Page 63 of João
“‘Cause nigga, how have you been doing this for years and you still can’t get the temperature right?” I asked as my youngestbrother threw his arm over my shoulders, the lanky tall ass, and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
“Regular cranky João is back! I got to tell Jonathon and Nevaeh!” Joaquim bellowed as we joined the others.
“We’re right here, love, we can hear you.” Jonathon came forward and presented his fist to me. “She is perfect for the family, she’ll fit right in. She gets my sense of humor, which is the most important trait needed to truly succeed in life.”
“Oh Nkulunkulu, Jonathon, please! You gonna scare her and she just arrived.” Nevaeh pressed a kiss to my cheek as she pulled Jonathon and Joaquim away, correctly interpreting my face. I loved them, but they got on my nerves sometimes. All the time—but it was all love.
This was my family, and there was no declaration of love if they were not present. When I texted Jardel, Joaquim, and Sal last night after Gisele’s adorable snores started filling my room, they had immediately agreed to plan the get-together, eager to finally spend some quality time with her.
Opening my heart to her had been as inevitable as breathing, as sure as we needed the Sun for the Earth to exist, as easy as letting go of the pain that had filled my days and nights as I navigated the loss of my father.
Soon Gisele had made herself at home, helping Sal with the chimichurri while Jardel and Joaquim took turns at the grill and Devon made sure everyone had drinks.
“So…I investigated you, and there are some holes that I have questions about,” I heard Sal tell Gisele as they walked out holding bowls of sauce.
If I hadn’t just left church, I might…
“Yes, I can imagine there were. My Dad…well, let’s just say that his line of profession doesn’t show up in your regular search.” Gisele shrugged.
“Love, if yuh no let this woman live? Sorry, Gisele, my Sal can be intrusive. Yuh do remind me of someone, y’know?” Devon, Gisele and Sal went into one of the far corners of the backyard where an animated conversation continued for a while. My eyes never left her and I took the time to sip my whiskey and enjoy the sight of my woman with my family.
As if I had called her, Gisele searched for me. I was certain she’d tell me all about her father when she was ready, but I had a good idea of what it was. We weren’t as different as I originally thought.
I touched my rib and Gisele glided her way to me with a grin that illuminated my dark soul.
“You good, Master?” Her warm breath so close to my ear had me rethinking spending this time with my family. Fuck it, I would cut this shit short and take her to my house and…
“No, I want to spend time with them. I know that look.” She shook her head, laughing. I touched two fingers to my ear and her giggles increased as she pressed a sweet, lush kiss against my lips.
“Woman, you have an hour,” I warned her.
“Yes, Master.” Gisele smiled, so radiant in her happiness it almost hurt.
“Yo, stop monopolizing my cunhada!” Joaquim exclaimed. “You kept her locked up in your dark tower and can’t even let us have an evening with her, damn.”
Joaquim had jokes today; he, like Jardel, could sense my good mood, could sense that things had shifted. Through this time they had stood by me, worried in silence, and given me the space I so desperately needed.
Rising from my seat, I cleared my throat, and all eyes focused on me.
“Today is a declaration of my love to you, Gisele. You came into my life when I couldn’t see light from darkness and youreminded me of my love for my lifestyle, for family.” I raised my glass toward my siblings and in-laws. “You reminded me to live. I wanted to ask you here tonight to be my woman, surrounded by those that know me the most and have held me down even when I thought I didn’t need it. The lost of Pai…”
Joaquim made a move to get closer to me, always ready to provide comfort, but Gisele touched his shoulder and stood beside me. Her warm hand held mine and I waited until my voice wouldn’t betray the depth of my emotions.
“We know, João, he was a bastard, but…damn it, he was still our Pai,” Sal said with uncharacteristic fervor, leaning against her quiet husband, who comforted her with his body and his strength. I nodded at him and at her, then at each of my family members.
“He was still our father, and his departure from this earth left us to be the ones to carry on. And shit has been wild lately with LaSalle trying to press me for the club, but I vow to you that things will get better.” Gisele’s hand tightened at my words, and I squeezed back. “Together we will figure out the next steps. We won’t let him jeopardize our?—”
Loud pounding shook the sliding glass door, the incessant knocking stopping my words and changing the vibe on the sunkissed terrace.
“Who the fuck they think they are, coming to my house with that noise?” Jardel marched to his front door, checking his camera first. “The fuck?” He wrenched the door open as Joaquim, Jonathon, Devon, and I stood around him, ensuring the ladies were behind us, protected.
“Yo, we need to take care of LaSalle right now. This nigga can’t be coming up on my woman and her best friend at Old Man Joe’s of all places, pressing her about stuff about the club. What do we need to do to get this settled?” Knox’s anger infiltrated the peace inside, and for a second I wished my life was simpler thanwhat it was. But this was my world, and it was my responsibility to make sure my members were safe, in and out of the club.
“Come in, Knox, let me send some messages. We gonna fix this shit today.”
Gisele’s warmth behind me granted me the peace I need to stay focused while I shot off a few texts. The answers I expected popped up right away.
“Alright, what we doing?” Jardel asked me, and instead of keeping my thoughts to myself, I let them in.
