“Bring your car around. I need to take care of something. Where’s Pri?”
“Grabbing Pierre. I was about to take them home,” Viggo answered.
“You trying to squash this shit with us?” Heavy tried him.
“What you need me to do?”
“Bring the car around and take a ride with me,” Heavy instructed.
“Aight.” Viggo nodded, and Heavy took the butt of his gun and knocked Alonzo on the back of his head.
His knees buckled, and he fell over, crumbling at Giselle’s feet.
“Here, take the car. Drop Pierre and Prischa at her spot, then head home.” Heavy went into his pocket for his keys.
“What are you going to do?”
“Giselle.” His tone was firm.
“Huey, I’m worried. I don’t want this coming back on you.”
“Don’t worry then. I know what I’m doing, and ain’t shit coming back on me because I’m not the only enemy this nigga got.” He tucked his pistol behind his back.
“Just drop Pri and ’nem off and get our babies home. Text me when you get there. I love you.”
She froze. The words fell so naturally off his lips as he stepped over Alonzo. Resting a hand on her hip, he drew her in for a kiss. Tires screeched when Viggo whipped his Audi behind Heavy’s truck. Popping the trunk, he put it in park and came to help scoop Alonzo off the ground and inside. Once he was secure, he slammed it closed and faced his cousin.
“Now what?”
“You drive. I’ll tell you where to go. Giselle is taking Prischa and Pierre home.”
“Aight.” Viggo nodded in agreement, then he and Heavy got into the car and pulled off.
Giselle silently prayed as the back exit door swung open, and Prischa stepped out with Pierre in her arms. The boy was big, so it was obvious she was struggling as she peered around the lot for Viggo. She spotted Giselle instead and saw that she seemed a bit flustered. Her natural creamy buttermilk skin was all flushed, making her red.
“Was Viggo here?”
“Yeah. He had to leave with Heavy to take care of something. I guess I’m your ride home,” Giselle responded sheepishly.
Prischa looked her up and down.
“I can move Heir’s car seat over so you can put him in the back.”
It took about five minutes to get them all situated, but Giselle finally started the car and backed out of her space. Viggo shot a quick text to Prischa, letting her know he was sorry but would explain things when he saw her. Sighing, she set her phone in her lap and stared out her window as Giselle maneuvered them through traffic to her house.
“I don’t know whose bright idea it was to throw this party and have the block party the next day.” Giselle laughed a little trying to lighten the tension in the air.
Prischa had no words for her.
She had no interest in playing nice with Giselle after everything. Facts were facts though. All the people they cared about moved in the same circles. There would be no avoiding each other when it came to holidays, birthdays, activities for the kids. Unfortunately they were bound by the bonds that had formed within the two families over the years.
“Look, I ain’t with all the fake shit.” Giselle stopped at a red light and glanced her way. “I put on enough appearances in my life for that, and I’m not trying to do that here.”
“So don’t,” Prischa muttered.
“Fine. I’m not going to kiss your ass to be cool either. I know you mean a lot to Heavy and his family, and so does your son. Y’all are family, but… we’re his family now too.”
“For now.” Prischa examined her nails for a moment, and the light turned green.
