Chapter 24

24

Ahmad

D escending the stairs of the warehouse, I really didn't feel like playing with this nigga any longer. He was starting to stank up the place and just thinking about the bacteria, dirt, and shit had my anxiety going through the roof. After taking Bunny back to her people, I made sure she was straight before leaving her to do her thing. As I walked over to him, his one good eye looked up at me.

"You won't get away with this, motherfucka."

I chuckled. "You keep saying that shit like you got people to protect you. They're dead, dumb ass. I see you're one of those ‘never let shit go' niggas. If you're looking for the Columbians to come avenge you, then you're just as delusional about that as you are thinking you're still that nigga."

"Fuck you, pussy! Just kill—"

Pow! Pow!

One to the heart and one to the head silenced him for good. I didn't need to prolong this shit. The nigga didn't need to speak his piece or beg for me to do something I was already going to do. I didn't feel bad at all, but I did feel bad for Rabbit. She wouldn't know what it felt like to have a father, however, I would do all I could to try to be that father figure for her—as long as her mother would allow. I was a heartless nigga to niggas like Slim, but I recently discovered that I did have some sort of compassion for women and children.

I guessed I had to thank a certain somebody for bringing that shit out of me. Before her, I wouldn't have thought to send his wife and other baby mamas fifty thousand each as a grievance package. It may not have been much, but if what Bunny was telling me about how he used to bird feed her money, I knew that fifty grand was like Christmas coming early for them.

"Get rid of this nigga. Y'all won't see me no more after today, but I got y'all on the back end for all of your help," I told my crew as I dapped them up.

"No problem, Play. You know we always got your back anytime, every time," Sloan, another crew member, said to me.

I nodded and left the building, feeling as if the weight of the world had lifted from my shoulders. Bunny was now free. She could finally let go of her past and pursue a future with me. I was going to make sure she lived her life however she wanted and keep that beautiful smile on her face.

Rico pulled back up to the Stanton home and it looked like a damn party. I wasn't big on being around a lot of people, so this shit was giving me anxiety. I sighed as I said goodbye to Rico and exited the truck. The smell of barbecue and music filled the air as I made my way up the driveway to the backyard where there were at least twenty people laughing, dancing, and just politicking. My eyes scanned the crowd and saw Bunny wiping Rabbit's face with a wet nap and shooing her away to finish playing with the other kids.

She finally caught my gaze and walked over to me. She stared at me, eyes conveying the question she wanted the answer to. I gave her a nod and she grabbed me by the shirt, slamming her lips against mine. My hands were at her waist while her arms wrapped around my neck. I was taken off guard by her sudden public display of affection, but I didn't object to it as I kissed her back. When she finally pulled away, Mr. Stanton was standing right there staring at us. I cleared my throat as Bunny stepped back some.

"Daddy, I—"

"You two… in the house now."

"Wait—"

"Now, Nala!" he yelled and started toward the house.

I could see the people that were in attendance staring our way and I didn't like that shit. My brow raised as I stood stagnant. Who does this nigga think he's talking to ? For the past two encounters I'd had with him, he had been nothing but fucking rude. I understood him being protective over his only daughter, but this nigga had me so fucked up. The only reason he hadn't been put on his back was because of her, so he really needed to tread lightly or that happily ever after I saw with his daughter would be short lived.

"Ahmad… Please? For me?" Bunny asked.

I was sure she saw the look on my face and knew what I was thinking. The pleading look in her eyes had me moving my feet toward the patio doors. She followed close behind as we walked inside. Mr. Stanton was standing by the counter with his arms folded across his chest.

"Close the door and lock it. No one needs to come in here while we're talking," he told her. Bunny did as he said, then turned and looked at him.

"Listen, Lionel, if you asked us to come in here so you can disrespect me again, I'm telling you now that I'm not the one you're going to keep doing that with."

"Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? This is my house!"

Bunny looked at him in confusion. "Daddy! Why are you so upset? Especially with him?"

"Am I the only person that knows that he abducted you and my granddaughter in the middle of the fucking night to have y'all killed? You have got to be out of your mind to be with someone who could do such a thing!"

"Daddy, you don't even know him and you're judging him. Yes, he did that to me, but he also saved me."

"What is this? Some kind of Stockholm syndrome? You think he turned from your captor to some hero or something?"

"I'm the nigga that has you throwing fucking barbecues and inviting the family over because you finally can fucking breathe and be happy that your daughter is home. I'm the nigga that made that happen… not you. So, are you mad because while I had intentions of returning her to the man who wanted to harm her, I decided to free her of that mental prison by getting rid of her deepest fear? Or are you mad that you were too afraid to do it? I know if I had a child, ain't no fucking way I would let some lying ass, bum nigga control my child and not do nothing about it," I said in nonchalance.

"Ahmad… that wasn't nice to say!"

"Nice? This man punched me in my face, disrespected me in my home, and now acting as if I'm the bad guy when I'm the fucking one to make this shit happen. You were on the run for six long ass years, and no one stepped up to rescue you from the dragon's tower. Your father should be thanking me instead of talking shit to me."

I saw Bunny's head collapse as she placed her palms on the countertop. She then looked up at her father who still stood with his arms folded, but now had tears in his eyes. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. At first, he stood staring at me until he opened his arms and held her with one hand on the back of her head and one around her back. They both stood hugging one another as she spoke.

"I'm safe, Daddy. I'm home. That's all that matters, and it's all because of Ahmad. I know what he did, but he genuinely cares for us… Makari loves him, and now that she does, I can't take him away from her. I don't want to. He's been nothing but good to us, even when I thought he was bad."

There was silence for a moment before he sighed and looked over at me.

"I'm a man who knows when he's in the wrong, so for that, I do apologize. It's just frustrating to witness this crazy dynamic you two have, but I'm most happy about her being able to be free of the bullshit with Slim. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way, but I was just frustrated. And you're right, I should have been the one to take care of him. When my daughter begged me on numerous occasions to stay out of it, I had no choice but to give her what she wanted. She's my only child, my princess. To know that she had to endure all of that, then run into you… I just couldn't see past what you stood for."

"I understand. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be. This isn't a game or ploy to fall for a woman as frustrating and stubborn as your daughter. If it were left up to me, I'd leave her smart-mouth ass right here and be done. However, I'm invested now, so I'm not going anywhere. You're just going to have to stay mad, old man."

Bunny chuckled as she looked up at her father. He smirked slightly, but I could tell he was still a little standoffish.

"Do right by her. That's all I ask."

"I got you."

He held out his hand to me and we shook up.

"Thank you, Daddy." She kissed his cheek then turned to me. "Now you have to meet the rest of my family."

My head dropped and shook. After going through this shit with her pops, I didn't even want to be here, but for her… I would endure it.

We didn't leave the Stanton residence until a little after nine. After the initial shock of Lionel's outburst toward us wore off, her family was… a'ight people. I could tell they genuinely loved and missed Bunny and were happy getting to know Rabbit. Even the friends that Slim isolated her from came through. I didn't think I'd ever seen her smile so much. Who could smile when an asshole took it? I was glad I was able to give it back to her though.

I pulled up to the house around ten. I looked in the back seat and noticed Rabbit was sound asleep. Bunny smiled at her as I opened the door to get out, but she stopped me.

"Hold on a second."

"What's up?"

"Close the door." I closed the door back as I waited for her to speak. "I don't think I said thank you. I feel like I should repay you somehow because saying thank you isn't enough."

"It's enough for me, bun. I don't need pomp and circumstance. Just your loyalty, honesty, and trust."

"It's crazy how you came into my life and changed it. It felt so good being with my family, I'm not sure if I even want to go back to California—"

"What?" I asked, frowning.

"Calm down, pit bull." She giggled. "Before I was rudely interrupted, I was going to say, but I want to go back. I love California. I've built a life there for over six years, Makari loves it, and besides—this place holds a lot of bad memories for me now. Now that he's gone, I still don't feel safe here because he knew a lot of people here, even if they weren't a part of his crew. I don't want people to notice me here… so, I'm going, going, back, back, to Cali, Cali." She sang as we laughed. "Look at your cute self laughing," she said, pinching my cheek.

"Man, gone." I swatted her hand away, trying to suppress my smile. Only her ass could get the corners of my mouth to turn up. "You keeping your crib in Hashtown?"

"Of course… Why?"

"I mean, you may have thoughts about what happened and shit… I don't need you acting funny toward me."

She sucked her teeth and smiled. "Ain't nobody gon' act funny toward you, and I'm not even thinking about what happened anymore. I'm on some new shit. I'm chucking the deuces up."

"So you just out here rapping and singing, huh?"

"Yup. I did have a sense of humor before all the bullshit. You brought it back out of me." She looked back at Rabbit, making sure she was still asleep, then brought my face to hers. She slipped her tongue in my mouth and we kissed passionately.

"Come on, let's get y'all washed up and in bed," I told her, pulling away.

"Okay."

I got out and walked around the car, helping Bunny out then getting Rabbit from the back seat, carrying her inside. Today had been long and too eventful. I just wanted to shower, slide in Bunny's holes, then shower again and sleep.

And I was going to do just that.