Page 56 of June: When Gangstas Collide

There was so much going through my head as I made my way back to see Zaria and my boys. A nigga was blessed to deliver his kids. It was an emotional experience, one that I would never take for granted. To be able to hold them in my arms, to name them, and to be able to provide felt like some true king shit. Zaria, that woman was my idea of perfection. She carried a nigga’s seeds and birthed them beautifully. She allowed her pussy to be a vessel so my legacy could continue. Not the legacy of the Merciers but the legacy of June.

I have devoted a lot of my time to the game, to the crew, to moving the broken pieces, allowing Chevy to do what he felt like needed to be done. It was time I focused on more important things, like Samara, Zaria and raising Peace and Savior to become the Black kings they are supposed to be. It wasn’t me taking a back seat to the Zoo, rather allowing a nigga to step up and ride my wave until I felt like they were fully capable of running the Zoo.

When I entered the room, Zaria was asleep. I knew my baby was tired after what she experienced, and I didn’t want to wake her. Peace and Savior were in two separate beds, asleep as well. I stood over them, watching their tiny faces. They were identical, chocolate like me, a head full of hair like Z and mixed with both our blood. I was standing there watching them, which brought out an emotional side because seeing my kids, I could not imagine wanting to give them up or allowing someone to take them from me.

I pinched between my eyes to stop the tears when a light tap on the door made me lift my head. Samara smiled.

“I lied and told them I was your daughter.”

I smiled.

“You are my daughter, come look at your brothers.”

Samara became giddy as she tiptoed over to look at them. She turned to me as her smile became more serious.

“Don’t be mad at Dio and I’m not saying that because he’s my boyfriend, but because he did try not to react. Chevy, he’s trying really hard.”

I knew Dio was trying and I also knew how it was being provoked. Dio had truly shown me what type of man he was. He still had that dog in him, but he knew when to turn it on and off. I did feel bad for Keith, but more so for Bishop. This is why I was proud of raising Peace and Savior the way I wanted to.

“I know, Samara.”

“Well, good. Last thing,”

she said as she reached into her bag.

Zaria’s groggy moans alerted me that she was up.

“June. Samara,” she said.

I walked over to her bedside.

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired. Are the babies ok? I know they came early and I was scared—”

I kissed her forehead.

“They are right there. They are good. Zaria, you did that shit and a nigga couldn’t be prouder. Hail to the queen,” I told.

“Hail to the queen,”

Samara chimed in.

“I have something for you two,”

she said as she pulled an envelope out of her purse and handed it to me.

I opened it and read over the papers. My eyes raised to her.

“You want to change your last name to Calloway?”

She cleared her throat.

“If it’s ok with you both. You guys gave me a home. You gave me a love that I’ve longed for since I can remember. I’m too old to be adopted, but not too old to get a name change.”

I glanced at Zaria as she glanced at me. We hadn’t told Samara that my name was an issue, but I didn’t want to break her heart.

“Whether you change your name or not, Samara, we love you and to us you are and will always be a Calloway,”

Zaria said.

Samara smiled widely.

“Cool, all you two have to do is sign.”

She handed us a pen and Zaria and I both signed. Samara hugged a nigga so tight that those emotions began to brew in me again. Damn, kids make you cry too fucking much. I thought.

She pulled away and wiped her tears.

“The guys are out there and wanted to come see the babies. What do I tell them?”

“Send them back.”

Zaria began to whine.

“June, I look horrible.”

“Even on your worst day, baby, you’re still fine,” I winked.

I needed to figure out my name situation soon because I wanted to do something special for Z. I wanted to show my appreciation for everything she had done for me, including giving me children, but first, there was one last thing I needed to do.

It had been a few days since my sons were born, and I hadn’t been focused on anything but them. Zaria insisted that I go out and ride with the guys, so I did. I wanted to share something with all of them, and this was the perfect time.

“Nigga, slow down!”

Preach yelled as I hit a corner.

I laughed because no matter how much they tried, they couldn’t keep up with a nigga. I could hear Peanut beginning to stutter talking to Preach, “Puh-pu-Preach, watch, thi-th-this,”

he stuttered.

Peanut sped up, did a wheelie, and spun in a circle before his bike came down, and he took off.

“Oh shit, come on, Stutter Stanley,”

Diamond laughed.

“Ease up on my boy Uso,”

Monfua chimed in as he switched gears and took off behind Peanut.

Left, right, left, right. I dived in and out of cars. I merged onto the highway, raising my hand signaling them to line up. Diamond came in, “Shit, since Love, I feel like I haven’t ridden in forever. Don’t forget her christening is tomorrow, niggas!”

“We’ll be there, Diamond,”

Zu came in.

“I’m still on my honeymoon, so I hope Preach’s ass doesn’t take all damn day.”

“Nigga we’re going to be on God’s time, not your time, and you and Sasha were on honeymoon time way before you got married,”

Preach finished as he sped up, dipping through cars.

I could see Zeus coming up behind me.

“Ride that shit, Preach, moving as slow as you pray,”

he said before he howled, flying past me.

“You niggas gone get enough of talking about God’s favorite.”

Dio came in.

“Zoo shit, Preach. I’ve said enough prayers, and my nigga Jesus is on my side. You and I both know who God's favorite is,”

he finished as he one-handed his bike, doing a wheelie riding alongside me.

“A king and a God. What more can you ask for?”

he then said as he held up his finger in the air, spinning and leading the pack.

“Talk your shit, Dio! Talk your shit!” Foe said.

Preach sped up as we curved the highway. He leaned his bike low to the ground, then came up and took off.

“Aw shit, look at the bible thumper showing off,”

Mali came in.

All of them laughed.

“I’m mad you niggas trying to leave us, damn,”

Harvey said.

She and Sasha came up on the side of Zeus and Foe.

“Got to keep up, baby, if you want to ride. Ride that shit like a nigga showed you.”

Harvey sped up as she dived in and out of the passing cars.

“I see you, girl,” I said.

We had all slowed down, but Beans. The nigga sped past, but on a wheelie. I saw a lot of potential in Beans, but I knew there was something behind the nigga being so quiet. I met his parents.

“Listen up!”

I said to them all.

“First, we’ve added someone to the crew. They’ve worked hard to prove that they are worthy. Sasha, you are not alone. Welcome to the fucking Zoo, Harvey!”

I barked as I switched gears, tilting my bike forward, sitting on two wheels, while the guys popped wheelies for her.

I exited the highway with the crew behind me. We had ridden until we got to the hill. Everyone lined up and removed their helmets. I took mine off and stared at my niggas from day one and the new niggas we were all getting to know.

“I brought you all here to say a few things. Zu, you know you are my right hand. You have my back when I need it, just as the other guys. We’ve known each other since high school and seen each other through a lot of shit. You are my sons’ Godfather, and I love you. Dionysus,”

I paused because I was getting choked up. “You,”

I pointed.

“You have shown me and taught me the definition of being a king. You have stepped up in ways I would have never imagined. You are smart, resilient, you have that dog in you,”

I paused again.

I was trying to get my words out without being emotional, but Dio had really changed me.

“Zu, with your blessing and respect. I want to crown Dionysus Jackson, the prince of the fucking Zoo.”

Diamond balled his fist up against his mouth.

“Ok, Dio, we see you, little bad ass nigga. Chimpanzee over the gorilla.”

I could see Zeus thinking about.

“Like some next-generation type shit?”

I laughed.

“You know what I mean and you also know he deserves it.”

Zu nodded.

“I’m proud of him and I can fuck with it.”

Dio stepped up to me.

“You think I can do this for real, Chev?”

“No nigga I know you can. You will ride beside me. You will step in if I can’t because you are capable.”

Dio didn’t say another word as he hugged me tightly.

“Thanks, Chev.”

“No, thank you. Thank you to the God who spoke life into a king.”

Dio pulled away and wiped his eyes.

“Well, since we’re sharing shit. I guess I can tell you all I got into TSU. I leave in a couple of weeks.”

Everyone began revving their bikes for Dio. Zu broke down crying while I smiled widely. I watched as everyone celebrated, but thought about Samara. I hoped like hell Clark got my daughter into TSU or there was going to be hell to pay.