Page 49 of A Kingpin’s Weakness

“Boy, was keeping this secret hard!” Ari laughed, mic in hand. “I had to avoid Seth these past few weeks like my life depended on it.”

“I knew you was dodging me,” I said, grinning. “Ain’t no way somebody work that much.”

The whole crowd cracked up, just how I knew they would.

“Okay! Where’s S3, Ms. Jo, and Ms. Serena? We need y’all up here too.”

Stormi’s mom walked up first and pulled her daughter into a hug.

Seeing them like that, tight, connected, healing…

I couldn’t lie, it hit me in the chest. Jo had been showing up for Stormi in ways she never had before.

They talked every day. Started therapy together.

Rebuilt, brick by brick. I respected the hell outta that.

My mom came up next and stood on my side, smiling at me like she already knew what color smoke was about to fill the sky.

Ari positioned us. S3 stood between Stormi and me, tall and proud like he already knew he was getting promoted to big brother. Jo flanked Stormi, my mom beside me. The camera crew moved closer, lenses pointed right at us.

“Okay, family. It’s time.”

“Wait, wait, let the goddaddy get to the front!” Rich pushed through the crowd, grill shining like always.

“Man, you not the only goddaddy,” Southside called out.

“Yeah, the real goddaddy right here,” RJ said, posting up right next to Ari. I looked over and squinted. “Let me find out she told you the gender.”

“Hell naw,” RJ laughed. “She kept this one tight.”

“Alright, goddaddies, calm down,” Ari said with a smirk. “Stormi. Seth. Y’all ready?”

I looked at my girl and she nodded, her hand squeezing mine.

“Let’s count it down, fam!”

Everyone joined in. “ONE… TWO… THREE!” We twisted the cannons.

BOOM.

Blue smoke exploded into the air. Fireworks lit up behind us in bright, electric blue.

And just like that, I could finally breathe again.

Another son. Another king. My legacy doubled in real time.

Stormi turned and looked at me, her smile soft and full of something that hit me right in the soul.

I pulled her into my arms and kissed her neck.

“Thank you,” I whispered in her ear.

She leaned into me, eyes shining. “You owe me a daughter.”

“I got you. Soon as you heal, we goin’ for her.”

We laughed into each other’s embrace.

“I love you,” I said, forehead pressed to hers.

“I love you too.”

We finally pulled apart, and she slipped off into the crowd, searching for S3. I followed close behind.

“A brother! That’s what you wanted, right?” she asked as she knelt in front of him.

“Yes!” S3 shouted, arms in the air like he just scored a touchdown.

“I know you’re gonna be the best big brother,” she said.

“And you gonna be the best mommy,” S3 replied, so sincere it damn near broke us both. Stormi’s eyes welled up as she pulled him into her arms and kissed his cheek. I stepped in, wrapping my arms around both of them. My family. Right here in my arms.

Who would’ve thought that in less than a year, I’d be planning a wedding with my soulmate and bringing another son into the world? I looked up at the sky, thinking of my pops. Quiet moment between me and the heavens.

Thank you. For this woman. For my boys. For the life we’re building.

“He’d be proud of you,” my mom said as she walked up and joined our circle. “Just like I am.”

I kissed her forehead. “You ready for another grandson?”

“I’ve been ready.”

“It’s gift time. Let’s see if these god daddies really know how to step up,” Rich said, eyeing Southside and RJ like they were about to throw down in a battle.

“Lock in then, nigga,” Southside shot back.

“Best god daddy in the world that’s what S3 would say,” Rich added with a grin.

That nigga right there. I was glad to see my brother smiling, really smiling, after everything he’d been through these past few months.

Life hadn’t been easy for him our shared history was heavy.

My father’s death still stung, Rich’s parents battling addiction, his grandma gone, the street wars, Lia’s death It was a lot to carry.

I said a quiet prayer for him in my head. I wanted nothing more than for him to get some peace to share moments like this, happy and light, without the weight of the past dragging him down.

That’s why when it came to sharing my kids with him, letting him be a god daddy if he wanted, it wasn’t even a question. He’d always show up for them, just like I’d be there for his. Blood ain’t always what makes a family sometimes it’s loyalty and love.

I sank into my seat, watching the whole room come alive. Family and friends laughing, playing games, dancing, eating. The noise was loud, but it brought a kind of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“In the end, it’s all worth it,” King said, sliding next to me like he’d read my mind.

“You ain’t never lied,” I replied.

“We deserve this shit, too.”

“So much good happening makes you wonder when the bad’s gonna show up.”

“We just pray it don’t,” I said, eyes scanning the room. “But if it does, we handle it.” I nudged me. “When you gonna settle down?” I smiled, looking at the ring on my finger and then over at Stormi, who was glowing even from across the room.

“I got my eye on someone,” he said. “Just know you setting the foundation for all of us niggas.”

Before I could say more, Rich, Southside, Rome, Ivan, E, Balbir, and Alden all walked up. Rome pulled out the shots.

“To good karma,” he said, holding his cup up.

“To good karma,” we echoed, throwing our heads back and tossing the shots.

The boys and I chopped it up for a minute talking, laughing, remembering better days, and making plans for the future. But then I caught sight of Stormi sitting down, feet elevated, trying to eat without much luck between the conversation from guest who walked by.

“I’ll catch up with you boys later,” I said, dabbing them up one last time before heading over to her.

Because no matter how deep these brotherhood bonds ran, I always needed Stormi close. Always. I grabbed her right foot and removed the heels she insisted on wearing because they went perfect with her dress and started rubbing her feet.

“That feels so good” she said stuffing her mouth with crab pasta and throwing her head back. I didn’t know what had her moaning, the pasta or the foot rub, but I was jealous.

“Hope this the last time you wear heels.”

“We’ll see” she said, laughing, and I gave her this look while she stuffed some rice in my mouth.

“Did you eat?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“This your first time eating?”

“I’m ashamed to say,” she said, laughing some more and stuffing her mouth.

“What?”

“This like my third plate. I don’t know who made the pasta salad, but we have to get them to make us some?”

“Us or you?”

“Same thing”

I continued to massage her feet while she ate.

I didn’t care if she was on her 8 th plate.

Long as she was eating. The beginning of her pregnancy was hard.

Soon as she smelled food she was throwing up.

Now soon as she smelled food, she was hungry.

She didn’t even have to smell it all she did was think about it.

“Hey, Stormi, I’m about to take Jo back to the rehab.”

Noah came over and spoke. Stormi stood up and gave her brother a hug as Jo and Dre walked over.

“Straight to the rehab,” she retorted looking at all three of them.

“Always in mama bear mode,” Noah said.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m going right back to that place. The director will be teaching me how to knit, and I can’t wait to make my grandson his first blanket.”

“Aww, we would love that,” Stormi said almost in tears.

Noah pulled his sister in a hug and Jo came around and hugged both her kids. Their relationship with each other wasn’t perfect, but just like any other family, they were working through their problems.

Dre hung back, silent and distant. There was something about that kid I couldn’t read. Something off. He was always around, but it felt like he didn’t want to be. Like he was watching us just observing. But what the fuck was he seeing? What was he waiting for?

“Smile, be nice,” Stormi said, nudging me as she sat back down next to me.

I forced a smile, but my eyes stayed locked on Dre. I wasn’t letting my guard down not yet.