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CHAPTER NINE

MILANA

W hen I walked inside the diner, Aunt Chrissy smiled big. I’d worn my championship belt to show them what I had accomplished this weekend.

“Congratulations, baby!”

She stepped from around the counter and hugged me tightly.

Aunt Jen joined us and congratulated me as well.

My aunts were always so loving and forgiving.

I loved the two of them. They truly represented God’s grace, mercy, and love.

While I had witnessed them being angry, it never lasted too long.

They were able to find their way out of their feelings and resort to who they were at heart.

I loved that about them, and I wanted to be like that too.

I noticed Uncle WJ sitting in a far corner talking to Nesha, Jakari, Rylan, Aunt Chas, and Uncle Philly, so I assumed they were having some kind of business meeting.

As Aunt Jen fixed my pasta, Uncle Marcus walked in and went straight to the table with them.

I needed to make my way to his house to check on Ace.

We had yet to talk about everything that happened.

All my free time had gone to hell in a handbasket, because I was missing my mama.

Now that that was back on track, I needed to get back on track as well.

I had to check on Karima as well. She was due to deliver her baby next month, along with Cassie and Mekayla.

Babies were popping out all over the place.

That alone had caused me to make an appointment with my gynecologist to get birth control pills.

I wasn’t fucking around like that, and when I did, I was sure to use condoms, but I needed to have extra protection.

If a nigga did to me what Rhodes did to Karima, I would probably kill his ass.

After getting my pasta, I made my way to a table on the opposite side of the diner and quietly watched them talk.

Whatever they were talking about must have been heavy, because they didn’t even see me.

Within minutes, my mama, Uncle Kenny, and Uncle Jasper walked in, and Uncle Storm wasn’t far behind them.

He glanced my direction, so I knew he saw me. That nigga didn’t miss a thing.

I continued eating as my phone chimed. Maui and Ashanni were supposed to be meeting me here, but they had yet to arrive.

I wasn’t sure what was taking them so long.

Even the guys were supposed to be here too.

When the bell chimed, I saw a woman walk in.

She seemed to be looking for someone. Her eyes landed on mine, and she smiled slightly and headed in my direction.

I frowned somewhat, because I didn’t have a clue who she was, although she looked vaguely familiar.

When she got close, the smile fell from her lips, and she grabbed me by the hair, pulling me from my seat.

That shit hurt like hell, and it caught me so off guard, I couldn’t recover before she started landing blows to my face.

“You stupid bitch! My brothers are gone because of you!”

I was in the fetal position, trying to block her blows until someone pulled her off me. “I don’t know what the fuck you think this is, but I suggest you reevaluate that shit.”

Uncle Storm’s frown was deep, and he had that woman by her neck as my mama helped me from the floor. Once she’d seen I was okay, Uncle Storm said, “Tiff, come get you some.”

My mama two-pieced that woman so hard, she knocked out one of her teeth.

“Bring yo’ ass back to Nome again, and you won’t walk out this bitch.

I don’t know who you are, and frankly, I don’t give a fuck.

You will end up on your fucking back just like the ones that came before you.

Get the fuck outta here while you can, bitch. ”

I was breathing hard as I watched everything unfold. She was Julius and Malik’s sister. I’d only met her once, so I didn’t recognize her. She walked out of the diner holding her mouth but made sure to take the time to scowl at me. This wasn’t over, and I’d be a fool to go anywhere alone after this.

My mama came to me and bent over, picking up one of my braids from the floor.

She ripped that shit clean out of my scalp.

I sat at the table and put my face in my hands.

I couldn’t believe this was happening. I thought it was funny that I hadn’t at least heard from Ms. Nita, Julius’s mom.

Her messy ass started this shit. I wished she would have just told me what was going on or sent a picture or some shit instead of calling me to the house.

She’d put her son in danger, because I wanted to kill him then .

“You okay?”

I nodded. When she was about to sit, Uncle Storm blocked her. She stared up at him as he stared at me. When my mama walked away, my nerves took over. He sat in front of me. “The only person that can fuck you up right now is me or your parents. I ain’t finna let nobody else have that pleasure.”

I took a deep breath and allowed a couple of tears to fall. “I’m so sorry, Uncle Mayor.”

“Look at me.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t dare stare into his eyes.

It felt like there was fire in them that would set me ablaze if I did.

He leaned over and firmly grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up.

“You my niece, but you and Ashanni are like my daughters too. You fucked up. Big time. And you have to live with that shit for the rest of your life. But I’m choosing not to hold it against you anymore.

I’m still angry . . . still hurt, but I forgive you, Milana. ”

I bolted from my seat and fell to him. He hugged me tightly as I cried.

I was at his and Uncle Jasper’s houses as much as my own growing up.

Their embraces meant the world to me. I could truly move on from this depressive state I seemed to sink to whenever I was around my family.

When I pulled away, he said, “Now get yo’ ratchet ass off me. ”

I laughed then sat in my chair. “I love you, Unc.”

“I love you too, baby. That bitch gon’ suffer the same fate as Shayla she keep coming around here. Don’t go nowhere by yourself. Okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

He got up and went back to their meeting, and my mama sat across from me. “You sure you okay? I can get Kenny to look at you.”

“It’s okay. I can feel my lip is swollen, but I’ll deal with it when I get home.”

I closed up my box and stood from my seat. That girl was fucking me up. I wasn’t a fighter like my mama, but I could usually hold my own. I’d been in a couple of fights growing up but none since I’d been grown. Had I recognized that bitch, I would have been more on guard.

“Mama, will you follow me home until I get in the house?”

“I planned to do that anyway.”

“I wanted to go see Ace today, but I guess that’s out until somebody can go with me.”

“If you still feel like it later, I’ll take you.”

“Thanks, Mama.”

We walked outside just as Ashanni and Maui were driving up. I supposed they got busy at the office. They hopped out of Ashanni’s car, and Maui ran right to me. “Oh my God! Lana, what happened?”

“Stupid bitch came in the diner and jumped me. I didn’t recognize her, but she was Julius and Malik’s sister.”

I glanced at my mama, then said, “I’m going home. I’ll talk to y’all later.”

They both spoke to and hugged my mama, then told her they would make sure I got home.

When Mama went back inside the diner, Ashanni said, “I would have beat that bitch’s fucking face in.

I’m Chasity Pollard Henderson’s daughter.

She just as bad as Aunt Tiff. You may not have inherited that ‘fuck ’em up’ lifestyle, but I surely did. ”

I rolled my eyes as Maui laughed. Ashanni was about that life by mouth only.

I’d never witnessed her fighting or even telling somebody off.

She was just as mild as Maui by deed. Maui was just more soft-spoken like Karima.

She had to really be pushed for her Henderson to show itself.

She hopped in my truck with me, and Maui got in the car and followed us to my mama’s house.

“So what’s up with you and Asad? His eyes were on you for most of dinner last night.”

She huffed slightly. “He’s a really nice guy, and he’s fine as hell. I just feel like I’m not ready. He’s so much older and more mature than me. He’s like thirty-two or thirty-three years old.”

“So. Ferris is six years older than me. Are you afraid of something?”

She lowered her head for a moment. “Not afraid. Just nervous. He seems really respectful, but I feel like he would turn my ass inside out. I’m not ready to want to devote so much of my time to a man.

That’s all. I don’t want to be caught up.

I know that’s what will happen. You know how I am.

I’m not tryna add to my body count right now. I have no restraint.”

I chuckled as I turned into the driveway.

I could understand where she was coming from.

Ashanni had a hot girl summer last year, simply because her restraint wasn’t working like it should.

She trusted niggas too easily too. If they said they wanted to be in a relationship with her, she was ready.

So I could understand her wanting to get better at filtering out bullshit before making that leap.

My dad had just gotten home and was on the back porch. I turned to Ashanni and smiled.

“Y’all don’t have to stay. I know you’re just on your lunch break. I love y’all.”

“Love you too. I hate that we were running late. Make sure you put ice on your face.”

“Okay,” I said as my phone chimed.

Killing the engine, I grabbed my purse and got out then pulled my phone from my pocket to see a message from Ferris.

Thinking about you, beautiful. Call me when you have time.