Page 5 of Royce (Atkins Family Saga #1)

I was irritated as fuck knowing I had to spend another month in this bitch but at the same time I was relieved.

That witness playing pussy was helping me more than they realized.

I wasn’t convicted of shit yet, and hopefully in the mist of the next few weeks, Striker would do what the fuck he was supposed to do. It was good news, nonetheless.

Going from one side of the building to the other was damn near like walking a mile.

The jailhouse was on the backside with its own entrance and parking area.

Walking around in an orange baggy ass suit looking like the rest of these bummy ass muthafuckas in here wasn’t me.

This shit was for the birds and everybody and they mama knew it.

Talk about taking shit for granted a nigga missed washing his ass in peace.

The food was terrible, and I hadn’t washed my hair in months.

I was in need of a retwist as well. Out of everything I dealt with in life, this shit right here topped the cake.

As soon as I allegedly committed something, I was getting off.

Taylor had it right when he mentioned paying my way out of trouble.

Money talked and his bitch ass didn’t have enough to hold conversation.

“Alright Atkins, I’ll see you in three weeks,” the officer commented with a sarcastic laugh.

I’d made it back to my cell. “You better hope you don’t,” I said walking in my room. He found something amusing in my stay here, but I promise I was gon’ have the last laugh.

Laying on the bunk, I kicked my feet up and staired at the ceiling. On the bright side of this dumbass shit, I didn’t have to worry ‘bout the stipulations of The Oath. Wasn’t really a fan of somebody telling me what and how to go. I was sure my father couldn’t wait to throw this up in my face.

Closing my eyes, I rested the best I could until it was time for my visit.

I had my best friend, Heidi, coming to see me so for what it was worth, she would be happy to see me still for a minute.

Her time didn’t become limited with me until I got here.

If nobody else was ready for me to come home, she was.

As soon as I felt like I was dozing off, my name was called over the intercom. “Atkins, you have a visit from Heidi Mitchell. Will you accept?”

“Yeah,” I shouted.

Sitting up, I swung my body around placing my feet on the floor. I released a deep sigh before standing and going to the sink to brush my teeth. By the time I was done, the guard was at my door.

“Let’s go,” she said with cuffs in her hands.

A low chuckle rumbled in my chest. Lil’ did they know, I wasn’t gon’ do shit in here.

I was stressed enough and adding bullshit to my plate wasn’t what I had time for.

Holding my wrists out, she wrapped the cold steel around them.

She grabbed me by the arm and slowly ushered me to the designated area.

I got looks left and right anytime I walked through this dirty ass facility.

I knew them muthafuckas didn’t expect to ever see me in here, but unexpected shit happened all the time.

Making it to the visiting room, the cuffs were removed, the doors were opened, and I took a seat at a table. My annoyance level went all the way down after I saw Heidi walking through the door minutes later.

She smiled from ear to ear the second she saw me causing me to return the gesture. I stood when she was in reach bringing her into my embrace. The hug was short but meaningful. Her comfort was missed.

Heidi was a beautiful chocolate coated woman that suffered from vitiligo. Underneath her eyes, her stomach, her back, and her feet were the most affected. She never let it get to her though. She had people around her that reminded her on her beauty including me.

“How you feeling and where’s your head at with everything?” She was going to ask her twenty-one questions every visit and I was going to answer each one of them.

“A nigga drained but you knew that already. Ain’t nothing changed from the last visit,” I replied.

“I prayed for you. I’m not sure if he’ll listen since it’s been years of you even stepping foot in the church house.”

“Don’t start that shit, Heidi. I pay my tithes.”

“And no one is saying you don’t. It was put to good use and the congregation is very thankful for the new building it purchased. However, do you think tithes are enough?”

“It better be. Look, God knows my heart, aight?” I lightly laughed knowing this wasn’t going to be the last time she tried to get me to go to church.

“You’ve been saying that for years. I’m not even sure he knows who you are anymore.

Anyway, I went by the house and cleaned it yesterday.

I also fed your scorpions. I disliked doing that very much by the way.

” Her facial expression said she really didn’t fuck with it so I wouldn’t make her do it again.

“’Preciate it. I’ll have Striker or Pops handle it from now on. How you feeling, though? You found your next Love Behind Bars contender yet?”

She hit me in my chest, and I belched a hearty laugh. Heidi hated when I picked on her about that pen pal bullshit, but I couldn’t help but take shots. It was the only fun I could have at the moment.

“Stop making fun of me, Royce. Some of those men don’t have anyone and those letters bring them comfort.

If it was you stuck in here for life, you would want the same.

Be nice sometimes. You know, if you want, we can get you into the women’s program.

There’s plenty of men that write women in there,” she jested.

My face rested in an expression that made her laugh just as hard as I did moments earlier. It was good seeing her smile though. As much as she’d been through, seeing joy on her was refreshing. I’d put my life on the line for this girl. She deserved stability and my family was that for her.

My attention was temporarily captured by the same pregnant woman I’d seen come up here for months.

The fuck nigga she came to see talked to her crazy.

He ain’t show an ounce of respect to that girl.

It was sad to watch honestly because I gradually watched her belly grow for the past three months and he didn’t seem to care.

I also watched that nigga move foul as hell in here.

He would’ve been in the dirt by now if he was dealing with one of mine.

Heidi noticed where my focus shifted, and her eyes followed. She took in ole girl briefly before turning back to me wearing a smirk. “I see your wheels turning so tell me what’s up.”

“What you mean?” I countered playing clueless.

“Who you think you talking to, Royce? I know you better than anyone and you can’t keep your eyes off her. I’ve been to visit you several times and your eyes have wondered to her each time. So, tell me what’s up.”

“She pregnant as hell and from what I caught the last time, he don’t give a fuck about her or them kids he left her with. She need to leave his broke ass.”

“And do what? Be with you?” she asked letting her pretty lil’ head fall to the side with brows raised.

Maybe, maybe not.

“Shit, if she knew better, she’d damn sure do better but that’s the thing, she don’t know me yet,” I responded confidently.

“She looks like she’s the sweetest thing to talk to. However, we’re minding our business. Leave her alone, Royce. I mean it.”

“What would Jesus do? See, y’all fake Christians so selfish nowadays.”

She scoffed as she lightly chuckled. “You dead wrong. I’m the last person you should be saying that to. All I’m suggesting is focus on you and get you together before bothering that darn girl.”

“Name the last time I bothered somebody. Nah, fuck that. Name a muthafucka I bothered.”

“You’re a piece of work and you know it,” she said shaking her head. She looked over to ole girl one last time before giving me her attention again.

“You love me though.”

We spent the rest of the visit chopping it up about the shit going on with the fam.

She caught me up and brought laughs to the limited time we had left.

With everything going on, I knew she missed having unlimited access to me.

Three weeks tops and she’d have me out there searching for vintage vinyl’s and the lil’ shit she took interest in.

Spoiling my family was second nature at this point.

Whatever they asked for, I granted without hesitation, especially my grandmother.

Her health was declining and for the past three months, my hiccup had stressed her out mentally and physically.

I hated not being able to see her and reassure her I was good in these streets.

I was her only grandson, so I knew the weight it held.

I done made a lot of mistakes in my life but wasn’t shit I regretted when it came to my blood. Nobody had them the way I did. Their presence was missed.