“Try me. Be here by four. Don’t be late.”
She hung up before I could respond.
I sat there for a moment, staring at the ceiling. The last thing I wanted was to be around family right now. But Grandma Rita… I’d been avoiding her for months. Couldn’t face the disappointment in her eyes when she looked at me. Couldn’t handle her knowing what I’d become. I felt like I wasn’t living up to my full potential or something. Yeah, I had money but there was something missing.
But Serenity was right. I’d been gone too long.
I got up, showered, and headed back to the city.
Grandma Rita’shouse was exactly as I remembered it. A massive estate in one of DC’s most exclusive neighborhoods. The grandiose home had a gated entrance, manicured grounds, and enough space that you could go days without seeing another person if you wanted to. She’d bought it decades ago with the money from helping build Banks Reserve from the ground up. My father’s business partner in everything but name, even if he’d never given her the credit she deserved.
The circular driveway was already packed with cars—Justice’s Range Rover, Quest’s Maybach, Serenity’s Tesla. I pulled up in my Bentley and killed the engine.
I could hear the noise before I even opened the door. Laughter. Music. The sound of family.
I stepped inside and was immediately hit with the smell of home cooking. My stomach growled.
The foyer alone was bigger than most people’s apartments—marble floors, a chandelier that probably cost more than a house, a grand staircase leading to the second floor.
“Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up.”
Justice was standing in the hallway, his daughters Storie and Dream sitting next to him, flipping through a family photo album. Storie was twelve now, and becoming a beautiful young lady. And Dream was only three. I hated that I missed so much time with them, but I was gonna make up for it.
“Uncle Prime!” she squealed, reaching for me.
I took her from Justice, letting her wrap her little arms around my neck. “Hey, princess. You been good? How’s school?”
“School is good. You know I’m getting straight ‘A’s. I’m trying to convince Daddy to let me go to a co-ed school next year,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Nah, you need to stay at that all-girls Catholic school and away from them nappy-headed boys.” She rolled her eyes and I kissed her forehead.
“Come, here baby girl,” I called out to Dream, whom I scooped up in my arms.
“Hi, Uncle Prime,” she hugged me close.
I looked at Justice. “What’s good, bro?”
“You tell me. Ain’t seen you since your birthday party.”
“I been working.” I cut my eyes at him.
“Right. Working.” Justice didn’t believe me, but he didn’t push it. “Come on. Everyone’s in the back.”
I followed him through the house, Dream still clinging to me. The dining room was set up like a feast—the long mahogany table covered with dish after dish of soul food. Oxtails swimming in gravy, mac and cheese with the perfect golden crust on top, collard greens, candied yams, cornbread, fried chicken, potato salad. Everything that made Grandma Rita’s cooking legendary.
Quest was already fixing himself a plate, while his two girlfriends, Kiki and Tione, argued about something beside him. They were both beautiful, both headstrong, and both absolutely exhausting to be around.
Serenity was sitting at the table with her husband Julius. Her best friend Ivy was there too, laughing at something Julius said. Ivy was just as much a part of this family as everyone else. She and Serenity had been best friends since they were three.
Neither my brothers nor I liked Julius, though. We always felt like he was using our sister to advance his career. Mama loved Serenity and would do anything she asked. We all knew that she was her favorite child. And if Julius needed funding, apermit approved, or a connection, all he had to do was ask my sister to ask Vivica.
And then there was Grandma Rita. Sitting at the head of the table in her favorite chair, a plate of food in front of her, her cloudy eyes staring in my general direction.
“Prime’s here!” Storie announced loudly.
Everyone turned.
“Ayy, there he is!” Quest called out, grinning. “The prodigal son returns!”
