Page 41 of Rhodes to Love

“When Karima first told us she was pregnant and how it happened, I wanted to find you and break your fucking neck. That’s my baby. She don’t know it, but the reason she hasn’t heard a peep out of Jared is because I went and had a nice talk with him.”

I nodded, knowing the last thing he did was talk when he went and found Jared. While I didn’t think he killed him, I was pretty sure he put the fear of God in him. On first sight, I would never think this man was capable of fucking anybody up. However, Karima told me things she probably shouldn’t have. She overheard her parents talking about how he fed somebody to their hogs. That alone made me take him seriously whenever he wanted to talk.

“Karima didn’t tell us what had happened until a week before you showed up. She wanted to wait until she was calm and accepting of what had happened. She knows how we can get. Had she exhibited signs of hurt… even the slightest hurt, it wouldn’t have been good for you, especially the day you showed up at the diner. That was bold as hell.”

I slid my hand down my face and glanced at the stairs again. I was dying to get to my baby, but Mr. Henderson was determined to make me sit here for as long as it took to get out what he needed to say. I wanted to get up and walk off, but I didn’t want to be disrespectful, even though he was at my house.

“I can respect your determination to make things right with her. When y’all were in high school, I could tell how much you loved her. I thought you were a thug and so did she. I knew that I wouldn’t have to intervene, because I felt like you weren’t her type. I watched y’all, though, and I could tell she cared for you. Still… I didn’t say a word, because I never witnessed anything inappropriate. That was what first earned you my respect. The way you respected her, despite your wants, made it easy to trust you.”

He nodded repeatedly. “That was why it was a little easier to eventually overlook what you did to her. She was accepting of it and forgave you, so I decided to honor that. Now, seeing how you care for her… how you love her, makes me comfortable with my decision. Despite how the two of you got to this point, I’m willing to let the past be the past. Because of the way you take care of her, I want to welcome you to the family. She told me you have extensive knowledge in animal science and could help us. I need you at the family meeting next week. I’ll talk to my family and smooth things over tomorrow.”

I took a deep breath. “Yes, sir.”

I refused to tell this man no. He was putting his neck on the line for me. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for him, except leave Karima. I thought that was what this talk was going to be about. While I was hesitant about meeting up with the rest of the family, I knew if he prepared them for my presence, it probably wouldn’t be as bad.

“I can see your hesitancy. Storm is like that with everybody. Don’t let him get to you. He’s the tall one they’ve been calling mayor. Marcus isn’t as bad as he looks either.”

“Is he really the mayor?”

He slowly shook his head. “Yeah, and Marcus is his assistant. Nome is being ran by a man on a short fuse and a former thug.”

He chuckled, so I did too. When he stood, I did the same and extended my hand. He grabbed it and pulled me in for a one-armed hug. I smiled and said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, son. Tell my daughter to call me later.”

“Yes, sir.”

He called me son. If that wasn’t acceptance, I didn’t know what was. The minute he left, I took those stairs with the quickness. Karima had gone up there to take a nap when Watchful Eyes got here with Ryan and Shawn. They were here for at least an hour or two, discussing Trouble’s entire operation. Ryan was extremely knowledgeable about him and my pops. To say he’d been away from the life for so long, niggas in Cali still respected the fuck out of him.

When I got to my bedroom, she was still asleep. I stood in the doorway and just watched her. Despite everything that was going on, she looked so peaceful. That was what I wanted for her. I didn’t want her to have a care in the world. Her only care would be taking care of our baby and fulfilling her dreams by becoming a licensed family counselor and forming her all-female, black rodeo team. I would support her with everything in me.

As I watched her, imagining what our future would look like, her phone rang. I hated that her sleep was interrupted. She quickly sat up in the bed and answered it without even noticing I was standing here. “Hello?” she answered groggily.

I watched her eyebrows lift slightly, then tears streamed down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and said, “Okay… I’ll make my way up there in a little bit. Did they find out if the guys were connected to the Andersons or not…? Mama, I hate this… It’s no one’s fault. I’ll have to call him… Is he at the hospital…? Okay. I’ll talk to him when I get there. I love you… Bye.”

I made my way to her and sat in the bed as she cried. Grabbing her hand, I caressed it between mine until she was able to speak. “They had to put my grandfather back in ICU. His lung collapsed. They don’t know if he’s going to make it or not.”

“I’m so sorry, baby,” I said as I pulled her in my arms. I gently rubbed her stomach, wishing she wasn’t under all this stress. “God is in control, right?”

“Right,” she said and broke down crying. When she stopped sobbing, she looked up at me with tearful eyes and asked, “What if God is ready for him? What if it’s his time?”

“Then you will get through it just like you did when your grandmother passed away. I know it hurts, but God will see you through, baby. He always does.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly.

“Are you about to get dressed now?”

“Can you make love to me first? I need my spirit to be calm. You have that effect on me.”

“You don’t have to ask for that, baby.”

I pulled my shirt over my head and stood to pull off my wind pants and drawers. Her eyes never left mine. The sadness in them had me submitting to her in servitude. I pulled her nightshirt over her head then slid in bed with her. She wasn’t wearing undergarments. She hadn’t worn panties or a bra to bed since she’d been here. I had a feeling that she only wore them during the day because her people were here.

She opened her legs for me, and I eased my dick inside. I could tell by her mannerisms that she didn’t need foreplay. She just needed me inside of her to ease her pain. She once told me that it was nearly impossible to feel any other emotion other than pleasure when we were making love. I agreed totally. Since she confessed her love for me, it had been that way for me too. I emerged myself totally in our love. There were no walls in sight. This woman had access to my soul.

She closed her eyes briefly then opened them to stare into mine. I lowered my lips to hers as I stroked her slowly, kissing her depths with passion. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around me then began rolling her hips into me. I was so damn sensitive right now, and I knew it was because of the state she was in. She was the only woman that could pull this out of me. Lowering my face to hers, I kissed her slowly, letting her feel my love in every stroke of my tongue.

When I pulled away from her, I said, “I love you, Karima… with my soul, baby.”

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