It's Above Me Now.

3: Lituation Gone Wrong

A good time was an understatement because I don't think I've ever felt more alive. Ruben was balling to the highest level, and Dylan was surely enjoying the fruits of his nature. We sipped on the finest wine, ate some of the best cuisines and went to three of the best strip clubs in less than two hours. Man, your boy could certainly get used to this.

At times however, I had to withdraw myself. Knowing how life works for me, there was always some hidden agenda. But I couldn't figure out Ruben's. We were sharing jokes and dapping one another as if we knew each other for a great period of time. And no soft shit, but it felt kinda good to have my real father around and kick it with him.

"I honestly thought you were going to either attack me or cuss me out."

I glanced over at Ruben, who was downing his fifth glass of Brandy. Dylan was busy entertaining females so it was just him and I sitting at a round table in Liv, an extremely sophisticated gentlemen's club.

"The aggressive streak ain't really in me like that." I admitted. "I was just a bit taken aback."

"I could tell." Ruben replied. "I planned a lot of ways of introducing myself to you but none of them ever seemed like the right time. Despite your unsafe childhood, I could tell that you were a really happy kid. And Dylan, he was more than just a sidekick to you. I couldn't come and ruin that for you. But trust me, even though I wasn't physically there, I was still definitely there."

I nodded, taking everything that was being said in. "So why now?"

"Because I got tired of watching Karin control you, and decided that if I didn't step in she'd ruin you." Ruben responded, sternly. "You would have gotten caught tonight if you stepped foot in Micah's hospital room. And that would have been all on his mother. I might not have been able to weasel you both out of that one. You two would've been caught red-handed."

I wasn't the least bit shock that my father knew who Karin was, especially after seeing what a high profile man he  was. It was clear that he was well informed about a lot. He was probably in with the secret services and all that shit.

"She doesn't control me." I answered. "All of us there are a team and we gotta help each other to keep the boat afloat."

Ruben scoffed. "Is that what she fed you? Look, I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable or upset but I think you should come live with me. I'll take care of you. Chance, you need to cut ties with that woman. She's no good."

"That I already know." I said. "But it's not as easy. Karin basically raised Dylan and I. She took us in after my first foster mother died, and made sure Dylan and I were never separated. I feel indebted to her. And she was more present and involved in my life than you were. I won't drop her just because you think I should."

"Fair enough." Ruben nodded. "But if her son had died, what do you think would have happened to you and Dylan? 'My revenge is always right around the corner'. Isn't that one of her best sayings?"

Okay, now I was shook. The relationship between Karin and my father was certainly something deeper. And I didn't get the opportunity to question it more because Ruben got up and walked over to the bar as Dylan approached us with two baddies, one on each arm.

"Chocolate and vanilla." Dylan gleamed, motioning the two women. "Why pick one when there's options, motherfucka!"

I shook my head and laughed at this cornball. Dylan jumped in the seat my father was in and fanned away the girls.

"Man, can you believe this shit? Look at how our lives just changed like that, bruh." Dylan happily expressed.

"Yeah, I know. Tonight was wild." I agreed.