“Chill Ma damn. Ain’t shit going on. Bentley been kicking it with his people up here so I been handling what he can’t. Give her here,” I said dropping my phone beside me and reaching for her.
“It better not be. If I find out you doing me wrong, I’m showing you something.Perro negra(Black bitch).” She walked away not caring to even give me a second glance.
As soon as she was out of sight, I stood and walked Amada over to her playpen. I made sure her favorite toys were inside and placed her in it. Angel wanted to coddle her and spoil her ass, but I couldn’t do that right now. I had shit to do. Amada crawled to her toys and started playing without a fuss. Her mama wanted me off my phone and was using her as a distraction.
I ain’t want her nowhere in Sage Springs and the Atkins felt the same way ‘bout me. However, it wasn’t shit they could say at the moment. All they had was my word, so they had no choice but to deal with me. I hit Yonnis’s phone just to get on his nerves, and he answered with irritation. I had to laugh at his annoyance with me.
Exhaled a deep sigh,“Yeah.”
Smirking, I leaned back and said, “Mr. Taylor, I need the info for the game tonight. What time should I be on the compound?”
“I’ll have to check with Royce and see if a ticket is prepared for you. Pretty sure you’re not welcomed around the family though. As a matter of fact, sit this one out. You owe mebloodwork and plenty documents. Stay safe before Royce or Genesis put you somewhere early,” he threatened.
“Pretty sure Aunt Iris wants me there. I just called to see how quick you would dismiss me. You ain’t shit but a do boy. Running and jumping for another nigga is wild by the way,” I threw back hanging up.
I tossed the phone on the table and started packing up the rest of Amada’s things. Her and Angel’s flight was two hours before the game. I had more than enough time to get them out the way and back to my regular scheduled program.
By the time I was finished, Angel was back in my face asking more questions. It was like she took a shower just to give herself time to think of more irrelevant shit. Amada had dosed off in her playpen moments before Angel resurfaced so one screaming female was out the way.
“It’s been weeks… correction, years since you’ve worked for Bentley. Why is it I haven’t seen him once? You’re here because of him and he hasn’t made his way here in the two weeks we’ve been here to see his goddaughter once.”
“He got shit to handle Ma. The nigga got dealings with people we can’t even sit in the same room as. All I know is, he wanted me here, so I came. Why you so goddamn doubtful ‘bout the shit?” I countered.
“Oh, so you only jump for that nigga, huh? Maybe, I need to go fuck him too so I can see my man some damn time. And since when did you get so many fuckin’ tattoos? You’ve changed your entire look since you’ve been here. Your locs are gone, you look like a fuckin’ graffiti wall, and your beard is shorter as well. What the hell is really going on? You cheating on me, aren’t you? Who’s the bitch Damarius?”
My face was chopped and screwed as I looked at her with confusion. She was pulling this shit out her ass and getting herself upset. It was quite fascinating how women developedthese scenarios in their heads and instantly believed that was the case. Women were the real mentally disturbed creatures.
I shook my head while laughing to keep my composure. Angel was feisty and required a lot of reassurance. Without that, she was gon’ constantly be on yo’ ass with some sideways bullshit. There wasn’t another woman that had my attention, but it was shit going on that deserved my undivided attention at the moment.
“You trippin’,” I stated still wearing a half smile.
She pushed me in the chest as hard as she could. I stumbled back a couple feet making her feel like she was doing something. “No, you’re the one that’s tripping. Why such the drastic change Damarius?”
I might’ve favored Bentley, but everything about me screamed ghetto. It was something ‘bout lil’ bro that just came off as boss ass nigga. I wanted that same power and status so of course I made the necessary changes to fit the part. Bentley would’ve never been caught with locs or in anything less than a few racks. The switch up had to occur.
Coming to Sage Springs, I needed a bag which was why I hit Zone Four before taking off. Playing the part meant having a bag. I ain’t tell Angel ‘bout nothing so she was wondering like everybody else where the hell my bread came from. Every dollar I came across was under her name, except my current currency. She couldn’t see what a nigga was spending so she was skeptical.
Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pulled her into me. If I didn’t send her home on a good note, I wasn’t ever gon’ hear the end of it and she damn sho was gon’ make things hard for me here. The quicker I got her ass gone, the quicker I could get back to my objective.
“I need you to chill for me Ma. A nigga ain’t doing shit and you know it. You mad cause a nigga ain’t been home and dropped dick in you. I fixed that several times over so why younaggin’ right now? What? I ain’t beat that shit up enough?” I inquired kissing her on her neck.
“You treating me like I’m some hoe. I have your daughter and will be respected,” she snapped.
“And a nigga know that. Look, I ain’t fucked no bitch or even looked their way since I been here. Stop with all that assuming shit. I’m locked in, so I need you to be too,” I spoke softly. Both of us hootin’ and hollerin’ wasn’t going to suffice.
All she could do was stare a nigga down. That Latina in her wanted to be mad at something. I been a faithful man to Angel. She could put that shit on me all she wanted; it would never be true. I witnessed how fast a nigga switched up on a bitch, I wasn’t taking after my father in that department.
“Respect me and your daughter, Damarius,” she repeated.
“I will and have been. Finish packing so you won’t miss the flight. I got a meeting with Bentley in a couple hours. He got something new getting ready to hit the city, so I need to be there and on time,” I lied.
Rolling her eyes, she gave me one last shove out her face before walking off. I couldn’t hold you; I was glad she was getting the hell up out of here. She was on a nigga nerves real bad. At this moment in life, the normality was loving them from a distance. She was gon’ ruin my entire operation wanting to be up under me.
I spent time with my daughter while Angel got the rest of their shit together. By the time she was done, they was left with an hour and a half to get on their flight. Being in the downtown area, Native Airpark was approximately twenty minutes away. We had more than enough time to get them there.
She remained quiet the entire drive there, and I had no complaints. There were more important things to deal with other than my family. Angel needed to let me work in peace and not be so goddamn insecure. Once this money rolled in, she’d beset for life. She managed our funds good for the past year so I could trust her to do the same with Bentley’s inheritance.
Pulling into the airport parking deck, I quickly found a spot and stepped out to help my family inside. Angel was an aggravation, but I loved her and Amada. I could give her the respect she deserved anytime. I wasn’t gon’ just send her and my daughter to fend for themselves. I was gon’ see them off properly by walking them to TSA.
