Page 25 of Dom
Then, before anybody could say more, Ma squinted at me and Carmen. “And what’s going on between y’all?” she asked. “You two been making eyes at each other all day like some teenagers.”
I didn’t say nothing, so Carmen did first. “He’s… working on it,” she said with a half-smile. “We got bigger things to handle first though.”
O'Shynn looked at me playfully. “About time your ass slowed down for somebody.”
I simply nodded my head. “She ain’t tryna get kidnapped again.”
In this moment, as the family gathered, we felt stronger than ever, even in the middle of war. I looked around and knew we had a legacy to protect now even harder especially when babies are involved. Real blood was on the line, and I’d be damned if anybody touched what belonged to the Royals. The cookout was still going, but the music had calmed down and the folks who were still around had started settling into that post-plate, post-Henny haze shit. Chicken bones sat in foil trays, dominoes clacked on beat-up card tables, and cigars and weed smoke filled the air while some shit talking going on. The hood was out heavy for Ma Delores's birthday, and you could feel the love through the yard. That Royal blood ran deep through this block and deep through our people.
I leaned back in a lawn chair, watching Carmen laugh with one of my cousins over spades. Her crop top and shorts huggedher curves just right, and the Cartier frames on her face covered her eyes. She made peace look good. O’Shynn was off by the grill, arguing with our uncle about who burned the last pan of ribs earlier, while Dique stood with his carryout plate piled high, holding court like he always do. Everybody had their red cups in their hand and the speakers were softly bumping Frankie which was tradition. I was patiently waiting on Ma’s surprise to show up and a few minutes later it did. A white flatbed truck pulled up slowly into the driveway, and everybody turned their heads. On the back was a brand-new pearl white Benz GLE truck wrapped in a gold bow with a big ass banner tag that read:For the Queen of the Royals – Happy Birthday Mama D.The whole yard lost it.
“Maaaaaaan, y’all showin’ out now!” Aunt Nita screamed, fanning herself with a paper plate.
Ma’s hand flew over her chest. “Oh my God! Y’all didn’t!” she yelled as the tears welled up in her eyes.
O’Shynn, Dique and I stepped up together arm-in-arm smiling like some big ass kids. Ma damn near cried when she walked up to the car and opened the door, revealing the red interior guts with the nameCandy-Dstitched into the seats.
Pops came around the back with his glass of dark liquor and a smirk on his face. “Y’all done good,” he said, in a proud tone. “Real good… I ain’t gon’ lie, y’all make a man proud. All my damn kids came up.”
That meant everything. I ain’t even the emotional type of dude but hearing that from him… felt like something I didn’t even know I needed. The night mellowed out after that. After a while, the kids were tired of running around and were sitting down drinking Capri Suns trying to fight their sleep and the grown folks started getting wild off the Crown Royal. Just as I stepped away to light up a blunt and sip my third glass of tequila, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
I looked at the screen and saw Victoria calling while debating on if I wanted to ignore it or answer it.“Yeah,” I said, keeping my voice.
“Hi Dom… I wasn’t bothering you, was I?” Her voice was soft and cautious. “I just… I was online looking up a few courses. Psychology, maybe nursing. I just figured I’d ask when I could start doing something. I don’t want to keep sitting in the house like a hostage.”
I sighed, staring off at the sky. “You not a hostage, Victoria. But let’s not act like it ain’t people out there ready to paint the streets with yo’ blood and put it on a fuckin’ canvas just cause of who you’re related to. You wanna move? You gon’ move under shadow, that’s it. You wanna work? I’ll allow that… but understand, one slip-up and it's you’ life.”
She was quiet for a minute. Then she whispered, “Thank you… I just need to feel normal again.”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see it. “Get yo’ shit in order. I’ll make sure you got what you need, but you gon’ earn it.”
I hung up and stepped around to the side of the house, away from the crowd. My jaw tightened as I pulled up El Blanca’s number. I knew I was poking the bear. …but fuck it. He answered on the third ring.
“What the fuck do you want?”
“That was a bold ass move,” I said, in a calm voice. “Goin’ ghost on yo’ niece like that. You got her out here in limbo… no money… no direction. What’s the play?”
“You and your fucking questions. She isn’t mine anymore. She’s yours now since she thinks she has it all figured out. She’s dead to me.”
A smirk crept across my lips. “Say less.”
El Blanca started barking more threats, but I pulled the phone from my ear and stared at the stars with the devil in myeyes, letting his rage fill the void. He ended the call, and I stood there for a moment, as the humid breeze swirled around me until I calmed myself down.
The sun barely cracked through my curtains, but I was already up, ass naked, and gliding across my bedroom floor like I was the only girl in the world. I’d left the balcony doors cracked just enough for the Miami breeze to blow in lightly wisping through my hair. The scent of chicken souse filled the air from the kitchen, with that rich and citrusy scent, making the whole condo smell like a restaurant.
"Alexa, play‘Come Over’by Aaliyah," I yelled. My voice was still a little raspy because I’d just woken up.
As the beat dropped, her smooth voice filled the condo as well. I hopped in the shower and was out in ten minutes. I grabbed my favorite sweet almond and rose body oil started massaging it into every curve of my body. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and smiled. I knew the camera was somewhere, but Dom had it hidden real good. That first time, I was low key pissed about it... but now I could care less. I grabbed the remote and pointed it to adjust the lights and the glow hitjust right. I sat on the edge of the bed, spread my thighs and then slipped my hand between them real slow wondering if he was watching. If he was watching, I wanted him to suffer knowing it was nothing he could do about it right now. Yes, I moaned as I played with my pussy, but my moans weren’t for the camera, they were just for him. I took my time massaging my swollen clit making it look real sexy, while a little messy at the same time until my legs began to quake like a striper on the damn pole.
The phone rang and I had a feeling it was Dom. “Yeah, I’m watchin’,” he said, in a dominant tone. “Don’t clean that shit up. Put yo’ fingers in yo’ mouth and taste what’s mine.”
I did what he said, moving real slow and teasing him as my eyes locked on the black dot in the corner of the ceiling. “Good girl,” he said, in a possessive voice. “That’s how I like you.”
When I caught my breath, I slid my robe on and laid across the bed, with my chest heaving and my skin glistening. “I miss you,” I whispered.
“I know,” he said. “I miss you too. But listen, I need you to do somethin’.” He informed.Here we go,I thought to myself as he continued talking. “I need you to get Victoria moved into another condo. It don’t have to be nothing fancy. Just a regular spot, something in the Royals’ name so it’s tight on paper and we don’t have no issues. I’m done havin’ her up in my shit,” he said. “I’m not used to it.”
I rolled over on my side, staring out the window, being sarcastic. “Oh? What happened? The little cartel princess ain’t fitting in with the King’s lifestyle no more?”
