“Rara’s here!” Kyro rushed inside, his Sonic backpack slung over his shoulder, and his iPad tucked under his arm, with Kara right behind him.
“How did you get suckered into that?” Kong knelt to kiss Iara’s forehead, and she touched his cheek with her chubby palm. She was the sweetest, feistiest little baby he’d ever met. Raising kids and being around them as babies was damn sure different as you got older. Seeing Ayla so happy is what really brought a smile to his face.
“Coast and Mozzi wanted some alone time.” She shrugged and turned her attention to Iara, who stared back and forth between them like she knew what they were talking about. “She’s going through some post-partum shit, and they haven’t had any alone time in months. Plus, I like being around her.”
Kong brushed by, pausing in time to kiss her on the lips gently before his cologne assaulted her nostrils. She admiredhim in his suit. She could tell he was done for the day since the first two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing the tattoos on the top of his chest. She thought she had it bad for him before. Being home had its challenges, and while everyone was allowing her to have her space, there was tension brewing. Ayla had no idea how to fix it, aside from staying busy. One thing she knew she couldn’t do was hide from the world.
“She’s sleepy anyway. I gave her some pureed sweet potatoes with some squash, and she tore it down. Ain’t that right, Rara?” Ayla cooed, closing and locking her door.
Her living room was bright and full of life, just like her. From her bright fuchsia colored tufted sofa to the gold framed abstract pieces on the wall full of bright teals, aquamarine, tangerine, and pink. On the table, an arrangement of flowers sat with a few floating candles and issues of Essence and cooking magazines scattered as well. The TV was tuned to the Food Network like he suspected as he carried his contents over to the counter.
Ayla bounced with Iara to the marble countertop between her living room and kitchen. Kong removed his jacket and draped it across one of the chrome finished bar chairs. Kyro and Kara dropped their bags in the room they shared in back and raced right back to the front of the condo. There was a bathroom and laundry area off to the side of the kitchen, while Ayla’s master suite was upstairs.
“I said sushi, but I didn’t think you would get everything on the menu.” Ayla watched him unpack multiple dishes along with bowls of pho, too.
“I was starving, too, and you know the kids like it. I was thinking after we got them all settled, me and you could find a flick to watch.”
“Did you now?” Ayla grinned.
Kong’s keen eyes swept over her. No makeup, hair pinned over to the side but hanging down in back. She wore this 3-pieceterry cloth style loungewear set with her stomach on display. Although it had returned to its normal state, he took in the stretch marks that were left there from carrying their child.
“Yeah. I want you to tell me all about your day, too.” He rested a hand on her hip and stroked her cheek.
“I’m going to put her down in her portable playpen upstairs. Can you turn on the baby monitor down here?”
“I can.” Kong’s hand lowered to her waist, finally resting on her ass, and he brought her closer, sealing the space between them.
“Then, I’m going to shower and change. Hopefully by that time you will have Kyro and Kara tucked in as well.”
“I like how you think.” Nodding, Kong stole another kiss before pulling away from her. “Go handle your business. I got them.” He nodded toward the kids strolling in with their mouths salivating.
Kong was setting up things in the living room for them. A lowkey date night in sounded lit to him. The kids had been fed and were now tucked in bed with their devices for the night as the heavy rain started to fall outside the condo. Shit was simple but perfect. He’d just grabbed the wine and two glasses to take to the living room when he got the call from Mozzi.
“Where my daughter at, bro? Don’t be banging Ayla’s back out with my baby girl in the room. Only I can do that.”
“Moses, shut up!” Coast yelled at him in the background.
“Fuck you.” Kong shook his head and moved toward the living room. “She’s upstairs with the baby monitor anyway. We chilling in the living room.”
“Ah shit, real girls get down on the flo!” Mozzi chanted, and Kong was about ready to hang up on him.
“The fuck you want?”
“Ain’t that a bitch? You hit me. But if you don’t want this information tonight, I can?—”
“Nigga quit beating around the bush then. Spit that shit out.”
“I forgot how short-tempered niggas be when they ain’t getting no pussy. Let me stop playing. I sent everything to your phone in a PDF. Everything I could find on Emeric and Darcy. You know he ain’t squeaky clean. She was emancipated when she was fifteen, and I’d say he’s been funding her life ever since. Only recent changes I see comes from their medical. They added a newborn baby boy. Adoption records with the state show?—”
“What you mean adoption records? That’s not their kid?”
“Nah. Looks like he was just adopted through some agency a few months ago,” Mozzi informed him.
Kong’s silent alarms went off in his ears. Standing in Ayla’s living room, he listened to her footsteps upstairs as they neared the staircase. She was heading back down.
“Anything else?” he asked, blinking rapidly and taking a breath.
“Yeah, ya boy got no problem paying for pussy. He’s spent embarrassing numbers on Mira’s girls.”
