I couldn’t say that I was surprised that her father’s side hustle had caught up to him. He was a cool dude when he wasn’t letting his hot pussy-ass daughter get in his head and withholding product.
“My mama and sister went back home shortly after. They were upset that I didn’t want to go with them, so we haven’t talked in years. Part of me didn’t feel right raising her on the other side of the world. The other part couldn’t imagine giving birth in Kenya. The quality of life there is just… different. I didn’t want that for my baby.”
I didn’t have anything to add, so I didn’t. Death was a part of life, and we all had to go one day. But as close as Bahati was with her mom and sister, I wouldn’t have ever guessed their relationship would sour, creating ten thousand miles in between them.
“Shio… Are you rich? You didn’t answer that.”
The two and three-story homes that made up my subdivision lined the streets. Neighbors were walking their designer dogs, and cars that cost just as much as the houses were parked in the driveways. The neighborhood was quiet, but it screamed wealth. It was one of the reasons I chose the house over building something brand new.
“You’re sitting in the passenger side of a four-hundred-thousand-dollar car, you were on a private plane, and we were snuck into the hospital on a floor my people bought out, and because of that, you were able to be serviced under the radar.”
If that didn’t answer Bahati’s question, I don’t know what would.
“Okay, Shio. I’m just trying to get an understanding of this. I’m so confused right now.”
So the fuck am I.
I turned onto my street, stomach churning. The whole time we were at the hospital, my mind kept drifting back to Solana. Fuck…. She’d lied to me. She’d been hiding her habit right under my roof—right under my nose. I didn’t know what the hell I was supposed to do with Solana. My first thought was rehab. But no matter how expensive one was, I knew there was a realchance that if I took her there, the Rodríguezes would find her. As a man, I couldn’t pretend I didn’t have feelings for her. She’d grown on me, and even though I wanted to wring her damn neck, her safety still mattered. I also knew Don wouldn’t tolerate her being checked into a facility, although I could give two fucks what that nigga wanted. However, I knew my money would be wasted because she’d probably turn up back at my place hours later if I dropped her off anywhere outside of my grasp. Knowing Don, he’d fuck around and chain her to my fucking ankle—the nigga was hellish.
We finally pulled up to my home, and instead of parking in the garage, I left the car in the driveway next to my pickup truck. After helping Bahati out of the car, we trudged down the walkway to the front door. Entering the code for the smart door, I let Bahati step in first.
“Wow! This is nice. It smells good in here too.”
Her eyes scanned the dark and moody space. There was a candle lit on the entryway table, and it smelled of smoke, spice, and vanilla. I was going to have to have my cleaning lady order more of those. I loved all the scents they left around my home, but this one was becoming my favorite.
Bahati kicked the slippers off at the door, compliments of the flight attendant, and continued to look around from where we were. I loved everything about my home. I’d hand-picked and arranged most of the décor. I wanted it to feel like me, displaying where I was currently in life with a sense of where I’d come from. Pictures of my guys and me floated around the space, as well as portraits of staples of our hometown, Chicago.
“Come on, right through here.”
Walking through the foyer, I allowed my tall legs to leave Bahati, who was taking her time as she examined everything we passed. By the time she caught up with me, I had been in the living room for a few minutes, just staring at the wall.
“Shio. Your home is really gorgeous.”
“’Preciate it. The kitchen is through there. Solana is feeding Shya. You two can take the fourth room to the left. Solana can show you?—”
Bahati frowned. “No! I can find my own way.”
She turned on her heels, but my voice had her stopping in her tracks. “Aye…”
She jumped.
“That baby mama drama shit has never been cute. I’m not the nigga that’s gonna deal with that, put up with that, or play with you about that. If this shit ain’t gonna work, you can toss out a number, and I’ll pay you for my child and send you on your way. I hate that I wasn’t there, and I plan to make up for lost time as a father, but if you come into my life causing problems for me or those around me, I’ll end you for real this time, Bahati.
“I’m not going for that shit. Tighten the fuck up.”
Bahati licked her lips, ran her good hand down the back of her neck, and nodded. When she disappeared in the direction of the kitchen, I listened to see if I could hear some bullshit, and when I didn’t, I focused back on the task at hand.
Kicking Nel’s foot, he mumbled in his sleep, stuffing his hand further in his pants. Vello was the spitting machine when Discover was pregnant, and Nel hibernated in his free time now that Pia was pregnant.
Kicking his foot again, Nel peeled his eyes open, still slouched on the couch. “Nigga, what?”
“Just letting you know I’m back.”
Nel closed his eyes, mumbled some smart shit, and then stretched his legs out in front of him, bumping against the side table.
“Oh, and you might wanna pick up your junior from the hospital. He’s up there tearing Grind’s ass up in Mortal Kombat.”
Nel rubbed his knees like an old-ass man, lifted his arms out, not stopping until his elbow popped, turned his head to each side, and then stood to his full height.
