“I’ma be a problem if you don’t lower your voice in this bitch,” Loyal said calmly, flicking the tip of his nose in annoyance while clasping both hands in front of his body. He covered Ellie with his stature. The message was clear. Cairo would have to go through Loyal to get to her. Ellie didn’t know if Loyal was making things better or worse, but she couldn’t deny that she felt protected.
“I’m fine,” Ellie whispered to Loyal as she grabbed his elbow.
“I know you’re finebecause nobody’s calling the play but you tonight,” Loyal said as he burned a hole through Cairo.
“I promise, I’m fine, Loyal.” Ellie wished that were true, but she couldn’t hide how hurt she was. Her voice shook, and Loyal saw her eyes prickling with raw emotion. Truth was, she was grateful for Loyal’s presence. It gave her the courage to stand up to Cairo. It was something she hadn’t done since he had abandoned her.
“You will not treat our daughter like she’s less than. We adopted her together, Cai! We chose her! You cannot take Brooklyn and leave Tessa behind. She’s not trash! You can’t just throw her away!”
“Enough of the dramatics, Ellie. You wanted that baby,” Cairo said.
“You asked me for another baby, Cai!” Ellie hissed in exasperation.
“And you couldn’t give me one! You had to go and find some substitute because you couldn’t do your fucking job! I wanted you to have my child. I wanted my blood to flow through their veins. Not some mutt you brought in off the streets from some junkie.”
The slap that came next echoed through the building, and Ellie swung with so much might that she busted the inside of his lip. He lunged for her, but Loyal met Cairo with a discreet burner to his midsection, pulling Cairo in by the back of the neck.
“I don’t want to leave you leaking out here in front of your daughters, my nigga, but that’sgon’be they last memory if you take another step,” Loyal whispered.
“Daddy!” Tessa’s voice broke through the entire building as she entered the room and spotted Cairo.
“Alright, alright,” Cairo mumbled, lifting his hands, conceding as he took a slow step back. Loyal holstered his gun and stepped back so that Ellie’s daughters could greet their father.
“Dad!” Brooklyn joined the excitement and rushed to hug him.
“Please,” Ellie pleaded through gritted teeth. Ellie couldn’t believe Cairo would play so dirty. She didn’t expect much from him regarding her, but to purposefully hurt a child, their child, was a new low for him. It was a cruelty she didn’t even know he was capable of.
“Are we going with Daddy?” Tessa asked.
“Ma?” Brooklyn asked, frowning as she finally picked up on the awkward energy in the room.“Daddy, we’re coming with you, right?”
Ellie held her breath as she waited for Cairo to make his next move, but before he could, Loyal spoke.“There’s been a change of plans. You guysaren’t going tonight. I surprised your mom with floor seats foreveryone to the Pistons game tonight. So, your dad is going to have to come back for you in the morning. Ain’t that right, my guy?”
Cairo looked down at Tessa and then over to Brooklyn, and he nodded.
“Yeah, I’m going to let you go to the game with your mom tonight. I’llcall, and we’lltry again tomorrow,” Cairo stated.“Let’s go,” he said to his girlfriend.
“Come on, baby,” Ellie said, pulling Tessa away from Cairo.“Let’s find your uncle and say bye so we can head to the game. Brook, take Tessa and go tell Uncle Cass bye.”
“But, Ma, I was going to walk Dad out,” Brooklyn protested.
“Brooklyn, do what I said,” Ellie said sternly.
“Thisisn’tfair, though! We always get to see you! We never get to see Daddy!” Brooklyn protested.
Ellie felt like she couldn’t win. She was fighting Cairo and now Brooklyn.
“Brooklyn! Just listen sometimes! Take your sister and find Uncle Cass, now!” Ellie shouted. Her tone was harsh, but it had nothing to do with Brooklyn. It was hatred and frustration boiled over from Cairo. She was a mother trying to shield her cubs, and Brooklyn’s protests were making it harder.
Brooklyn sucked her teeth and stormed by Ellie.“I hate you,” Brooklyn mumbled. Ellie closed her eyes, and tears fell down her cheeks.
“Don’t do this here,” Loyal said, stepping in front of her so she could hide her face in his chest. Loyal nodded to one of his men in the room.“Clear everybody out. Party’s over.”
“I’llbe back for Brooklyn tomorrow,” Cairo said.“It’llbe easier for everybody if Tess wasn’t there.”
“You’re a fucking coward, Cairo, and I’m disgusted that I ever married you,” Ellie shouted after him.
“Look at me,” Loyal commanded. Ellie lifted teary eyes to his.“That niggaain’t worth your energy.” He cupped her face and cleared her tears with his thumbs.
