Yanna and Kas continued to watch the reality show while gorging on their snacks. Once they were done, they showered together and climbed into her bed. As Kas drifted off to sleep, a thought crept to the forefront of his mind.
“Jaiyanna.”
“Hmm?”
“If I ever catch you on some hoe shit with my cousin, I promise you’ll meet a side of me you’ve never seen before.”
“Okay, Kas. I believe you.”
You better…
The remainder of Kas’ thoughts were surrounded around how he’d talk to his brother about their newfound father.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Kas’ usual carefree and playful manner had taken a temporary hiatus as he stood in front of the houses. Fear and apprehension had taken their place, growing greater as he listened to the small talk between Layla and his father. Kas had decided a sneak approach would be the best approach for getting his father and brother face to face again. It didn’t work well the first time, but Kas figured it would be okay since the initial shock was out the way. He paced back and forth, trying to ignore their rambling, straining his ears for the sound of Onyx’s SUV approaching. His brother and Troi had taken Kian to the doctor for a checkup and were expected to arrive back at any moment. The whole thing felt wrong. Catching Onyx off guard was unfair, but nothing would ever get resolved if they waited for him to be ready. Onyx would never be ready when it came to speaking with their father, so forcing his hand seemed to be the only option. Kas’ dread intensified, and his body stilled as he finally heard the sound of Onyx’s vehicle coming. He knew Onyx wouldn’t be able to spot them until he was already at the end of the driveway because of all the trees. The 60 seconds it took for him to drive in felt like a walk down the green mile to Kas, compelling him to pace. The three ofthem watched with bated breath as Onyx slowly stepped from the back of the chauffeured SUV. It seemed like even the birds chirping in the trees and the squirrels scurrying through the bushes had taken pause to see how it would all go down. Troi pulled Kian from the car, looking like she didn’t know what to do as she stepped by Onyx’s side. Onyx seemed to be stuck, angry eyes slowly traveling between his three relatives. Kas decided he should say something first, but Nouri stepped forward before he could.
“Is… is that your little boy? Can I hold?—”
“Baby, take him in the house.”
“But—”
“Go in the house, Troi!”
Startled by his tone, Troi quickly went to the entrance of their home, typing in the door code before stepping in. Slowly taking his eyes off his father, he turned them to Layla.
“What’s this?” He asked calmly.
“Why don’t we step inside my house so we can talk?”
“I ain’t going nowhere. Why is he here?”
“Nouri would like it if he could have a conversation with his boys, and I …. I think it would be a good idea as well.”
“I don’t give a damn whatNouriwould like. Am I being punk’d or something? Where the cameras at because this shit can’t be real.”
Kas could tell by the tightening of Onyx’s fists and the stern manner in which his eyes were fixated that his temper was about to explode.
“Onyx, the least you can do is hear him out.”
“The least I can do?” And there it was. Kas knew everything was about to go left. “Mumma, I can’t believe you. You told this nigga to come here for what?! Like, have I not taken care of my family well enough?! Huh? The fuck we need him here for?”
“Hold on now, Onyx. Calm your damn voice talking to me like you done lost your fucking mind. I?—”
“What? You fucking with this nigga or something? Because that’s the only reason I can think of for you to be acting so damn delusional. Ain’t no way this the woman that raised me standing right here.”
“Nyx, come on, chill talking to mumma like that, nigga. We brought him here to hear him out. Maybe?—”
“We?” Onyx turned his angry gaze to his brother, stepping into his personal space. “You… you were a part of this shit? You of all people, Kasra? Hear him out? Nigga, who was there for you when you were little, huh? Who helped yo ass through tough times growing up? Cooked yo meals while mumma was working, helped with homework, taught you how to ball when you wanted to try out for the team? Huh, nigga? Who sat on the edge of their bed giving you the fucking birds and the bees conversation when you were thirteen?ME! Not this nigga that you all of a sudden feel we need to hear out.Iwas yo father! Meanwhile, this nigga was off raising his daughter like he didn’t have two sons who needed him. Like we won’t shit!”
Onyx’s chest was heaving up and down, and the features so twisted he was damn near unrecognizable. Kas’ heart broke witnessing his brother’s heartbreak. The pain was ten times worse because he’d had a part in inflicting it. His brother would never do anything to cause him strife, but he hadn’t paid him the same courtesy. Suddenly, he felt like a traitor. Like a modern day Benedict Arnold and he wished he could take it all back.
“We don’t need him no more, so what the fuck the nigga here for now?! Huh, mumma?” He turned back to Layla. “Or we grown now, he don’t have to worry about the responsibility, so I guess this is as fine a time as any. You want to let the nigga make you fucking stupid for him again? He can just come in and out whenever he chooses because you gone let him, right mumma?”
Layla gasped, hurt inscribed all over her face. Kas respected Onyx more than any other person in the world, but he would fight him over Layla. He was about to square up with his brother for the disrespect, but Nouri placed a shielding arm between Layla and Onyx.
“Wait a minute, now I get that you’re a grown man. You’re pissed at me and all that. But I’m not gone stand right here and let you talk to your mother like that.”
