“You know you can’t keep them under twenty-four-hour surveillance.”
She sensed and smelled Heavy long before his voice penetrated her ear drums, sending jolts of electricity to her clit. He leaned against the tree trunk, looping an arm around her waist and pinning her close.
“I can try.” She laughed. “They scared me half to death today.”
“I know, but they were safe. Everyone around here loves them and would never let any harm come their way.”
“I know.” She rested her head against his chest and placed an arm over his wrapped around her. “For a second there, it just took me to a dark place. I try not to go there, but sometimes I can’t help but think about my mama and daddy.” Her words left Heavy rigid, and Giselle sensed it as she spun out of his embrace to face him. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s something else about the information I found on Alonzo. I wasn’t sure if I should tell you or not.”
“Tell me what?” Fear flickered behind her gaze while she held a breath.
“If I tell you, I want you to know that it doesn’t matter now. You’re here, you’re safe, and so are our kids.”
“Just tell me, Huey.”
“The paper trail for the hit on your parents led back to Alonzo,” he confessed.
Giselle stiffened but rocked slightly on her feet and placed a hand against her chest. She’d married that man. Slept with him. Gave him control of her finances. He was there when she gave birth and became the closest thing to a father figure the twins had in the beginning.
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head.
“Not only that, but you weren’t supposed to make it out of there either. The contract was for all three of you,” Heavy continued.
Sick to her stomach, Giselle covered her mouth with her hand and doubled over beside the tree. The food she’d eaten earlier came spilling out of her until she felt empty inside. Alonzo. This couldn’t be true. All this time. So many choices and mistakes were made. Not just because of him, but because she was stupid enough to ignore the red flags. He was too nice, too generous, too damn persistent.What was she thinking? How could she have subjected her children let alone herself to that monster?Now, every time he kissed her or was inside ofher replayed in her head, and she found herself on the ground weeping on her knees.
“Hey. Come here.” Heavy sat and pulled her to him.
“How did I let this happen?” she wept, inhaling his cologne.
“He took advantage of you.”
“I let him,” she moaned before bawling her eyes out again.
“It’s okay. He won’t ever get the chance to hurt you or anybody else ever again. I promise.”
Giselle had no way of knowing that Heavy had first-hand knowledge of this. As of this morning he got the official receipt from his transaction with Vo. Alonzo’s ring finger was sent with the gold wedding band from the day he married Giselle on it. It arrived in a small yellow business envelope with a simpleyou’re welcome, scribbled on a small card. He took the ring as a keepsake but tossed his finger into the fireplace. Giselle accepted his comfort, posted on the grass between his legs, in his strong arms, listening to the laughter from their children playing nearby. Heavy eventually sparked a blunt, and she was more than willing to smoke her problems away.
“The hell y’all over here doing?” Viggo gripped a cold Heineken and a newly sparked blunt.
Strutting over to them soaking wet, he’d given up his slot at the dunk tank after a couple of teenagers and Petal got off on him. He swore he still had water in his ears when he stomped off, leaving Henna and Prischa laughing so hard they were gasping for air.
“Minding our business, fool! The fuck you want?” Heavy sneered.
“Yo mama here. She over there arguing with Toussaint about some domino game back in the ’90s.” Viggo joined them on the grass.
“They ain’t ever letting that shit go.” Heavy chuckled and shook his head.
The wind picked up around them, joined by the faint smell of rain as Giselle settled comfortably in his embrace. It reminded her of the night they first met, bringing a soft smile to her lips. His arms fell around her, keeping her close while watching their children play.
“There y’all are!” Maisie sang with Crew coming up behind her. “The news is talking about some severe storm rolling through. Mama said to come pack everything up. We’re taking most of the stuff back to her place, and we’re going to house hop the rest of the day. Everyone is going to leave their doors open. Crew and I are going to turn our spot into the club, and Tawni’s grandson offered to DJ. I already got Lou and Gem coming to gather all the kids. They are going to set up shop in Ma’s basement.”
“I guess I better go help before she sends a search party.” Giselle turned on her knees to face Heavy, kissing him slowly.
“You sure you good?” He remained on the ground, watching her stand.
“Yeah. Thank you for telling me, even though I know you didn’t want to. I can’t let that hang over me when I have so much to be grateful for.”
