapter 8
Khalil pulled out his phone and dialed Melody. He glanced around the room as the phone rang through the speakers. The group waited for her to answer.
“Khalil, I was waiting for your call,” Melody answered.
All eyes were on him as he answered. “I was thinking over your request.”
“And?” she prompted.
“And I have a request of my own,” he told her. “If you drop the custody case, then we can make arrangements for you to see Kyros.”
She paused. “What guarantee do I have that you’ll keep your word?”
“This was your idea,” Khalil told her firmly. “I’m perfectly fine going back to court and making sure you never see my son.”
Hearing the tone of his voice, Melody regrouped. “Okay Khalil, but if you don’t keep your end of the bargain, I will have to take other measures.”
Khalil frowned. “Am I supposed to be afraid?”
Brandon shook his head to warn Khalil not to go in that direction.
“Khalil, I want to see my son and I’ll do whatever I have to do in order to make that happen,” Melody said quietly.
Khalil calmed down at Rion’s look. “Listen, when my attorney informs me that the case is dropped then we can set up a date and time.”
“I’ll get my attorney on it tomorrow,” she agreed.
Khalil disconnected the call and looked at the group. “This is about to take a dangerous turn.”
******
Melody turned to Spencer after placing her phone on the table. “So what now?” she asked.
“Now we do what’s necessary,” he answered.
She frowned. “And what exactly is that?”
He took her hand. “We get our son without any interference.”
“Khalil might not have any intention of letting me see Kyros.”
Spencer smiled. “It really doesn’t matter.”
“Spencer, what do you mean it doesn’t matter? I don’t understand.”
He stood to his feet. “Melody, we want our son right?”
She sighed. “I’m beginning to feel that you want him more than I do.”
“I need both of you in my life,” he said softly.
Melody got to her feet. “Okay then, let’s just take it one day at a time.”
“We don’t have that much time left,” Spencer said and she frowned. “Until the wedding,” he said with a smile.
“I can’t believe how you came into my life,” Melody said happily.
Spencer took her into his arms. “I can’t believe my fortune either.”
“Meeting someone like you online is like finding a needle in a haystack,” Melody said lying her head on his shoulder. “What were you doing on a dating site?”
Spencer hugged her closely. “Believe it or not, it’s even hard for a man like me to find the right person to be with, but once I met you, I knew you were the one.”
“Aww baby, that’s so sweet.”
“It’s true. You have everything I want and need.”
Melody smiled. “I need you to contact the attorney tomorrow and drop the case, then Khalil will be ready to set up a meeting.”
Spencer nodded. “It may take a few days, and I need to make a quick trip out of town.”
“Where are you going?” Melody looked at him.
“Some business out of town, but everything here will still be in motion,” he assured her.
“When will you be back?”
He shrugged. “When I return, we’ll be planning to take Kyros home with us.”
“We’re going back to New York?” Melody asked.
“Yes, that is the plan but we aren’t leaving without him.”
“I thought you just wanted him at the wedding and that was the whole point of setting up the meeting with Khalil.”
Spencer smiled. “You’re too inquisitive my love. Of course Kyros will be at the wedding but after meeting your Khalil, I think it’s best that he stays with us permanently.”
Melody grabbed his shirt. “Are you talking about kidnapping him?” she demanded.
Spencer patted her hands. “It won’t be kidnapping.”
“What is going on with you?” Melody broke away. “You’re all over the place and I don’t understand what the hell you’re doing!”
“Just let me handle this,” Spencer told her.
“Khalil and his family are Black Panthers. They have no qualms about protecting themselves…by any means necessary,” she informed him. “I don’t want to be on their hit list any more than I already am.”
She looked over Spencer. “And you wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Spencer laughed. “I’m sure the Lewises invoke fear in your community, but I’m not concerned.”
Melody rubbed her head. “Don’t do anything stupid Spencer. Let’s do it legally or not at all.”
“A thing is only illegal if you get caught,” Spencer told her. “My family has been in politics for years.”
Melody’s eyes narrowed. “That may be the case for you and your family, but it’s not for me and I’m not trying to go to jail.”
“Melody, please don’t start with those conspiracy theories you picked up during your time at that HBCU. This isn’t 1950’s America, your people have come a long way.” Spencer said condescendingly.
She shook her head. “Just because I’m not adverse to dating someone of a different culture, don’t ever think that takes away my understanding of what real issues face our communities. My son is a black man in an America that embraces 1950 and has visions of returning to it!”
Spencer felt her anger and acted immediately. That was the one thing about black women that he wished he could change. That fire inside the bedroom was one thing, outside, it could easily become annoying to him.
“I don’t see color, darling.” He touched her arm. “When I saw you, all I saw was this incredibly beautiful woman.”
Melody watched him for minute. “Let’s not argue about this. It’ll all work out,” she said with a soft smile.
Spencer returned her smile. “Of course it will. It always does for me.”
******
After speaking with Melody, Khalil got home and finally called the woman that he really did want to talk to. Danielle was becoming a woman that invaded his thoughts on a regular basis. His mother had fed them dinner so now Kyros was reading on his tablet in the den.
Khalil could see him from the kitchen, where he sat at the counter, as he pulled out his phone. She answered and he smiled.
“Hello Queen.”
“Hello Khalil, I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for your call.”
“You were anxious to talk to me?”
“Yes, I want to know what happened with Melody.”
He frowned. “Is that all?”
Danielle shook her head. “And I wanted to hear your sexy voice.”
“Yeah, okay,” Khalil told her. “I wanted to hear yours too.”
“So what happened with Melody?” Danielle questioned.
“She agreed to drop the case. I told her I’d need to hear from my lawyer tha
t it was a done deal, before we could set a date,” he explained. “She agreed but I still don’t like it.”
Danielle agreed. “I’ve never seen anything like this Khalil. A parent whose had no contact suddenly show up seeking custody without any grounds or merits. Then agreeing to drop the case for a visitation that you would have allowed initially before she even went to the courts?”
“Something is very strange and I’m worried about both you and Kyros at this point,” Danielle told him honestly.
“I’ve taken some extra precautions,” Khalil informed her. “My PI, Malachi suggested it.”
Danielle sighed in relief. “Good, I’m happy to hear that.”
Khalil smiled. “How was your day?”
“I spent time with my friend Toya.”
“The engineer right?”
She nodded. “Yes, I told you about her. She wants to meet you.”
“I’d like to meet the woman who knows you so well.”
“What are you trying to find out about me?” Danielle questioned playfully.
“Hmm…everything I possibly can, because it’s important for me to know,” he answered seriously.
“Anything you wanted to know, you could simply ask me.”
Khalil glanced at Kyros to check on him. “I have a feeling that Toya knows more than you would share.”
Danielle laughed. “She probably does and she has no filter, so she’d probably tell you a lot more than I would share at this point.”
“Don’t worry, when you meet my sister, she’ll do the same.” Khalil told her.
“So I’m going to meet your family?” Danielle asked shyly.
He nodded. “Yes, you’re going to meet my family, the Negus and Nigist. They all know of you by this time, since I mentioned you in my meeting tonight.”
Her eyes widened. “You mentioned me? What did you say?”
“I didn’t divulge your name but I told them that the future Mrs. Lewis was now in the picture,” he answered.
“You told your friends and family that?” she asked amazed.
“It’s the truth.”
“Khalil, we haven’t even been intimate yet.”
He smiled. “We’ve been deeper than any physical act, Danielle. You’ve opened yourself to me and I’ve settled comfortably there. You brought me food, now we’re almost engaged.”