OAKLAND's GREATEST

V.2, Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Here I am, You better listen.

Michaela.

I watch my Dad to my left and Cairo to my right look like literal twins as they cracked the shells the same, same slurp sound, down to eating the juice off their pinkies all in the same motion. They both stared up at me and stated, "something wrong with your bag?"
I dropped out of the clouds and laughed, "uhh No, I-um am just shocked at how alike you two are." I grabbed a garlic bread from the center of the table and Cairo wiped around his mouth and stated, "This is really good. I am happy I showed up."

"Yeah I am too. I know Ive been distant the last few months because of the whole thing with Michaela and my clubhouse have been very very busy" My dad vaguely said as I chuckled and said, "Well things are calm now and I think we should make this a weekly type thing. Dinner or even its something at the house."

"Ill like that." Cairo said smiling as my Dad said, "I will too. I just want you two to have the best bond. A brother to brother bond is a blood oath, but nothing tops a brother and sister bond. Its the best kind of love out there. The way yall Aunt and I grew up we were attached at the hips. If I was fighting three boys from down the block I can promise and bet that she would be on my side ready to knock a nigga head off. I know I am at fault for why it took this long but we can change the past and we are here now."

"I forgive you for that. We do in a sense." Cairo added as Rome took a deep breath as he slid out his chair and said, "let me go use the bathroom and make a phone call." He walked off as Cairo tossed his last crab shell back in his back. He sat back and stated, "that was bomb as fuck and I thought it would be weird but tonight was fun. Thanks for meaning everything you said."

"A real bitch thru and thru. I do want to say that it wasnt fully our dads fault. He has taken all the blame because it was a sucker move not to be there for you..but my grandpa, James Colby, told him if he was to move to Miami and be a father to you—I will never had seen him again and a war would have ensued."

"A war?" Cairo asked as he sipped his Long Island Ice Tea. I peeped to make sure my dad wasnt coming back and continued, "I don't know if you have peeped of got a suspicion but our dad is a thug. The clubhouse is a front for his illegal activities. And my grandpa is too. Thats how my mom and him had a one night stand. He was in Miami for business and had pleasure with his connects daughter. So if he would have moved to Miami for you and your dad. Then that meant he would make a play for the underworld and Miami is sort of the Colby's. He threatened that you, your dad, and sister would be in danger. My dad maybe a cocky narcissistic motherfucker but he loves with all his heart. And there he goessss" we both shut up and grabbed his drink. He came and dug down in his pocket and tossed 300 dollars on the table.

"Cairo take your sister home. I got to be somewhere like now." He said urgently as he flew out of the restaurant and Cairo stated, "Well let me guess. His other life calls? You dont be worried?"

I exhaled and confessed, "The only time I was scared when I was about 7. We were at the Lionels Midway Fair and this man, a past enemy, of his came up to me and snatched me off the game seat and had a gun to my head and I saw my dad turn into literally Lucifer Morningstar and blow that man brains all over me and the concrete. Without any remorse, second guessing, or thinking. In the car ride home I was crying obviously and thats when he told me that the blood that pumps thru me has no fear in it. If you ever let your opponent see you sweat , you already lost. He hid nothing from me since then. Many nights he would be gone and I would worry but I know his love for me is whats going to bring him back to me every time."

"Damn you guys been thru a lot. And here I was in Miami living the boujie life." Cairo said chuckling as we got up to go. We walked out and got into his car. He pressed the start button and I said, "Ugh now to go home to this gu-." He shot me a look as he pulled off and stated, "Unt! Unt! Continue what guy?"