Once I left, I ended up at the one person’s house I knew would give me hell for this shit but would also help me.
I knocked on my pops’ door before I made my way inside. I already knew where he would be, so I made my way to the back deck but was stopped by him being in the kitchen at the table. I frowned until I noticed the kids playing in the backyard. I love my pirates but I was glad they didn’t see me because I needed an adult moment uninterrupted.
“Damn, they got you on babysitting duty?” He looked up and smiled. The other day wasn’t our finest father-son moment but I knew I could always count on him to be here for me.
“Yeah, Liv had her staff meeting and your brother is working. What’s going on? Shouldn’t you be working too?”
“Yeah, surprisingly, I got the day off.” I snorted sarcastically as I took a seat.
“So you must be ready to talk if you showed up here.” I nodded.
“Yeah. My shit’s all fucked up, Pops. I don’t know how I got here.” I looked out the door at the kids and my mind immediately imagined my baby out there playing with their cousins. Then I drifted to Johnni and I finally making things official.
I was so close to my picture perfect that I could feel it in my heart as it beat wildly, setting my whole chest on fire.
“Love.” We shared a light chuckle while I agreed.
“It can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be very ugly if it’s with the wrong person. So tell me, is she your beauty?”
I dragged my hands down my face, blowing out an exasperated breath.
“Yes. Johnni is my lifeline to all things that makes me feel like I’m not just living to die.”
Kelvin smirked as his brows shot up and an amused smirk took over his face.
“Oh, so you got it that bad. You finally found your purpose to live. And how does she feel?”
“The same. And I know me saying she wants to leave him is just words, but I believe she really does. She said something about signing a contract when she got married that makes it hard. Not only is she harboring his secrets, but he’s dragging one of hers along with it. I swear, Pops, I’m praying for patience, but I hate her being with him. And now she’s pregnant.”
A slap to the back of my head had me wincing as I rubbed the spot he’d hit.
“Ouch, Pops, what was that for?”
“A lot of things. I’ll start with this baby. I swear, between you and your brother, you act like two teenagers who ain’t got their dicks wet. You get grown and forget what condoms are. But you, making babies with a married woman is something else. Are you sure it’s yours?”
“Yeah, I’m a hundred percent sure, trust me.” Kelvin didn’t need to know Quincey was gay and they had never been together.
“Well, you can’t pray for patience when you created a family that needs you. Patience is for a man who has time to wait. Pray for strength to move mountains. If she wants out, get your lady out, contract or not. You know there is always a loophole hidden in plain sight.”
“That’s where it gets tricky. Even if I find a loop, it’s who she’s connected to that might still be a problem. She’s married to Congressman Wilson.”
“It’s only tricky if you can be tricked. You’re trained to see the bullshit before it hits the target. Eliminate the threat and bring your woman home. Remember, even the most powerful men can fall to their knees long enough to take them down.” I nodded, understanding what I had to do.
I got up, ready to go play with my pirates when he called out to me.
“Oh, and remember, in every war there’ll be casualties. Love is no different. What’s important is winning the battle.” I heard him loud and clear. Even if the whole Wilson family had to fall, so be it.
The soundof knocking came before Naja poked her head in the door. I was at the office doing payroll and handling theadded changes to the schedule. Since I was out most of the time now with Johnni, I took late hours handling the business side.
“Hey, I’m headed out, but you have a visitor. Is it cool if I send him back? It’s BK.”
“Yes, you can send him back and head out. I’ll see you tomorrow. Oh, and thank you again for staying later tonight to help me get this stuff done.”
“No problem, Tunk. See you tomorrow.” She headed out and a couple seconds later BK was making his way into the office.
“What’s goin’ on, man?” I stood to dap him up.
“Nothing much. I apologize for just popping up but this couldn’t be a phone call.” His tone was serious, way more than I had ever heard him.
