Bloaw!
“Faster nigga!”Chase yelled with half of his body hanging out the window.
I closed my eyes, trembling and gasping for breath. The gunfire seemed endless, then suddenly it stopped. I felt Chase’s hand on my arm, but I pulled away now out of my shock. “Come on, Coffee, it’s over,” he said calmly as he slowly helped me back in the seat.
When I looked at him, he understood that whatever he did to upset them couldn’t be undone. “We need to leave New York as soon as possible. Those were the Italians, and that shit was a message. I can't have you or the kids here.”
Tears streamed down my face. “Chase what the fuck!”
He shook his head. “I know, and I’m sorry. Let’s finish out the day, and I promise I’ll make this shit right. I’m sorry, Coffee.”
I feared Chase might send the kids and me away, stay in the city, and before I knew it, he would be gone. I couldn’t handle that. I couldn’t handle it because Chase and I were going to have a fucking baby. He lifted my chin, and I saw the fear of what I thought in his eyes.
“Chase, I’m pregnant,” I blurted out.
He sat there staring at me as if he didn’t know what to say. The first time was unexpected; I wasn’t ready, but he was. Now I was telling him I was ready and that our family was growing, and he couldn’t say a word. He ran his hand over his face. “Coffee, are you sure?”
“I am. I’m two months. I wanted to surprise you and make everything pretty and shit, but this,” I pointed around the car. “I can’t have. I cannot lose you to this, so if we need to leave tomorrow, so be it. I’m having this baby, and I want my husband there. So, promise we’re leaving.”
He bit his bottom lip to stop it from trembling. His eyes grew glossy, then he smiled. “We’re having a baby,” he mumbled.
His eyes never wavered. I knew he was waiting for me to say I didn’t want the baby. “You sure you want to have a nigga’s seed? Last time—”
I reached out and stroked his face. “That was last time, this is now. Baby Carter is coming. Now, promise me.”
A tear fell from his eye. “A nigga promises,” he whispered. “I swear, I promise,” he said as he pulled me in and kissed my forehead.
I had accepted, back in California, what Chase’s hustle was, and I respected it, but he also needed to understand that he had a family and that we needed him more than the streets did.
CHASE
We had driven for another hour before pulling up to the cabin. Coffee had fallen asleep, leaving me time to think about everything the rest of the way. I was full of so many emotions. From the Italians trying to kill us, to her wanting to adopt the kids, to leaving New York, and us having a baby.
I felt all mushy and shit after she told me we were expecting. I knew how she felt about having a miscarriage. I understood she felt like her body couldn’t handle it, but she was strong, and if she needed a nigga by her side during the process, I was going to be there for her. I knew part of Coffee wanted me to leave the game, but I couldn’t because I had built this empire from the ground up. Gucci and I had been through so much over the years that the grind, the tough times, and even the scariest moments were worth it. Still, I wanted to learn to separate business from family because the goal was to keep them safe, especially with Coffee being pregnant.
I leaned over and kissed Coffee’s forehead. “Wake up, baby,” I whispered.
Coffee groaned before opening her eyes. She glanced around, then smiled broadly. “What the hell! Is that mine?” she squealed.
“The best for the best.”
She hurried out of the truck, running through the snow toward her candy red Benz. She tugged at the bow, squealing like a little kid. I saw the cabin door open as Gucci, Gunz, and Sky stepped onto the deck. I got out of the vehicle and headed toward Coffee. “Finally! My brotha from another mother.”
I nodded Gucci’s way. “Sup, crybaby ass nigga.”
Coffee turned to me and jumped into my arms. “I fucking love you. You got me a car.”
“I mean shit, I had it planned before I realized the people of New York don’t be driving like that, but I guess since we’re leaving, you can move around and shit.” I winked.
She tightened her grip around my neck as I carried her up the steps. “Nigga, get a fucking room,” Gucci joked.
That’s when the laughter and giggles erupted from Kira and CJ as they rushed out the door. I crouched down, wrapping my arms around both of them in a hug. I nearly cried, holding my son close. “I love you, man.”
“Daddy!” CJ called out.
My eyes widened as I shot a look at Coffee. The little nigga started talking, but he hadn't yet said 'daddy,' and what better Christmas gift than to hear those words? The kids rushed inside the house as my driver brought the gifts up on the porch. The girls went inside, leaving me, Gucci, and Gunz outside. “Italians tried to off a nigga. They didn’t come through as they said, so I turned them down. I guess they weren’t happy about that shit,” I told them.
Gunz scratched his head. “Shit, what’s the move? We smoking their ass or what?”
