Page 61 of Widow Mayker

“You’re like a son to me, Kody. I just want to see you happy and carrying on the legacy of this family.”

As Katrice talked, her eyes drifted to a large painted photograph of my father and my mama on their wedding day. It was the only photograph my mama kept. In it, they looked like the perfect happy couple, and they had been. Aside from my father’s disloyalty, he treated my mama well, which was why that photograph was still inside the house.

I normally walked right past that photograph and didn’t pay it any attention. Now that Katrice stood here staring at it, I did too, thinking about what Heir and I talked about over lunch yesterday.

“Que pena (such a shame). They were so happy together,” she mentioned. Pushing out a deep breath, she added, “I’ve done everything I can to be there for her over the years. But… Your mother is grieving the love she lost. Once a love like that is taken, nothing else makes up for it. Nothing.” Katrice glanced at me and for the first time since my father’s death, I saw disappointment in Katrice’s eyes. “It’s almost the anniversary of his death. I understand what you had to do. But I hate that you had to do it. Now, here you are introducing a woman who’s likely the love of your life to your mother. Can you imagine how torn she must feel? You took the love of her life away, and now you’re casually flaunting yours in her face.” She patted my jaw lovingly. “I love you, Nephew. But it’s time you realized that maybe you made a mistake. You’ve moved on with your life, but your mother is stuck ten years behind us.”

Katrice walked away, heading toward the kitchen. Her cheery voice was back as she entered the kitchen with a jubilant, “Make some room for me!”

Deep in reflection, I tuned everyone out as I sat on the couch. I traveled back in time, recalling the day I found out that my father was working with a rival cartel. Never in my life would I have believed the shit. Photographs didn’t lie, though. The images caught my father and his brothers red-handed. Dub’s disloyalty couldn’t come without swift consequences. Leaving him alive would’ve caused more harm than good.

Around the large dinner table, my father and uncles were stunned to see me entering the dining hall. I was supposed to be on my way out of town. However, I received a package that changed my fucking plans.

My father stood from the table to hug me. “Son! You’re supposed to be on ya way to California.”

I looked him up and down, then mumbled, “Have a seat.”

His chuckle seemed forced. “Uh, what’s goin’ on?”

I walked to the head of the table, produced the envelope that had been dropped off to my office, and tossed it in the middle of the table. The photographs spilled out. Only one needed to be visible. Seeing his face on the still caused my father’s eyes to flash to mine. Regret glimmered in his gaze.

“I’m disappointed,” I said.

“I can explain,” he stated.

Sighing, I retrieved my gun from my back. “No… No, you can’t.”

That was the night I lost my mind. A few days later, I woke up in bed with Kim by my side. She had a fucking doctor looking after me, afraid that she’d lost me as well. It took a few weeks, but I was able to regulate and return to life as usual. I assumed the head of my family and pretended like the rest of those muthafuckas didn’t exist.

However, I couldn’t even enjoy brunch while watching my mama. I dissected every nuance, every expression, every word. I’d broken my mama’s heart. As she smiled and talked to Heir and Kim, the smile never reached her eyes. However, because she was the perfect mother that she was, she treated Heir with kindness and grace.

While I didn’t regret killing my father, I did hope that my mama could fall in love again. If it wasn’t for Heir, nothing like that would’ve ever crossed my mind. I wasn’t sure how her ass got me here, but I was so deep that I mentally calculated the size of her ring finger.

Later that evening, I was still stewing over what Katrice said. Inside Black Dream, I held Heir’s hand tightly as I made my way up the steps leading to VIP. We’d been together all day and would commence our night listening to a live band play some fresh-ass music. Heir was excited because Maja was there with her dude. Gunner was the opps, so we weren’t exactly homies. However, my lady looked forward to tonight. That meant I was going to be on my best behavior.

On the way to our section, Tina appeared, wearing a frown on her face. Her eyes skated down to my hand joined with Heir’s, and it caused her frown to deepen. She was bad as hell and wearing a barely there dress that drew whatever attention she wanted. Except mine. Although her gaze was on Heir, her hand reached out and touched the lapel of my suit jacket. Reacting swiftly, Heir smacked Tina’s hand away.

Tina was quick, too, her hand nearly connecting with Heir’s face.

“Bitch! Don’t touch me!” Tina spat. Dex was right there, though, snatching Tina up and practically tossing her ass down the stairs. The commotion caused Maja and Gunner to exit the section to see what was going on.

Roy handled it, assuring them that all was well. I felt Heir tugging her hand from mine, so I tightened my grip. Glancing at her face, I saw that she was frowning, and she even rolled her eyes at me. Once we were inside the section, I peered down at her pinched-up face.

“You cool?” I asked.

She ignored me and dodged a kiss I tried to place on her cheek.

“Fuck wrong wit’ you?”

“I told you this wasn’t gon’ work,” she explained. “I’m not cool with none of your bitches still having access to you.”

“What?” I was confused as fuck and borderline about to act stupid.

“Now you wanna act dumb?” Heir snatched her hand away, and I yoked her ass up, pinning her against the section banister.

“What you on, baby, so I can meet you there?”

“I’m on some, I don’t trust you, shit!” she ranted while poking her finger into my forehead.