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“Don’t you need sleep?” I asked.
“I’m good.”
He didn’t bother turning back to me as he said that. I frowned as he disappeared. I hated his mood changes.
“This is why you need to let him handle this shit so you can be gone,” I said aloud to myself. “One toxic ass criminal is enough.”
Morning rolled around and it was time for my parents to leave. I was sad to see them go, but happy that we were one step closer to this shit being over. I woke up early and cooked breakfast for everyone with a huge spread of pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, and grits.
Once it was done, I woke everybody up to come eat. It was a little awkward, especially with Ahmad. He was back to acting weird. Thankfully Kari eased the tension in the room. She was so happy to have my parents here.
My baby was a literal light in the darkness. No matter what was going on, she found a way to make me smile. She made conversation with everyone at the table, even Rico and Lance. Both of them were big, muscular men who didn’t look friendly at all, yet they smiled and laughed with her.
She even hugged them when it was time for them to leave.
“I’m gonna miss you,” my mother said, squeezing me.
“I’m gonna miss you too, Ma. I promise, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I turned to my father who stood off to the side getting some love from his grandbaby. He finally handed her off to my mother and pulled me out of earshot. He peered down at me with both sadness and anger etched into his handsome features.
“I promise I’m fine, Daddy,” I said.
“I don’t like this. I don’t feel right leaving you here with that man.”
“I know, but this still isn’t over.”
“Why didn’t he handle it last night? He was gone for hours, and they caught him. What if this is all a ploy, Nala? What if all of this was just a way to gain your trust and get you back to Slim?”
“Daddy—”
“Did you see evidence of him being captured?”
“No, but he asked if I wanted to see him before they… well, you know.”
“Do you? You trust that?”
“I need to see him, Daddy. There is so much I need to say to that man. I need the closure so I can be done with this.”
“I just want you safe and alive. It would kill me and your mother if something happened to you. We hurt for you, baby. It’s been six years, and we hurt for you every single day you’re away from us.”
I remained quiet. He’d expressed this before, but this time, it hit different. I could tell he feared for my life. Before I could say anything, he called Ahmad over. I could feel the tension as he approached. His energy had been off since last night and it was annoying me.
“Mr. Stanton.”
“Mr. Pryor, I still don’t know if I fully trust you, but this is my baby. That’s my grandbaby. If anything happens to them, I’m holding you responsible. There will be nowhere you can go and no amount of money you can pay that will get me off your ass if they don’t come out of this unscathed. Again, that isn’t a threat, that’s a promise.”
Ahmad chuckled. “Again, I hear you, Mr. Stanton. This will be over soon, and Nala will be free to come home. Like she said, I’m sure we’ll never see each other again after this.”
Is that shade?
My father nodded. “Honestly, I’d prefer it that way. I’m sure this whole thing has been traumatizing for both her and Kari. They deserve peace.”
Ahmad looked over at me. “Yeah… they do.” He turned back to my father. “Take care, Mr. Stanton.”
He walked away and headed back into the house. I watched him until he disappeared. The window of the SUV rolled down and Lance stuck his head out.
“I hate to break this up, but we gotta get going.”
