Page 131 of Just Like Summer

Kamilla sniffled. “Yeah him. All for money, jealousy, and hate. The crazy thing is had she been good to me, I would’ve given her anything she asked for. So instead of being decent, you snatch my kid. I’ll never get over that.”

“This still ain’t on you, baby. It started with me and it ended with me. I am so fuckin’ sorry I did this to you,” Cairo muttered, prompting her to wipe his face. “I love y’all more than you can understand. I’ll kill every nigga that thinks he can touch my family for some fuckin’ money. For some fuckin’ street fame. I’m not having it. I’m not playing about you, him, or this one.”

Cairo put his hand on her midsection, buried his face in her hair and inhaled.

Kamilla melted under his touch. “I haven’t confirmed it. Didn’t want to get excited until I did.”

“Consider confirmed because I did it on purpose this time.”

She dryly laughed. “And last time?”

“Might’ve been on purpose by accident,” he shared, gripping her hair and kissing her cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you. You handled it?”

He grunted. “What’s my name?”

“C4,” Kamilla muttered.

“And what have I done to muhfuckas for less,” Cairo answered.

“You handled it.”

He nodded his face against hers. “So imagine how dark I’ll go when someone traumatizes my woman and my child. It’s forever handled. All of them, you understand me?”

“Understood. What can I do? Can I feed you? Rub your back?” Kamilla asked.

“You can get in the bed and let your body relax. I saw what you did to her. And I see how slow you’re moving. I’ll bring something to eat upstairs. It goes without saying you’re home for the next couple of days. And when you leave, Kwan will be with you.”

“I thought you said it was handled?”

“Safer than sorry, baby. I was forced to live without you once. No one can take y’all from me again,” Cairo stated, kissing her cheek. “You’re my moon. I need my moon.”

“I need you too.”

fifty-four

He watched his heartbeats outside of his body. They soundly slept holding on to one another. For Kai, his grip of Kamilla’s shirt was nothing new, but hers was a product of guilt. He didn’t know how he could fix that, but he knew all he needed to do was provide safety and security until this storm passed.

Cairo watched them for hours until restlessness took over him. He eased out of the room and ambled down the stairs. Fredo was sitting in the dimly-lit living room. From Cairo’s vantage point, he could tell that the house was full of their family. Even Haddon and Charlie had opted to stay to make sure there wouldn’t be any bullshit that could pop off. Today taught Cairo two things – the Azul ran deeper than just street shit. They were all family and would be until the casket dropped. The other – that his lady was his covering. She came in with love and a gang of people who would step for her and everything she was attached to.

Cairo took a seat next to Fredo, who poured him a drink and slid the glass over. “‘Preciate it.”

Fredo nodded, not saying anything immediately until he refreshed his glass. “I don’t want the shit we committed to stealing her light. That’s the second time something we could have controlled forced her into darkness. Twice while pregnant.”

“She told you?”

Fredo swayed his head. “You just did. And anyone can look at her and tell there’s another Hendrix on the way. I love it. Watching you grow your family – our family. Our legacy. KP is shining down. I know. But we got to tighten this shit up. You understand me?” Fredo posed.

“Overstand you. What happened today will never fuckin’ happen again,” Cairo assured.

“And when I say tighten it up, she won’t survive with herself intact if you leave her again. So be smart, nigga. Be here to raise your kids, to love your woman. Don’t be like me living with regrets and trying to make up time on the backend,” Fredo continued.

“I hate I even have to ask you for this when everything is so heavy,” Cairo started, taking a sip from the glass and putting it back on the table. “Yeah, I’m good on that shit.”

Fredo watched him push the drink away and chuckled.

“Hell nah,” Cairo grumbled, screwing his face. “Anyway, straight up and down, I want to marry her. I’m not trying to wait another five years or another baby born without making her honest. Feel me? KP asked me to do one thing before he took his last breath, and I will do that every day until I die. And he’s not here to give me the official nod, but you are. I’d very much love to marry your granddaughter.”