“I see your silly butt is done laughing at me.”
“Yep.”
“Well, what did y’all do, if you didn’t eat?”
“We just picked up Lennox from the groomer. Me and Dario were gonna do that after he picked me up, but when you surprised me . . .” he said, his beautiful smile warming my entire heart, “. . . then there was a change of plans. After that, we went to the park for a little bit. Me and Q wanted to give you and Dario some time alone.”
“I see. That was thoughtful,” I commented, looking out, wondering what Q and Dario were talking about. Then, I turned back to Rai. “But seeing both of you is what I needed.”
“Now you got it. Because I plan to sit up all night!”
“Boy, please!”
“No, Ma, for real. Why go to bed when we’ll be on the plane at like seven or eight?”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Yeah, don’t go forgetting that! This is the big moment where we get to see that dude get beat for what they did to you! I may not even sleep on the plane!” Rai yelled out. “I live for this ass whoo—”
“Rai!”
“Okay. No cussing. But I can’t wait.”
He paused for a few seconds. In those seconds, I saw my child’s facial expression change. Gone was the playful glint in his greenish-grey eyes, that was there short minutes before. It sent an unexpected chill through me. I straightened my posture and reached across the table to put my hand on his arm.
“Rai . . . baby, where did you just go?” When he was slow to answer, I tugged at his arm. “Rai . . .”
He looked at me, then looked away, and in the direction of Quinton, Rai, and Lennox. “I didn’t go anywhere, Ma. I’m right here. Living and breathing, with my mother . . . that somebody took from me.”
I knew what it was. I knew him better than I knew myself, and he was fighting back emotion. A lot of it and it scared me. I didn’t want that for him. I was already living with it. Dario was going through it for sure. I felt it. I didn’t want it for my son. I didn’t want it tainting his views of people or the world. More importantly, I didn’t want it turning his soul dark.
“I’m here now though, baby. I’m here.” I rubbed his arm, softly, hoping to reach him. Hoping to put his mood back as it was.
“You’re here now, Ma. You never shoulda been gone. And for that . . . I want . . .” He paused, again.
“You want what, baby?”
“I want him dead. Him and anybody else that had a part in it. I want them dead.”
CHAPTER 73
Dario
“Maaan . . .” Quinton laughed. “I’ve been around Lennox since he was a puppy and never saw him that happy to see anybody.”
“How about the fact that Chanel never even liked dogs. . . until Lennox. Shit, Lennox felt her absence too. He whined a lot and barely ate.”
“Everybody felt that shit, man. I still haven’t told Tracie that she’s back yet. I was letting y’all do the family thing first.”
“No need for that, bro. I know how fucked up Tracie was about all of this. They’re close. Feel free to tell her. I appreciate the respect, though.” I looked at Q. “You know that, right? Your friendship means the world to me, man.”
“You already know. It’s a brotherhood for me. That’s why there’s never a question. It’s all family.”
“So, how did shit go down? I’m still fucked up about not being able to be there to get her my goddamn self.”
Quinton put his hand on my shoulder. “I know. But like your pops said, you needed to be focused on the fight and whoopin’ this muthafucka’s ass. They wanted you outta retirement, you got to whoop his ass like you his fuckin’ daddy. No mercy.”
“Trust and believe me, that’s all that’s on the brain. Did I tell you that this bitch had the nerve to ride up on me one night, like a little bitch, looking for Dex’s ass?”
“What?! Nah, you didn’t mention that shit. But you already know where Dex is, right?” Quinton chuckled.
I laughed right with him. “I already know. Didn’t at the time, because my dad has been real hush-hush. Outside of the small updates, he kept that shit so under wraps. But as soon as I saw how panicked dude was, I already knew. By the time this is all over with, the last of them will have nightmares for the rest of their fucked-up lives.”
“So, listen. I wanted to tell you something,” Quinton said, abruptly. It was almost like, if he didn’t say it right then, he would lose the will or courage to. I looked at him, intently, wondering what it was. “This ain’t me tryin’ to be in the business or—”
“Don’t ever feel like that,” I interjected. “Just tell me.”
Q shook his head, the look on his face layered with sadness. “Chanel had a panic attack when I was taking her to pick up Rai.”
“Aww, fuck . . .” fell from my mouth instantly.
“It was bad, man. I had to pull off the road and into a parking lot, so that she could get out and catch her breath. I was able to talk her through, letting her know she was safe and all that, but you know . . .”
I closed my eyes and tilted my head up to the sky. I didn’t know if it was in prayer or anger, or contemplation, but my entire heart stung. It was enough that I noticed an immediate weight loss in her, but now to know the severity of the trauma from her ordeal. If I was fucked up before, I was really fucked up now.
“You know what’s messed up, Q? Now that I have her back, all I want to do is make up for not being there for her—to protect her. Shit makes me weak, but then gives me strength at the same time. I just hope that my hate for dude prevails when I get in that ring. Because, right now, I’m just filled with being soft, compassionate—for Chanel.” I looked at Q and nodded. “I need Ace to hurt. He needs to hurt so bad that everybody around him feels it!”
I regretted having accidentally yelled, for in the distance, I noticed Chanel watching us through the kitchen window.
“He’ll feel it, D.C. I have no doubt that you got this.”
“Q, I fell asleep when you and Rai left to get Lennox. I fell asleep on her. And she let me sleep. But now you’re telling me that she’s having panic attacks and I’m feeling fucked up. I failed to be there again, man. I wasn’t—”
“Dude, stop that shit. Right now,” Q demanded. “Chanel knows that you love her. I’m guaranteeing you she knows that you fell asleep because ya ass hasn’t been to sleep! She knows. The best thing you guys can do is be there for each other, and for Rai. It’s gonna take some time to heal. We still got work to do. Shit is not over. But the bigger picture right now is that Chanel is back home.”
“You’re right, Q. Thanks for being the voice of reason that I need.” I tipped my head to the side in the direction of the house. “Let’s cut this short because Chanel’s been watching us, I’m sure the whole time.”
Quinton glanced toward the window. “Watching like a hawk!” he laughed. “Women ain’t no joke. She probably already knew we came out here for more than calming Lennox down.”
“Ha! You know she did. But here’s what I wanna do. I was gonna have everybody meet up at the hangar in the morning, but why don’t you go get Tracie and you guys stay the night. We can all fly out together in the morning. I think seeing everybody is just what Chanel needs. Gotta give my baby what she needs.”
“Absolutely. Let me get to that, and then get back here. You dropping Lennox off tonight, or in the morning?”
“I’m bringing him with us. I’m making arrangements for him in Vegas. I’m pretty sure it’s what Chanel wants.”
“Yeah, that bond is something else. He was barking even before Rai opened the front door! I kid you not!”
I laughed out loud. “I believe it.” I looked down at Lennox, who was sitting quietly at my feet. “I’m gonna head in and get the family fed. We’ll be here when you guys make your way back. I don’t expect any of us to get sleep tonight.”
“Ya think?!” Q laughed, as we headed inside.
CHAPTER 74
Giuseppe
“It all comes down to choices. Specifically, making the right ones,” Giuseppe said, with a smile on his face. He dragged on his cigar, as he paced back and forth in front of a dehydrated and disheveled Dex. “Look at how many generations of your family you just wiped out because of greed. Shit could’ve gone so much differently had you planned shit like a real businessman.”
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about?” Dex asked, near exhaustion, but trying desperately to hang on.
“I think you know. In fact, I think right now your mind is racing in a thousand different directions. You’re wondering all kinds of shit. Is your nephew, Dante, safe? Is your sister, Shonda, safe?” Giuseppe stepped closer to Dex and leaned down into his face. “Is your mother, Valerie . . . safe?”
“Muthafuuuucka!” Dex roared, his energy returning, full force. “I will fuckin’ murder you if you—”
“Shut the fuck up!” Giuseppe roared. “All those thoughts, emotions, runnin’ through your stupid fuckin’ brain right now! All of that shit, my son was thinking about when his woman went missing! When you had somebody put their fuckin’ hands on her and drag her off the street like a fuckin’ animal!”
“Is my mother . . . Is . . . she—?”
“Because of you, three generations of your people . . . poof, motherfucka!
“No . . .” Dex gasped, defeat in his eyes, and his shoulders drooped. “Please . . .”
“Yes,” Giuseppe said, walking away from his hostage. “I would say you’ll know not to ever do it again, but there’s no need to issue that kind of warning when you won’t even be around to—”
“Please . . . please!”
“No, badass. Don’t beg now. Keep talking shit and issuing threats like you were before. It suits the occasion a lot better.”
“I’m sorry! And right now, I’m begging for . . . not my life, but my mother’s. Please!”
“You destroyed my son! You made him feel helpless!”
“That’s not what I meant to happ—”
“You should have let Chanel go, as soon as the fight was agreed to. Trust me, the punishment wouldn’t have been as great. Not nearly. She wouldn’t have missed time with her family. She wouldn’t come back to us fearful of whether something like this could happen to her again. She wouldn’t have to wonder if she needs to look over her shoulder everywhere she went from now on! Her son wouldn’t have to be afraid to leave her side for fear he’d never see her again! My son wouldn’t feel like less of a fuckin’ man for not being able to protect his woman! Are you getting the goddamn picture, you fuckin’ scum?!”
“I swear, I do. I swear I’m remorseful as fuck! I swear to you!”
“See, thing is, I don’t buy it, Dexter Jackson. I think, right now, you’re only sorry because your life is on the line. Because just the other day, you were all indignant and fearless. Now, you’re crying and whining and throwing fits. When the fu—”
“Listen . . .”
“No. There’s no more listening. That part is over. I asked you if you wanted me to find her, or if you wanted to tell me where she was. I ended up finding her myself.” Giuseppe stopped talking, briefly, then looked down at his cell phone. A bright smile spread across his face. “Looks like the family is getting together tonight to surround Chanel in love.” He looked down at Dex and his face turned stone cold, eyes dark as night. “I guess you know what that means?”
Dex lowered his head and shook it, no words left to say. If Giuseppe wasn’t mistaken, he swore the man was crying. Giuseppe walked over to the door on the other side of the room. “Take care of him,” he instructed the man standing before him. “Then, call me later. Goin’ to see my family.”
“All taken care of, boss . . .”
CHAPTER 75
Chanel
Sleep was not on the menu! The Caivano compound was too alive to even think of entertaining sleep! The house was full—of love! It was amazing. Everywhere I looked, there was love. Everybody I touched, I felt the love. It was overwhelming—in a good way! I truly loved the people that made up my life. Two weeks away from them seemed like an eternity. Two weeks away from them made me realize just how much they meant to me. There would be more phone calls . . . more often. There would be more family dinners. There would for sure be some family vacations. We had lost too much time. Way too much!
My mama was there, looking as beautiful as ever. I’d caught her staring at me with tears in her eyes, more than once. She mouthed, “I love you . . .” more times than I could count, and I mouthed it back just as many. As a mother, I understood exactly what she was feeling. Because as many times as I’d caught her looks of admiration, I was sure somebody in the pack had caught mine as well when I gazed at my child. It made me hate that bitch, Valerie, even more. It was why I refused to address her by name when I was there. She remained nameless to me. Yeah, she had finally allowed me to contact my son, but look at how long it took!
“Stop daydreaming!” Tracie yelled, from across the room, after catching me zoned out again. “I see you!” she said, with a lemon drop in her hand. Her and Quinton were so cute together and I was happy to see that they’d finally given into something. I didn’t know what that ‘something’ was yet, but they looked cozy as hell. I’d find out in Vegas, because I was going to give her the third degree.
“Not daydreaming, nosy!” I laughed. “Reflecting on how much I missed all of y’all!”
Suddenly, I felt arms around me from behind. “We missed you too, daughter,” Antonina said. I turned around to face her and hugged her tightly. When I felt her jerking lightly against me, I knew that she was crying, which caused me some sorrow. The two I didn’t want to see cry were her and my mother. And between the two of them, there had been many tears shed since they arrived.
“Come on, my love,” Giuseppe said, gently pulling her away. “She’s home now.” He looked at me, and winked as he led his wife away. “She’s home forever.”
I watched behind them for a little bit before feeling Dario’s arms around my waist. “Baby, let me talk to you for a second,” he said.
When we arrived at the theater room, Dario walked in ahead of me and plopped down on the sofa that we’d sat on so many times to watch movies.
“Come here, beautiful.”
I stood for a few seconds, watching him. “What’s gonna happen when I come over there?” I teased. “What you got for me?”
He sat back against the sofa and smiled, as he scanned me top to bottom. I swear he looked good as hell in a pair of jeans, not to mention that white t-shirt laying on his chest . . . the way that I should’ve been laying on his chest. He patted the top of his thigh. “Come sit on my lap.”
I took slow strides to where he was, wondering what this was all about. When I got near enough, he reached out and pulled me down into his arms, trapping me in one of my favorite places.
“I missed you, Chanel. More than you could ever know. Felt like my circulation had been cut the fuck off.”
“I missed you too, baby. So much. You and Rai were on my mind, day in and day out.”
We held onto each other in that spot for minutes on end, listening to each other breathe, feeling the pitter patter of each other’s heartbeats.
“We’ve made so many memories in here; but does any particular one stick out for you?”
I released a tickled chuckle and snuggled tighter against him. “Absolutely. How could it not?”
“Busted, right?” he laughed. “Rai caught us red-handed, kissing it out . . . right here.”
“Yep, and then asked if you were my boyfriend. I remember that like it was yesterday.”
“Yeah,” Dario said, solemnly. “And we just lost two weeks of yesterdays . . .”
“Baby, don’t,” I begged, rubbing the side of his face. “We’re here now.”
“I know, but—”
“No buts.”
“You remember how we first met, right?” he asked, then proceeded without awaiting my response. “We
met with me protecting you. Me being there for you. In the right place at the right time—when you needed me. That was supposed to always be my role, baby. Always. No days off.”
I was about to give him the same speech that I’d been trying to get him to listen to since I got back. However, when I looked into his eyes, I got lost in the beauty of what was there. I got lost in the love that I saw, the hurt. Just as much as he wanted to protect me, it was my duty to pay that effort forward.
“Guess what?” I said to him.
“What?”
“I’m getting ready to work you like a slave. Because there will be no off days, buddy. Not a’one. You hear me? From this day forward, we are conjoined. Where you go, I go. And where I go . . . you go.”
“You’re late. That decision was made long before this conversation, sexy woman.”
“Hmph!” I threw my head back in laughter. “Well, I guess you told me, then, wit ya fine-ass self.”
“Give me those,” Dario ordered, pulling me and my lips to him and kissing me.
It felt good. Better than good. His lips were as soft as plush pillows. Wet as morning dew, as was the response forming inside the hungry passage between my thighs.
“See, this . . . right here,” I managed to say. “This is what I want.” I was so thirsty for this man’s love I couldn’t see straight. “Baby, I think we should—”
“Me too,” he responded, his lips moving on top of mine.
“They might miss us, though . . .” I said, my smile sly.
“I think they’ll understand.”
“Baby,” I whimpered, when Dario’s hand began moving up and down my inner thigh. “Let’s just . . . we can wait until everybody’s sleep . . .”
“Nobody’s going to sleep. Not with a few hours before—”
“I knewww you guys were in here!” Rai’s voice blared through the impending seduction.
And just like that, it was déjà vu all over again.
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