Capone iii, p.18
Capone III, page 18
I felt bad that I was standing in front of her with a huge ring on my finger, belly full of Capone, in his robe after just getting my back blown out by him, and she was telling me that he is the love of her life. How do you even respond to something like that?
Capone had been opened with me about everything between he and Ella. I never had to guess or be surprised because he was open with me from day one. The day I climbed into bed with him, he told me that he still fucked his baby mother and he even asked if I wanted him to stop.
“We don’t have to be best friends, or even friends at all. I just want us to be cordial for the sake of CJ. He loves having his mom around with his father, and I would hate for you guys to start throwing separate functions for him because we can’t get along with each other.”
“Yeah. I think Capone hates me,” she admitted, and now I was ready to take my plate and go. How the hell was I supposed to respond to any of what she was saying?
“He doesn’t hate you,” I sighed, not knowing if it was true or not.
“You don’t see the way he looks at me. Capone looks at me with such disgust. Like he wishes I would vanish or something.” She sulked.
How she went from not even liking me to now venting to me about how my husband looked at her was beyond me. How else did she want him to look at her? She could have gotten both her and their son killed, and she thought he should smile at her?
I packed my food up and decided that it was best to watch animal planet up in my room with the rest of my food. “I don’t know, Ella. A lot is going on now, and he has been stressed about everything. Give him some time. I do agree you both need to sit down and have a conversation though… just give him some space and let him come to you.”
“Yeah.”
“Night.” I tried to grab all my things before she said something else that would keep me here even longer.
“Do you think Capri hates me?”
Whenever Capri came over, she didn’t acknowledge Ella at all, even when Ella called herself saying hey to her.
“Girl, yes.” I didn’t mean to laugh, but she was asking questions like she didn’t already know the answer to them. “Me and you may be able to coexist because of CJ, and because Capone considers you family, but you and Capri may never speak or have a friendship again. I don’t blame her either… night.”
I quickly headed upstairs and got settled in the bed with one of my favorite shows. The Deadliest Catch was my guilty pleasure. You couldn’t tell me that I wasn’t a fisherman on those boats. I cussed when they did and got pissed when they were way behind on their catch.
“Damn, that shit smell good,” Capone mumbled in his sleep, moving closer onto my side. “Feed me some.”
This was why I avoided eating up here. Every time I made myself some food, his ass always wanted some. I put some mac and cheese into his mouth and watched as he chewed slowly, never opening his eyes.
“Jo makes the best macaroni and cheese… shit so good. Give me more.”
“Damn, Winston, you gonna eat all my damn food,” I snapped on him, shoving the food into his mouth more aggressive now.
“You stingy as fuck… look at that big ass plate you got.” He finally opened his eyes and pointed to my plate.
Before I knew it, we were both sitting up in the bed sharing my food and watching the show. “I would be at the bottom of the boat with a pot and some butter. Look at all those crabs.”
“You never get high off your own supply, Gorgeous. You wouldn’t make it as a damn dealer.” He bit into the chicken and then fed me a piece.
I giggled. “Whatever… I want some crab legs.”
“I’ll get you some later.”
“Seriously?”
“I’ll do anything for you, Erin. I hope you know that and believe the shit too.” He kissed me on the lips.
“Me and Ella kind of had a conversation downstairs in the kitchen.” I understood the look that Ella was referring to. It was definitely disgust that she was seeing coming from him. “Baby, why you look like that?”
“Just because she’s staying here doesn’t mean I want her here, Erin. She could have fucking had my son killed because she so busy trying to make me jealous. I ain’t checking for Ella, and haven’t been since you and I got together. I can’t ever forgive her for that shit.”
“CJ is alright now. You have to work toward forgiveness and eventually talk to her. The little one words you say now can’t happen forever?”
“Why not? You spoke to her, so I can start talking through you.”
I tossed my head back and laughed because he would use me to talk to Ella. “No, that’s not healthy. If I could talk to her and have a clear understanding, you can do the same. This was your best friend at one point.”
“I’m reconsidering if that was even real. The shit she did with Capri always made me feel funny. I just tried not to get involved in they shit, now I’m looking at her ass funny for everything.”
“Oh hush,” I kissed his lips and took the empty plate away from him. “I’m not saying you need to talk to her right now, but you do need to talk to her eventually.”
“Ight.”
I yawned, and got comfortable in the bed. Capone laid on my stomach, while rubbing it. “Mamas, we holding grudges or nah?”
“Don’t try and make my daughter apart of this.”
“You been hating since we found out she was a girl. Mad she gonna be a daddy’s girl?”
Sucking my teeth, I rolled my eyes because I knew she would be one. I would only be good enough for food, but her father would be her entire world. “Night, Winston.”
“Night, Gorgeous… love you.”
“Love you too.”
“Why the hell is she even worried about if I hate her or not. Hating her means I give a fuck, and I stopped giving a fuck about her a long time ago. I just dislike her and would rather not waste my breath on speaking to her.” Capri picked up a pair of heels and then sat them down.
We were in American Dream Mall shopping for Christmas. We’ve all been through so much, so I had the idea for everyone to spend the night at the house for Christmas Eve, and we would all wear matching pajamas.
Jean and Jo were going to cook, and we would spend the night having fun, until the morning when we could open gifts. I needed something happy and positive in my life right now, and because I was pregnant everyone refused to tell me no.
Jean insisted on telling me that if she told me no, she would get a stye in her eye. Apparently, you couldn’t tell a pregnant woman no, and if you did then you would get one.
“She used you to get with your brother, got pregnant by him twice, pushed you out the way and started acting funny. Oh, yeah, we hate that bitch,” Ryai picked up a pair of sneakers, and looked at the price before putting it back.
We were working on our relationship. And I knew it would take some time. I was glad that she was open to us fixing things and came out today with me and Capri.
“It’s the fact that she came to you about it. What did she think would happen if she asked you? That you would convince me to talk to her? The only reason she cares is because she and Tasha probably fell out.” Capri shrugged, truly unbothered by Ella.
I loved that for her.
When I met her, she spoke about Ella and Tasha, and you could hear the hurt in her voice. I could tell she was upset and still triggered by them. The woman standing in front of me couldn’t be bothered about Ella.
“Yeah, well, she gave me an earful that night and I still don’t know how to feel about it. It’s weird going downstairs to get a snack after being with my husband and his baby mother is in our kitchen.”
Capri put her hands over her ears. “I don’t think I need to know what goes down after the last time I heard the two of you.”
I broke out into laughter because I had forgot all about that time. “That’s probably how your niece got here.”
Capri looked past me, and I turned to see what she was looking at. Ryai and Big Mike were laughing about something. I noticed whenever Ryai was around, Big Mike would keep an eye on her. It wasn’t like he was being creepy or anything, he looked like he was intrigued with Ryai, and wanted to get to know her.
“What’s that about?” Capri questioned.
“I think Big Mike has a crushhh,” I giggled, and continued to look at the shoes, unsure on what I wanted to buy.
“You looking at prices like you don’t have that black card with no limit in your purse.” Capri called me out.
I rolled my eyes. “Actually, I am buying this gift with my own money. I feel weird buying him gifts with his own money… I know he doesn’t care, but it feels weird to me.”
I still had a decent amount of money saved up since I never had to spend my own money. Capone took care of everything, so there was never a need to use my account. What did you get a man that had everything?
I usually got him special gifts that had meaning, but I couldn’t think of anything. With the way he had been tossing shoes in the fireplace, I figured buying him a new pair of shoes wouldn’t hurt.
Capri smiled. “This is why he fell in love with you. Which is why you can’t ever leave this family. Capone not letting you go, and neither are the rest of us.”
“Good, because this is forever. I’m trying to love your brother until we’re old and gray. I mean, he’s already there since he’s older,” I joked.
I loved calling him an old man because he was a few years older than me. The reason my other relationships never worked was because I dated my age. It was clear I needed a man with more experience and years than me.
Ryai came back over to us with a smile on her face. The smile quickly disappeared when she looked down at her phone. “Ugh.”
“Tevin, again?”
“He keeps calling and apologizing while begging me to come home. That condo was never home… he never made it feel like home.” She plopped down in one of the cushioned chairs near us.
Capri sat down beside her. “I’m sorry you went through that. Ryai, I know we don’t know each other all that well, but you deserve better than that.”
Ryai smiled. “Thanks, Capri. I was feeling left out now that Erin had you. Felt like I didn’t fit into her new life anymore.”
“Ryai, I would never do you like that.” I sat in the middle of both her and Capri and hugged her closer to me. “It’s always been us against the world and that never changes. We just have one extra person to tackle this crazy world with. I’m going to need the both of you, honestly. A husband and a new baby is a lot. I need my girls by my side to keep me sane.” I squeezed both of them into a hug.
“Love you, Erin,” Ryai smiled, nuzzling her head into my neck.
I missed my cousin and wished I knew what she was going through so I could have been there for her. Had I known she felt like I was taking her mother away, I would have fell back. I remember when she shared how she went through an abortion alone and never told us. I felt horrible knowing that she went through that and neither of us was there to hold her hand.
Jo had been the person I could depend on no matter what. She was my rock, and I realized that it was fine for her to be my rock, but I needed to share her. She had a daughter of her own that needed her too. Life didn’t just happen to me, it happened to everyone, and Ryai needed her mother just like I did.
“So, you and Big Mike?” I nudged her.
Capri leaned closer to us. “Big Mike is cute in a I’ll kill every person in here, way… I like my men a little unhinged.”
“Makes a lot of sense since your brother is damn unhinged.” I snorted.
Capri laughed. “Capone is calm compared to his twin… Cappadonna puts the un in unhinged. Anyway, you like him?”
“We just talk whenever I see him. I’m not looking for a relationship right now… I’m just ending one, remember?”
“Yeah, you’re right. I approve of Big Mike though… you know, whenever you’re ready to get back out there,” I winked.
Capri answered her phone and her body tensed. “I’m on my way… text me the hospital… okay, I’m on my way.”
She didn’t end the call, she sat with the phone in her hand. “Naheim was shot. They’re rushing him to the hospital now. Kincaid just called me.”
TWENTY-THREE
CAPRI
My heart was about to drop out of my chest with how hard it was beating. Big Mike drove us to the hospital, breaking all kind of traffic laws. I was grateful that he was here because my hands were shaking so bad that I didn’t know what to do. I had left my car at the mall and would send someone to pick it up.
When Kincaid called and told me that Naheim had got shot, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. We were going through our own shit, and the last time we were together it didn’t end well. That didn’t mean I wanted him dead. I still loved him, and I would never want anything to ever happen to him.
Kincaid was waiting for us when we arrived at the hospital. I damn near tripped falling into Kincaid’s arms. As he held me, he kissed me on top of my head and allowed me to bury my head into his chest.
“They rushed him into surgery. It’s not looking good… they did him so fucking dirty… I promise I’m gonna…niggas ain’t safe.” He couldn’t finish his sentences.
His body felt so hot as he held me. It was crazy how he could be so angry and gentle with me at the same time. “Kincaid, what’s going on?”
When I spotted Kincaid in front of the hospital, I jumped out of the car while it was still moving. Erin and Capri had finally made it to the entrance with Big Mike following behind them. Wherever you saw Erin, you knew Big Mike was somewhere trailing behind her. Capone put his best shooter on his wife.
“He was in the Ville. I don’t even know why he was over there by himself. Why the fuck he didn’t fucking call me?” Kincaid stressed.
Despite them both having beef with each other, I knew Kincaid would have come through for Naheim. Naheim was hardheaded, and he would rather be shot than have Kincaid help him.
“Did you call Capone?”
“I hit him up first, then called Capri to let her know… he said he’s on his way out here.” Kincaid continued to hold onto me.
We made our way into the hospital and sat in the waiting room. This shit felt like déjà vu. Even though it was a different hospital, the smell and the feeling still felt the same. I remember holding my breath while we waited to know what was going on with Jaiden.
Now, I sat in a hospital that was nearly the same, waiting to hear my husband’s fate. My chest hurt as I sat with my arms folded, kneeled down and shaking my leg because I was so nervous. Kincaid sat beside me in his own thoughts.
Ryai rubbed my back, and Erin sat in the chair across from me. I could tell this was probably triggering something inside of her. Her brother was just in the hospital not too long ago, and she sat waiting to hear his fate.
I looked up and saw my brother walking into the hospital with Chubs behind him. Big Mike got up and went to talk to him. After, he came over toward me and pulled me out of the chair, wrapping his arms around me.
“That nigga is strong… he’s gonna be good, ight?”
My brothers had this way of always making me feel better. The world could be crumbling around us, and they could tell me that everything would be fine, and I would believe it. I hugged him tightly, and he rubbed my back while kissing the top of my head.
“I can’t lose him, Capone,” I sobbed.
Naheim was my first love, my husband, and I couldn’t lose him. I refused to lower him into a ground or visit him in prison again. Those were the two things he promised would never happen.
“He’s not going anywhere, Pri. Naheim tough as fuck, and I know he pulling through just so he could beat Kincaid’s ass.” He looked over at Kincaid, who chuckled.
“I’ll even let him beat my ass… long as he pulls through.”
I wiped my tears and sat back down. Capone went over to Erin, and grabbed her face softly, kissing her on the lips a few times. “You alright, Gorgeous?”
“Baby, is this how it is always going to be? Always in a hospital waiting room waiting to see if somebody that we love is going to live or die? This is Brookdale, I don’t got no faith in these doctors.”
Capone pulled her up and pulled her away from us. I could see them in the distance talking and he started kissing her lips, and then she hugged him. Erin was perfect for my brother, and he was perfect for her. When she started spiraling, he was good at reeling her ass back in and keeping her calm.
We had been waiting for hours and nobody had come out to keep us updated on what was going on. Capone had left to bring Erin home. She tried to put up a fight to stay and we all forced her to go home. She was sleep, leaning against the vending machine to get comfortable.
I know she wanted to stay and be there for me, and if she wasn’t carrying my niece and needed her rest, I wouldn’t have been on my brother’s side with convincing her to go home.
Big Mike stayed behind with me, and Kincaid stayed too. He was in his own zone sitting in the chair staring into thin air. The look in his eyes told me that nothing good was going to come from what they did to Naheim.
I went to the vending machine and got something to drink. When I turned around, Kincaid was standing right there, scaring me half to death.
“When is someone going to come out? Is it bad that nobody has come out to talk to us yet?”
“Honestly, when they come out too quick it’s because they already called the time of death. If they back there this long, they must be still working on him.”
“Oh God,” I put my hand over my mouth.
Not that it just hit me, but it hit me that he was back there fighting for his life alone. Naheim told me that his biggest fear was dying alone. I always teased him that I wasn’t dying with him, and now that could be a reality. He was back there and could be dying without any familiar faces around him.
“He’s going to be alright.” Kincaid pulled me into his arms and pulled me onto his lap in the seats near the vending machines.
