by D. Camille
“He still provides for both of you, not because he has to…but because he wants to make sure you’re both taken care of. He’s sacrificed so much, Pat and he’s never once complained,” Pam told her.
“He’s mad at me now,” Pat told her.
Pam smiled. “You know Lance never stays mad at you. You must have frustrated him.”
Pat looked at Pam. “I don’t want to lose my son.”
Pam stood from the chair then walked over to the bed and took Pat’s hand. “Let’s see what we can do.”
Pat smiled slightly. “He’s marrying the doctor girl.”
“She’s beautiful and she loves him,” Pam told her. “She’s what he needs.”
“LJ has always been sweet on her.”
Pam laughed. “Yes, I’m glad they’ve come together.”
Pat squeezed Pam’s hand. “I don’t know what to do,” she whispered. “I’ve tried so many things.”
“Why don’t we take it one step at a time?” Pam responded.
After a long minute, Pat nodded as a tear slipped down her caramel cheek. Pam touched the scarf on Pat’s head and rubbed gently.
“You have all of us here to help you my siSTAR…”
*********
Khayla woke up the next morning with a solid warm body behind her. She smiled as she looked at the ring on her finger and recalled the night before. After having dinner with Rion and Tauri, Lance had brought her back to her place where they had talked before making incredibly sweet and hot love to one another.
Now she laid still and felt his breath on the back of her neck and the weight of his arm across her midsection. She loved waking up next to Lance because she simply loved him. He’d still been angry about the phone call at her office yesterday, and she knew this was far from over in his mind.
Khayla also knew that something was up with him. She wondered what he had spoken with Rion about since he’d returned in a very relaxed mood. Whatever Rion had told him had seemed to ease his mind somewhat. True to Lance fashion, he was closed-mouthed about everything that had occurred during his absence.
“Khayla Imani, are you awake?” the deep voice asked in her ear.
She smiled and remained silent.
Lance kissed the back of her neck. “I know that you are.” He moved closer.
Khayla stayed quiet and still.
“Wake up Ma, so I can give you your present,” he whispered against her neck.
She pressed back against him. “Mmmmm…a present?”
“Yeah, wake up so I can give it to you.”
Happily, she turned to him with sultry eyes. “Give it to me…” she whispered.
Lance smiled and reached behind him retrieving a wrapped box from the floor. He turned and placed it on the bed as her eyes widened and her mouth opened.
“You have a real present for me?” she asked surprised.
“You are such a freak,” he teased her. “But I love it.”
Khayla smiled and looked at the package. “Lance, what is this?”
“It’s something for my Queen.”
She sat up pulling the sheet around her breasts. “You’re spoiling me.”
Lance gave her a look. “Girl open the damn package.”
Smiling, she tore into the wrapping. She opened the box and when she recognized what was inside, her hand went to her mouth.
“Oh my god! Lance you didn’t!” she yelled.
Lance removed the items from box. “When we were together before, you always talked about the black Kings and Queens, and I promised you that if I was ever able to, I’d take you to see where our ancestors walked.”
“We’re going to Africa!” Khayla threw her arms around him causing him to fall back against the bed dropping the travel information beside him
He smiled up at her as she looked down into his dark eyes. “I love you so much.”
“I know and I love you Katydids.”
She smiled. “I’ve never been to Africa.”
He nodded. “I know. Were you waiting for me?” Lance watched her closely.
Khayla smiled shyly. “I never wanted to go without you.”
Lance touched her cheek. “Thank you.”
“Thank you baby. You’re making all my dreams come true.”
“Khayla Imani, you are my dream come true.”
*********
When Lance left Khayla’s apartment that morning all of his appetites had been satisfied. Khayla had made him breakfast then loved him into near exhaustion. As much as he’d wanted to linger in her bed, she had clients to see and he had business to take care of.
This morning Mac was tracing the phone call that Khayla had received, but Lance didn’t need that information. He knew who led that group and was en route to make sure everyone knew the deal. Threating Khayla was completely out of bounds.
He checked his phone and saw that Corvus was on his way to meet him at the destination. After the gas station incident, Lance was careful to always have his back covered. He pulled in front of the building that housed the office belonging to the Grocer’s Network, and found a parking spot. A few minutes later Corvus pulled in after him.
The two men met on the sidewalk and looked at the building. “What’s up Lance?”
Lance looked at him. “Business…you ready?”
Corvus nodded and opened his coat revealing his weapon. “Let’s do it.”
The two entered the building and Lance asked to see the President. When asked who they were, they both simply responded, “The Negus.”
The secretary’s eyes widened before she picked up the phone on the desk. She spoke in another language while Corvus and Lance exchanged looks.
She finished her conversation then replaced the receiver before turning to them. “I’m sorry, he’s not in today.”
Lance raised a brow. “Really? Then why did you just tell him that two black men walked in and asked to see him? Then you told him you didn’t want to lie to us.”
Corvus added, “Then you said you’d tell us he wasn’t in today.”
Both men stood looking down at her confused face. “Black people can be bilingual too,” Lance told her. “Now call him back and tell him to get his ass out here now!”
Nervously, she lifted the receiver again, but this time speaking in fluent English. “They know you’re here. They want you to come out.”
The secretary replaced the receiver again. “He’ll be right out.”
Lance watched the woman with disdain. He and Corvus had always hated it when they would speak in their native tongues when saying things that they did not want others to hear or understand. Both men had learned the language since they dealt with that population on a regular basis. It gave them an advantage to be able to interpret for themselves.
When the President arrived, he looked at both men and they could see the fear in his face.
“How may I help you?” he asked.
Lance stepped forward. “I came to give YOU a warning. The food co-op that’s opening – will open. Now we can do this nicely where we all play in the sandbox and get along, or this can become an all-out war. It’s your choice.”
“Well if you all become a part of the Grocer’s Network, I’m sure…”
Lance cut him off. “We’re our own network.”
“We’re just protecting our interests,” the President offered.
“So are we,” Lance countered grimly.
The President lifted his hands. “I don’t see why we all can’t work together.”
“We’ve passed that. You’ve monopolized our city selling liquor and expired food.” Lance frowned. “We don’t want to join you, we want our own…and we’re going to have it, whether you like it or not.”
“Because we could run your asses out of our neighborhoods and shut all your shit down. So don’t try me.” Lance stepped forward until he was looking down at the man. “I swear if my fiancée receives one more call or any type of threat from this group, when I come back…I won’t be talking. I
promise you.”
“Look, we never threatened to hurt anybody. We’re not a gang,” the President protested.
Lance looked at him. “We’re not a gang either, but I am threatening you…just in case you missed it.”
The President stepped back. “Fine, I understand.”
“For your sake, I hope you do.” Lance shook his head. “This doesn’t make any damn sense that you don’t want us to own stores in our neighborhoods where we live! Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Just because we’ve been slaves in this country, don’t get it twisted. You’re not dealing with an inferior, you’re going against the Negus,” Lance finished.
He turned and walked over to Corvus. “Since I’m multilingual, let me translate that for you...”
“You’re looking at Kings.”
Chapter 24
Lance felt his palms sweating as he looked at the six men dressed in dark suits. They looked like they could kill an entire army, if they so chose. He waited as they came toward him.
“We have the layout and Ray has briefed us. No one gets in without an invitation and the doors lock at 2pm on the dot. If they aren’t inside, they won’t be allowed after that time,” one of the guys told Lance who nodded.
“Okay, that sounds good. Thanks for coming,” Lance replied.
They all looked at him and nodded before they spread out to their designated positions. Lance was surprised when he was grabbed from behind.
“What the hell?” he tried to turn but was held in a solid grip.
“What’s the password?” Corvus asked behind him.
Lance frowned. “You too damn old for this?”
Corvus laughed as he released him and Lance turned. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to loosen your ass up. You tense as hell, damn!”
Lance sighed. “This is the most important day of my life. I can’t let anything go wrong for Katydids.”
Corvus looked at him. “You sounding real female again.”
“Shut up.” Lance began to walk to the dressing room located inside the Shrine of the Black Madonna Church.
Corvus stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Lance, chill.”
“Straight up…I’m nervous as hell,” Lance told him honestly.
“Look, we got dudes that look like the FBI here, all the Negus are on the lookout plus my Momma and Daddy, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, Miles and Tauri’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Patterson,” he paused.
“Man, ain’t nobody coming in here,” he finished. “Relax.”
Corvus put an arm around his best friend. “Let’s get you ready to marry that girl.”
The two walked to the room where the rest of the Negus were waiting. They all looked at Lance then shook their heads.
“Man, what are you doing? You need to get ready,” Rion told him.
“I had to check on some stuff.”
Rion came over to him. “Ray’s guys don’t need you. You just focus on getting through your vows without crying like a little girl.”
Corvus laughed loudly and Lance gave him a look. “Ain’t nobody about to be crying. Don’t get it twisted.”
“We’ll see,” Corvus taunted him.
“Go get dressed.” Khalil intervened to bring the foolishness to a halt.
With one last look, Lance walked into the adjacent room that contained his tuxedo. Slowly he dressed thinking about the woman who was his life. Even though he’d try to deny it because of his own insecurities, Khayla had shown him that it didn’t matter. She loved him for the man he was and nothing more.
Lance smile slightly as he buttoned his crisp white dress shirt. Khayla and her mother had planned this wedding down to the last detail. He’d been included, but he had wanted this to be Khayla’s dream come true. The church would be packed with people today since Khayla had invited practically everyone in the damn city. Her parents had insisted on helping with the costs although Lance had no problems providing whatever Khayla desired.
His smile faded as he thought of his own parents. Neither his mother or father would be here on this day. His mother was still bedridden and his father missing in action, as he always had been. Lance didn’t know or care if Terrance Johnson was dead or alive. Any man who’d walk out on his sons was of no consequence in his mind. If he ever saw him, Lance would probably beat his ass for being such a sorry excuse of a human being.
He reached for his tie, which was an ethnic multicolor fabric, and thought about the people who had become his surrogate parents, Pam and George Shaw. They’d done everything for him and he’d always wanted to make them proud. After his mother became ill, George had allowed Lance to work at the African bookstore he owned. Lance’s life had changed at fourteen and was never the same again.
While the other kids were having fun and playing, he was working. He began at the bookstore then when he turned sixteen he began working two jobs which led to him dropping out of high school. From there he’d done every legal hustle known to man and built his businesses.
Summers with Khayla and the Negus had been the highlights of his life. The Shaws had insisted that he attend the summer camps. George had given Lance the hours off with pay to be with the other kids. He had asked the Shaw’s to walk down the aisle as his parents today. Khalid and Assata would do the same for Khayla. Corvus was serving as his best man and the Negus were his groomsmen along with Miles.
Khayla had chosen Tauri as her matron of honor and Mac was one of the bridesmaids along with Khayla’s colleagues. Kyros was serving as the ring bearer and was happy to sport his little tuxedo. There was a knock on the door and Lance turned to see who was entering.
George entered the room and closed the door behind him. “Lance…”
“Daddy Shaw.” Lance looked at the man who’d been instrumental in his life as George came to stand before him.
Lance was dressed except for his jacket, which George picked up then motioned for Lance to turn around.
Lance nodded then turned as George lifted the jacket. “I came in here to tell you how proud I am of you, son.” George helped Lance put one arm into the coat.
“Thank you, sir.” Lance put his other arm inside. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me.”
With the garment completely on, George smoothed across the shoulders of the fine fabric. “There is nothing to thank me for; you worked your ass off.”
Lance turned to him. “You taught me how to be a man. You fed me and kept me from getting in trouble, going to jail, or getting killed.”
“You gave me your time and made me feel like your son, even though you had Rion and Corvus,” Lance finished quietly.
George smiled. “All of you are my sons.” He placed a hand on Lance’s shoulder.
“Now I want you to take care of that beautiful goddess.”
Lance smiled. “I will.”
“Treat her love like the air you breathe…like it’s the most precious thing in your life and you can’t live without it,” George told him.
“She is your light when you’re in darkness; she’s the water when you thirst and she’s your only source of comfort.” George finished giving him a look and removing his hand.
Lance laughed. “I hear you Daddy. You don’t have to worry about that, I’d never step out on Khayla.”
George lifted a brow. “Just remember, she’d kill both of you.”
“Fa’sho.” Both men laughed.
Lance grabbed his lapel and gave a slight tug. “How do I look?”
George looked him over. “Like the strong black man I watched you grow into.”
He embraced Lance, patting him on the back. “You ready son?” George asked as he stepped back.
Lance nodded. “Yeah, I am.”
The two men headed to the door. “Maybe since you and Rion have settled down, Corvus will be next?” George questioned.
Lance looked at him and they both shook their heads. “Nah…he not ready,” they said in unison walking out the room.
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*********
Khayla sat in her dress staring at her reflection in the mirror. She’d dreamed of this day and this man for a long time. She smiled at herself and thought of all the people sitting inside waiting to see her give her life to the man she loved. In the room with her currently were her mother, Pam Shaw, Tauri and Mac and she couldn’t wait to see her man.
The only thing Lance had been concerned about is that everything was the way she wanted it. Normally he did everything and took care of business with no questions asked, but he’d stepped back and allowed her to plan their special day.
She stood and turned to the women in the room. “Well, how do I look?”
Khayla’s face fell as all the women began to tear up. “What? What is it?’ she panicked.
Assata and Pam stepped forward. “You’re so beautiful,” her mother choked out and hugged her.
“My god! You scared me to death,” Khayla said returning her embrace and looking at the other women.
“We all love you and we love Lance. We’re just so happy to see you two finally getting together,” Pam told her softly.
Khayla smiled. “I’m so happy! Nothing could ruin this day.” She turned to Mac who was dressed in her deep red bridesmaid dress.
“Are we good?” Khayla asked.
Mac nodded. “I’ve got plainclothes throughout the building and on the perimeter.”
“Thank you. These women are crazy and I’m not about to have any nonsense today,” Khayla announced.
All the women in the room nodded in agreement.
“This Nigist business is tiring,” Tauri said rubbing her extended belly in the satin dress. “How do the Negus stay on top of all of this?”
Assata smiled. “That’s where we come in. When the Kings are threatened, the Queens make the moves…”
“Now let’s get my beautiful Queen daughter married to that handsome King.”
*********
Lance stood at the altar with Corvus beside him looking out over the large crowed. Corvus leaned towards him and whispered, “I got Kleenex in my pocket for you.”