She grabbed my arm and ushered me into the kitchen. The menu she mentioned in the foyer was spread across the island.It damned sure looked good as hell. A nigga mouth was lowkey watering.
“Have a seat and I’ll fix you something,” she said letting me go.
I took a seat at the table in the corner with the rest of them niggas following suit. Genesis was starting to bruise up on his left side. Enzo put a hurting on him. I applauded him for standing his ground and throwing them hoes. Enzo wasn’t nothing slight. We shared the same build with him having a wider shoulder span. Genesis lucked up.
Senior sat directly across from me extending the bottle of Louie XIII in my direction. I picked it up, flipped over the glass in front of me, and poured me up something slight. I passed it back, and he sent it Royce’s way with him pouring up as well. Once everybody glass was full, the conversation started.
“Sage Springs was unclaimed territory. I made a name for the Atkins by starting an organization called The Oath. Rhema, Ryan, and I, placed every person at that table together and vowed to never go against it. It was us against the world for a long time. Baby sis was born a shooter and would shoot first ask questions never every single time,” Senior said smiling.
I see I took another trait from you Ma. I’m gon’ always put a nigga down where I see fit.
“One day, this nigga nobody ever seen before comes out the woodwork selling the same product but different strand. I ain’t pay it no mind until I noticed the money started slowing up. Rhema figured out who it was and gave me the details. Bentayga’s life was back in Florida. He was just up this way testing the waters. When I say his life, I meant bitch and child. Rhema knew it too. The streets start talking ‘bout his plan to get close to my sister and take over from there. I warned her time after time not to fall for shit that nigga had to say. When it came to the opps, she was the first to spot them. However, when itcame to that nigga, she was under a fuckin’ spell. When she told me she was gon’ marry that nigga, I had to do something. Thing was, Ryan ran his mouth and warned her ‘bout what was coming to that nigga. He fled and took Rhema with him.”
Smart man. I’m taking mine wherever the hell I go. Heidi might as well get prepared for this kind of life.
Senior continued with, “I caught him slipping a few months later. I tried my best to find my sister, but she was nowhere to be found. I gave up only to get the news a few months after that, that she passed. I never knew she was pregnant. I would’ve come for you if I did. You’re the only thing left of her. I would’ve loved you like my own and gave you the world,” he expressed with streaming tears.
“I got the world from Aunt Daisy. She did what none of y’all couldn’t, including love and care for my mama. Apparently, Rose knew what was going on and asked Daisy to step up. She did without this… family,” I said motioning to them on the other side of the table.
“Look, we ain’t know nothing ‘bout you cuz. I don’t know what this nigga be on, but I care ‘bout my blood. And I want my people close, so I need you to make some adjustments and get to the Springs,” Royce stated.
I stared him down before releasing a small chuckle. Sitting up, I calmly voiced, “You must think I give a fuck ‘bout thisfamilyfor real? See, my spoon is silver too. I lied, that bitch is pure gold. You may have a say so when it comes to everybody else ‘round here, but I’m a grown ass man that don’t need a nigga for shit. You run lil’ ass Sage Springs… I run the entire state of Florida. We are not the same. Now, I mean this as no disrespect in no shape, form, or fashion… I don’t give a fuck ‘bout being family. It won’t make or break me. Am I willing to build a bond with y’all? Absolutely. However, I’m extending no branches, and I fa damn sho ain’t making the first move in nothing. That goesfor now and future links. Once again, this family shit don’t make or break me.”
I spoke my peace leaving the room completely silent. I ain’t never been a nigga scared to say shit. If I felt it, then I spoke on it. Wasn’t nobody gon’ do me nothing no way, so I spared no one.
When it came to living my life, I tolerated none of that outside bullshit and that included bullshit from family. I didn’t know them and vice versa. Being close to family was understood, but that wasn’t me. There were three folks on my list I was going the extra mile for, and they weren’t sitting at this table.
The looks that were exchanged between the four of us was crazy. Senior looked as if he was defeated, Royce supported an expression that said he was counting himself down, and Genesis… well, he was still trying to figure me out. I expected this in return. My personality was blunt and to the point. This was the Bentley Atkins they’d been waiting on.
Clearing her throat, Iris placed a plate of food down in front of her husband then myself with Royce and Genesis following. No one said a word, and I was quite shocked. Royce had a lot to say when he met me in prison and even while we were down at Yonnis’s place. He had something to say though, I could see it all over his face.
“Well shit. If there was any doubt ‘bout this boy being an Atkins, there you have it. He acts and talks just like you two,” Iris stated.
“You took the words right out my mouth,” Genesis added.
“So, when it comes to family, I love every single one of you. I won’t overstep, but I do want to grow that bond like you mentioned. Rhema was my ace-boon-koon. God, we cut a fool in these streets when we were younger. She really was a ball of fire. If it’s not too much, can I ask how she passed? How was she as a mom?” Iris questioned.
She was the first to ask how my mama passed, even Senior who was her big brother hadn’t inquired about her death. He was starting to prove Daisy right. When it came to Rhema and Bentayga, I was gon’ protect their image through and through. I’d heard all my life how much they loved each other. Wasn’t shit ‘bout to taint them as a couple or individual.
“Yeah, she died during childbirth. My aunt, Daisy took care of me until I turned the tables. My Pops set me up to live a good life, so I did. I flipped his life insurance policy ten times over once I hit eighteen and became a billionaire by the age of twenty-one. I got in the field and made a name for myself. I didn’t learn ‘bout my mama’s inheritance until sometime damn near two years ago when Yonnis wrote me. My mama had nothing but good stories behind her in Florida,” I answered.
“Laws of the street caused me to gun for Bentayga, but the love for my sister caused me to take him off the map. It was business but he turned it personal. I hate that the last time I saw my sister was on some bullshit of her telling me she hated me. I had to live with that for thirty years,” Senior inserted his explanation.
“Look, she left because this nigga forced her out,” Royce said pointing to Senior and rolling his eyes. “I ain’t forcing you to move here cuz, but I’m definitely asking. I thrive better knowing my family is close. It’s been me, Cedees, Striker, and Heidi for thirty something odd years. Gen came in two years ago, and now we got you. All we were missing was a piece of my aunt. I ain’t trying to lose that,” Royce reasoned.
I respected him for giving his lil’ speech, but I wasn’t budging. Sage Springs was his playground, not mine. He could be the man he needed to without any hiccups from me. I ran a strict program, and I wasn’t trying to figure out how he ran his.
Throwing my hands up, I said, “I’m down with the family bonding shit, I really am. But a nigga ain’t moving to SageSprings and that’s final. I got too much money flowing through Florida that I refuse to walk away from. Plus, Aunt Daisy is my priority and she ain’t fuckin’ with y’all, especially you Unc. She loved Rose and she thinks you mistreated her sister. She ain’t going and neither am I. By all means, feel free to stop by at any time, but please… call first,” I jested but I was somewhat dead ass serious.
“Damn, I fuck with you. I thought I was a blunt ass nigga but you, yeah, you got me beat cuz. When I first met Enzo, I knew that nigga was fraud. I just couldn’t put my finger on that shit. He ain’t move or talk like no boss. I called that shit instantly,” Genesis commented.
Laughing, I fished for the ringing cell in my pocket. Seeing that it was Kong, I answered placing it on speaker. “Run it,” I said.
“The numbers in for the quarter, Zone Two making a lot of noise giving Four a run for they money, the Key West new shipment was a success, and last but not least, Catalina on her way to the states.”
“Damn, like that?” Genesis questioned.
I chuckled and replied to Kong with, “That’s cool. Give me twenty-four, and I’ll be back to handle shit. I’m having a family discussion right now.”
