Page 14 of A Kingpin's Weakness
“I’m always coming home to you and S3.”
She’s always worried. Ever since I got in the game, that fear never left her. I couldn’t blame her, not when she already lost her first love to these streets. Now she had to watch her son walk the same path.
“Your daddy used to say the same thing,” she whispered.
That one hit different. Seth Sr. promised her he’d always come back home. Somebody made sure he didn’t. Took that promise and buried it with him. I still hadn’t caught the motherfucker who did it, but when I did, I was sending him straight to my pops.
I’d learned a lot out here. My father taught me the foundation, but the streets sharpened the rest. I kept my circle tight. Trusted few. Nobody knew my every move. I switched my routine up so much, even I barely kept track. There was a time I didn’t care what happened to me. That was before Imani had S3. Now I refuse to leave my son without me in his world.
“I miss him too, Ma,” I said quietly.
“He’d be so proud of the man you’ve become.”
“You proud?”
“Seth, I couldn’t be prouder. You’re an amazing son. An incredible father.”
“Thanks, Mama.”
“I wouldn’t mind you settling down, though. Maybe more grandbabies running around here.”
“Here you go,” I laughed, standing up from the kitchen island. “Yeah, it’s time to go.”
I placed my bowl in the sink and rinsed my hands off.
“Thank you for everything, Seth,” she said, her voice soft. “I know it wasn’t easy. I hate that our world got turned upsidedown that you had to become a man before your childhood even had a chance.”
“I’m always gonna make sure we straight. You can relax now; your baby boy got you, Serena,” I said, laughing, calling her by her name on purpose.
A tear slipped down her cheek. I wiped it away quick.
“You sound just like him when you call me Serena. Don’t do it again, though,” she said, wrapping her arms around my waist.
My mother stood just 5’5; she had light skin and had her natural hair pulled back into a ponytail. She had the warmest smile and the most welcoming eyes you’d ever see. Everyone said I looked nothing like her.
I was my father’s twin in every way. We had the same height, same skin tone, same smile, eyes, voice, even the walk.
And I was determined to finish what he started and protect what he left behind.
CHAPTER 5
Stormi
I leftthe hospital about an hour ago. Noah still hadn’t woken up. The doctors said there was brain activity, which was a good sign, but it didn’t make things feel any lighter or didn’t exactly ease the knot in my stomach.
I didn’t really want to go to Sunday dinner at Ms. Serena’s house, but skipping out felt wrong. She’d been nothing but kind checking in every day, sending me encouraging texts, always asking how I was holding up. The least I could do was show face.
“Bring me a plate from dinner,” RJ said through the phone while I got dressed.
I kept it simple black jeans, a cropped sweater that hung off one shoulder. My curls were full and bouncy today, so I hit them with a little extra moisture spray before heading out.
“Make some time to meet Ari while you’re in town,” he added, talking about his girlfriend. They’d been together six months now. We’d been planning a trip to meet, but since I was here, we might as well make it happen.
“She gonna be at the hospital tomorrow?”
“Yeah, but I’d rather do something outside of work. More chill, you know?”
“Oh, so I can be the third wheel?”
