“Daddy, I think you should leave.”
“Let’s go,” Uncle Trayvon said as he gripped him by the forearm. Daddy yanked away from him. He’s nothing like the man I used to know. Sure, I was young at the time, but I don’t remember him being like this, or he was and was just good at hiding it from me.
“You really want me to leave? When you invited me here, I thought you wasn’t mad anymore.”
I invited him way before Maniac told me that he was still bothering them. “Yes, I think you should go,” I told him. Today was supposed to be a peaceful celebration, not chaos.
Tossing his hands up into the air, he backed away. “Remember, you chose them over me,” he said and spun on his heels. Once he was out of sight, everyone lowered their weapons.
“Are you okay?” Aria asked me.
Tears blurred my vision. I ran off. All of this was too much. Deep down, I know that they gon’ end up killing him, and I’m not sure how to feel about it.
Maniac
It's been over ten minutes, and Wren has yet to come back. I tried to give her the space that she needs to process the bullshit with her daddy, but I needed to go and make sure that she was all right.
I tread toward the house and entered, heading for the downstairs bathroom first to see if that’s where she disappeared to. Her emotions were all over the place, especially with her being pregnant.
Stopping in front of the door, I tapped on it with my knuckle. “Go away, Maniac,” she said from the other side.
“I ain’t going nowhere ’til I know that you’re okay. You can either open this bitch, or I’ll kick it in. Your choice.”
After I stood there for a few seconds, the door pulled open, but she didn’t step out the bathroom, so I took it upon myself to enter with her and shut the door. Tears streamed her cheeks.
“Why is he like that?” she asked and backed up toward the toilet. The seat was down so she sat on it.
“I don’t know. Don’t let him upset you. Big John is a grown ass man, and he knows exactly what the fuck he’s doing. I just need you to know that I’m gon’ get him. It ain’t shit that’s gon’ stop me from putting a bullet in his fucking skull.”
“I know…” Wren erupted into tears. I went over and kneeled in front of her and pulled her into my embrace.
Once she was done crying, we left out the bathroom and went to find the rest of the family. Wren’s eyes were a bit red, but she went back out there with a smile on her face to mask the pain. I hated that I was about to cause her even more pain, but putting Big John down was the best option at this point. The nigga ain’t want her with me in the first place, and he wasn’t gon’ stop ’til he got what he wants: our downfall.
After the gender reveal was over, everyone started to leave. Wren helped clean up in the kitchen while I walked Trayvon out to the car. He opened the door for Nyomi and waited ’til she was securely inside before shutting the door behind her.
“I wanted to talk to you alone. I’m going after Big John. That nigga gotta pay for his bullshit. I just want to know if you with me or are you with him.”
Trayvon’s jaw muscles clenched. Big John didn’t only betray us, he betrayed him as well. He left his responsibility of raising his children on him for no reason at all. Big John was full of shit. Everyone got this far without him, and everyone would be just fine once he’s wiped from this earth.
“Big John knows the rules to the game. I’m with you,” Trayvon replied and dapped me up.
“Just making sure.” It didn’t matter if he didn’t want his brother dead or not, I was going after his ass once and for all.
When we made it back to the house, Wren looked exhausted as hell. I opened the passenger door and picked her up into my arms and then carried her into the house up to the bedroom. I set her on the bench at the foot of the bed and then went into thebathroom and turned on the shower. As the water got hot, I went back into the bedroom and kneeled in front of her. Wren gazed into space as I slipped her shoes from her feet.
Pulling her foot to my lips, I kissed the sole, and she looked at me. “Stop worrying. Everything is gon’ work out for the better.”
She forced a smile. I stood to my feet and pulled her up by the hands. Unzipping her dress, I pushed it to the floor and took her by the hand, leading her into the bathroom.
“I’m sorry for having to be a monster,” I told her as I pushed her panties to the floor and unclasped her bra.
She stepped over into the shower while I stripped out of my clothes. I got in behind her and shut the glass door.
Steam filled the shower, the hot water cascading from multiple rain heads, turning the glass enclosure into a misty sanctuary. Wren stood under the spray, her shoulders slumped, dark hair plastered to her back as rivulets traced down her naked skin. From her facial expression, the incident with Big John still gnawed at her. Tears mixed with water on her cheeks.
I stepped behind her, my arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her wet body against my chest. No words at first, just the steady press of my warmth, my lips brushing her temple.
“I got you,” I murmured, voice soft but firm, turning her to face me. My hands cupped her face, thumbs wiping away the streaks, then trailed down her neck, over her collarbones, mapping her curves with gentle intent. Wren’s breath caught, her eyes meeting mine—full of quiet reassurance. I kissed her slowly, tongue slipping past her lips to coax her open, tasting the salt of her lingering tears. She melted into it, hands massaging the back of my head.
