Page 49 of Property of BamBam
He grins at me and replies, “Thank fuck the dust storms have calmed down a bit, especially since we’re well outside the rainy season, man. No moisture in the air makes it hard as hell to workoutside. Finally got some good weather so we can try and get this done for you before the end of the year.”
“Doesn’t matter when it gets finished, as long as it’s done correctly,” I tell him as I walk up the steps to the front porch. It wraps around three quarters of the house, with the back having a screened in porch.
He follows me around as I take note of the things they’ve managed to accomplish since my last trip to check on the progress. “We’re waiting on the granite to arrive so we can get the cupboards and counters done,” he advises as we walk into the kitchen.
Since Livy loves to cook, even though I’m sure we’ll eat plenty of meals at the clubhouse, I spared no expense when it came to giving her a state-of-the-art kitchen, complete with a sub-zero freezer, a huge walk-in pantry, an island for her to make cookies, a six-burner gas stove, and a double oven. I’ve also got an area set aside in the backyard for a garden because she mentioned how much she loved canning with her mom when she was alive.
Yeah, I’m a fucking sap, but I’ll deny it to anyone who dares to say it, using my fists, of course. This life is a hard one and because of who we are and what we do, we don’t have a softer side, unless we’re fortunate enough to find a woman. The way I found Livy. At first glance, she doesn’t make sense in this crazy lifestyle, yet the shit she went through has shown me that appearances don’t always tell the full story.
“Appreciate all the hard work,” I reply, my mind already thinking about when the house is finished and she’s moving around this space, cooking, taking care of Theo, and growing into the woman she was always meant to be.
“Well, as soon as we wrap up the kitchen, I’ll reach out,” Franklin says. “Although, I suspect you’ll be popping in before that.”
I chuckle before holding out my hand to shake his. “You can count on it.”
Walking into the laundromat, I see Marge talking to a customer while Buddy straightens the items on the small food pantry that Livy set up. “Hey, BamBam!” he calls out when he sees me. “We got some donations.”
“Good deal,” I reply as I start collecting the money from the machines.
As I work on that, Livy comes up with a rolling basket and says, “Figured this would keep you from breaking your back.”
Smirking, I lean down and kiss her, relishing in the way she leans into me. “Appreciate it, sweetheart. Need to keep my strength up,” I tease as I watch her face pinken. “What are you doing the rest of the day?” I ask. “Wanna play hooky with me once I’m done here?”
“I’ll go anywhere with you, BamBam.”
“Good to know. Let me wrap this shit up and we’ll take off, okay?” I question.
“Okay, I’ll go get Theo sorted out,” she replies.
Since we’re going to the tattoo shop so Abyss can add ink to my body and it’s within walking distance of the laundromat, Itell her, “We may want to bring his carrier or something. We’re going to be busy for a few hours.”
“I’ll watch him,” Marge states. “Don’t have much else going on tonight anyhow.”
“Thanks, Marge,” Livy says.
Thank fuck Marge offered because I think Abyss would stroke out if I risked his license by bringing the little man inside. Since it’s one of our lucrative ventures, I won’t take that chance, and I honestly forgot about that little caveat.
“You’re welcome, Livy,” Marge replies. “I need to start looking around for somewhere to live since I don’t have much longer at Hope House, so if you hear of anything, BamBam, can you let me know?”
The woman, for her unapproachable exterior, has wormed her way into my life because of how she has taken my ol’ lady under her wing. Because of that, I pull her to the side and quickly advise her that as soon as the house is done, she’s got an apartment upstairs that’s hers if she wants it. Livy, thankfully, isn’t paying a bit of attention to us since Theo decided to let her know he was hungry.
Marge may choose to remain single the rest of her life, but as long as I’ve got breath in my body, she’ll be part of our family and by extension, part of the Kings’ family.
“You ever thought about getting a tattoo?” I ask Livy as I hang up my cut before slipping my shirt off then straddling Abyss’s chair.
“I saw one that I like that I’ve been thinking about,” she admits. “It says, ‘from pain came strength’ and the purple ribbon that denotes domestic violence is underneath it.”
“I like that,” Abyss says as he comes into the room. “Let me sketch something out and see if it’s what you’re looking for,” he suggests before he slips on his gloves.
Once we’re both satisfied with the placement of the transfer he had ready, he starts working while I let his and Livy’s voices lull me into a light doze. I’m brought back to awareness when I feel the cool wipe he uses and he says, “You’re all done, brother. Let me get this wrapped up for you so y’all can go.”
“Appreciate it, VP,” I reply.
He smirks while applying the tattoo cream he uses before putting the cover over it and states, “I’m sure I don’t have to remind you how to take care of it, do I?”
Glancing down at my body where a myriad of tattoos cover my skin, I raise my brow at him. “Really? Considering you’ve done the majority of the work, I think I’m good.”
“How are you going to put that ointment on your tattoo when it’s on your back?” Livy asks as I slip my shirt back on then slide my cut over my shoulders.
