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B ully

Five Years Later

Wedding Day

This kind of shit didn’t happen to men like me. When you came from the hood I did, you didn’t get to live your dreams. You didn’t get to marry the good girl. Shit, you didn’t get to live past twenty. I’d not only gotten out the hood and made something of myself, but I met and fell in love with the perfect woman for me and had a beautiful baby girl in the process.

Surrounded by the men I loved and trusted, I prepared to make Innvy my wife. I didn’t believe in love at first sight until I laid eyes on her. Maybe it wasn’t love—maybe it was an innate need that connected me to her and told me she was the one. Regardless of what it was, I’d been locked in because of it and didn’t plan on that changing any time soon.

When someone knocked on the door, I expected it to be the wedding planner coming to make sure we were good to go. My heart damn near dropped to my feet when PJ walked in. It was like seeing a ghost from my past. A past I wanted no one in this room, and for damn sure not Innvy, to be involved with. He gave me a crooked smile and bob of his head. I shifted through the bodies, seeing lips moving but not really hearing what anyone had to say.

“The fuck are you doing here?” I asked quietly once we were face-to-face.

“When Rocco granted your favor, he told you there would come a time that he’d call upon you to return it—”

“Not right now,” I pleaded. “I’m about to get married.”

“It was an offer you didn’t refuse, in exchange for a favor you wouldn’t be able to deny,” PJ continued, massaging his chin. “He wants to see you. Now.”

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

“Yeah, brother. Everything is everything.” Running my fingers down my mouth, I tried to contain the rage that was building within me. “I need to walk him out, but I’ll be back.”

Without waiting for PJ to follow, I headed out of the room. Once we were outside, I turned to face him.

“I need fifteen minutes,” I said. “Fifteen minutes to marry my girl. Then I’ll come.”

PJ’s head shook. “You got two to say goodbye.”

“Fuck!” I swore through gritted teeth, punching the wall next to me.

As much as I hated agreeing, I didn’t have a choice. If Rocco was requesting that favor, it wasn’t an actual request. PJ was the calm before the storm. I couldn’t risk anything happening to anyone in this banquet hall because of me. So as much as I didn’t want to, I nodded my agreement and headed to Innvy’s dressing room.

All I could do was pray she was understanding and gave me grace instead of hating me for this. My angel didn’t know about my past and the things I used to be into, and this wasn’t the way I wanted her to find out. Still, I knocked on the door and decided to be as honest as I possibly could be without telling her details it would put her in danger to know…

After I knocked on the door, I stepped back and took a deep breath. Innvy’s mother, Bianca, poked her head out and lit up at the sight of me. I didn’t know how I was looking, but whatever my expression held made hers sadden.

“Is everything alright, Bully?”

“I need to talk to Innvy.”

Bianca chuckled nervously as she stepped out into the hallway. “Is this absolutely necessary? She’s getting ready to walk down the aisle to you.”

“I need to see her, Mama B. Now.”

Without waiting for her to agree, I walked around her and into the bridal suite. Ignoring Innvy’s gasp, I took her by the hand and gently led her outside.

“Bully, what is this? Are you okay?”

Gripping her shoulders, I swallowed hard as my eyes watered.

“I don’t have the time to explain, but I have to go.”

She stared at me for a few seconds before laughing. “You’re joking right?”

“No, Angel. I’m not.”

“What do you mean you have to go?” she whined as her eyes watered.

“I did some shit back in the day that I’m having to pay for now. When I come back, I promise I’ll fix this. We can get married and forget about this little hiccup.”

“It’s time,” PJ said, causing Innvy to jump as she looked back to see where the voice was coming from.

Her arm wrapped around me as she asked, “Who is he?”

“I can’t talk about it, Innvy. Just know I’m really sorry this is happening on our wedding day. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

“Now, Bully,” PJ said.

“It can’t wait just a few minutes?” Innvy asked, grabbing my hands. “We can literally just run down the aisle and say I do.”

I clenched my jaw as I cupped her cheek, willing my tears to dry. “You deserve better than that, Angel.”

“Bully—”

“Aight, nigga, damn!” I roared louder than I’d meant to when PJ called my name.

“Bully,” Innvy gritted. “Tell me what the hell this is about. Now.”

I tried to kiss her, but she mushed my face. “I have to go, baby. I’m sorry.”

“Bully, if you leave this wedding, I will never speak to you again!” Innvy yelled as I jogged toward the door where PJ had just exited.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’ll fix this shit. I promise!”

“You don’t have to worry about fixing it because the wedding and marriage will be off.” When I didn’t respond, she yelled, “Bully!”

The sound of her yelling my name had me squeezing my eyes shut. I knew I’d hurt her, but I couldn’t focus on that. Not right now. Whatever Rocco wanted me to do would require my full attention, and the quicker and more efficiently I handled it, the quicker I could come back and fix things with my girl.

* * *

A Short While Later

As soon as I made it into my home to pack a few bags, my brothers made their way over to me. I shouldn’t have been surprised to see them waiting for me. If I could depend on nothing else, I could depend on them to be loyal. Shame made it hard for me to look any of them in the eyes as I headed down the hall. I hated that I owed a man anything—even a favor. While I didn’t regret taking care of the nigga that violated my sister, I regretted not handling it myself. For the past five years, this moment had been hovering in the back of my mind and heart. I didn’t know when Rocco would pop back up or what he’d want, but I certainly wasn’t expecting it to be today.

“What the fuck is going on?” Karrington asked, charging over to me.

“I can’t talk about it.” I brushed past them all, and they followed me to my bedroom.

“Fuck you mean you can’t talk about it?” Beethoven repeated.

“Exactly what I said. I can’t talk about it.”

“Aight, everybody calm down,” Asylum said. “Are you in danger?”

My head shook as I grabbed my duffel bag. “No, not really. It’s a long story, and I don’t really have time to discuss it. I owe Rocco a favor, and he’s calling it in. If I don’t do it, then he will come after me and my family, and y’all know I’m not going to let that happen.”

“What about the wedding?” Merc asked.

My shoulders slouched as I grabbed clothes out of my drawers. “She called it off.”

“Until when?” Karrington asked. If anyone knew how things could play out when your woman found out about a lifestyle you tried to hide from her it was him. He and Luna Ray were proof of that. His love shared with Eyela was inspiring, but my heart wouldn’t allow me to consider doing life with a woman other than Innvy.

I shrugged. “Until she can get over what I told her earlier. That might not ever happen, and I can’t think about it right now. I have to make sure she and my baby will be safe. After I do this favor, I can try and salvage our relationship.”

They all remained silent as I packed. As I headed out, Karrington asked, “What can I do? Maybe I can go to Rocco on your behalf for a sit down.”

“Stay out of it, brother. I got myself into this, and I’m going to get myself out.” My hand covered the doorknob, and I looked back at them. “Y’all look after my girl. I’m going to try and be back before she goes into labor but if I’m not…”

“We got you,” Asylum assured me quickly.

With one bob of my head, I left my home and my life behind.

Each step I took toward the town car where PJ waited for me, I felt more conflicted. Should I have told Innvy about the situation sooner? Would she hold this against me forever? Was there a chance she wouldn’t want to marry me when I came back? Only time would tell that truth.