Page 32 of Breaking the Rules

TWENTY-SIX

The door buzzed, signaling Noble to look up from his hands to the door.

The inside of this concrete-blocked room was sobering.

The sound of the shackles stirred his spirit before Zayden appeared.

You would think by the way they had him shackled, he was catching bodies left and right and got caught for it.

Noble stood by silently, waiting for the shackles to be removed and the officer to leave.

The heavy metal door slammed, and Noble extended his hand, surprised with Zayden pulled him into a warm CK embrace.

“Keep that formal shit out there. You’re taking care of my sister, we’re family,” Zayden stated before sitting down. “How is she?”

“You should call her. I heard your last conversation didn’t go well, but she misses you. I can see it in her face. Outside of that, she’s as good as expected.”

“Did you handle that nigga?” Zayden questioned with guilt edging his words.

Noble nodded. “He’s been handled.”

“I owe you something for that?” Zayden questioned as Noble lowered himself to the metal seat he occupied previously.

“Her hand. Not ‘cause I slayed a dragon but because I will always slay her dragons. Because that woman makes my heart roar. And if the events three weeks ago didn’t show me anything, it showed me that I can’t breathe without her.

And I won’t. Now I’m coming here as a man but know that my mind is already made up.

I know, Sassy,” Noble was cut off by Zayden.

“Sassy?”

“Her mouth,” Noble chuckled. “I love that shit. That bark and that bite. I love that she knows who she is and walks in it, talks like it, and works for everything like it. I’m here because she won’t tell me yes without your nod of approval.”

“What if she says no?” Zayden quizzed, wanting to see how dedicated Noble was, as if the body he had on his hands wasn’t enough. It wasn’t. Brixx had several in the name of loyalty, but he was a snake the whole time.

“No don’t exist in the world we created. She can say no tonight and be Mrs. Paulson Jr. in the morning, and that’s going to be what it is,” Noble stated. “Plus, I got her for a cool eighteen.”

Zayden smirked, liking the crazy Noble embodied. His smirk formed into a full-blown smile when he realized what Noble said. “Yo, she’s pregnant?”

“She is. She’s healthy. The baby is healthy. We’re looking forward to this new beginning.”

“What can I say other than my blessing isn’t needed. You two found your way to one another without me in the picture. But I respect your asking. I respect that you came to me like a man, and I respect that you’ll slay her dragons so she can be everything she’s supposed to.”

“I could say the same. You looked after my sister, though y’all could have had some better niggas around you. You looked out for her. No one else did, and I appreciate that.”

Zayden touched his chest and smiled ever so slightly. It was apparent that the thought of Kym was enough to keep him steady, and the gleam was enough to show Noble there was more to it. “Your sister is good people. A great mother. I hate she got caught up in all my shit.”

“The shit was bound to happen, honestly. With me out of town and our pops gone, I’m happy she had a man around to look after her. And I’m sure at times she didn’t want it?”

“At times?” Zayden snorted. “All the time.”

“You get out of here, you get on the straight and narrow, I’ll support whatever y’all started before this. That’s my word, and my word is my bond.”

“Same goes for you. I place Savanhi in your hands. Take care of her. I know life shit happens but respect her always.”

“Already.”

Zayden nodded. “Make sure I get some pictures. I want to see her smile for real.”

“I got you, brother.”

With Zayden’s blessing, the house being staged for Noble’s plans and the bullshit behind him, he got on the road, headed back to their rental. One he couldn’t wait to get out of.

His phone rang out through the speakers of his car. He’d been praying to see that number pop up, and he answered with haste. Ironically, she was calling after he left his meeting with Zayden.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I accept,” he rushed the prompts, eager to hear his sister’s voice.

“Deuce, relax,” Kymber’s voice came through in a laugh. “You missed me, huh?”

“Yeah, I have. Sincere is cool, but I can’t tell that love-hating ass nigga nothing,” Noble stated.

“Because he’s a dog ass nigga and won’t stop until he meets a bigger dog and they put him on his ass,” Kymber stated. “Thank you for keeping my books loaded. It’s helping me pass the time. I’ve been working in the kitchen and writing my recipes down.”

“You talk to your lawyer?”

“Yeah, there’s a deal on the table.”

“Talk to me.”

“Are you okay with keeping Areli until she’s like ten?”

“Kym, I was prepared to keep her forever if that’s what it came down to. I love her and I love you and I got y’all.”

“I appreciate that and the lawyer.”

Noble chuckled. “It wasn’t me. Someone beat me to it.”

Like he could see her brows crease, Kymber asked, “Who?”

“Zayden, by the way of his sister. Savanhi.”

“Oh my God. This world is so damn small. Savanhi, your girlfriend? And don’t deny it we get magazines in here and y’all look good together.”

“We look even better in person. Can’t wait for you to meet her. And our kid.”

“Noble,” Kymber gushed. “Oh, Deuce. You got it. You finally got it.”

“I finally got it,” he breathed. “She’s everything.”

“Then marry her. If you were going to marry the wrong one so quickly, marry the right one right now,” Kymber encouraged.

“I’m already ahead of you. Remi and her cousin Lawryn are setting everything up now.”

“She better say yes or-”

“Cool it, she got hands and my kid,” Noble said jokingly.

“Can she cook?”

“Hell yeah, I had to add an extra training session to my week, so I don’t get that Paulson pot belly.”

The siblings shared a laugh.

“Noble, I am so proud of you. I can’t wait to see the beautiful family you created.”

“I can’t wait to see what life is going to look like for you when you get home,” Noble said with a sigh. “I want you to thrive, Kym. The world is yours. You've got to lock in with your calling. What pops left behind is what he left behind. Everything ain’t for us to pick up.”

“I hear you. I love you. You’re Superman.”

Noble chuckled. “I’ve been hearing that a lot lately. Even Superman got his demons.”

“And that’s okay. Keep slayin’ them. Give my baby a kiss.”

“I will. She sent you a box of stuff it should be there soon. Drawings, pictures from dance, and whatever else her and Sassy found.”

“She’s good with her?”

“She’s amazing with her. Those two are like best friends. I sleep on the edge of the bed, and I’m an afterthought.”

Kymber laughed. “That’s what you wanted, family. Enjoy it. I love you.”

“I love you, take care of yourself. Get through these six years like a muhfuckin’ G, you hear me?”

“I hear you. I got you.”

“Nah, Kym. I got you.”