Bahati propped her hand on her hip, poking it out, which made the shorts rise. Her pussy print had that dangerous-ass V, and although it wasn’t the fattest, that motherfucker used to hit just the way it was.
Used to.
“You talking about the crackhead bitch?”
My jaw flexed. Bahati’s accent was always deep until she cursed. That’s when the Chicago came out of her.
“How the fuck you know the drugs weren’t mine?” I cocked my head.
Her frown deepened. “Because she was the only one to hold her. This is your first time acknowledging Shya, remember? You hadn’t had any contact with her prior.”
Bahati cocked her head to match mine. We held each other’s glare until I exhaled.
“I got a lotta shit goin’ on, Bahati. But that ain’t no excuse. I’ll be ’round more. I’ll be present.”
The last thing I wanted to do was be my father and create another fucked up generation of Cuppacios. No child deserves to feel unwanted.
“She looks like my mama, but we need the results from the DNA test before I can fully invest myself. But I ain’t plannin’ to be less to her for the time being.”
I watched Bahati to see if she showed any signs of that flaw shit she used to be on. Still staring, she didn’t blink or flinch.
“And we did that. I complied because I have nothing to hide, Shio. I was snatched up from my apartment. I didn’t come looking for you.”
“I know that, Bahati, damn.”
I sat back in the dining room chair and stretched my right leg in front of me. Using my thumb, I began twisting the ring on my finger. Bahati’s eyes went from my face to the ring, and then her expression softened.
“So when will we get the results?”
“Soon,” I replied.
“I’m sorry about everything, Shio. I didn’t want to burden you. You had enough people to take care of. I don’t mean to rub it in, but I was genuinely scared of you. I… I thought it was safer if we stayed away. But had I known you were a part of the mob, I wouldn’t have done it. I know how easy it is for enemies to target family and loved ones. Shya and I should’ve been in your care.”
Letting Bahati’s words simmer, I thought of the Rodríguezes Cartel. Them being across the border was a dangerous game, especially now with the trafficking, and we not being able to touch them quickly if needed. I told Don I would fall back, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t look into it. Jagoda Bay had over four hundred women and children missing, all in a two-month time span. The city was trying its best to keep it on the hush, which is why I hadn’t been privy to it at first. When Don revealed their connection to Jagoda Bay and Chicago, he couldn’t have thought I wouldn’t do my own digging. The shit I’d found out needed to be displayed everywhere. Jagoda Bay didn’t want the attention, though. They don’t want to scare off the tourists since the city is popular year-round, especially in the summer.
I was going to continue doing my recon while I waited for Don to do what he needed on a larger scale. Either way it was sliced, the Rodríguezes had violated, and if they thought I was on their asses when Felipe tried to roll up to the club on Solana, they truly didn’t understand my character when they went after Shya.
She sighed at my silence. “Shio…”
I looked up at Bahati, who placed her hand on my shoulder. Solana’s fragrance hit me like a tidal wave, and I gently grabbed Bahati’s hand and pushed it away. I could smell Solana, but I couldn’t see her, at least not right now. The oils waft in the air, and I realized the aroma didn’t let off the same pheromones as it did coming from Bahati’s skin. I could tell me removing her hand hurt her feelings, but I wasn’t into pacifying them. We had a daughter, who was a full-on fucking crybaby. We’d be pacifying her enough.
Bahati sighed again. “Eat. It’s my peace offering. I can't do much right now because I have to figure my life out if we are to live in this city, but the least I can do is keep this place clean and let you come home to a hot meal. And I promise I won't make any Kenyan dishes unless you request it.”
I looked around her and inspected the dinner. The shit looked five-star worthy.
“Bahati.” Reaching into my pocket, I pulled the card I’d already planned to give her and placed it near the plate. The black metal hit the table with a clank. “Stay out of Solana’s shit. It’s plenty of money ’round here. Go buy your own shit. Get Shya everything she needs too.”
Standing, I pushed the chair back, towering over Bahati. I licked my lips as I watched her still, the only thing moving was her chest, slowly rising and falling. I wasn’t fucking with Bahati, no matter how sexy she looked. After one more once-over, I exited the kitchen.
I had a long-ass day tomorrow, and a cold shower was calling my fucking name. I should have taken Uriah down just for the hell of it, but my hands were full enough. There was no future with her, and her feelings were starting to show with her questioning my absence. I had no intention of leading her down a path that would land her nothing but a dead end and broken heart.
God first
Make sure the family good
Eye them Cuppacio boys, the little and the big ones
Build a relationship with my brother
