Page 48 of That Fire

“Where did y’all meet?” I asked.

“He was in Liberty.”

“Why in the fuck would a Henderson be in Liberty for no fucking reason?” Seven asked.

That shit was suspect as hell.

“He said he was out there handling business. When I saw him, he was over by Mythic’s old house. I was at one of my friends’ houses, and we were outside. He stopped to speak. I remembered who he was, so we started talking, and he asked for my number.”

I was frowning, along with every other Henderson standing here. My brother had to be working with the opps.

“We need to talk to Kane and Ryder J about this shit. I feel like those muthafuckas know something. They gon’ spit that shit out,” Kingsley said.

I agreed. He did something on his phone as my dad headed inside. He looked defeated. I hated that shit. How could one of the most laid-back Hendersons produce a rogue muthafucka like Crew? We would have to get to the bottom of this shit, but it wouldn’t be today.

Ashanni came running outside. “I just called Bali. We need to get Aaliyah to the hospital.”

Fuck.

Chapter 16

Aaliyah

“Breathe, Liyah. You’re okay. You’ve dilated another centimeter, but everything is okay for now.”

I tried to do what Bali said, but my mind was running like Sha’Carri Richardson was chasing it. All the events of the day had me so stressed. It felt like Crew was intentionally fucking with us, like he wanted me to go into labor. Mr. Jasper had said as much, and that nigga didn’t care. It was like he wanted to make me out to be the bad person. It made me feel like I came between two brothers, but I quickly came to the realization that it was something deeper. This shit didn’t have anything to do with me.

Kambel had said that nigga was in Liberty, talking to Zoo. I thought Zoo had been killed in that shit when the Hendersons went after those niggas for shooting PJ. She also said another nigga was with him. I didn’t know which Henderson had gotten involved in that bullshit with him, but I was willing to bet it was Kane. They seemed the closest.

“You gon’ have to stay here tonight. I’m gonna give you something to get your blood pressure down, but we need to be able to evaluate you. Okay?”

“Okay,” I said softly as Royal gently rubbed my hand.

She had a monitor strapped around my belly to hear the babies’ heart beats, and both were strong. She smiled slightly, then gently rubbed my head. “Everything is gonna be okay, Aaliyah. You just have to calm down. If you don’t, you’re going to send yourself into labor. I need you to try to hold them another week if possible. Keep your feet elevated.”

Royal kissed my cheek, then wiped my tears. “Everything is going to be okay, baby. I’m gonna be here with you to make sure of it.”

Bali smiled tightly, then left the room. I scooted to the side so Royal could get in bed with me. I needed to feel his love next to me. I was so irritated by what happened at his house earlier. I truly wanted to get in Crew’s face. Had it not been for the babies, I would have. I knew Royal was practicing restraint because of me. However, when he came back inside, I knew he had released. His hands were slightly swollen.

He wrapped his arm around me and gently rubbed my belly, doing his best to comfort me. The soft kisses on my ear and neck did the trick. “I love you, Royal.”

“I love you too, baby. You are everything to me.”

“Mm-hmm, until the babies get here. Then I’ll be forgotten.”

“Naw, not at all. You know how long I’ma have to wait to get in that pussy? I’m gon’ be counting down the days to slide in them walls.” He slid his tongue up my neck. “I’m sorry, baby. I may have to get out this bed.”

“I feel your hard ass dick against me at home. This is nothing new. Just don’t lick me like that again. Fuck,” I whispered.

There was a knock at the door, then it opened. When Bali walked in, she said, “Naw, hell, naw. Get yo’ ass out of that bed. You gon’ mess around and send her into labor.”

“Bali, can he please stay? He keeps me calm.”

She stared at us for a moment. “Only until she falls asleep. I don’t trust y’all freak nasty asses.”

“Bali, I’m gon’ behave, no matter how much I really wanna cut up,” Royal said.

“Okay. If these babies come early, it’s gon’ be your fault.” Turning her attention to me, she said, “I’m giving you steroids, just in case, to help develop their lungs faster.”