“Ranee.”
“Alright Ranee I’m Micah. Do you remember what color your mommy had on?”
“Red.”
“Alright, let’s see if we can find her.”
We walked around for five minutes looking for her mom but we had no luck.
“Ranee!” I heard somebody calling from behind me. I turned to see a lady looking like she was about to cry. I knew it had to be her mother because she was wearing red but I asked her anyways just to make sure.
“Ranee, is that your mommy?” I asked pointing to the lady.
“Yes!” she said excitedly.
I walked towards the lady. “Excuse me miss, your daughter has been looking for you.”
I was taken aback by her beauty. She didn’t have any makeup or anything on but she was still beautiful. She couldn’t be any taller than 5’4”, pretty brown eyes with long eyelashes.
“Oh my god! Thank you so much,” she said as I handed Ranee over.
“Thank you Mr. Micah,” Ranee said.
“No problem sweetie, in big places like this you have to stay close to your mommy.”
“Okay,” she said.
Her mother reached her hand out for me to shake. “I’m Janae.”
“Micah,” I said shaking her hand. When I did that, I felt sparks fly.
“I can’t thank you enough. You just don’t know how scared I was.”
“No problem, I would do it for anybody.”
That day we exchanged numbers and we’ve been close ever since. I can’t really explain it, but I really feel something for her.
I talked to Neicey and she agreed to meet her, I know my baby girl would come through for me.
“You nervous?” I asked Janae.
“Nah, I’m good. They can’t be that bad.”
Shit, you don’t know my sisters like that. I thought to myself.
The doorbell rang and I got up to answer it.
“Mack daddy!” Neicey said when I opened the door.
“Wassup thing one and thing two,” I joked.
“Hey Mack. Okay, I’m here so let’s get down to business,” Lani said walking to the den.
Here we go.
“Neicey, Lani, this is Janae. Janae, these are my sisters,” I introduced.
“Now that that’s out the way,” Neicey said. “Mack, Imma need for you to have a seat. This is the Lani and Neicey show now.”
I just shook my head and hoped that Janae was ready for whatever they crazy asses were about to throw her way.
“First, I just wanna say that nigga sitting over there,” she pointed at me, “he’s my heart. Fucking him over is like fucking me over and trust, I’m not the type of bitch you wanna fuck over. You should feel lucky that he even wants us to meet you. Me and Lani are the babies of the family and we go hard for the men in our life. I mean we get down and dirty…. fuck that, we get grimy… we love getting our hands dirty and if you think you’re too good for that, you know where the door is.”
Neicey sat her ass down on the loveseat like her ass was the damn godfather or something. Then Lani decided to get up.
“Like my lil sister over here already told you, we go hard for the men in our family. Especially since we’re the only girls. Now, we’ve had some bitches and niggas come into our family that wasn’t bout shit and we vowed we would never let that shit happen again. Neicey’s the type to whoop yo ass the first time then put a bullet in yo ass the second time. Me? I will cut yo ass with a quickness and not think twice about it. All I want to know is can you dig that?”
Janae looked at me then dug into her purse and pulled out a chrome .45 and put it on the coffee table. “Looks like we got two bitches who like to shoot.”
Lani smiled. “Anything you wanna say about that Neicey?”
“Yup,” she got up and walked to Janae. “Welcome to the family.”
My jaw hit the floor. I didn’t know Janae was packing but I was happy to know she could hold her own. There’s some shit we gon have to talk about.
Janae
Meeting Micah was one of the best days of my life. Before I met him, my life was dark and gloomy. I lost my first love Rodney four years ago in a robbery. They killed him then took all his money from him. I was so lost without him. I had gone through a real deep depression. At the time I didn’t know I was pregnant. I decided that it wasn’t about me anymore. I know had a child I had to live for. Ranee is my world, I wouldn’t trade her for nothing. I believe Micah was heaven sent.
I told him my whole story and not one time did he judge me. He listened to me, let me cry on his shoulder and wiped my tears away. He told me he would always be there for me no matter what and I believe him. When I’m around him, I feel so safe. The feelings that I have for him, I haven’t felt for anyone in two years.
It’s an added bonus that Ranee loves him too. Whenever he calls, she makes sure that she has her own little conversation with him. He buys her anything she wants. I’ve never seen a two year old so spoiled. I understand where Neicey and Lani was coming from and I don’t blame them for coming at me the way they did. I would have done the same thing but they don’t have to worry about me hurting or fucking over Micah. He’s one of the best things to ever happen to me since giving birth and I wouldn’t mess that up, ever.
Chapter 7
Kamil
It’s been a year since I’ve seen or heard from Neicey. I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss her. I know shit seemed a little crazy but I just need her to understand that I never meant for shit to go down the way it did. I really did love her; still do. That’s why I didn’t do the job, I just couldn’t go through with it.
I miss her smell, her touch, the way she felt when I was inside her, hell I just miss her period.
I recently kicked my alcoholism and haven't had a drink in three months but I still feel like shit because I can't get Neicey off my mind.
I just need to hear her voice, let her know how sorry I am.
Fuck it, I thought as I picked up the phone and dialed her number.
Reneice
Marco and I have been on three dates since we've met. Right now we're keeping things on a friendship level, he understands that I'm not trying to rush into anything. I opened up to him and told him everything from my breakup with Mykell to being in a coma. Not one time did he judge me, instead he listened.
Today MJ wanted to have a movie night as a family. I could tell he knew things were different between me and his father and he tried to get us together whenever he could.
We were watching Iron Man 3 when I got a call from an unknown number. I wasn't going to answer, but I went against my better judgment.
"Hello?" Nobody said anything but I knew somebody was on the line because I could hear them breathing.
"Hello?" I said again.
"Neicey?"
I instantly froze up when I heard that voice. They were talking just above a whisper but I knew exactly who it was.
I could feel Mykell burning a hole in the side of my head so I got up and went upstairs to my bedroom.
"Hello?" Kamil said again.
"Really Kamil? You call my phone after a year like everything is good between us?" I fussed in a low tone just in case Mykell was outside the door eavesdropping.
"Look Neicey, I know I'm probably the last person you want to hear from but I just had to let you know that I never meant to hurt you. Shit wasn't supposed to go down like that, I really do love you. That's why I didn't go through with it and told them to leave you alone, because I loved you. Still do. I really am sorry Neicey," he said sincerely.
"I was in a coma for six fucking months Kamil. Six months! All you can come up with is ‘I'm sorry’? If you would have been real with me from jump, none of this shit would have went down. I almost lost my life behind some jealousy bullshit and if you love me like you claim you do, you would have told me."
I was fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall. Kamil really hurt me.
"I really am sorry
Reneice. I thought I was protecting you by not telling you. I swear I didn't know you were in the hospital, I never meant for this shit to happen." His voice cracked.
I took a deep breath. "I believe you.”
"What? You do?"
There was a knock at the door and I jumped. "Look, I gotta go. It was nice talking to you."
"Can I call you back?"
"I'll call you," I whispered into the phone before I hung up.
I went to the door and unlocked it, when I opened it Mykell was standing there with a strange look on his face.
"What's wrong? Why you crying?"
Shit! I wiped my eyes before I replied. "I'm fine," I said trying to walk around him but he blocked me.
"Don't lie to me Reneice, who called you?"
"Mykell, I’m fine."
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
* * *
I met up with Lani and Janae, we were having a girl's night at Janae's house. Ever since Mack introduced us, we clicked and have been inseparable. I need somebody to talk to about the phone call I received the other day.
"What's on ya mind mami?" Lani asked.
"Okay, I'm about to tell y'all something but you can't tell Ramone or Micah."
"We won't,” Lani agreed.
I took a deep breath before I started. "Kamil called me the other day."
"What the fuck! Where was Kell?" Lani asked.
"He was right by me when he called." I shook my head.
"They gon kill him," Janae said.
I already filled her in on the situation so she knows how serious this is.
“So what did he say? What did you say?” Lani asked in one breath.
“Well he apologized and said he never meant for it to go down like that. Talking about he loves me and that’s why he never went through with it,” I explained.
“If he really loved you like he claims he wouldn’t have let that shit go down, period,” Lani said.
“I agree, he would have killed both of them bitches if they tried any funny shit. The fact that he knew and you got raped but he still never said anything is foul as hell Neicey,” said Janae, agreeing with Lani.
I just sat back because I had a lot on my mind. Everything that they were saying is true. I just don’t know what to do.
Mykell
Things with me and Neicey still weren’t where I wanted them to be. It’s cool though, I started back messing with Candy after I had to slap her up for that shit she pulled at the hospital. I’m not feeling her to the point where I would want to be in a relationship with her, never that. It’s just sex, nothing more and I make sure she understands that because I don’t want her ass getting confused.
Honestly, she ain’t got shit on Neicey, she’s nowhere on her level. I find myself comparing females to Neicey a lot. That shit just comes natural. I was at home waiting for Neicey and the boys to get back home. It seems like ever since she has been home from the hospital, they have been stuck to her like glue. I was about to fix me something to eat but my phone rang and caught my attention. What she want? I thought before I answered.
“Yo!”
“Hey daddy,” Candy cooed into the phone.
“Wassup?”
“You coming through tonight?”
“I don’t know about that”
She sucked her teeth. “Why not?”
“Yo don’t be questioning me, I already told yo ass I’m not coming!”
Right when I said that, Neicey and the boys walked through the door.
“Imma call you back man.” I hung up without waiting for a response.
“You don’t have to rush off the phone when I walk in the room,” Neicey said giving me the side eye.
“Whatever man.”
“Anyways, I’m leaving the boys here with you tonight so I hope you don’t have any plans.”
“Actually I do. You always wanna go out somewhere, stay yo ass home sometimes.”
“I haven’t been out in a while. I’m just going out with Lani and Janae for a dinner date. Besides, I don’t need your permission to do a damn thing,” she said, getting up and walking away.
Her ass and that damn smart mouth.
Chapter 8
Lakey
It’s been a while since me and Reneice kicked it so I thought I would see what was up with her and baby Mell. I was too happy when she asked me to be his godfather, that’s my little man. He look like Kell but act like Neicey, a deadly combination.
I got some news to drop on her and I don’t know how she gon take it but I’d rather her hear it from me then somebody else.
“Hey big head! I missed you,” she said when she got in my car.
“Wassup knucklehead.” I laughed then looked in the backset at Romell. “Wassup lil man?”
“Wassup!” he said excitedly.
“He getting so big man, damn.” I shook my head.
“I know right. But what you been up to stranger? You must got a girl now, that’s the only time you act funny towards me.” She chuckled.
"Says the girl who ran away and left me to start her own family." I playfully mushed her head.
"Hey don't touch my mommy!" Romell fussed.
"That's right baby, get him." She stuck her tongue out at me.
"Naw but for real, I wanna run something by you." I said getting serious.
"Hit me with it then."
"I'm moving to Florida next week. It's big things popping down there and I think that's the best move for me to make."
I waited for her response but never got one. She just looked straight ahead.
"Yo, what's on yo mind Snook? Say something."
She turned and looked at me. "Sooo when can me and Fat Fat come to visit?" She cracked a smile that I could tell was fake.
"Whenever y'all want."
"Cool, now let's go." She turned and looked out the window.
The rest of the day was awkward between me and Neicey. She seemed to be a little more distant. What the fuck is up with her?
Ramone
Things have been real hectic for me lately. For some reason I feel like I’m living a double life, not intentionally but that’s just the way it is. Carmen is a chick I was messing with before Le’Lani. She tried to tell me that she was pregnant with my baby but I stopped fucking with her because I wasn’t ready for any kids at the time. The only person that knew about the situation was Neicey, I’m not sure if she told Lani or not being that they tell each other everything.
Now Carmen is calling my phone constantly bashing me for not spending anytime with my son. I never got a blood test or nothing so I’m not really sure if he’s my son or not. He looks just like Carmen. If he does turn out to be mine, I’ll feel bad about missing out on three years of his life.
How am I going to tell Le’Lani? How will she feel about it? Will she try to leave me?
I was shook out my thoughts by the ringing of my phone.
“Hello?”
“Are you coming to see your son today or what?”
“Man, I just seen him yesterday.”
“So the fuck what! You see that bitch’s daughter every day, why can’t you see my son every day? Besides I think he needs to meet his little sister.”
“When we get a blood test and he is proven to be mine, then I’ll let him meet her.”
“I bet you didn’t ask her to have a blood test, you know what Ramone? You’re full of shit!” she said before I heard the line go dead.
I just sat back on the couch and sighed deeply. One minute I was living the picture perfect life with the girl of my dreams now shit was going from sweet to sour.
I need to talk to my dad and Pop-Pop about this one.
* * *
Last week I took my dad and Pop-Pop’s advice. They told me to just get the DNA test done and let Lani know so there won’t be any more surprises. Well, I did one but I still can’t seem to tell Lani.
Now I’m stuck as hell sitting here looking at the paper that tells me that I am 99.
9% the father of Keiyari Ramone Peake. Damn, this is fucked up.
Lani
Today is the day of my baby’s first birthday. To say that I am excited is an understatement. Me, Neicey and Janae went shopping and got princess everything for Ranyla’s birthday. We went crazy with the shopping. It’s going to be so much fun. Of course, daddy wants the party to be at his house, like always.
It’s pink and white balloons everywhere. The men were hepling setting up the rest of the decorations while the ladies were in the kitchen finishing up the food. Even little Ranee was being a good little helper.
There was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” I said since I was the closet to it.
I opened the door to find a woman holding a very handsome little boy. I’m guessing he was her son.
“Hi can I help you?” I asked.
“You must be Lani. Is Ramone here?” she said with an attitude.
“Hold on please.”
What the fuck? Who is this bitch?
“Neicey! Janae!” I yelled walking back into the kitchen.
“What girl? What’s wrong?” Janae asked.
“Some bitch with a child is at the door asking for Ramone,” I said.
Neicey wasted no time getting up and running to the door. Janae and I were right on her heels.
“May I ask what you want with Ramone?” Neicey asked nicely.
“His son needs to meet his sister,” she replied.
“Hold up, did you say son?” I asked.
“Yes, my son and your daughter are brother and sister.”
“And your name is?” Janae spoke up.
“Carmen. Look can ya’ll please just go get Ramone.”
Imma kill this nigga. On my mama, Imma kill him.
“How about you just come with us in the back to get him,” I said
“Great idea,” she said smartly.
Don’t cut this bitch Lani, it’s about your daughter today, I said to myself.
When we got outside, the men were laughing and joking around. I was about to put a stop to all that shit.
I cleared my throat and got their attention. When Ramone noticed Carmen, he turned as white as a ghost.
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