AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, yeah, we know. You don’t fuck with men unless you’re fucking men,” Umber and I said almost in unison.
“At least one of us is fulfilling Daddy’s dream—marriage, a baby, a man with money so you won’t need his. Damn, Lil, you tryna keep that Daddy’s favorite spot, huh?” Umber observed.
“Don’t start that. He loves all three of us,” I responded.
“Nope. Me and Umber have been hearing about how you’re the most like Mama for eons. Don’t try to downplay it. We ain’t mad about it because it’s true. You’re her twin,” Memphis said.
I shook my head. “Shit, you’re gonna make me cry and mess up my makeup. I wish she was here. It’s so unfair.”
“It really is. I was only seventeen when she died. I don’t think I’ll ever get over losing her,” Umber softly said.
“The fact that she didn’t have to die makes it worse. That doctor took one look at her and saw nothing but her race, dismissed her complaints, and by the time she found a doctor who gave a shit, it was too late. Fuck cancer, man,” Memphis ranted.
“Fuck it hard,” I added.
“In the ass!” Umber shouted. “That doctor got some karma coming to him. Believe that!”
“Oh, I heard he already met Miss Karma. He’s dead. Someone shot him in his office after hours. It was on the news,” Memphis shared, her eyes locked on mine.
As Umber said, “Daaaaamn! I guess he pissed someone else off, too,” all I could think was, Memphis killed him.
Shit.
Memphis backed away and smiled. “All done with your hair. You look beautiful, sis.”
“You sure do, but why the red dress?” Umber asked.
“Ray got it for me. He loves me in red,” I supplied.
“I left my phone in the living room. Let me go grab it so I can take a picture,” Umber said, rushing out of the bedroom.
Memphis’s eyes were on me, and before she could say a word, I assured her, “This is what I want. I love Ray, and he loves me.”
“I know. I just…you’re my baby sister. Can’t help but worry about you,” she confessed. “I love you, Lil.”
“Aww, are you crying, Mem? Come give me a hug.”
“I ain’t hugging your ass. You got Ray Nation cooties.”
As I glared at her mean ass, Umber returned and chimed, “Say cheese, Lilly!”
I wished it could’ve been just me and Lilith and the preacher with maybe the twins as witnesses, but my woman had an actual family that she loved. I understood that and I could deal with her folks if it meant making her happy. Hence why I was standing in my backyard talking to her father.
“I don’t know how I feel about this spur of moment wedding, but I guess it ain’t up to me,” he was saying.
“Well, sir…we didn’t see the use in waiting any longer, and we don’t care about having a big wedding.”
“And she’s pregnant. You know my Denita told me.”
I nodded. “She is, but I was going to marry her anyway.”
“Oh, I know. Ray, you seem like a good man. You obviously make good money. Now, it ain’t no secret that Lilly is my favorite. Everybody knows that, and there’s a reason for it. Lilly was a preemie; my Kola was only six months along when she had her. We weren’t sure the baby would make it, but she did. You see, my Lilly is a miracle, a fighter just like her mama. I see Kola in her every day. I say all that to let you know I see those two rough-looking Mexican boys you got working for you. I don’t know what you got going on, whether it’s drugs or?—”
I chuckled. “No, sir. I can assure you I’m not involved in drugs. I’m a legitimate businessman.”
He lowered his voice, his expression grave. “All I know is, I don’t want my daughter hurt. Take care of her. Protect her.”
I nodded. “I will, sir…with my life.”
