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9

B ully

That Weekend

“I’m ready to go home,” I grumbled, feeling my eyebrows wrinkle.

“Brotha, us coming here was your bright idea,” Asylum said.

“Right,” Merc agreed. “How you ready to go and you brought us here?”

They all laughed as Beethoven said, “Y’all know he can’t be away from his girls . I told y’all he wouldn’t last the whole weekend. Pay me my mothafuckin’ money!”

“ Hell nah,” Karrington said with a shake of his head. “I said I ain’t wanna do the bet because I knew he wouldn’t last.”

“Wait.” I chuckled as I lifted my hands. “Y’all actually bet on me?”

“Yeah, and I’m the only dumbass that had faith in you,” Asylum complained.

“Well, I had faith in you too, but I bet against you because I didn’t want to lose,” Merc added, and we all laughed again.

I’d brought the crew to Vegas for the weekend to thank them for looking out for my girls and my businesses while I was gone. They said it wasn’t necessary but I wanted to put something tangible along with the words of gratitude. I paid for everyone’s flights and suites and had given them each six figures. We were on day two of the trip but I wasn’t sure I would make it until tomorrow night. Innvy had sent me videos of her and Innah a little while ago and I was missing them like crazy. The only reason I’d been able to get through nine months without them was because it was no contact.

“Fuck all y’all, man. I can’t believe this shit,” I said, pulling my phone out to see if Innvy had texted me back. “When Aspen, Blaze, and Dejvi getting here?”

“This evening at five,” Karrington answered.

“Aight, I’ma stay today, but I’m leaving first thing in the morning,” I told them, not caring how amused they found my desire to get home. Now that Innvy was warming up to me again, I wanted to take full advantage.

* * *

Monday Afternoon

It was a rare day that Innvy didn’t have a lot of clients. She only had three facials and some kind of lash appointment, so she was done by three. Since I had taken princess to her grandparents, I convinced Innvy to let me take her to the spa too. When she walked out and saw me leaning against the white G-Wagon I’d copped she squealed.

“Ooh I love this, Gabriel! You know I wanted one of these!”

“I know… that’s why it’s yours.”

Her mouth dropped, shoulders slouched, and eyes watered. “What?” she whispered, taking a step back.

“We both need something bigger for Princess, so I got you this and me a black one. Here.” Since she was frozen, I chuckled as I sauntered over to her and gave her the keys. “Let’s go.”

“Wait, Bully! You bought me this?”

“Yeah. You like—”

“Ah!” She jumped into my arms, and I moaned as I held her close. “I love it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Innvy was about to kiss me, but she tugged her bottom lip between her lips instead. That was cool. Hell, her hugging me and letting me hold her was progress.

“You’re welcome. We got a lot to do before we go pick up baby girl.”

“Like what?”

“Shopping. I wanna get her room ready at the house. As much as I want y’all to move in now, we’ll go at your pace. So if I have to just have her there alone without you until you’re ready…”

Cupping the back of my neck, Innvy rested her forehead on mine. “Thank you, bae.”

“You know I’ll do anything for you. This is one time as a man that I’ll let you lead.”

Sniffling, she licked her lips before brushing them against mine. Mine parted, but I didn’t kiss her yet. I let her control the pace, but the second she kissed me, I took control. Slipping my tongue into her mouth, I lowered my hands to her ass. When she moaned, I groaned. Pressing her against the Wagon, I tilted my head and deepened the kiss.

Inhaling her exhales strengthened me—gave me life. As good as it felt to kiss her, I pulled away when my dick started to get hard. Putting my forehead against hers, I assured her, “We won’t do nothing you don’t want to do, but we gotta stop this because I’m starting to want more.”

Innvy giggled and ran her fingers down my chest as she stared into my eyes. “That’s fair. I love you, Bully.”

For a second, I was speechless. I wasn’t sure when I’d hear her make that declaration again. A soft laugh escaped me as my heart skipped a beat.

“I love you too, Angel.”

* * *

After the Shopping Trip

We went overboard but I didn’t regret it at all. We didn’t just shop for Innah’s room. I got them both some jewelry too. Innah was a princess, so she needed diamonds and a tiara. Of course I had to shop for the queen. She still hadn’t put her engagement ring back on, so I secretly bought her a new one. I planned to give it to her when I felt like I’d earned her trust back. I also got her a fifty-four carat, white gold tennis necklace and bracelet along with a pair of diamond studs.

After that, we had an early dinner, then went to get baby girl. I damn near cried when I got her settled at home and she reached for me with tears in her eyes. I did cry when she yelled, “Da-da!”

Clutching my chest, I quickly swiped my tear away and walked over to her crib. “Can I stay tonight?” I asked Innvy as I picked Innah up. “Please?”

“Sure. Let me get my phone and see if she’ll say it again.”

I laughed as I held her close, hoping we could capture the moment so I could watch the video over and over again.

“Okay, let’s see,” Innvy said, holding her phone up. “Innah, who is this?” she asked, pointing at me.

Innah looked at me with her gummy smile. She had two tiny teeth coming in at the bottom and it was so fucking cute. It was really just two little white nubs, but it was so adorable. I was glad I was able to at least be here for that.

“Is that da-da?” Innvy continued.

“Da-da.” Innah squirmed against me, her small hand patting my face. “Da-da!”

Every time she chanted it, that shit warmed my heart more and more. More tears fell, and I didn’t even give a fuck. All I could do was laugh heartily and spin her around as she giggled.

I held her a little while longer before starting her nighttime routine. She ended up falling asleep on my chest, and I held her until I started to get sleepy myself. After that, I put her in bed and went to Innvy’s room. I considered telling her I was about to head out, but since she told me I could stay, I decided to take full advantage. I took a quick shower then climbed into bed with her. It was still fairly early, but since she tailored her schedule around Innah’s, it didn’t surprise me that she was already in bed.

She had some show on Netflix playing as I climbed into her bed. I wasted no time pulling her into my chest. Innvy released a content exhale and tossed her arm around me. Her leg slipped between mine as she snuggled against me. As I rubbed her back up and down with one hand, the other squeezed her ass.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

“Phenomenal. I can’t believe she said it.”

“She loves you already. I can tell.”

I released a shaky breath and kissed the top of her head. “She knows me, Angel. Princess knows who I am. I just… I’m in awe.”

Innvy looked up at me and smiled. She cupped my cheek and lowered my lips to hers. I didn’t think anything could make hearing Innah call my name a more perfect moment, but falling asleep with her fine ass mama in my arms did just that.

* * *

One Week Later

I thought I was seeing things, but I couldn’t have been. Me and Innvy had gone out with Neo and Merc, and I was pretty sure I saw the capo of the Nashville mafia Rocco had us move in on. The only reason his face was memorable was because of the scar on his right cheek. He looked at me but his face and body remained relaxed. After what we’d done to them, I expected some kind of reaction. Maybe I was seeing things and that wasn’t really him…

“You good, brotha?” Merc checked, making his way next to me.

“Everything is everything,” I replied, pulling my eyes from the group he was with. If it was him, I’d keep a casual eye on them to make sure he wanted no static. I could admit we embarrassed them and made them look weak as hell before moving in on their territory. If his ego caused him to want to retaliate, I needed to be ready for it. “Just so you’ll be prepared,” I continued, shifting slightly to look at Merc, “I think ol’ boy over there is a part of the Grisham Mafia from Nashville. I can’t say for sure because he’s so far away, but if he is, I walked him and his brother down.”

“So we need to be on alert?” he confirmed, crossing his arms over his chest.

“If it’s him, yeah. Last I heard, his brother was still in the hospital. That ain’t the kind of shit you let go easily.”

“Say less.”

“Eee, I’m so glad we got to spend some time together before your trip,” Neo said, hugging Innvy.

“Trip? What trip?” I asked.

“Oh, well I have a vendor event in Dallas that I have to leave for this weekend.”

“Why you ain’t say nothing about it?”

“It’s been scheduled for like three months now so I didn’t really think about it. My parents already agreed to keep Innah, and my flight and hotel suite are booked.”

“They don’t have to do that. I can keep her.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t worry, sis,” Merc said. “We’ll be on standby if he needs anything.”

My eyes shifted toward the group as I chuckled and he was gone. Maybe it wasn’t him after all.