Page 44 of Our Mother's Sons

“You killed the love of my life. I hope you burn in hell, you stupid bastard. You lost . You lost, and now you get to mope for eternity, especially knowing two black boys are roaming the earth who share your genetics. They are Bendetti’s. When I join you in hell, I’m killing your ass again.” Melissa kissed his face and then spat on him.

When she stood, she faced my grandmother.

“You said I wanted the world instead of settling for a continent. I say I can have the world and the continents of all the other worlds out there, too—me and my sons.”

“Damn Gram. You wild for that shit.” It was so much going on that all I could do was laugh.

Melissa joined in on the laugh, and so did Jeovanni. The three of us were laughing while Rome, Deuce, and Gram, stared at us in confusion. Even the remaining men were confused. We laughed so hard that we had to lean on each other for support.

“Yeah, y’all are your mother’s sons for sure. Crazy pasta eating asses. Get me the fuck out of here. Me and Ida Mae are throwing a fish fry.” Gram walked out the door.

“Aye, make sure it ain’t no rabbits on y’all’s menu. You just killed that prick in cold blood, so I know Lola didn’t stand a chance,” I fussed.

Chapter12

Jeovanni

I took my eyes off the road long enough to glance over at Rainah as she sat on the passenger side of my Range Rover scrolling through her phone. At least thirty times a day, whenever Rainah was in my presence, I stole glances at her. At the moment, I was hungrily eyeing her thick chocolate thighs that were on display due to her rocking little red gym shorts. I was so in love with Rainah’s skin tone that I rubbed, licked, sucked, and kissed it every chance I got.

“I can’t believe you agreed to come get your ass beat on the court.”

Rainah looked over at me and rolled her eyes upward. “I agreed to play ball with you because it’s something we did as kids that I enjoyed. I’m here for the nostalgia. Not for you to be acting like you’re at NBA tryouts. Don’t get on this court and start doing too much.”

“Whatever you say. Just don’t start that pouting shit when I win. I have to be fair and play you the same way that I’d play anybody else.”

Rainah stuck her middle finger up making me chuckle with amusement. As far as I knew, any enemies that Jovani and I had, had been eliminated. We were out of the game, and my hope was that life was about to be real regular and boring. The fact that my grandmother killed Melissa’s father threw me for a loop. I knew Joanna was gangsta but got damn. That was one thing that I didn’t see coming, and it was the last thing I expected from her. I also didn’t expect for Melissa to step up to the plate and declare herself head of the mob either. I wasn’t sure what kind of time loop I’d been thrown into, but once I got past the shock, I decided that none of it concerned me.

I wished Melissa well in her mob activities, and I knew she had a thorough team behind her. Melissa had some of the best shooters in the game on her team. Deuce was starting a security company even though he really didn’t have to stress a job. Jovani and I had paid him well over the years and his house along with his cars were paid off. When I arrived at the basketball court around the corner from where Rainah and I grew up, she remained seated while I exited the car.

Patting my pockets to make sure everything was still in place, I grabbed my basketball from the backseat then opened her car door. When Rainah emerged from the car, I smiled and pecked her on the lips. “You know I love you, right?” Rather than answering me, Rainah’s brow hiked. “Don’t think this ass whooping is personal. On this court, I’m not your man. If you start losing don’t even start that trying to threaten me with sex stuff.”

“Jeovanni, shut up before I change my mind,” she groaned. “I don’t remember you even being that great on the court,” she jested.

“You got me all the way fucked up,” I frowned. It was my goal to keep Rainah occupied enough so that she wouldn’t turn around and face the court’s entrance. The entire court was fenced in, so the gap in the fence was the only way a person could enter or exit the court. I took it easy on her and let her score the first four points while my surprise guests crept onto the court.

When everyone was positioned, I smacked the ball out of her hand, cuffed it, and scored a three pointer. “There you go with that bullshit,” Rainah snapped making me grin.

“I’m on bullshit?” I dribbled the ball and studied her gorgeous face. Rainah was so sexy when she frowned. I had to remember the matter at hand and glance over her shoulder to keep my manhood from hardening. She always had been a sore loser, but I enjoyed playing with her anyway. When we were younger, Rainah and I bonded over basketball.

“Turn around and tell me if you think I’m on bullshit.”

With an intense glower, Rainah turned around and what she saw made her gasp. Her hands covered her mouth, and she turned to face me with huge, rounded eyes.

“Is that bullshit?” I grinned.

Tears filled Rainah’s eyes as she read the signs that Jason and Jordan were holding. My lil’ men were dressed in black tuxedo’s. Jordan’s sign said:Mommy, we’ve waited long enough.

Jason’s side read:Will you just marry dad already?

Ashton was there holding a large bouquet that consisted of three dozen roses. Ida Mae was present and so was my grandmother and Jovani. Even Girl and Voyage were in attendance. I eased a small, blue ring box out of my pocket and by the time she’d turned around to face me, the lid was flipped up. The thirty-carat pear shaped diamond glistened underneath the bright rays of sun. Rainah’s jaw slacked as her orbs darted from my face to the stunning diamond.

“I love you to death, but I can’t get down on this hard ass concrete with shorts on. I’ll get on my knees later on tonight though,” I promised in a tone that only she could hear. My comment made Rainah laugh through her tears.

“Real shit though,” I got serious. “We were supposed to do this shit along time ago. Better late than never though. Will you be Mrs. Jeovanni Bendetti?”

Rainah didn’t even speak. She just hopped into my arms and wrapped her arms around my neck. When she placed kisses all over my face, our family erupted into cheers because though she hadn’t given a verbal yes, her response told us all what her answer was.

I kissed her back and after placing her on the ground, I eased the rock onto her finger. “Where’s Deuce?” she joked. “I might need security with me when I’m out in public wearing this.”

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