Page 41 of Can I?

I puckered my lips and kissed him, noticing my dad display a slight smile. That was a good sign. If my daddy wasn’t feeling defensive or protectively possessive, then I knew I was free to be exactly who I was, even in their presence. Loving Ferris was eminent.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

FERRIS

“Ferris wheel, why you here? You should be laying down somewhere, chilling out.”

I gave Milana’s uncle a slight smile, and he did the same then extended his hand. His twin twisters were right behind him with slight smiles on their faces. “Well, I couldn’t miss a Henderson turnup. Y’all niggas rowdy out here, so I figured the party gotta be just as rowdy.”

He chuckled. “We rowdy at times, but only when provoked. People don’t know their fucking place around here. They don’t know how to respect greatness.”

“You muhfucking right, nigga.”

Mr. Storm looked at Uncle Jasper as he stood next to him and frowned. “Nigga, get yo’ high ass on.” He pushed him then said, “Jasper, you got some mo’?”

I laughed so hard. They were a trip. Uncle Jasper shoved him back and said, “I always got some mo’. Not necessarily for your ass though.” He turned to me and said, “What’s up, nephew? You smoke?”

“What’s up, Unc? I do occasionally, but that might change if I’m gon’ be this close to the plug.”

He laughed then slapped my hand. “Hell yeah. Family smoke sessions are every Friday. They used to be at my house, but now they at my Smoke and Chill spot. Only family is welcomed on those nights. Hell, we may have to chill with that shit for a while though,” he said as he followed Ali with his eyes.

Mr. Semien had tried to tell me who everyone was. There was no way I would remember everybody, but I was sure to remember the niggas that were watching out for us while we were together. As Ali walked over to Mr. WJ, the men all joined them. My baby set a plate in front of me as she stared at them. Something was up . . . per usual around this bitch.

Milana sat next to me to eat her food when Ali went to the mic. “Congratulations Ashanni, Maui, Royal, SS, and King. Y’all are poised to play a significant role in the family business. If you’re wondering how I know your names, it’s my job to know everybody. I know all of your names.”

He gave a wide smile, and it looked like all the women were in a trance staring at his Puerto Rican looking ass.

“A’ight, nigga. What’chu want so these women can fucking function?” Mr. Storm said, causing Ali to chuckle.

Another man I wasn’t familiar with walked in and joined him on the platform. “What’s up, everybody? I told y’all it was gon’ be some shit if I had to come back. Well, after the shit that happened at the diner yesterday, we are about to go to war. We’ve been researching the entire family to figure out who was passing out orders and false information. We about to have the police confused as fuck, not knowing where to turn next.”

“Like Ryan said, shit about to get dangerous. If y’all can get out of Nome for a lil bit, we need y’all to do that,” Ali said. “If you a bad muthafucka, like Mayor Henderson, you can stay.”

Mr. Storm smirked then went to his wife and held her close. This shit was getting crazy if they were asking them to leave their homes and businesses.

“I’m staying. I wish I would run like a bitch,” Mr. Marcus said as he stood from his seat. Most of the men agreed with him. “I’ll get my wife and kids out of here, but they got me fucked up if they think I ain’t gon’ be here to protect our legacy and what’s mine. Fuck outta here.”

I grabbed Milana’s hand, and she turned to me, a worried expression on her face. “You know you can stay with me, baby.”

She nodded and turned back to Ali. Her cousin’s boyfriend stood and said, “My house in Cheek has six bedrooms. Y’all are more than welcomed to stay there with my baby.” He glanced down at her as she squeezed his hand tightly. She looked like she was about to either throw up or go into labor. “You good, baby?” he asked her.

Everyone surrounded her. I could imagine the stress of everything had sent her into labor. When he picked her up and ran outside with her, I figured that was what was up. Milana turned to me and said, “Can we go? I mean, I’ll take you home, then go to the hospital. I need to be there with her. She’s like my big sister.”

“I know, baby. Let’s wait to see if Ali has anything more to say,” I said, noticing he was back at the mic.

“I know y’all are running to be with Karima, but if y’all can be out of here by Monday morning, that would be good.”

“Monday night gon’ be a massacre fucking around with me. I’m finna be ji crazy, reckless, and unhinged, because this shit is on my last nerve,” Ryan said.

I didn’t know where the hell he was from, but it had to be East Coast somewhere. I took ji to mean very or extremely. Gripping the table, I stood from my seat. “Lana, I have two extra bedrooms if any of your cousins want to stay with us.”

She turned to me and placed her hand on my cheek. “Thanks, baby. This is the second time we’ve had to get out of here. I’m so sick of this shit. I don’t understand why these people can’t justleave us the fuck alone. I don’t want to lose any of my cousins to this bullshit. I’m so tired of it.”

“I can imagine, baby.”

“Milana, please stay with Ferris.”

“Mama, what about you?” she said, pulling away from me.

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