Hustle. (Book 2)

Chapter 25: Daddy Issues

Chris P.O.V.

I was still running the game for my father here and there. While Lauryn would sleep at night, I'd do some runs here and there and check up on things around the block. I knew she tried not to let it get to her, but it really began to weigh on her and I couldn't live with that. 

As soon as my children were born, I knew I had to stop. I arranged to meet with my father at my Uncle Benny's restaurant and discuss this with him the day after the twins were born.

"Christopher," he welcomed, rolling the letters in my name. "I'm so glad to see you son."

"Hola, Papo," I replied as he brought me in for a hug. I glanced up at my Uncle Benny. "Hey tío." He nodded my way and I signaled that we were going into the back room of his restaurant in case things got out hand.

"So my son," he began. "Qué pasa?"

"Nothing really," I muttered. "I just need to discuss something important with you and I need to do it quickly."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Go on, hijo," he told me.

"Papo. As much as I don't want to defy you and the plan you have set up for me, this is not." I paused. "This is not the life I want to live. I can't do this anymore."

He smiled, assuming I was joking with him. As the silence grew longer, his smile faded. "You're not serious hijo," he said.

I nodded. "Pero, I am. As I said, I don't wish to defy you but--" I was cut off by a punch in my cheek and I could taste the blood forming in my mouth.

"Who is she?" he demanded.

"What are you talking about--"

"Who is she?" he hollered, knocking over a stack of plates and shattering them.

"The mother of my children," I replied sternly.

He began to chuckle. "Ay, mi niño. You are very stupid. Very," he responded, smacking me in the head. This time I caught his fist and twisted it backwards, as a reflex.

"Did you just fight back, son?" He asked me, eyes wide. I was silent.

He twisted my arm backwards and slapped me which caused me to stumble back and knock over a shelf.

"Listen, you've tried to control my life too much, Papo. I'm finished with this. I'm doing this for me, and my children, my girl, that's my family."

"You have it all wrong, Christopher." He gripped my shirt and pulled me closer to his face. "I am your only family. Your mother is dead. You have no siblings. You are mine. And without me, you are nothing."

"Your not family. You just use me to better yourself. Like a fucking puppet, Papo. Everything I've done is for you." I smirked, looking into the flickering light above me. "But you know what? Now it's time for me to better myself. Fuck you and fuck this business. I am finished."

"How dare you?" he exclaimed, throwing another punch into my cheek. "I see you've gone loco...lost your damn mind. Just remember I know where you live, I can easily find out who she is, and it'd be a shame for anything to happen to that poor little girl and your children."

I pushed him back with much force, causing him to slam into the metal back door. "You don't lay a finger on my family, you hear me?" I stated, raising my voice louder.

"You can't be so sure about that," he said, smirking. That made me blow my top.

I sent a hard punch to his nose and felt my knuckles crack. He slammed me back into another shelf and felt a surge of pain run up my back. Getting up, I knocked him to the floor and began punching and punching until I couldn't feel my hands anymore.

"Sobrino! Nephew! Nephew!" my uncle called, storming into the room. That's enough, that's enough!" He pulled me off. I looked at myself and realized I had blood all over me, my father was unconscious, and the back room was destroyed.

"Tío," I began.

"It's okay, Chris. It's okay."

"I...I." I choked on my words. "I have to get out of here. I'm leaving New York tío. He shook his head, acknowledging me, yet he still looked at his displaced kitchen. "I'll get someone to clean this up. We'll get new things."

"I don't have the money for new things. And from the look of things, you won't either." He glanced down at my unconscious father.

"What are you taking about tío?" I questioned.

"The restaurant is not where I need it to be, my bills are adding. That, and between supporting Andrea, and Samalia... you know I'd do anything for my grandbaby."

I glanced around the room looking at the mess I'd created. A mess that couldn't easily be fixed.

"Tío. Let me take Samalia with me. It'll be better for her, especially to be away from Andrea and-"

"Oh noooo. I can't be away from mi nieta. No, no, no."

"Tío, just think about it. Where I'm going, it's gonna be better. She can have a better life. She won't have to depend on a sorry example of a mother. I will put her in a good school and I will love her as if she was my own, like I already do."

He rubbed his forehead. I knew it was a crazy and sudden decision to make. Hell, what was I thinking.

"Andrea will never go for it," he announced. "She'll fight you on this," he said, raising his finger and pointing it at me. "That child helps get her money, drugs, food even. She will fight for her daughter.

Quite honestly, I didn't give a fuck what Andrea tried to do. She was a terrible caregiver and incompetent as a mother. If she wanted to fight, we could start a war.

I nodded. "I know the risks. I want her to come live with us. I will take good care of her and whenever you want to see her, whenever, just ask and I will bring her here." He smiled at me and brought me into a hug.

"I love you sobrino. You don't how much this means," he responded, patting my back.

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The story is almost over I believe guys! But I have a big surprise in store!