After Eight years, Ghenesis Santiago leaves for Atlanta, Ga to try having a relationship with her father and his new family. While having to maintain her senior year in highschool and working with her brother and his Crew under her father's orders...
“I just ain’t want this shit to backfire,” I whispered, barely loud enough for the room. “What if it didn’t work? What if it did?”
I could still hear Gigi’s voice from that day after the clinic, when I was cryin’ in the car, shakin’ like my whole chest was on fire.“It’s okay to want somethin’ for you, diva,” Gigi said “You protectin’ him, even if he don’t know it yet.”I exhaled heavy, blinkin’ at the bathroom light. My body felt heavy, my chest even more.
“Ghen…” Gigi knelt beside me again, brushin’ my curls behind my ear. “If they ain’t called by now, maybe you need to go up there and see what’s up.”
“Or take a test,” Erin said gently. “Just to ease your mind.”
I chewed my lip. I’d taken one, three days ago. Faintest lil pink line I ever seen. Coulda been stress. Coulda been real. But I ain’t had the strength to face it again yet. Not until I had that official word.
“Y’all think he gon’ be mad?” I asked, eyes low.
“Zeus?” Tay said, lookin’ at me sideways. “That man would carry you on his back if you asked him. You his whole world....You would never thought he was caring person before you came along." She chuckled. "He your brother.... He ain’t gon’ be mad,” Gigi added. “He gon’ be shocked... Confused....maybe need a minute. But mad? Naw. And he already act like your Artemis's mom
I nodded slow.
But inside?
I was scared.
Scared of how this would hit Zeus. Scared of what Charles might try to pull. Scared of becoming something I never imagined for myself.....a mom.I wiped my face and stood up slowly, still sipping that ginger ale.
It’s been a month.
And whatever’s inside me?
It ain’t waitin’ on no phone call to be real.
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I sat back in my office chair, elbows on the armrest, jaw locked, watching the seconds tick by on the wall clock like it owed me money. Me and the boys was waiting on Bishop's snake-ass to show, and truth be told, I wasn’t feelin’ none of this shit. I’d rather be at home with Artemis and Ghenesis — where peace still existed and the air smelled like lavender and baby lotion instead of betrayal and gunpowder. Just thinking about them made me smirk low. Ghenesis… man, the way she love on that little girl like she came from her own body. She don’t even know how much that mean to me. She so damn careful with Artemis, always on point, making sure her food ain’t too hot, tying her shoes with double bows, brushing her curls with that soft-ass brush she keep tucked in her purse like a momma been doin’ this her whole life. The first time I saw her calm Artemis down after a night terror, singing softly, hand on her chest — I damn near cried. She ain’t just healing my baby, she healing me too.
I remember this one time at Target, Artemis was in the cart grinning big with them missing front teeth, holding a Spider-Man plush in one hand and some glitter Legos in the other. Ghen was pushing her slow, humming some R&B melody under her breath. This older woman walked up to us, face lit like she just seen a sunrise. “Y’all such a beautiful family,” she said, eyes on Artemis. “She look just like her mama.” I watched Ghenesis real close, thought she’d freeze or correct her — remind her that she was her Aunt, But instead, she smiled ...not that shy one, the real one, the one that light up her whole damn face — and said,
“Thank you… she my first, and it’s goin’ good so far.” Man… I had to look away before I did something reckless. I spent the rest of that day avoidin’ eye contact so I wouldn’t end up puttin' a baby in her right there on aisle 9. It's comin' though… not now, not while We still under Charles’ chains… but soon. When I’m free, she gon’ carry my name and my legacy. No doubt.
“Zeus… he here,” Nico said, stepping in with that half-mug he always wear when it come to snakes. I looked up, watched Bishop strut in like he still owned something in here. Black shades, gold chains, leather trench — whole lotta noise for a man that ain’t got no respect. “The Almighty Zeus,” he said, arms stretched like a bad actor in a play nobody asked for. “Finally honored to be graced by your presence.” I didn’t flinch, didn’t blink. Just locked eyes with him, straight-faced. “You must be either stupid or suicidal to come in talkin’ slick… and by yourself,” I said flat. I wasn’t in the mood for theatrics or fake peace treaties.
He threw his hands up, grinnin’. “No worries, king. I come in peace. Just here to talk… do business.” He glanced around, takin’ note of everybody — Dice on the side couch cleanin’ his nails with a blade, Mason leaned against the bar silent as ever, Nico cross-armed by the wall, eyes locked on the enemy. “Looks like one of your party members is missin’ though,” Bishop added with a smirk, and that shit made my blood warm. My jaw flexed before I spoke, my tone like a warning shot. “You said you came to talk business. So talk. Or I’ll go real fuckin’ quiet.” That was strike one. You mention Ghenesis again and this table gon’ turn into your coffin.
He chuckled like I told a joke. “My bad, man. Just figured since he—” I cut him off real quick. “Don’t worry about mine. She ain’t part of this conversation. Say what you gotta say before I get too calm in this bitch.” Calm for me was worse than rage. Calm mean decisions been made. Calm mean caskets been ordered.
He adjusted his stance, noddin’ slow. “Understandable. I came to propose a merge. Us, together — our products, our numbers… shit, we'd break ceilings. You a billionaire before the semester even close.” He leaned back like he dropped gold at my feet. Thing is… I’m already past that. I’m sittin’ on vaults in Morocco, assets Charles don’t even know exist. My name stay off paperwork. My boys got safes inside safes, and we keep our business cleaner than the feds know how to trace. I ain’t hurting for money. I’m hurtin’ for freedom — and I ain’t sellin’ out for a dollar I don’t need.
“Oh yeah?” I played along. “What you thinkin’?” He broke down numbers, dreams, fast cars, faster returns, tried to paint me a picture of luxury like I ain’t already sleep in it. I nodded slow, pretending to be intrigued. “We’ll think on it. Get back to you.” His grin cracked just a little, and I saw it — that flicker behind the eyes. Darkness. He ain’t used to being told no. But he hid it well, smoothed it over. “Alright then… hit me up. I see big moves comin’ for us.” He gave a half nod to the crew before strollin’ out like he ain’t already a dead man.
Soon as the door shut, Dice leaned forward, voice low. “So what we doin’?” I stood up, grabbed my chain off the desk, and slid it over my neck like a king gettin’ dressed for war. “Start planning a funeral,” I said, my voice cold. “That nigga on a T-shirt before school end.” Nico chuckled dry. “Damn shame what happened to Bishop…” he said with a shake of his head. “Rest in hell.” Mason didn’t even crack a smile, just loaded a clip in silence.
Truth is, I knew from the jump Bishop was on some dark energy. I saw it in the way he looked at Ghenesis, the way he mentioned her like he testing the water. That’s all I needed. Some men die loud, with sirens and screams. Bishop? He gon’ die quiet. Real quiet. Just enough noise for the devil to hear him comin’.
