Page 8 of A Kingpin’s Weakness

Stormi

I left the hospital about an hour ago. Noah still hadn’t woken up. The doctors said there was brain activity, which was a good sign, but it didn’t make things feel any lighter or didn’t exactly ease the knot in my stomach.

I didn’t really want to go to Sunday dinner at Ms. Serena’s house, but skipping out felt wrong. She’d been nothing but kind checking in every day, sending me encouraging texts, always asking how I was holding up. The least I could do was show face.

“Bring me a plate from dinner,” RJ said through the phone while I got dressed.

I kept it simple black jeans, a cropped sweater that hung off one shoulder. My curls were full and bouncy today, so I hit them with a little extra moisture spray before heading out.

“Make some time to meet Ari while you’re in town,” he added, talking about his girlfriend. They’d been together six months now. We’d been planning a trip to meet, but since I was here, we might as well make it happen.

“She gonna be at the hospital tomorrow?”

“Yeah, but I’d rather do something outside of work. More chill, you know?”

“Oh, so I can be the third wheel?”

“If you actually gave someone a chance, you wouldn’t be.”

“Find me someone worth the risk.”

He chuckled.

“I’ll call you when I get back. Uber pulling up.”

“Yeah. Enjoy your one day off.” I ended the call and walked into the living room only to find Jo and Ronnie standing in the kitchen, locked in what looked like a heated exchange. Voices low, but faces tight. It didn’t take much to tell when things were about to pop off.

Normally, I’d step in. Most of the time, I had to stop someone from dragging Jo across the floor. She talked big, and her mouth wrote checks her ass couldn’t cash. But tonight. I wasn’t in the mood to play referee.

“Where you off to?” Jo asked, the second her eyes landed on me.

“Dinner.”

“Where?”

“Ms. Serena invited me. Why?”

“I’m just asking. You’re supposed to be at the hospital with your brother.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow. Just needed a breather. Have you been back?”

“I’m grown. Don’t worry about me.”

“I’m grown too.” I fired back.

“You’re still my child.”

I rolled my eyes and started for the door, but Jo’s voice stopped me again.

“Stormi, you remember Ronnie, right?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Don’t be rude, chile. This man came to see you .”

“Came to see me? Why?” my attention now on my mother.

“You might look like your ain’t-shit daddy, but that body came from me. This man wants to get to know you.”

“Know me for what, Jo?”

“Shit, he might wanna marry you if you change that nasty-ass attitude.”

I looked Ronnie dead in the face.

“Ronnie, I’m sorry you wasted your time coming over here. But I never and I mean never want you to get to know me.”

“We gon’ have to get that mouth in order,” he said, like he was checking me.

“Excuse you?”

“You show respect when a man is in your presence.”

I laughed, cold and sharp. “When a man is in my presence, I show respect the way he shows it to me. Now, I don’t know what kind of freaky shit you and Jo got going on, but count me out.”

“Listen, Stormi,” he tried again. “I know we got off on the wrong foot at the hospital the other day, but I’d like to take you out.”

“No, thank you. And aren’t you with Jo?”

I asked because there was no way in hell he got I mess with both mother and daughter vibes from me.

“Jo and I are just friends,” he said with a shrug.

“Oh. Okay. Well my Uber’s here.”

I practically ran out the damn house, because both of them had me messed up.

Jo really sat there and gave that man the impression I’d be interested in him?

He was damn near twice my age. And one of the reasons my brother was laid up in a hospital bed. Besides, Noah being hardheaded as hell, Ronnie played a part in all this. And now he wanted to get to know me? Yeah. Absolutely not.

It took the Uber 45 minutes to get to Ms. Serena’s place. She was clearly doing well for herself, the estate we pulled up to was something out of a movie. Long driveway, trimmed hedges, even a fountain. Nothing like the houses back in the hood. This was a whole different world.

I gave her a call when we reached the gate, and she opened it without hesitation.

I stepped out and made my way up the driveway, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows ahead of me.

Serena stood at the door, arms open, smile warm like she'd been waiting just for me. This is what coming home was supposed to feel like. This was the welcome I should’ve gotten from Jo.

But instead, we argued. That’s all we ever did.

“Hi, Stormi! Hope you brought your appetite with you,” Serena said as she wrapped me in a hug.

“I think I did,” I said, laughing as my stomach growled at the smell of her cooking lingering on her clothes.

“Well, I cooked fried pork chops, cabbage, peas and rice, mac and cheese, cornbread, and some pound cake for dessert.”

We stepped inside, and she shut the door behind us. The house was beautiful; high ceilings, tall windows, chandeliers hanging low like they were showing off. Modern furniture and bold Black art filled every room.

We made our way into the kitchen, and there he was again.

Just like the day at the hospital, his outfit of choice was all black.

That fitted t-shirt clung to his chest like it was stitched onto him; every muscle and tattoo on his arms were on full display.

He went casual with the black joggers, but honestly?

They might as well have been gray sweatpants, because his print was out there like it had something to say.

My eyes met his, and I gave the only smile I could muster; small, polite, but my mind was already running.

Was this a setup? Was he trying to trap me here just to collect some money or some revenge I didn’t see coming? I really needed to stop watching all those crime documentaries. But seriously, how was it a coincidence that he was here at Ms. Serena’s house?

I’d met her when I was young. She used to work at the daycare Noah went to. She let me drop him off early before school and pick him up after. Always looked out for me, no judgment, no questions.

So now I’m standing in her home, staring at him, the man who had me all twisted up in my head at the hospital and now again, in her damn kitchen. Yeah. Something wasn’t adding up.

“Stormi.”

His voice pulled my attention back to him.

“Seth.”

I echoed his name, matching his tone, just like he’d said mine moments before.

“Nice seeing you again,” he said, eyes dragging over me like he was taking in every detail.

“You two know each other?” Ms. Serena looked between us, eyebrows lifted just slightly.

“Met Stormi at the hospital the other night,” Seth said, licking his lips before giving me one last glance then finally turning back to Ms. Serena..

“Oh! And this is S3, my grandson,” she said, just as a blur of energy ran into the kitchen holding an Incredible Hulk toy.

The little boy beamed at me, holding out his hand for a shake. His smile? All Seth. The resemblance was uncanny; same eyes, same presence, just a smaller version.

“Let me wash up first. I’ll join y’all in a bit,” Seth said, his voice low and easy as he left the kitchen.

I didn’t say anything back. Just watched him walk away. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look.

Seth was fine. No denying that. But I stayed away from his type.

I’d watched Jo date dope boys my whole life.

And I knew early on I wanted no part of that life.

Still I don’t think Jo ever dealt with dope boys on Seth’s level.

Her men? They always ended up crashing on our couch, behind on child support, forever on the come up . Seth? He was already up.

His house looked like a damn resort. And it was clear he was an active father.

S3 didn’t just know him, he loved him. And from what I could tell, Seth loved that boy right back.

Walking into the dining room felt like stepping into something off TV.

Twelve seats, five on each side, two at the heads.

A long glass marble table sat in the center, showing off everything Serena said she cooked.

On one half, the food: fried pork chops, mac and cheese, cabbage, rice and peas, cornbread, and pound cake.

On the other side, drinks and pitchers of sweet tea and lemonade.

“Sit wherever you like,” Ms. Serena said with a smile.

I took the seat to the right of the head of the table. Serena and S3 sat across from me, already settled and comfortable like this was just another Sunday.

“Everything looks amazing,” I said, eyeing the spread again.

“Yeah, Moms know how to keep a nigga fat,” Seth said, walking in and pulling out the seat at the head of the table.

He sat down like he owned the whole room. Which, technically he did.

Serena rolled her eyes but smiled. “Ain’t nothing wrong with feeding my boys. You don’t hear S3 complaining.”

“I love your mac and cheese, Grandma,” S3 chimed in, already digging into his plate.

“Well, I made extra just for you, baby,” she said, reaching over to fix his juice.

Seth leaned back slightly, his plate still untouched as he looked over at me. “You straight? You good with everything?”

I nodded. “I’m good. Honestly, I haven’t had a home-cooked meal like this in forever.”

“You’re welcome here anytime,” Serena said gently, catching my eyes for a beat longer than expected.

“Appreciate that,” I replied, keeping my tone even. But I felt it, her kindness, and Seth’s eyes still on me.

And for the first time since I met this man, his eyes weren’t hidden behind shades. You could actually see them low, half-lidded, like he just woke up or had no plans to. Made me wonder was he high? Or like, 20 percent Asian like Future claimed to be.

My guess? He was high. His smile brought out his features in a way that could really mess with a woman if she wasn’t careful. Too bad you only saw it when he was with his mom or his son.

Seth grabbed both my hand and his mother’s.