Page 87 of A Capo’s Love: Featuring A Don’s Love

“Serenity, please don’t make today about you. This is a very important day for our girl La’Nova. You better suck that L all the way down your wide ass throat and pull your big girl panties out of a bunch.” Balani warned her with a pointed look.

“I know, I know.” She whined, now dabbing the rims of her eyes with a tissue that she grabbed out of her small Chanel clutch purse.

“I just miss him, that’s all… He looked at me like I was a stranger… then that girl,” she spat in disgust, shaking her head in disbelief. “She’s holding on to him like he belongs to her.”

“Maybe he does belong to her. Roy is a good-looking man, you couldn’t make your mind up and you didn’t love him enough to stop all the shit you were doing to just be with him,” I scolded her softly.

“I don’t like it. I feel sick as hell on the stomach… you know what?” She sniffled then tooted her nose up. “I think I need closure from him.” She smirked sadly.

“Seek closure another day, right now we here to support and have a good time. Luca already warned you and all the other guests he threatened to be here to be on good behavior or else…” Balani’s words trailed off.

I looked at him with wide eyes and frowned.

“You really tryin’ to play dumb, like your man ain’t who the fuck he is.” Balani chuckled.

“That man loves the nasty discharge that expels from that twat once a month.” He raised his shoulders and fake shivered like he was utterly disgusted with his own choice of words.

“He pulled a lot of strings today, and I want to make sure you bask in everything.” Balani smiled.

“How the hell you know about women’s acid discharge?” Serenity frowned.

“I fuck women from time to time.” He shrugged. “One of my main women that I love with all of me lives in Brazil.” He smirked.

I was getting ready to question his sexuality that confused the hell out of me but was cut off by the event coordinator poking her head into the room with a clipboard pressed against her chest.

My stomach dropped immediately. It was actually time for me to stand in front of my many supporters that traveled from all over to see me.

“Are you ready, Miss Reign?” She asked politely.

I wanted to say ‘no’ because I wasn’t ready. I had my speech rehearsed and memorized but still worried about freezing up in front of everyone. Slowly, I nodded my head and straightened my posture. Balani grabbed my hand and gave it a light squeeze.

“You got this.” His blue eyes softened. “Me and Serenity will be right beside you,” he reassured.

I looked between him and Serenity and saw nothing but genuine pride. My chest swelled at that because I never knew what it was like to have friends beside me, supporting me, and me trusting that it was real and not temporary.

Serenity squeezed my shoulder before we all followed the coordinator through the hallway while noise from the crowd grew louder with every step. My heart pounded harder.

The venue looked beautiful. Rows of chairs stretched across the room filled with people holding copies of my coloring books. Large posters and banners displayed my artwork throughout the space. Tables overflowed with markers, flowers, and extra merchandise my new assistant came up with two weeks ago.

This is what support looked and felt like. I paused mid-step as the crowd roared at the sight of me and took it all in. The coordinator glanced back while we approached the stage stairs.

“You only have to do your short speech, then you’ll sit over at that table,” She pointed across the room to a table that was positioned right by a life size banner of me posing with my hand on my hip. “Signing is for an hour and a half, then you are free to work the room or do as you please.” She smiled and nodded her head after her reassurance.

I smile and nodded my head at her like I was good with everything she just said. My heart felt like it was trying to escape through my throat as she jogged up the five steps to announce my name.

The audience erupted again and my vision blurred immediately.

“Oh God,” I whispered, trying to sniffle back my tears.

“It’s okay, Honey Boo, come on,” Balani whispered from behind me.

His hand pushed at my lower back. I inhaled sharply then exhaled slowly. I walked up the steps with my head held high as the lights hit me instantly. The room looked enormous from where I stood. I gripped the podium trying not to visibly shake. My eyes scanned the sea of people and landed on the back of the room.

My breath caught when me and Luca locked eyes. He stood near the back wall wearing an all-black tailored suit. He looked like a king with a black mink sitting on his shoulders as he held Novae in his arms. My baby looked like a princess wearing a black ruffled dress, her arms were out, and on her feet were black ballerina sandals. Her curly black hair was pulled back with a big black bow.

Then the sight of Cain and Abel standing beside him dressed like little businessmen nearly wrecked me. They both waved their hands excitedly the second we locked eyes, too. My heart squeezed painfully just as Balani cleared his throat behind me to get my attention. I ignored him once my eyes landed on Roy. I shook my head because his ass just couldn’t do right to save his life.

He stood cockily with a navy-blue suit. The jacket was buttoned but it was obvious that he wore no shirt underneath. A thick gold diamond Cuban link rested on his chest. He nodded his head once at me as my eyes went to the tall, beautiful woman with honey brown and copper sister locs. She looked elegant standing beside Roy.