Page 36 of Royce (Atkins Family Saga #1)

He walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. A kiss was placed on my cheek as he offered a light laugh. I found nothing funny. This was the wrong time to be joking around with me.

“Stop taking this shit too far. I ain’t say none of that whatsoever. If you want to make breakfast for my boy, then do that. It was just a suggestion, My Baby. Don’t overthink this.”

“I’m going to see Seri sometime this week. Will you watch them, or do I have to check with your mama first to see if that’s okay?” I was being an asshole now but so the fuck what.

Unwrapping his arms, he kissed me one last time before walking off.

He was still amused by my reactions. I had nothing against Ms. Iris in the slightest. She was the sweetest mama bear I ever met, and I appreciated every single thing that woman had done for me and mine.

However, I was just as capable of doing those same things.

I didn’t need her to take care of them because I had them at the end of the day. I could fix my son a damn meal.

“Watch it, My Baby.” His tone was light, but I could hear the threat underneath it.

“You fuckin’ watch it.” We were going back and forth for no reason at all. I was just frustrated at the moment and took his suggestion as a threat to my motherhood when I shouldn’t have.

“Go see yo’ folk man. I got my kids,” he said from his closet.

I left out the room with Essence still in my arms eating.

I headed right for CJ so we could make breakfast together.

I missed hearing his little conversations and the many topics he bounced to.

He was in his active phase. He loved everything about the compound and never let me forget about the racetrack in the back.

He was just happy to be somewhere other than 2120.

It had been damn near a year since I put on a pair of heels.

However, I decided to step out in a pair of Burberry heels to match the bodycon dress I slipped on.

Was my body completely back to being snatched?

Not at all but I still looked damned good.

I was two months postpartum and felt like I’d be back to myself in no time.

Scanning the restaurant, my eyes finally landed on my cousin.

She was all smiles and seeing her face caused me to be as well.

I took that stroll over to her and engaged in a hug that I missed dearly.

After having Essence, Royce banned her from the compound before she could even make it.

She was only able to see her over Facetime or through photos.

I knew she had several bones to pick with me.

“Cousinnnnnn,” I sang as we rocked side to side.

“I missed youuuu,” she replied.

“ Ugh ! I didn’t think that man would give me a chance to breathe again. God it’s suffocating on that compound,” I complained.

“Nah, it’s just you ain’t use to being around so much family or money at the same damn time. I might not like his rude ass, but he does keep you and my babies safe. I can give him that. That’s all he’s good for,” she said rolling her eyes.

He was good for more than that and she knew it.

She just hated admitting it. She called me every day and every day she asked me not to tell Royce she was glad he knew how to do something other than work her nerves.

They were both stubborn but cared a lot about me and the kids.

All they needed to do was stop competing and work as a team.

Me and mine could never have too big of a support system.

“I’m thinking about going back home for a little bit.”

“What? Why? You know what? I don’t even care. I missed my babies.” She called over the waitress right after showing she really didn’t give a fuck for my reasoning.

“Damn bitch. At least act like you care,” I pouted.

“I do then again, I really don’t. You want me to ask why though so I will. Why do you want to go home, Klarity?” She picked up on exactly what I was putting down.

Sitting back, I crossed my arms and legs.

I was frustrated but I was also fighting with myself about how fast I was adjusting.

I accepted Royce but the change of pace in how life worked for him was different for how it worked for me.

The help from his family was absolutely amazing but I promised my kids I’d be the one to get us out the struggle. It was something else I failed to do.

“A minute to breathe, that’s all.”

“Is this not that? You just had a baby and really need to take the time to heal. Having his help is a good thing so why are you running away from it?”

“I’m not running Seri. I seriously just need a breather. I’m smothered in that damn place.”

“And again, is this not that? I think you afraid to really love that man after what fuck ass Cojak put you through. Yes, he has more than that baby daddy of yours but at the end of the day, he’s still a man. Am I right?”

“I’m struggling over here bitch. Like, I know he’s the better choice. Let’s not get that shit twisted. Life has been upgraded.”

“Okay! ‘Cause you were scaring me for a minute. Look, I get not wanting to jump out and love another nigga because of the last but he ain’t Cojak. From everything you’ve told me, he’s patient and don’t mind waiting on you.

I do think he’s crazy as fuck but he’s a crazy you can handle cousin.

Plus, it’s a little too late to be wanting to take a step back, your daughter has his name.

And when the hell did that nigga propose?

I see that fat ass rock on your finger.”

I took it off and stared at it for what seemed like an eternity before slipping it back on.

No one cared for us better than Royce. His love was accepted but damn was I being just as crazy and delusional loving him back so fast. It had only been two months and already I was head over heels for him.

That wasn’t normal. It took me longer than that for Cojak.

“He didn’t propose at all. I woke up to it on my finger and when I said he should’ve asked first he was so offended.

In his eyes, I’m his wife and that ain’t changing.

Would I mind being that to him? Nope, but damn give me the option to say yes or no.

” I reached for Seri’s drink and took a sip.

I didn’t care what kind of alcohol it was, I just knew I needed it.

“You and that man are going to drive me crazy. When you need to breathe, call me and we can hang out. Going home though… I don’t see the point.

He gives y’all everything y’all need plus more.

You living on a compound heffa. What kind of breather is the hood going to do for you?

You talking out the side of yo’ neck. You accepted him now accept your feelings for him.

It’s really not that hard. What? The ring made you panic or something? ”

Out of everybody that knew me, Seri was the only one that knew me front and back.

I panicked like there was no tomorrow. He was winning in this game of chess with everything he said, and this was the ultimate checkmate.

I didn’t know how to challenge it or if I even wanted to.

I’d been doing that since he walked into my life.

I developed an attachment to him when I tried not to.

That said a lot about how he was as a man and partner.

“Girl, did it. A wife, Seri? That’s a lot of pressure, especially with him. I don’t even know what the hell he does for a living or how he got so much damn money. For all I know the nigga could be a damn serial killer.”

“I think he’s killed before. I mean, a nigga that crazy.

Yeah, he got some bodies under his belt for sure.

That ain’t none of our business though Klarity.

All you need to worry about is loving him wholeheartedly because guess the fuck what.

He’s not Cojak. It’s okay to love and be loved in return.

Wear his name and be proud of it. You deserve everything he’s doing and giving you.

He didn’t propose, so the fuck what. However, I would make that nigga give me a grand wedding to make up for it. ”

I smirked when she mentioned the wedding. Going back and forth in my head about my feelings wasn’t shit but my insecurities shining through from the relationship with my kid’s dad. Royce was the real deal and Seri was right. I deserved everything coming my way from him.

The talk with Seri changed gears and before I knew it, I was fed and tipsy as hell. I walked out of the restaurant feeling better about everything I had going on with Royce. My life wasn’t bad at all now that I had him. I didn’t understand why I was fighting myself on it.

Hopping in the passenger seat, I programmed the car to drive me home. I wasn’t ‘bout to risk my life knowing I had two kids and a husband waiting for me.

A husband? A husband.

I relaxed until I was back at the compound. I couldn’t even open the car door good before Royce was in my face scooping me up like I was some damn child. I wasn’t even drunk. Poor CJ came flying out the house past me to Royce Senior as if he didn’t see me in distress at all.

“I know how to walk, Royce,” I said wanting him to put me down but hold me at the same time.

“I know what the hell you can do. Why you go out drinking knowing you got to feed my daughter? All that breastmilk ‘bout to get dumped ‘cause you want to do dumb shit,” he fussed.

He was so serious and all I could muster up was a laugh. He looked at me like he wanted to smack fire from me which made me laugh even harder. I was feeling good, and it wasn’t shit he could do about it.

“Are you a killer? Me and Seri was wondering if you were. She said you was, so I need you to say something ‘bout that.”

“Yup among a lot of other shit. Why you so fuckin’ curious, My Baby?”

“ Ooouuu , like what?” I asked excitedly as he carried me upstairs.

“Selling illegal goods. Stop asking me questions and stop talking to Seri ‘bout me. That shit gon’ piss me off. Know it ain’t nothing you’ll ever have to be involved in. I mean, besides being the wife of the head of The Oath.”

“Whatever that means. I’m sleepy, Royce. I want to lay down.” I didn’t hear a word that nigga said.

“We ‘bout to shower first then get in the bed. I just laid Essence down and my mama supposed to be coming over to cook and handle them. I got business to take care of tonight.”

“You’re always leaving me,” I whined.

“Don’t start, My Baby. I been with you and the kids for two months straight. I got to get back to business. I won’t be gone long.”

“You promise?”

“Yeah man, I promise,” he said chuckling.

I smiled knowing this man was wrapped around my finger while I was slowly but surely doing the same for him.

He cared and that a blind man could see.

He didn’t lie to me, and I wasn’t expecting him to.

A man of his caliber didn’t have a reason to.

I believed him when he told me that me and my kids were enough.

It showed in everything he did for us. Now all I had to do was step out my own way and enjoy it.