Chapter 19

19

K arrington

After the Punishment

After I dropped a few of Cocaine’s body parts off to Caesar, I went home to my wife. I showered and climbed into bed, and she immediately hugged me. A part of me hoped she didn’t ask me any questions, because I didn’t want her feeling guilt over what I’d done to her ex. A part of me, maybe my ego, also didn’t want her sad because he was dead.

“Is he…”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, surprising me.

Tilting her head, I assured her, “I will always protect you. There will never be a man on this Earth that you should fear as long as I’m here. And even when I’m not, my people will protect you.”

Eyela nodded before connecting her lips with mine. It didn’t take long before she was drifting off to sleep. As I held her, her quiet, soft snores were like music to my ears. There was a time the thought of being married to her or any other woman other than Luna Ray hardened my heart. Now, it was filled with so much care and love for my wife.

I’d set this whole world on fire behind her and not give it a second thought. That was a scary thought knowing there was a woman who inadvertently had that kind of power over me… but I liked it. I liked loving her and wanting to fiercely protect her and that love. I’d need to tell her that soon, but for now, I hoped my actions showed it.

The Next Morning

Instead of getting out of the car immediately, I called Ma. She’d been adjusting well back in her hometown of Chicago. The change in environment didn’t stop her from grieving Pops but being with her family made it easier for her. I could respect that, and I was glad I didn’t try to guilt her into staying here for me. Work had been a huge distraction as ironic as that sounded, and then there was Eyela—my Eyela.

The healing in her fingers…

“Hey, Son,” Ma said as soon as she accepted the call.

“Hey, Ma. How are you?”

“I’m making it. Getting ready to go look at some apartments with your cousin Stacy. She graduated this summer and is finally ready to be a big girl.” Her chuckle made me smile. “How are you?”

“I’m okay. I’m good actually. I want to come see you soon.”

“You can come any time. I don’t have any plans. Are you sure you’re okay?”

I sighed and licked the corner of my mouth. “Yeah. Just… been thinking a lot lately. Me and Eyela are… I love her.”

The line was silent before she squealed. “That makes me happy, baby. I’ve been praying incessantly that you would give her a chance. That you’d soften toward her. Does she feel the same?”

“I don’t know. I know she cares about me. We haven’t said those words to each other yet.”

“Why the hell not?” I chuckled and ran my hand over the back of my head. This was exactly why I’d called her.

“I’on know, Ma. It feels weird loving someone else after so long. Then for it to be a woman I didn’t want to be with because I’m so against arranged marriages. It just feels like I’m going against my principles.”

“I can see that.” She paused. “Let me ask you this: Is it really your principles that you’re going against or the vision you had for your life with another woman? It was like you were bound and determined to be a brooding old man because you couldn’t be with Lulu. How do you really feel now that you’ve fallen in love with someone else?”

“I feel like a phony. How am I going to be happy with my wife and still demolish arranged marriages?”

“That’s what it is. You can adjust your principles, Son. And you can also change the structure of the marriages. Maybe put some kind of process in place that can ensure those who are matched together will be a good fit for each other. You know everyone doesn’t receive a happily ever after.”

She paused and sniffled, and I knew exactly where her mind had taken her. Pops sister… Her marriage ended in death because she was put with the wrong man. Uncle Pete had children all over Memphis that we didn’t know about because he wasn’t faithful and didn’t care about hiding it. Uncle Johnny tried to do right by his wife, but she was with him because of who he was in the mafia. Who knew what would happen between them when I put him on the council.

“Ma, I’m not trying to trigger you—”

“It’s alright, baby.” She released a shaky breath. “I do think you’re right to have a grievance when it comes to arranged marriages, but I don’t think you should do away with them altogether. If you could find a way to restructure them, I think that would be better. And I also think that would give you more peace with accepting how happy you are with your wife.”

She was right.

We continued to talk for a few minutes more before my cousin arrived to pick her up.

I thanked her for listening, and we made plans for me to visit her soon.

After disconnecting the call, I headed toward my father’s grave. Though I tried to visit him at least once a week, I hated being near his body knowing his spirit wasn’t with it. Before I could replace the flowers and get comfortable, I received a call from Caesar.

“Hello?” I answered.

“I know you’re busy, but can you make time to stop by the restaurant this evening? You caught me so off guard with the delivery last night that I wasn’t able to process it and thank you properly.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Ceez. Eyela is my wife. You gave her to me. I’m going to protect her no matter what.”

“And I appreciate that, but the man in me has to give you something.”

“I can respect that. What time do you want me to come?”

“How’s six thirty?”

“I’ll make it work.”

“Great. See you then.”

6:30 PM

As soon as I stepped inside of Caesar’s restaurant, all eyes were on me. He was old school and didn’t bother trying to hide the fact that his restaurant was a front. He was never open to the public, only using the space for meetings with his people. With a chuckle, I headed in his direction as he stood. His arms were opened wide, and I accepted the embrace. We didn’t bother trying to fake the funk and establish a father and son bond, but I did wonder if spending time with him would be reminiscent of being with my own father. The only person who gave me a slight feeling of that connection was Uncle Johnny.

“Thank you for coming, son. You hungry?”

“I could eat,” I replied as I sat at the round, brown table.

Caesar’s fingers snapped, and a woman immediately scurried over with a menu. As I looked it over, conversations finally started back up. Caesar’s barbecue joint had good food, and it was a shame he wasn’t open to the public. I was going to take full advantage, though, and get a slab of the ribs that fell right off the motherfucking bone.

“What’s this about, Caesar?” I asked, sliding the menu forward on the table.

“I wanted to feed you first, but I’m sure you’re a busy man, so I’ll get to it.” He gestured with his hand, and three men walked over to the table. While one set a black briefcase on the table, the other opened a case that was filled with drawers of jewelry. The third man handed me a portfolio, and as I flipped through it, each page had a different luxury car on it. “There’s two million in this briefcase. I want you to pick whatever pieces of jewelry you want, and three cars.”

My brows wrinkled as I looked up at him. With a shake of my head, I set the portfolio down. “Caesar, I know it would be considered disrespect for me to decline, but I—”

“I’m glad you know that, so you won’t do it.” His grin spread. “Let me thank you. You also will have a favor with my organization. If at any point you need anything, never hesitate to call me. And on the off chance Donovan’s father finds out you’re responsible for his son’s death and decides to start a war because of it, I’ll fight beside you.”

Sighing, I picked the portfolio back up. I didn’t want to get on his bad side and not accept the gifts, so I picked the cars and some necklaces and earrings to give to Eyela and Ma. Less than fifteen minutes passed before my food was coming out.

As I ate, we talked and got to know each other, and he was surprisingly a chill dude. I wasn’t sure if we’d hang out on a regular basis, but he did invite me back to the restaurant next week, and we made plans to catch a few NFL games together since Eyela had gifted me with a season pass for the presidential club suite for my favorite team—the Eagles. Nothing would replace the bond I had with my father, but I was grateful to have men like Caesar and Uncle Johnny in my life.