Page 25

“Now, Skip… when we get in here, I want you to act like you have the good sense God gave you, baby. I raised you right, so act like it. In other words, don’t get in here acting like Wild.”

The day Gia came by the club claiming to have my kid, I went straight to my parents.

Call me a mama’s boy, but I needed someone with a clear head to help me think.

Wild and Uno happened to be there, and they didn’t want to waste any time about coming to see about the bitch and the baby.

I needed time to think about all of this so I could move appropriately.

I hated what this could mean for Gia being in my life again, but there was no way in hell I was going to turn my back on a child that could potentially be mine.

“Mama, I promise you that if there is a child up in here, I won’t kill Gia in front of them. That’s the best I can do.” I pulled the car into the lot of the motel. She would pick the most unpleasant one near Grove Heights. “Come on, and let’s get this over with.”

Exhaling, I got out of the car and patted my hip.

Looking around at the lingering faces, I spotted the men who were on Money’s team and essentially mine.

I didn’t want to bring my mother to this side of town, but I knew she was the only one who would keep me off this girl today.

Plus, my mother said she could look at a child in an instant and know if it was her grandchild or not. Wild has given her plenty of practice.

“Well, isn’t this the safest place to have a child,” my mother murmured as I walked over to the passenger side and helped her out of the car. “You’re going to move them somewhere else if this kid is yours.”

Holding her hand, I said nothing as I led her to the room Gia was staying in. I wouldn’t be spending a red cent on that bitch. I would make accommodations for the kid, but the mother could die.

“Who is it?” I heard Gia yell from the other side of the door as I knocked. I took a deep breath to keep from voicing my irritation. It’s not like she didn’t know I was coming.

“Man… open this door before you piss me off.” My mother elbowed me and frowned disapprovingly. “We don’t have all damn day, Mama.”

“I have some of the rudest boys.” She sighed and shook her head slowly. “Just damn mean.”

Hearing the chain removed from the door, I held onto my mother’s hand and pulled her back slightly. Slowly, the room door opened, and the smell of marijuana hit me in the face, instantly pissing me off. Not only that, but she answered the door in a T-shirt and a pair of panties.

“Young lady, where the hell are your clothes?” my mother asked as she pushed past her and walked into the room. I grabbed her little ass back to me before she could walk further inside. “And where is the child you’re trying to pin on my son?”

“E-Evelyn,” she stammered as she tried to pull the hem of her shirt down her thighs. “W-What are you doing here?”

“Where is the kid?” my mother asked once more. I said nothing as I heard the impatience in her tone. My eyes were locked on Gia’s before shifting to take in the filth of this room. “Is there even a child in question?”

“Mommy, it’s hot in the bathroom. Can I come out now?”

Hearing her little voice, my heart stopped. My feet were planted to the ground as my mother let my hand go and walked over to the bathroom. My eyes widened at the sight of the little girl who rounded the corner. With a beat-up teddy bear in her hands, she looked around the room with worried eyes.

“Hey, pretty girl.” My mother dropped to her at eye level and smiled. She rubbed her finger gently against her chubby cheek, causing the fear in the little girl’s eyes to dissipate. “I’m Evie. What’s your name?”

“Gianna.” She gave my mother a small smile as she rocked back and forth. “You’re pretty too.”

“Thank you so much!” Mama pinched her cheek as she looked her over. “Did I interrupt your bathtime?”

Looking over the little girl’s attire, she looked as dirty as the hotel they were staying in. She was beautiful, true enough, but her clothes were torn, her hair was matted, and her face was ashen. Dragging my eyes to Gia, I could tell she was embarrassed.

“Mama said monies is tight, and I have to go without things sometimes. She said that she can get nice things because she works for it and?—”

“Gianna!” Gia yelled at her, causing her to flinch. The little girl practically jumped into my mother’s arms. “What have I told you about telling my damn business?”

Deciding to make myself known, I said nothing to Gia as I made my way over to my mother and little Gianna.

Once I hovered over them, she cowered into my mama with her little arms wrapped around her neck.

That one notion caused my heart to flutter.

I never wanted her to be scared of me—mine or not.

Looking her over, I couldn’t find any bruises or markings on her.

Outside of her appearance, she seemed healthy.

“Jordan, look at me, baby,” my mother stated as she rocked Gianna.

“Jordan!” she shouted to gain my attention.

I locked eyes with my mother and watched as her mouth moved to say, “She looks just like you when you were younger. I think she’s your daughter.

” She wrapped her arms around the girl even more tightly. “Call them in.”

Nodding, I ignored Gia calling my name as I pulled out my cell and texted Uno. He knew of someone who could do a paternity test and have the results to us in less than a day. If she were truly my child, I needed to know sooner rather than later.

“Now, wait just one minute…” Gia stepped up to me as I opened the door to let the lab technician in. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”

“You called me over here because you think this is my child, right?” I mugged her as I stepped to her. “What? You thought you were going to pin a baby on me, and I was just going to take your word for it? You must think I’m a muthafuckin’ fool.”

With clenched fists, I glared down at the girl who once had my heart. I would have done anything for this girl, and she played me. The past was the past, but in the present, I wanted nothing more than to choke her with my bare hands.

“You know me, Jordan.” She stepped to me and placed her hand on my chest. “Ow!”

“I don’t know shit about you, and this is the last fuckin’ warning.

” I sneered as my mother called out to me.

Twisting her wrist, I tried my hardest to break it.

“Touch me again, and father or not, Gianna will for sure grow up without a mother.” Pushing her away from me, she held onto her arm and wept quietly.

Closing my eyes, I pinched the bridge of my nose and took several deep breaths.

“Now, go and put on some fuckin’ clothes.

” This girl was bringing out the worst in a nigga, and I needed to get a fucking grip.

Feeling something tug at my pant legs, I snapped my eyes open. “Jordie, you have to be nice to girls.” I smirked as the seemingly small version of me chastised. “No matter what they do to make you mad, you can’t be mean to them. Okay?”

Nodding, I gave her a small smile. “Okay, baby girl. Come on.”

Taking her hand in mine, I felt as if a current of energy had passed through us. Something inside of me pulled at my heart and told me she was mine.

“This nice lady right here is going to use her Q-tip and swab the inside of your mouth. It’s going to be quick and painless.” I gave her a reassuring smile, but I could tell she was still nervous. “I’ll go first.”

Sitting beside her on the bed, I gave the tech the go-ahead to do her thing. After seeing the test was a breeze, Gianna sat like the big girl she was and allowed the tech to do her thing.

“Is that the mother?” The tech, Ann, peered over at Gia. “We need her sample too.”

“You’re not getting anything from me, and I don’t consent to you testing my daughter either.” She crossed her arms and mugged me. “I brought you over here to meet her, and this is the thanks I get?”

“Listen here, baby.” My mother stepped to her as she placed her purse in the chair.

“I’ve sat here and listened to you act a fool from the moment I walked through these doors.

That little girl…” She pointed at a quiet Gianna who was now latched onto my arm and didn’t want to let me go, “Looks exactly like my son. Either you take this test willingly, or so help me God, I will break your jaw and get the sample myself. You choose.”

With tears in her eyes, Gia plopped down in her seat, opening her mouth so she could be swabbed. In a matter of ten minutes, I’d done the hardest thing I’d ever have to do. The only thing left was to wait.

“Now what?” Gia asked, defeated.

“I will take this back to the lab and run the tests myself,” Ann assured us as she zipped all the bags and labeled them. “I will be in touch with you as soon as I get the results.”

Watching her leave, none of us said anything. The air was thick with unanswered questions, but now wasn’t the time to discuss it. Before I could tell Mama that it was time for us to go, I heard Gianna’s little stomach grumble.

“You hungry, little mama?” I glanced down at her and asked. Her bright eyes told me all I needed to know. “What would you like to eat?”

“Can I have pizza and ice cream?” She beamed as she held her bear tighter. “I promise, I will be good and eat it all.”

“You can have whatever?—”

“No, she can’t have shit.” Gia hissed as she stomped toward us and pulled Gianna from the bed. “I will feed my child when I get ready. You have embarrassed me enough for one day. You can go. You’d better hope I stick around for the results.”

Slowly, I turned to face my mother, who had already rolled up her sleeves. Taking slow steps in our direction, she walked over toward Gia and snatched her by her arm as if she were a child. Dragging her into the bathroom, I knew my mother was going to knock some sense into her.