Page 26 of Still Forever

Jax

Everybody told me to stop pacing. I told them to mind their fucking business. I couldn’t help it, I wasn’t the type of nigga to be nervous—not about money, not about deals or war. But waiting to see KD walk down the aisle had my chest tight, as if I had run a marathon.

Zo leaned against the wall, his hands folded in front of him and his eyes scanning the doors, as if he were clocking exits and threats. Being the head of security, it probably was routine for him, so I’m sure he was. “You look like a lion in a cage.” He mumbled.

“I’m just ready,”

Judah smirked from beside me, suit sharp enough to cut glass. “Yeah, you ready alright. Just remember the pastor has to say you’re married before you snatch her up.” He scoffed, making us all laugh.

“Alright, gentlemen, it’s time for you all to walk out.” The wedding planner called for Trouble and Judah.

“I’m proud of you,” Trouble said as he reached his hand out for me to take and brought me into a hug. He held it longer than normal before we parted ways.

Zo was last. He grabbed the AR from the table like he was picking up a jacket and headed toward the door. I chuckled to myself. The Mafia was the only place that shit like this was normal.

“Mr. Jennings, are you ready?” She peeked back in and asked.

“Yeah,” I exhaled and rolled my shoulders before walking out. Applause started, but I drowned out the noise. My only focus was making it to the altar and waiting on KD to come stand with me.

I took my place with Trouble on one side of me as my best man, and Judah next to him.

The wedding planner had done everything that she wanted.

Six figures on white flowers, a six-foot ice sculpture with K she cooked and baked as if she had been raised by her grandma.

We had been in Jamaica for two of fourteen days.

What was supposed to have been a honeymoon turned into a couple’s trip.

Kennedy invited everyone to come for the first week, and then we would spend the next week alone.

Our promotion in the Mafia to elites left everyone’s schedule clear, and they didn’t think twice about coming.

Storm and Trouble came, Judah brought a chick named Alexis, and Zo and Remy were here too.

I fucked with Zo the long way. He kept my team running smoothly and ensured my wife's safety. The night after the dinner, he came to me and told me that he was feeling Remy. He asked if I would have an issue with it. He should have known that I didn’t care about anything aside from KD, but the fact that he asked before he did anything made me respect him more.

Judah stumbled out of his room; his face was evidence of the fact that we didn’t make it home until almost five a.m. Nigga didn’t even say good morning. Just got right down to his bullshit.

“I’m surprised that you can walk this morning, Kenn. Y’all muhfuckas kept me up all last night. And Jax, I’m disgusted by you, for real, G. I wish I could unhear everything I heard,” He gritted with his nose turned up and sat in the bar stool next to me.

“Nigga what the fuck you talking about?” I glanced toward KD, who was also confused.

“Ain’t y’all room on top of mine?” He asked.

“No, the master bedroom is on that side of the house,” She pointed in the opposite direction.

“Well, who the fuck—” Before he could say anything else, the door upstairs opened and out walked Storm.

He fell to his knees, “not my sweet innocent rainstorm. My heart hurts.” We all broke into laughter before she turned off the stove and started to plate everyone’s food.

It had been over twenty years since we were all under the same roof, and I can’t lie and say that I don’t appreciate KD for suggesting it. But I knew with this clown ass nigga it was going to be a long fucking week.

“We don’t have much time before our day is supposed to start,” She reminded me. Her and Storm had planned the entire week from sunup to sundown, even the times that we would eat. We were two days in, and I was already tired as hell.

My business phone started to ring.

“Boss, I need you to handle something,” One of the men from the cleanup crew said from the other end of the phone.

I didn’t blink twice. “Call Sanchez, whatever you need, he’ll take care of it. He’s on call for the next two weeks,” I said as I bit into the turkey bacon.

“Nah, Boss, he ain’t you,”

“The fuck I just said?” I snapped.

“Aight, aight.” He said before I disconnected the call.

Kennedy said she learned her lesson, but I had actually learned mine.

The whole building could be burning down, and I’d be right here drinking Bob Marleys next to my wife.

This time around, especially with her pregnancy, I was going to focus on KD and make sure she had as little stress as possible.

I understood my oath in the mafia, but my main focus was on having a happy wife and making sure she gave birth to a healthy child.

Kennedy Jennings completed me in every way.

I would do all this shit over again if it meant this moment, right here.