Page 18 of Our Mother's Sons

“Because I never said she was mine biologically. But, she mine nonetheless.”

Confusion plagued Melissa’s face.

“So, you adopted her?”

“You can say that.”

“Jovani Bendetti! What do you mean you can say that? Either you adopted her or you did not. Which is it?”

“Man, you getting on my nerves with all the questions. But, if you must know. I rescued her.”

“Rescued her?”

“Yeah lil parrot damn.”

“I need more context, Jovani.”

“Not that I owe your ass anything outside of the percentage I give you off the drug money my brother and I sell, I rescued her from a human trafficking ring. Come to find out her parents more than likely sold her off. My brother and I found the ring, busted that shit up and I kept Girl here.”

“Girl? You did not name her that,” Melissa’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, I did. It’s just temporary until she old enough to figure out her own name. Whatever name her people came up with, ain’t fitting. After all, they did sell her. She don’t want that slave ass name no how.”

“So if she decided to name herself something ridiculous like Rainbow, you’ll let her?”

Shrugging, I looked down at my kiddo.

“If that’s what she wants, she gone be the richest rainbow walking around this bitch. Ain’t that right, daddy baby?”

Girl jumped in my arms and laughed.

Melissa took a step back, heels echoing on the concrete, and pinched her tear ducts. When her hand went to her lower back and her head was tilted back as her face pointed to the sky, I knew her ass was stressed the fuck out. She should have been glad she dropped our asses off because had she been around she would have had a stroke with some of the shit I’d done growing up. This wasn’t honestly nothing. I was the reason for many of my grandmother’s grey hairs.

When Melissa was done having a mental breakdown, she straightened her clothing and made sure not a hair of hers was out of place before she faced us again.

“First, your brother has twins whose birthday party he held and lost my invitation in the mail, and then you steal a child. We have enough going on right now, but I know nothing I will say will matter anyway. You’re a grown man who is capable of making your own decisions.”

“And is,” I grunted.

Melissa glanced between Girl and me for a few minutes. I was over this lil whatever the fuck this was. Girl was ready for her lunch and I had the munchies.

“You stole a baby.”

“I stole a baby that was essentially stolen. She was to be sold. Would it have been better had I bargained with the Russians or joined the auction?”

“You should have turned her over to the authorities. She has people who love and miss her, I’m sure.”

“I’m convinced all that Botox fucked yo hearing up. Didn’t I tell you more than likely her parents sold her?”

“But do you know that for a fact, or are you assuming?”

“Man, I know.”

Chuckling, Melissa ran her pink tongue over her stark white teeth. She was so damn mad and her red skin was indication. I didn’t give a fuck though. She’d better stand the fuck down and go shopping or some shit.

“Son, I’m so disappointed in you.” She exasperated like she’d lost her best friend.

The waves behind my home were aggressive, and the seagulls must’ve been finding food because their squawks were louder than usual. Licking my parched lips, I looked Melissa dead in the eye.

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