Out of the Shadows

Chapter 18

The next morning Roc and I head to Manhattan to see Kaden. I miss my baby boy. I can finally admit this little boy is my heart. It took me a minute to just admit I was more than financial support for him. Well me and Roc, he kind of just swooped in and stole him from me really. I just realized I should’ve left him where he was. He’s about to ruin this visit for me. I need to find out what’s up with Ms. Zee. She’s been acting strange lately. Sometimes she thinks she could’ve prevented everything that happened. Joanne was my best friend. At least I thought she was. She was fucking my dude the whole time we were together. He was just a fuck nigga, but she was my childhood friend. My sister. But I discovered she never liked me, she was jealous of me and the things my family had. Regardless that her father worked for my family and they were well taking care of, this bitch always wanted more. Long story short her and this fuck boy Cream, tried to take my family out the game. But instead they ended up killing themselves in an explosion, trying to kill me and my family. But they both scarred me for life, that’s why this thing with Roc has taking so long. But we found out the bitch had a newborn baby that they were always leaving with one of Creams workers. She didn’t even want the baby, but they knew the lady wasn’t going to turn them in for leaving him. When Jo died, the lady came forward with the baby and Ms. Zee took him in. I’ve loved Ms. Zee from a child and I couldn’t let her take care of him by herself. In helping her she insisted that I interact with Kaden. She always said she was too old to be chasing this little bundle of never ending energy around. It started with little things like his birthday, small holidays like Easter to day care activities. Now I’m the person in case of emergencies. The person his teacher calls. I’m the woman he calls momma. No one told him to call me that either. He just did one day and that’s what it’s been ever since. I always said I didn’t want to raise her son after what she did to me but this little boy wouldn’t let me keep my distance. Now I find out this bitch was Nikki’s mom too. Fuck they do that at, you just having kids for someone else to take care of. Bitch get your life together. But she got what she deserved. Not Kaden’s fault that they were both shit ball. Nobody knows about Kaden except Quan and Roc of course. And he talks to his “untle Quan” on the phone. My brother didn’t understand why I was helping with Kaden physically. He was cool with financially but not physically and emotionally. That is until Kaden got his little claws into him. No one can resist that little boy. Him and Roc gang up on me all the time, thinking they cute. Whatever. He’s still my baby. Roc started coming to make sure I was safe, at least that’s what he keeps telling me. He just wants to hang out with me and Kaden because we’re cool. And we do cool shit. Ms. Zee loved that we hung out with him and that he had a better life than she could’ve given him by herself. She wishes she could’ve helped Jo be a different girl and woman. But it wasn’t her fault once her mom died she just became a different person.  Enough of that shit, makes me angry all over again.
“Roc I’m hungry can we stop and get something to eat? Nothing fancy just something simple.” I say to him. While riding, we see a sign for a steak house up ahead. He looks at me and I nod. That’s good with me I think. When we pull up Roc’s phone rings, he looks at it and then looks at me.
“You get that I’ll go get us a table.” I tell him getting ready to get out the car.
“Ok, but give me them lips first.” He tells me staring at my lips. I lean over and give him a quick kiss before getting out the car and walking into the restaurant.


I watch Niq’s ass as she walks into the restaurant, I answer the phone.
“Yeah.” I answer already knowing who it is.
“Yeah nigga, we got a problem. My sister with you?” Quan asked me.
“You know it, we on our way to see lil man. What’s the problem.” I asked sitting up in my seat.
“Somebody’s stalking my sister. A nigga broke into her house and then sent a note saying some bullshit about I’m coming for what’s mine. Whatever the fuck that mean. And he was asking about the center we sponsor basketball at too. Don’t know if we’re connected or if that was the line he used to talk to the lil nigga he scared into dropping the note off. I just need to know she cool and to tell yall what’s going on. I’m going to have them stay for a couple more days, hopefully we find something out by then.” He tells me.
“That’s cool bruh, you know I got them. No worries. You have no clue what the fuck this is about, and who is this nigga?” I ask wondering who the fuck this nigga was, and what he wants with my woman.
“None nigga, didn’t even know she had beef with a nigga. I don’t think she knows what the fuck this is about. I can say that because I know one of us would’ve knew about it. You know she would’ve told me, or you if nobody else. And I can’t think straight with a mafucka after my sister Roc. Any and everything any nigga do is suspect now, especially not knowing which direction it’s coming from. In our line of work this shit can go from business to personal in seconds. And I brought them in this shit. This shit is about to get serious, no bullshitting somebody dying behind this. I need you to make sure they’re strapped always, all of them. We’re not hiding anything from anybody. I need them all on they shit, no fuck ups it could cost somebody they life. Where they at now, and who’s with them?” Q asked me.
“They with my guys right now, all of them. Well Jazzy and Diamond at my crib with Lucky and Jazz, and Mina’s with Don. Jade and Nikki were going to her spot so she could pick up some clothes and shit.” I tell him.
“Did you just say Nikki?” Q asked like he didn’t believe what I said.
“Yea, she was working in one of my spots when Niq seen her. Crazy night bruh and it’s getting crazier. But she’s back and I don’t see her going anywhere. But she fucks with that nigga Bricks. Jazz told me this morning, this nigga like her brother. Looked out for her when she was fucked up out here. She lives with this nigga Q. I mean we don’t got beef no more, he do him and I do me. We cool, it’s enough money out here for us all. He respects my shit, I respect his. But I’m sure if Nikki stays around she will probably tell him so we may have some allies in this shit. Whoever it is must be moving around somewhere, we using all connects on this. It has to be from your end or mine, she doesn’t have personal business anywhere else.” I tell him processing this shit.
“Well I’ll be damned, Jazzy always said she was coming back. But back to all my people with all yo people. What’s good with that? We been fam for a long time, that shit good or what?” He asked me.
“Bruh this shit so crazy you gotta see it to believe it. Me and Don always knew they would all like each other but I kept them away until I thought my niggas were ready for them. But yea we good, we went thru that not even 24 hours ago. Diamond ass crazy, she had Lucky’s ass by the ball. One in the chamber pointed at his shit nigga. And you know what, that nigga didn’t flinch. Actually, cussed me out for holding out on them.” I laughed telling him what happened.
“My niggas, taught them well didn’t we? I know you weren’t expecting anything else from them with the shit we both drilled in them. I would be pissed if they didn’t give them hell.” He says sounding all proud and shit.
“Whatever nigga, wait until you in the room and the jokes flying. They give me a headache. You should hear these fools. The women in yo family crazy as hell bruh, when they found out what Don and Demaris do for a living they started asking for lessons and shit. Them three fools plus Nikki is comical. Rome was tripping like where they make them at, and I want one.” I tell him laughing at Ro crazy ass. I get out the car and head in the restaurant.
“They definitely special, and not always in a good way. But I think I’m coming down to talk to them all at the same time. Let yo guys know to be on the lookout and I’ll tell them when I get there. How long y’all visiting with lil man?” He asked me.
“With all this shit going on, not long. Plus I’d feel better if we were all in the same spot. We’ll hang out with him for the day and then we’ll head back tomorrow morning.” I tell him sitting down in front of Niq watching her watch me because I know she heard what I said.
“Are you in front of her, let me holla at her for a minute.” I give Niq the phone so she can talk to her brother about what’s going on, and what needs to be done. While waiting for her to finish her conversation the waitress come over to ask me if we wanted drinks. I ordered us both Strawberry lemonades, when she came back to bring the drinks she touched my shoulder asking if we were ready to order. All I heard Niq say was hold on.
“Yes, we are. He will have the steak medium well with a baked potato and broccoli, and I’ll take the steak and shrimp with loaded mash potatoes and a salad with ranch dressing. And it would do nice for you to remember not to touch what’s mine ever again. Ok sweetheart, thanks.” Niq said smiling at her but daring her to say anything all at the same damn time. I hoped and prayed she wasn’t stupid because my baby would definitely like to put this bitch in her place. 
“Yea I’m back, have to check thirsty bitches sometimes. But that’s cool I’ll see you tomorrow night. Ditto bruh.” She tells Quan before hanging up and handing me my phone back.
“You cool?” I asked her.
“Yea I’m cool, this is my brothers just being over protective as usual. It was a break in, that’s it that’s all.” She says to me shrugging her shoulders. I let her have that right now because she’s in mommy mode, all she’s thinking about is Kaden and seeing him. She’s not letting anything get in the way of that. And Q must not have told her the whole story. That’s probably why he’s coming down here, to make sure they understand that they are not to be looking for this nigga. We don’t know who we’re dealing with right now, they need to be careful. They’re about that life when it comes to fucking with family. And with it being Niq a nigga after, they’re gonna go super hard. They like niggas when it comes to street shit. Q was right we trained them well. I’ll be staying real close to Niq rather she likes it or not. She’s my responsibility, she’s my woman. And to me that means wife. We may not know who you are right now, but it’s just a matter of time. You will be found. You come for mine, I come for yours.