Page 49 of Don't Kross Me
“Kross, please!” she implored him. “I don’t know what’s going on!”
Kross rested the gun back on his lap and reached over the center console to snatch the box out of Amoura’s hand. “I found this in Aniyis’ closet back at the condo! What the fuck Cassie needed this for?! She ain’t think I was Aniyis’ daddy or something?!” he rattled out. It was evident that he had lost his clear sense of mind and was spiraling. Amoura was dealing with a madman, and if she said the wrong things, it could cost her life.
“What?! Kross, I swear to God, I don’t know anything about this! She always told me you were his daddy!” she sobbed uncontrollably.
Kross shifted his eyes from the road ahead of them to her. “So, you ain’t know about this?!”
“No!”
“She wasn’t fucking anybody else that you know of?! And you better not fucking lie, Amoura!”
“No, Kross! I put this on my life! She never dealt with anybody besides you that I know of! That girl loved you!”
After taking a swift left turn, Kross brought the car to an abrupt stop, and Amoura felt like her life was over. He gripped the gun in his hand and tapped it against the steering wheel, having an internal debate with himself to decide whether he should blow Amoura’s head off.
“Get the fuck out!” he roared at her before hitting the locks of the vehicle.
Startled, Amoura jumped out of her seat belt and scrambled out of the car. She didn’t even realize that he had taken her thirty minutes away from her job, where her car was parked. His dark tinted window lowered and “Bitch, if you speak any of this to anybody, I’ll leave your fucking brains where your feet at!” was the last thing he jeered at her. With tears streaming down her face, he left her stranded and sped off onto the main road.
His mind raced with questions and possibilities as he tried to figure out what the fuck was going on. He thought his life was in shambles while dealing with Cassie’s murder. Little did he know, that was just the beginning. In his heart, he always felt like Aniyis was his. Sure, he didn’t inherit many genes from him, but he looked just like his mama, so Kross never questioned it. Aniyis was his whole world. He had Aniyis’ name tatted across his back. The thought of Aniyis not being his devastated Kross.
He zoned out for the majority of the ride but came to once he realized his heart led him straight to his mother’s house. Earlier that morning, he dropped Aniyis off with another bag of clothes and acted as if he hadn’t just discovered a DNA test a few hours prior. He wasn’t ready for anyone else’s opinions on the situation. This was something he needed to figure out first before anyone offered their take on it. Aniyis was still his baby, and he was going to defend and protect him with his life.
He stored the DNA test back in the glove compartment before hopping out. His knocks on the door were answered by Andres, and they greeted each other with a hug. “I ain’t see you when I dropped Niyis off this morning,” Kross told him.
“Oh, one of the families we shelter in our non-profit found housing, so I used the truck to help them move,” Andres explained.
“That’s what’s up, man. What you and Ma doing is big for the community, and I support it,” Kross told him with a proud smile.
“I would love if you came down to the church this Sunday and watched me and your mama preach.” Andres placed his hand on Kross’ shoulder. “Maybe you can even speak. You have a testimony that needs to be heard, son.”
Kross sighed deeply as he shook his head. It had been a while since his mother or stepfather tried to get him to come to church, and he should have known neither of them would just give up that easily.
“Andres, it ain’t much of a testimony ‘cause I’m doing the same shit.”
“Yeah, but God still hasn’t given up on you yet.” Andres remained persistent.
A chuckle drifted out of Kross as he found his persistence amusing. “I appreciate the invite, man. I’ll think about it.”
They left the conversation at that, knowing nothing would come from it if Andres continued to pressure him. Kross navigated through the home with ease and found Raquel in the backyard with Aniyis. A wide-stretched smile canvassed Kross’ face upon him seeing Aniyis up and moving around in his forearm crutches. He had gained back a good bit of his mobility in his legs but still needed to work on his balance and strength, so his physical therapist cleared him to be out of his wheelchair and upgraded to forearm crutches. After his appointment Raquel took him to, he swore her to secrecy since he wanted to surprise his father with the progress he made.
“C’mon, ‘Niyis! That’s what I’m talking about!” Kross clapped his hands encouragingly, garnering Aniyis’ and Raquel’s attention.
Upon seeing his father, Aniyis’ eyes lit up as he tried his best to speed over to him. “Slow down, baby. You just got them crutches today!” Raquel called after him.
Kross laughed as he crouched down with his arms open for Aniyis to make his way over. Determination filled little Aniyis’eyes as he set off toward his father. He was bearing his weight well on his legs and only needed to reset himself a few times before he made it into Kross’ arms. Unable to contain his excitement for his baby boy, Kross lifted him up in his arms and kissed all over his face.
“I told you that wheelchair was just temporary. You got that dawg in you, kid. Can’t nothing stop you,” he continued to praise him.
Aniyis’ infectious laughter sounded through the ears of Kross and Raquel as he basked in his father’s praises. “Are you proud of me?”
“Hell yeah, I’m proud of you, ‘Niyis! You never cease to amaze me.” With an ear-to-ear smile on his face, Aniyis wrapped his arms around Kross.
“He did so great, K! His trainer barely had to teach him anything. He just picked up the crutches and went for it.” Raquel eyed Aniyis in adoration.
Kross grabbed a seat on the deck and sat Aniyis on his lap. “He’s a Hunter. That’s what we do.” He wasn’t too sure how true his statement was since Aniyis’ paternity was up in the air for him, but wasn’t shit changing until it was proven otherwise. Aniyis was a Hunter through and through.
Jokingly, Raquel waved off Kross’ arrogance. She decided to escape the outside heat and head inside, leaving the boys on the deck. Aniyis gave his dad the full rundown of his appointment and even explained how he mastered using the forearm crutches so fast. Aniyis was a character and always had Kross laughing.
