Page 32 of That Fire

Royal

Aaliyah had gone to Beaumont to enjoy a day of pampering. She needed it. I’d been wearing that pussy out. She seemed to enjoy every minute of it. My sex drive was extremely high. That was why I fucked around so much. I knew she was tired though, so I called Nikki to join us later. She loved being with Nikki too, so hopefully, I was doing us both a favor.

She was getting a pregnancy massage, facial, mani/pedi, and her hair done. While she was doing all that, I was at home setting up for a night of celebration. Bali told me to expect the results of our paternity test sometime today. I had a lot of nervous energy, so I was doing my best to exert it positively. I wanted to fuck so bad though.

My dick had been hard for at least an hour. I wanted to wait for Aaliyah instead of jacking off, but I was starting to throb. That shit was getting painful as hell. His ass was greedy as fuck. Taking a deep breath, I started thinking about my babies. Ravi and Rasha Henderson. I could imagine just how beautiful they would be. We both had nice hair. I just kept mine cut low. It grew fast though. I was in my dad’s chair once a week.

We both had flawless skin, and nice smiles.Ihad a nice smile. Aaliyah’s smile was stunning as fuck. Our kids didn’t have a choice but be gorgeous, even if they got more of one parent’s genes than the other.

There was a loud knock at my door as I placed a bouquet of roses on the table in the foyer. I frowned as I went to it. When I saw Kingsley, I opened it. “What’s up, man?”

“Nigga, they just went to the diner and fucking snatched niggas up. They took Seven, Ace, Jacob, Christian, Kane, Ryder J, Brix, and Crew.”

“Where was Watchful Eyes?”

“Man, they were there, but the government had a fucking army when they went there. I’m sure they will all be out before the day is over but still. Those muthafuckas ain’t got shit to do but fuck with us. Had Uncle Marcus, my dad, yours, or Uncle Storm been there, they probably would have taken them too.”

“I’m surprised they weren’t there.”

“They were in a meeting with Uncle WJ at the accounting office. They almost took Jess’s ass too. Brix had to holler at her to get her to chill out.”

“Fuck, man. I’m gonna assume Shy and Missus Taylor are already on their way.”

“Yeah. Shy brought a couple of lawyers from his firm to help out. I think one of them is his sister-in-law. Of course, our dads and uncles went up there too. Lennox said he was going to meet them there.”

Lennox was Nesha’s husband, and he was a detective. Hopefully, he could find out what the fuck was going on. He tended to stay out of our bullshit, so he didn’t fuck around and lose his job, but this shit was unjust. They had no evidence of wrongdoing. I knew that. They probably were only after Seven and everybody else got involved and ended up in cuffs too.

“They definitely been watching how we move if they came with a fucking army. They came to the clinic the other day and got told to get the fuck out . . . with plenty of artillery reinforcement.”

“This shit is crazy, man. All this shit boils down to them not being able to see Black folks prospering. They need to get that muthafucka out of office. If he died today, it wouldn’t be too soon.”

“Nigga, this minute.”

“I just wanted you to know. How’s Aaliyah?”

“She’s good, man. How are things with you and Treasure?”

He shrugged his shoulders. I stepped back, and said, “Come in, Kingsley. It’s too fucking hot out there.”

He chuckled, then walked in and smiled tightly at the flowers. After sitting on the couch, he said, “She needs to go back to counseling. She so fucking traumatized and has been that way for so long until it’s become her new normal. I hate that shit, man. She’s second guessing everything, including why I want to be with her. I love her so much. I feel like I’m losing my mind without her. I dropped my classes for the second summer session. My mind ain’t focused enough for no graduate classes.”

“Have you talked to anybody in her family?”

“Naw. I feel like they gon’ tell me to respect her wishes. I’m miserable, so maybe I should. I thought I had won her over. Then when PJ got killed, it knocked her all the way back.”

“Damn, man. I hate that. You’ve been everything she needed during this process. I wish she could see that.”

“She sees it. She just doesn’t think I’m sincere about it . . . that I have an ulterior motive. It’s been over a year. I just want her to be able to let go of the trauma and move on, but I can’t dictate when that should happen.”

I nodded and lowered my head. I didn’t know what to tell him. “Did she go to lunch with Cachet, Aaliyah, and Kambel theother day? Aaliyah had said she was supposed to, but I never did ask her if she made it out.”

“I don’t know. I’ve backed off. I haven’t talked to her since Wednesday morning, the day they were supposed to go. I’ve been waiting to see if she would reach out. It’s Friday, and I haven’t heard from her since. I just have to move on because this shit ain’t healthy. I’m just spinning my wheels and destroying my own mental health. I love her, but I can’t continue doing this to myself. I can’t make her better. She has to want it.”

“You’re right. Have you told her that?”

“Yeah, a while ago. I haven’t told her that recently. She thinks I’m trying to manipulate her into doing what I want her to do.”

“That’s crazy as fuck. You’re the sincerest person I know. You always say what you mean and mean what you say. How could someone that has known you for over a year think you’re running game?”