Page 80 of Next Level
“Shut the fuck up,” I say through clenched teeth, getting everyone’s attention.
“Ma, this…” I point to Cherry, “is my woman. Like my property, if you fuck with her, you fuck with me. You. Will. Be. Gone.”
Ma’s face drops in shock. I’ve let her pull her shit with Tamara and other women, but I didn’t care about her or them. This is different.
“If you EVER fucking do this again. It won’t end well for you,” I seethe.
“Son.” I lift my hand to silence her.
“Get the fuck out of my face. Take this bitch home. Never, and I mean NEVER, bring her here again.” I can see Tamara is in complete shock as is everyone else.
I just claimed Cherry as mine. The only faces smiling are Sam, Cherry, and Tink. Everyone else is stunned.
There’s a crowd around us now. I turn to Tamara. “If I ever see you again, run the other way. You’re dead to me now. Do you hear me?” Tamara starts to cry.
Tink starts laughing. “Fuck yeah, about time.”
Lip walks Tamara and Ma back to Ma’s car.
Tink snorts. “Bye, Turkey tits!”
I spin around, grab my girls, and hug them both.
“Pops, I tried to stop it. Once I saw Gma’s face, I knew something was up,” Sam explains.
“Samantha, I can take care of myself. Thank you for warning me, though,” Cherry says to her, grabbing her face and looking her in the eyes.
Tink and Zip walk over.
“You good?” I ask Tink, who’s smiling ear to ear.
“Fuck yeah! I’ve been wanting to do that for a very, very long time.”
“Thank you, Tink, but I could have handled myself if she came at me.”
Tink winks at Cherry. “She was playing dirty, waiting for you to look at Ray. She was going to catch you off guard. Plus, she and I have been meaning to have that little fight for a while. I couldn’t let you have all the fun,” Tink teases.
Lazy walks up behind her, putting her into a bear hug and lifting her up. “Turkey tits! I fucking love it!”
She giggles. “You told me to get some new words.”
We all crack up.
We can always depend on Lazy to lighten the mood with a smart-ass remark.
“Um, Pops, did you just make Cherry your ol’ lady?” Sam asks happily.
I smile down at my girls. “Seems I did. That is, if she wants to be.”
Cherry beams up at me. “Always.”
I release my Sammie girl, then embrace my Blossom and kiss my ol’ lady. I never thought that would be the case, but damn, she got me.
THE BOY JARED
“Mr. Amato?” Officer Wilkerson says through the speaker.
“Wilkerson, call me Ray. Otherwise, I feel like I should be looking around for my old man.” I chuckle.
