Page 34 of A Kingpin’s Weakness

"Hey Beautiful. I saw you in my dream last night. Same smile, same light in your eyes. You laughed God, you always laughed with your whole soul, and I swear, for a second, I forgot you were gone. You used to tell me my silence was loud. That even when I didn’t say shit, you knew what I felt.

Right now, I hope you hear everything I never said out loud.

Thank you. For loving me through the mess.

For healing wounds you didn’t even put there.

For standing ten toes down when life tried to break me.

For being my calm in every storm. They keep saying life cheated you.

That you were too good for this world,” He shut his eyes then flicked his hand over his nose before continuing.

“But me I say God lent me his most precious angel and I’ll never stop being grateful for the time I had with you.

You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

You saw more in me than just a nigga from the block with a heart full of trauma.

You saw a man And that’s what I became with you.

I still hear you talking about your dreams the businesses, the degrees, the plans.

We might not get to watch you walk that stage, but your name gon’ be on every door, every sign, every place you once spoke into existence.

You didn’t just dream you planted seeds.

And baby, I promise you, I’ll make sure they grow.

Tell my grandma I said what’s up. I remember how bad you wanted to meet her.

Now you got front row seats to heaven together.

You’ll love her. She’s gonna love you even more for loving me the way you did.

And don’t worry about your mom and your sister.

I got them. Whatever they need, whenever they need it I’m there.

You protected me in ways nobody else ever could.

I’m gonna do the same for them. The bed feels cold, too big and now too damn quiet.

But I leave your side open every night, just in case you visit.

Keep it warm for me, alright. I don’t know how I’ll get through this life without you, but I’ll carry your name with pride.

I’ll love you loud. I’ll live for the both of us now. Forever yours, Rich.”

After the funeral, we ended up at the banquet hall somewhere between grief and small talk, fake smiles over fried chicken and sweet tea. The room smelled like sorrow dressed up in cologne and soul food.

Ms. Serena found a seat beside Lia’s mom, holding her hand like she was afraid to let her fall apart.

Rich, Seth, and Southside had slipped out back for air they needed it.

You could see it in the way they’d been holding everything in all day.

S3 and I stood in the food line. I was busy fixing plates for him and Seth, but my appetite was gone.

I just wanted a shower, to wash off this heavy day, and curl up under the covers.

The weight of everything was pressing down on me.

“That’s enough, S3?” I asked softly, gently placing rice on both their plates.

Then I heard it. The voice dripping with something like venom, or maybe just bitter jealousy:

“Look at the new stepmom.”

S3’s head whipped around, and he ran to her arms, calling out, “Mommy!”

She smiled at her son, but that smile disappeared the moment she locked eyes on me. Her stare was sharp, cutting right through me. I didn’t flinch. Not now. Not here. When Seth was ready, he’d introduce us. I wasn’t about to rush that, not with her waiting to throw down.

I forced a polite smile and extended my hand like we were just two strangers meeting at parent-teacher night. “It’s nice to meet you.”

She barely returned the gesture, just a half-smile and a dismissive glance at my hand.

“Baby, Seth, go find a seat and eat while I talk to Stormi,” she said, voice low but dripping with a challenge.

I swallowed the urge to roll my eyes and said a silent prayer please, don’t make me lose my cool today. I waited until S3 was safely settled before turning to her, voice calm but sharp: “What would you like to talk about?”

“Damn, I never thought I hurt Seth that bad that he’d downgrade to a crackhead daughter.” Her words hit low, like a punch to the gut, but I threw back a half-ass smile and a quiet chuckle, masking the burn.

“Trust me, my insults will cut deeper than that.”

She scoffed, eyes narrowing. “Oh really? You think you know anything about me?”

“As if you know shit about me,” I fired back, cold as ice.

She leaned in, voice dripping with venom. “I know my baby daddy’s just using you to get over me.”

I shook my head, voice steady but fierce. “Seems like you’re the one who still gotta get over him.”

Her laugh was bitter, sharp like broken glass. “You really think you know Seth?”

I met her stare without flinching. “Let me guess, you’re gonna school me on the ‘truth’ about him?”

Her grin twisted, like she thought she had the upper hand. “Oh, I don’t need to. You’ll see real soon where his heart belongs.”

“Okay,” I said, cool and calm, but my eyes burned fire.

“It’s crazy seeing you in his world. He don’t usually bring girls around S3 so quick.”

I didn’t respond. I knew where this was going.

She cocked her head. “You ever ask him where he was those few days? Or do you just believe whatever he tell you?”

I stayed quiet. My stomach twisted. She stepped even closer, lowering her voice like we were girlfriends sharing a secret.

“He was with me. Came over talkin’ about how confused he was how you were ‘new,’ but I was home.” She smirked. “One thing led to another. I don’t need to paint that picture, do I?”

I didn’t say a word. I couldn’t. My throat locked up, pain already creeping into my chest. I hated how good she was at this. She knew exactly how to make it sound real even if it wasn’t.

“He still love me,” she whispered. “I’m the mother of his child… well, children.” She revealed, rubbing her small belly. “I know how to pull him back whenever I want.”

I blinked hard, fighting the sting in my eyes. My fingers curled into fists. I wasn’t about to break down in front of her.

“Guess I just wanted to be woman enough to let you know,” she added with a fake-ass smile. “Before you fall too deep.”

That was it. The crack in my chest split wide open. I pulled out my phone and texted RJ:

Come get me. Now.

“I ain’t gon’ go back and forth with you,” I said softly.

“You can play house all you want. But you’ll learn real soon Seth ain’t who you think he is.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but I didn’t give her the satisfaction. “Well congrats on your maybe-baby,” I said, turning to walk away. “Wish you both the best. Honestly.”

RJ texted..

RJ-Outside.

I didn’t look back. Didn’t give her one more second of my energy. Because I wasn’t fighting over dick at a funeral. Not today. Not ever.

“Hey,” I muttered the second I dropped into the passenger seat of RJ’s car. He turned the music down and looked at me sideways.

“What’s up? What got you running out the funeral like that?”

I let out a slow breath, my fingers trembling as I buckled my seatbelt. “Seth’s baby mama.”

RJ gave me a look. “What happened?”

“She said her and Seth still fuckin’. Claimed he might’ve even got her pregnant again.”

He whistled low under his breath, the kind of whistle that said “Damn.”

“What did Seth say?”

“I don’t know.”

“You didn’t ask him?”

“No. I texted you and left.”

RJ shook his head. “Stormi”

“What?” I snapped, voice sharper than I meant. “I don’t have time for the drama. Two kids, messy baby mama, mystery sex partners? No thank you.”

“So, what, you calling it quits? Just like that?”

“Maybe. He has a family. I don’t even live here, RJ. What am I supposed to do. move my whole life around for someone who might still be sleepin’ with his ex?”

“He has a child, not a family. And if you know anything about Seth, you’d know he ain’t the type to play house with someone he ain’t rockin’ with.”

I scoffed. “But you believe he’s still fuckin’ her?”

“I don’t know,” RJ said truthfully. “But is it possible? Sure.”

I stared out the window, jaw clenched, heart sinking lower into my stomach.

“And if they are still sleeping together then what? She pregnant, I’m the side piece, and this was all a damn joke?”

“Condoms exist,” RJ mumbled.

I snapped my head toward him and gave him a look. A cold, heavy silence settled between us. My chest was rising and falling faster now.

Don’t say it.

Don’t ask the question.

But he did.

“Don’t tell me you and Seth weren’t using protection.”

I looked down at my lap, ashamed. “No.” I sounded like a kid who just got caught sneaking out the house.

“Stormi,” he groaned. “You too grown to be moving like this. You know better.”

“I know.”

“So, what happened?”

“I got caught up. He made me feel safe. I didn’t think about nobody else. I didn’t think he’d be out here still layin’ up with her.”

RJ sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Shit happens, but don’t beat yourself up. Just be smart now. Go get tested.”

“Okay, Nurse RJ,” I said with a weak smile, trying to lighten the mood.

“I’m serious.”

“I know,” I said, quieter this time, eyes stinging. “I know.”

“To Jo’s house?” RJ asked, raising an eyebrow.“Yeah, I wanna see Noah. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

I tried to keep my tone even, but it cracked on the edges. I didn’t want to go. Not really.

“Damn, Seth piss you off and now we all gotta lose you?” RJ muttered, shaking his head.

“Hush. I gotta get back to work,” I said, brushing it off, even though my chest was tight. “I’ll come back once summer starts.”

“Bet. Sounds like we turnin’ up this summer then.”

We pulled up to Jo’s spot which was surprisingly quiet.

No bass bumpin', no half-dressed dudes posted up on the porch. Just the low hum of her TV bleeding through the windows. A rare peace. Inside, Jo was laid up on her worn couch like a queen on her throne. Remote in one hand, wine glass in the other. She didn’t even look up before throwing shade.