Page 24 of Royce
Short, pretty, sandy brown tatted skin from the neck down with a body that was proportionally pleasing. Her lips were full and luscious coated in gloss while a small gold stud sat on the right side of her nose. Her eyes were big but lifeless in a way. It was like someone had visibly stolen something from her. She had two beauty marks randomly placed on her face as well. I noticed the white paint that sat on her toes and her fingertips. She was on top of her body maintenance.
However, it was the short, blue, laced gown that gained my attention. Her protruding belly poked right through it. I couldn’t help but widen my smile as thoughts of her being pregnant for me surfaced.
“Pregnancy looks good on you, My Baby,” I complimented.
“W-What the hell are you doing at my house?” she asked taking a few steps back. I understood her cautious attitude toward me, but I was the only person she’d be able to count on for many things this day forward.
“I can’t come check on my family?”
Eight
Klarity
There were people who were innocently put behind bars, and then there were people who deserved to be there. Whatever they said he did, he did it! There was no way in hell he thought popping up at my house was anything other than crazy. If I was being honest, this was terrifying as fuck. I was pregnant with a toddler a few feet away and unable to defend us. This wasn’t what we needed right now.
“Who the hell in here is your family? And stop calling meMy Baby.My name is Kl?—”
“Klarity. Klarity Atkins to be exact. You don’t think I know the name of my wife. I heard we having a baby girl. Essence is a beautiful name for her by the way,” he said cutting me off and stepping inside.
The mention of my daughter had my hand flying to my stomach. I rubbed it slowly wondering just how the hell he knew that information. I glanced over to CJ, who was asleep a few feet to my right. I couldn’t hide my fear if I wanted to. I didn’t know him, and I had no idea what he was here to do. I was sure he could see it all over my face.
“Monroe, not Atkins. You know my name, but I haven’t a clue as to who you are,” I countered.
“All you got to do is ask, My Baby, and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
“You’re showing up to my house unannounced and walking inside uninvited. The least you can do is volunteer that. Don’t you think?”
He smiled and God why did he do that. His grill sat on the bottom row and that perfectly aligned set of whites sat at the top. I was sure he how lethal that damn smile of his was. “Royce Atkins.”
Him clarifying who he was did nothing for me. The few steps I took back were repeated once again. Telling him to get out just wouldn’t form into a sentence, yet I didn’t want him near me. Plus, the way he spoke to me was with so much confidence. He believed every word he spoke.
“Look, I don’t know what you want with me, but I would greatly appreciate it if you left me and my kids alone… please. There’s nothing of value here. Just go.”
I knew of his height from the jailhouse but now that he was in front of me, I underestimated it completely. I was nothing but a dwarf compared to this giant of a man. Breaking my neck just to hold eye contact was too much. I was sure he could smell how terrified I was at this point. That devilish smirk gave me no comfort.
“We consider things of value differently,” he replied.
With each step I took backward, he took forward. Now that my back was up against the wall, there was nowhere for me to run. He was closing me in as he pressed both of his hands on the wall behind me. Hovering over me, the only thing I could do was look up into his handsome face. His features were more defined now that he was out and cleaned himself up.
The smell of his cologne was loud but so damn mesmerizing. It could’ve been that his chest was directly in my face, or it wasjust that damn loud. Nevertheless, I didn’t get this manly scent from any other man I’d been around, not even Cojak.
“You didn’t hear me say I came to check on my family or are you deliberately having selective memory?” he asked trailing the back of his hand down the side of my face.
That physical touch… it was too much for me to handle. Too much to the point my water broke all over his expensive shoes. Discomfort traveled through my body directly after. He was in Gucci from head to toe and the only thing I could afford from there was the receipt paper. I couldn’t replace anything on him.
“Ahhhh,” I groaned cuffing my stomach.
He showed worry and concern immediately. “What’s wrong, My Baby? Why you doing all that yelling and shit?”
This isn’t supposed to happen right now. Why did you have to come now, Essence?
“The baby’s coming,” I moaned as I grabbed a hold to his shirt.
“What I’m supposed to do? This my first time being a father and shit. Ain’t you supposed to have some bags or something? Where everything at?” he inquired.
Father to who? Is he crazy or something?
“In my bedroom by the closet. Her diaper bag and car seat are right beside it,” I instructed. I waddled over to the couch where CJ had knocked out for his nap and shook him lightly. “CJ, wake up for Mommy. Come on big boy, wake up for me, please.” Another contraction came where I had to be still for a minute. These contractions were hitting hard.
