Page 41 of Royce
“I’m doing my best, Pops. I ain’t trying to rush her more than I already am. Showing her how easy life is with me is all I’m focused on. She was struggling while she was with that fuck ass baby daddy of hers. Changing how she views relationships and men is all I can do.”
“You know showering her with gifts and materialistic shit won’t do the trick. I saw how attentive you were in the hospital. Keep that up and make her feel comfortable around you. Once she opens up, it’ll be smooth sailing,” he advised.
“Ain’t it funny you telling me to let her get comfortable first when you forced Ma to love you? She had a whole nigga when you stole her. I ain’t shit but my father’s son.”
“That was different, Junior. Yo’ mama was in an abusive relationship. It wasn’t physical but it damn sure was verbal. All it took was for me to hear that shit one time before I scooped her up. I ain’t have the wealth I have now but I had enough to keep her content. When she hit the lottery for damn near 600 million dollars, she added my name to the bank account and said what’s mine is yours. That was her way of saying thank you. I took that shit and invested in the many businesses we have under our name. We got married a few months later and had you right after. I love that woman to death.”
I already knew their backstory. Pops didn’t play about Iris in no shape or form. That lady could stub her toe and he was ready to square up with the corner of the wall. He was my mama’sprotector through and through. He was so protective he made her collect her winnings anonymously so nobody could come after her.
“Klarity been through enough shit with her baby daddy. Pregnant as hell, still going to visit him, just to find out he had another bitch that was just as pregnant as she was. Every dime to her name she gave it to him, and he still wasn’t satisfied. Seeing that shit just made me want to do for her and the kids. It really ain’t help that I couldn’t stop looking her way anytime she visited. I just want her to choose better and who the fuck else is that but me.”
“You going back to jail and I don’t blame her for sending you. Leave that damn girl alone, Junior, and focus on something else. Marry Heidi instead. You ain’t got much time. She knows the family and the terms of The Oath. You need a wife to take the throne, and I’m not doing another year. I promised my wife I would be done once you took over. Honor the terms and let an old man retire.”
“Marrying Heidi is a last resort, and I don’t even look at her like that. If all else fails, then I’ll turn to her. I’m using my six weeks on My Baby though. I think I can win her over for real,” I stated confidently.
She might’ve feared me at times but there were moments where she looked at me like she could love me as well. Never been a fan of coercion but when it came to Klarity, I had no choice. It was either be happy and love me or love me and be happy. Anything other than that wasn’t happening. Yeah, Heidi knew what was at stake, but I wasn’t going that route.
“Six weeks lil’ nigga. That’s all you got.”
Pops threw back the last of his drink, threw a few bills on the bar top, then stood to leave. I shook my head and followed behind him. We didn’t ride together but we did move together. I never let him be by himself when we were in the same facility.
My car was parked a few spots down from him. Once he was secure and pulling out, I hopped in my shit and did the same. I had a few places to be before I took it on in for the day. My Baby was ready to shower and relax and I’d been the one washing her up lately. I guess you could say she enjoyed that shit.
I headed in the direction of the dealership. I put so much money into that shit I had a few favors waiting on me. My woman deserved a few push gifts. I bet that broke nigga ain’t give up shit, not even a thank you. I planned on giving her everything she wanted and missed out on. The money was too long to dry up this way.
Prestige Motors was run by a nigga who also couldn’t be touched. He was Judge Michaels’s only son and got away with more than a lil’ bit. Judge Michaels was a supreme judge so imagine the bullshit Preston did that was covered up by Daddy. He had it made if you asked me.
Traffic was light enough for me to get there in a decent time frame. The many luxury cars that outlined the parking lot was crazy. He sold more cars than any dealership in the Springs. He deserved the awards he earned for his hard work. I parked where I could and entered the building moments later.
“If it ain’t Royce Atkins himself. Boy what you doing in here?” Pres greeted me as soon as I walked in. Heading in my direction, he dapped me up when he was in reach.
“I need two whips delivered to the crib today. My wife just had our baby girl. Them push gifts got to be big. Once I leave here, I’m stopping by the mall to pick up all the shit I ordered for her. I don’t even know how she feels about labels but she ‘bout to be in them muthafuckas.”
“I feel you and congrats on the marriage. You ain’t send no invite or nothing. I would’ve love to meet the woman that tamed you.”
“Tamed? Am I really that bad?” I asked.
“Nah, you just didn’t know how to sit the fuck down. So, what you come for? I got a few Wagons, Panamera’s, BMW’s, MB’s, you name it. What you want her to have?”
“What colors you got in the S Class and Wagon?”
“Black, white, red, and gray. The red Wagon is on fire right now.”
Nodding, I thought briefly and settled on black for the G-Wagon and gray for the S Class. It wasn’t like she’d be out driving that much anyway but if she ever needed to run errands, she had a way. After all, the kids would be old enough for school soon the way time been flying. CJ was already a couple years away.
“Cool. Give me the black Wagon and the gray S Class. How long will it take to get them shipped?”
“Once you sign the papers, I’ll have my men deliver it. You still on the compound?”
“You better know it. Let’s get started so I can get up out of here. I only got an hour to get home. Oh, wrap one in a big ass pink bow and the other in blue for me.”
Laughing, he said, “I got you, bro’,” then gestured for me to follow him to his office. I spent thirty minutes going through a stack of paperwork. He knew I was good for the bread, so the process didn’t take long at all.
I had an underground garage at the crib. If a muthafucka ever wondered why there was an elevator in the house, it was specifically for that reason. There was a separate elevator down there that was big enough to fit a car in comfortably. That one was used to transfer the cars to the main level and exit out the ground level garage door. It was complicated, but I truly hated my things being touched.
Pres got me in and out like I knew he would, and I was pulling into the mall parking lot closest to the crib fifteen minutes later. I drove around back to the docking area andparked in front of the back door. I hopped out and headed inside. I called ahead of time to have everything bagged up waiting for me in the office. The only thing I would need to do was take it to the car.
I passed by the many workers that filled the halls. Regardless of it being midday, they were here doing their nine to five before checking in as a thug. They all spoke as I walked through. I gave them no response; they hadn’t earned it. Once I hit the office, everything lined the walls and floors.
