Page 43 of Royce (Atkins Family Saga #1)

“At home… in Southside Park. Can you just come and pick us up? Me and the kids don’t know what the hell to do right now.

I’m not used to this kind of shit, Royce,” she cried.

It lowkey pleased me that she needed me but then again, her life would never be the same.

I was gon’ always be the one she called for justice and protection from now on.

“ Hmph! I’m on the way. Riddle me this though, My Baby. I been calling and texting you for the last hour. Where you been?”

“Royce.”

“Klarity, I see you stalling on answering me so when I get there, make sure you have yo’ eulogy written up,” I threatened. I hung up in her face and hopped back in my whip to head her way.

She avoided answering me which told me everything I needed to know.

As much as I loved her, I could put her in a grave with a headstone just as beautiful as she was.

Playing with me should’ve been more thought out.

Waking up grieving my wife every day would tear me a part but nevertheless it would be done with my kids by my side.

I flew from the compound to Southside Park with one thing on my mind.

My Baby was really doing everything in her power not to tell me she went to see that bum, but it was cool.

She could avoid me over the phone all she wanted.

However, when I stepped in her face, she’d better take the safe route and answer me.

By the time I pulled up, twelve was doing the same. I should’ve known she was gon’ police this thang. I shot a text to Striker and told him to scrap the car. I’d get her a new one. Preston had plenty on the lot to choose from.

I pulled into her driveway and parked. The officer there paid more attention to me than Klarity who was in his face.

I sat there and after a minute or two, he walked away from My Baby in mid conversation to come and bother me.

I released a deep breath and locked my car doors.

Twelve always thought they were in the right and would open doors or shatter windows if they saw fit.

I was the wrong one to fuck with right now though.

My girl wasn’t being truthful, and my kids were unattended to. He might want to turn the fuck around.

“Excuse me officer, I was speaking to you,” Klarity voiced following behind him.

He ignored her and tapped on my window with his knuckles. I ignored him the same way he did my wife and called Klarity. She answered not saying a word. As soon as the phone was comfortable against her ear, I said, “Tell that nigga to get the fuck away from my car before I do something to him.”

“What you think I’m doing? Officer, whoever is in my yard isn’t your business. I called to report a robbery. I’m the victim here.”

“And I just want to ask a few questions. Can you step out of the vehicle please?” He was back to banging on my window.

“My husband doesn’t need to do anything. If you’re not going to be of help, then maybe you should leave. I’ll come down and file the report on my own.”

I was beyond aggravated at this point. Opening the car door, I stepped out with my gun in tow.

I was quite sick of these dumb muthafuckas in Sage Springs.

My gun was spotted first causing him to draw his.

He stepped back but quickly realized who the fuck he was getting buck with.

That tune he carried moments ago didn’t have as much bass now.

“Ro-Royce Atkins? I swear I didn’t know it was you. I was just doing my job,” he spoke with a trembling voice.

“You better hope you have one by the time you get back to the precinct. She called you for a fuckin’ robbery, yet you over here in my damn face. My Baby, has he taken a statement yet?” I asked without taking eyes off him.

“Not completely. He asked me like two questions before you pulled up. He been worrying about you since then,” she answered.

“Get his name and badge number then report his goofy ass. His fuckin’ camera ain’t even on. Where my kids, Klarity?” I walked away without bothering to look back. He was a goner once I called in a few favors.

“In the house sleeping. I’ll be in, in a minute.”

“No, the fuck you not. You gon’ bring yo’ ass on right now. He got a card in his top right pocket. Get it and come the fuck on.”

By the time I reached the front door, she was scurrying across the lawn to it.

The officer walked away shaking his head.

Yeah, that nigga was gon’ cry in the car ‘cause his career was definitely over. Opening the front door, I could hear Essence’s screams as if she was in the same room as us.

I looked back at Klarity with a hell of a mug.

The way I was feeling, I was ready to do something to her lil’ ass.

“She was sleep when I walked out, Royce. She was fine, I swear,” she spoke. I hadn’t asked her a bitch ass thing, yet she felt the need to explain.

I entered the crib and went right for her.

The house was so damn small I swear all it took was a few steps down the hall and I was at the bedrooms. My laundry room was bigger than this muthafucka.

Nevertheless, I was in the room where the kids were located picking baby girl up.

The second she heard my voice, she calmed down.

“Aye, hush all that fuss. You with Daddy now. I don’t know why yo’ mama testing me today.”

“H-Here’s her bottle. She hasn’t eaten since earlier.”

I took the bottle Klarity extended in my direction and gently placed it in her mouth. She started swallowing that bitch. She was fa sho’ hungry as hell. I walked out with her in my arms to the living room where all the gifts still cluttered it.

“My Baby where the fuck you been?” I questioned in a low annoyed tone.

“I told you I went to see my aunt, Royce.”

I chuckled and took a seat on the sofa. I knew if I stayed standing, I was liable to really knock her block off.

She was steady lying and that shit was pissing me the fuck off.

If a muthafucka was repeatedly asking you over and over again on where the fuck you been, then obviously they knew already.

I was confused on what the wasn’t clicking with her slow ass.

“Yeah, and that’s all the fuck you saying.

You keep leaving out the part where you took yo’ goofy ass and my fuckin’ kids up to the jailhouse to see that fuck nigga.

What? You miss him? You trying to rekindle a struggling flame?

Tell me exactly what the fuck made you take my kids to a fuckin’ jailhouse! ” I shouted.

“Royce, it’s not even like that. You doing too much now. I never said I missed that nigga or was rekindling a damn thing.”

“I’m doing too much? I’m doing too much?” I had to take a minute and laugh that off or else shit was gon’ go left in this muthafucka. “You better act like you know who the fuck you married to.”

Her head slowly fell to the side as her brows dipped. She was ‘bout to come back with some attitudinal shit, but I really didn’t give a fuck. She was in the wrong and she knew it. However, I knew women. She was gon’ throw it back on me like I’m the problem.

“Excuse me? Nah nigga, you better act like you know who you married. Let’s not forget you wouldn’t be the head of shit if I didn’t say yes. Don’t talk to me like that, Royce.”

“See, that’s where you’re wrong. I would and yo’ ass would still be here at 2120 trying to figure out what’s next. I don’t play them childish ass games, My Baby. When I say don’t take my kids nowhere without my fuckin’ permission, that’s what the fuck I mean!”

She jumped back out of fright but recovered quickly. She stepped to me with her finger pointed at Essence saying, “These are my kids, Royce, and I can do whatever I damn well please.”

“Yours? Nah, her and CJ both carry my fuckin’ name.

Yo’ lying ass do, too, but I’m lowkey ready to snatch that shit the fuck back from yo’ ungrateful ass.

All I got to say is try it again and see what the fuck happens.

Go get my son, so I can take my kids home.

If you want to live in this studio ass house, then so be it, but they coming home with me. ”

I stood not caring what the fuck else Klarity had to say. Essence was finishing up her bottle, so I put her over my shoulder as I headed for the car. Steam was radiating off a nigga body at this point. She had me thirty-eight hot out this bitch.

I sat in the back seat with baby girl until she burped.

I placed her in her car seat as My Baby walked out seconds later with CJ and a few bags.

I strapped her in and waited for my lil’ man, so I could do him as well.

Once they were good to go, I was back up front in the driver’s seat.

I got comfortable before I pulled off and Klarity put her hand under my shirt the way she normally did whenever we were in the car together.

This was a habit she picked up that I didn’t mind.

We hit the highway before she decided to break the ice and give an explanation. She had to know I wasn’t saying shit first. I was liable to cuss her ass clean the fuck out with some disrespect sprinkled in that bitch. It was best for me to shut the fuck up.