Page 137 of Heart Of A Goon II

“I want your blessing before I propose to her. I’m not the traditional type of nigga, but I need this from you.”

Menace snorted. “I don’t think I ever prepared myself for the day Bean would meet someone that could tie her down.”

“She’s the love of my life. Don’t know what I was doing before she came into my life.”

“Being a criminal.”

“Fuck up,” I laughed.

He laughed back. “I don’t even need to tell you that she’s not easy. You already knowing. We’re used to people giving up on us, so it feels nice when we have people that love us without trying to change us. You got my blessing to become a Caselli.”

“Menace stop fucking with me,” I bumped his shoulder and the nigga didn’t freak out.

“I want her happy always. You make her happy. I just hate that shit will become awkward when she has the baby.”

“What you mean?”

He pointed to his son. “He’s perfect. How do you compa—” I got up and headed back into the villa. “You know it’s true.” He hollered behind me.

I never thought I would be in a baby war with my future brother-in-law. Him and Stevie thought their baby pooped fucking gold, and he kind of did. Baby was rich before he even took his first breath.

I checked in with Inez before leaving to head back to my villa. From Jamaica, we would be heading back to the states. It wasn’t something I wanted to do, but I knew it had to be done. The Delgatos and Infernos already had left for Barbados, so all of the villas were empty, except for the one Forty was staying in.

He would remain here until Zoya made it back to arrange his surrender. I knew it couldn’t have been easy to know you had to step behind the wall. It was never easy when I went, but I had faith in my baby.

Recommendation: Listen to “Jamaica Love” by Busy Signal

As the jet was getting ready to land, the blue water underneath the thick clouds was beautiful. When the jet became lower, the greenery popped out, showing the homes below. The blue water and greenery worked together to make Jamaica beautiful.

To make home beautiful.

“Pumpkin, you’re crying,” Zoya reached up and wiped my face as I looked out the window.

This was my home.

It was what raised me and taught me the things I needed. I had been taken away from it for years, and this was where my mind always went when I was in that cell. I thought about my grandparents, the mango trees, and the lush greenery on their land. The small shack of a home didn’t seem like much to those on the outside looking in, but it was everything to our family.

My grandfather worked hard to provide that home for his wife and children. That land was bought with his blood, sweat, and tears. They were able to live off their land because he was a hard worker and provided for his children.

I remember leaving here as a young kid and not wanting to leave them. Moms held me as I tried to rip out her arms to get back to my grandfather’s truck. It was an old green Buick truck that years of work had stripped the color of. When he cranked it, you naturally coughed because of the smell of the engine and gas kicked up in your face, even when you were sitting inside.

Even back then, the truck was on its last leg, but that never stopped him from taking the hour drive to the airport to drop us off. Seeing us off was a priority, and pain at the same time.

As young as I was, I couldn’t understand why my mother was ripping me away from all I had ever known. Why would she be that fucking cruel to separate us. Now that I was grown and had my own seed on the way, I understood you did hard shit for your kids. The sacrifices you made for your kids hurt you more than them. I couldn’t imagine having to leave my baby and go back to a foreign country. Leaving them behind in what I considered home, so I could give them a better life.

“Home,” my mom smiled as she looked out the window, holding Inez’s hand.

“Home,” I replied, taking my baby’s hand and kissing the back of it, as she tried to soothe me.

My mom used the back of her hand to pat her tears while we approached the runway. This wasn’t something small to her, this was her being able to see her parents. Her parents couldn’t just come visit when their child was sick.

She had lost her leg, and they couldn’t be there for her. In her head, she felt all hope was lost, that she would never be able to see her parents or home again. If I had anything to do with it, I was buying my family a home right on the beach.

In due time.

Soon as we landed, customs came onto the jet and made sure we were all good. The cars pulled up to the jet, while they unloaded our bags. Boobie held my face and kissed me on the lips.

“Pumpkin, we’re here… now I want to see your home,” she sealed her words with a kiss, and unbuckled her seat belt.