Page 53 of A Capo’s Love: Featuring A Don’s Love

“We only get one, and when they’re gone… it’s no rewinding time. Just memories.”

His words felt like ice water being poured over my room temperature body.

“The memories you have with Ms. Hillary aren’t all bad. Through and through, she loves you,” he continued.

“She called you?” I asked, swallowing down the painful lump of new emotions that arose.

“She calls me every three days… She’s worried… says you haven’t been to see her in two months.” Luca said, sounding disappointed.

“I’m gonna go visit her… I just stay away to keep from killing⁠—”

“He left. If you’d call and check on her more often, you’d know.”

The line went silent; I knew his hot and cold ass had hung up without having to look down at the phone. I tossed my phone in the passenger seat, started my car, and pulled up to the front of my house.

I missed my mom but hated the man she dedicated her life too. The hardest thing for me to do was hold back when I could have killed that nigga soon as my balls dropped but didn’t for the sake of her. I held no resentment toward her. I wasn’t the man that grew up blaming everybody else for my problems even though some people were responsible for a lot of shit when it came to me.

I let it go because it helped me breathe easier and at least capture a little bit of peaceful sleep.

CHAPTER 14

Amaris

A GOOD BREAK FROM SPIKE’S LOUNGE.

“When are you coming the fuck back?” Keisha’s high-pitched voice through the speaker phone broke me out of the daydream that I easily fell into.

I took a small sip of the Don Julio that I mixed with lemonade from Royal’s bar and smirked.

“Probably never. I love it here,” I said playfully, giggling.

“Oh bitch, please! Yo mean ass probably ain’t even let the nigga smell the pussy… you’ll be back home at Maniac’s soon. Shit, I need you back there to slap some sense into the nigga.” Keisha laughed, and I rolled my eyes hard at that.

I gave Royal the pussy to sniff, and he won’t inhale it… I thought before responding.

“Aht aht! I don’t get in the middle of you and my dad’s bullshit” I chuckled because Keisha always tried it with me. I made it clear to her so many times that I’d be a listening ear but never would I step into their shit.

I sat my half glass of drink down on the nightstand and laid back, looking up at the ceiling. What I loved the most about Royal’s house was how regular and comfy it was. It wasn’t overly luxurious. He had nice furniture, and it was spacious but not the kind of spacious house a man like him would usually have.

Royal lived in a five-bedroom flat. He had a large backyard and a huge master suite that I snuck inside of a couple times just to inhale the masculine scent of him. A guest room that looked like it was used for kids since it had a bunk bed and gaming equipment inside. The guestroom that I stayed in was formal, nothing extra about it. I could tell nobody frequented here at all.

The entire place smelled faintly like weed, cologne, and teakwood candles that men swear they didn’t like but secretly loved. I liked that I didn’t have to walk too far, getting lost in long hallways like my father’s mansion. Everything was close by and accessible in Royal’s house.

My phone beeped, indicating another caller was on the other line. I saw my father’s name and immediately hit ignore like he’d done plenty of times. Most of those times, I was worried sick about him and his safety. Royal kidnapping me was really the reality check that me and him both needed.

I lazily twirled one of my locs that desperately needed retwisting and another color treatment done and sighed.

“Did you hear me?” Keisha asked.

“No,” I admitted.

“I said your daddy officially pissed me off!” She snapped.

I snorted softly, wasn’t shit new about that.

“What he do now.”

“He dropped off money to the lounge like he was paying me child support. Had the nerve to bring that bitch Oriana with him and left.” She simpered into the phone.