W hat started as me coming with Ezio out of fear turned into me really connecting with my people and feeling right at home. Ezio had a beautiful home also located in the neighborhood I grew up in. I wanted to ask him to take me by my childhood home but something wouldn’t bring me to ask him. Instead, I’d been catching up with my cousins and connecting with them. There were a few aunts that I’d remembered that were ecstatic to see me too. All of them asked about my mom and all I had for them in reply was she’s doing okay. Tamala was doing everything but that but they didn’t need to know her business. Seeing though how all of my cousin’s moms were still holding on to their youth and fabulousness made me sad for my mother.
Of course the whole family tree wasn’t available. Most of the family relocated years ago so it wasn’t as big as I remembered but seeing the ones I was around the most was good enough for me.
One thing I did notice after a week of staying here was that none of my uncles were around. I asked Ezio what happened to his father and after staring at me for forever, he finally told me he was dead. My heart went out to him but he just walked out of the guest room he’d put me in. I didn’t bring any of them men back up after that.
Ezio’s spot was the place to be. It was where the entire family hung out at so it was never a dull moment. A few of my female cousin were married and had children so the ones that did come by and see me, Princess enjoyed. My baby was so happy here. I was happy for her because this is what my childhood was like. Connecting with family and hanging with my cousins.
I was skeptical as hell the first night being here because Ezio and broke neck girl argued all night. I was expecting to hear him push her head through the wall but instead heard slight headboard banging. After that, I pushed my reservations to the back of my mind.
I didn’t have to leave Ezio’s house for anything and at first that was cool but I was slowly missing Jagoda Bay. Missing Matteo. As the days went on, I felt bad for running off on him but my emotions were high as well as I was frustrated. My mother had just dumped a whole lot on me and she really made me feel like Matteo was playing me. I don’t know I guess I had to get out of there.
Now that I’d gotten a taste of Chicago and reunited with my people, it was time for me to head back home. I had a long battle with myself about if I was going to stay or not and in the end, I decided to head back. That didn’t necessarily mean I was going to go running back to Matteo but I had to figure my life out. I still had a nice account being that Ezio fed us daily. He even had the hotel cancel the authorization on my card and paid for the room himself. I was happy to get that $3500 back. My cousin was rough as hell around the edges and even rougher with women but he’d really been looking out for me.
It was late so after bathing princess in the bathroom connected to the guest bed, I put her in her pajamas, fed her and put her down for bed. Once I was sure she was asleep, I went to look for Ezio. Tonight was one of those rare nights where nobody was really here outside of his girlfriend. Her bruises had heeled up more and she was no longer in the neck brace. After seeing how crazy her ass was, I no longer felt like my cousin had been beating on her, but I did feel like she may have ran down on the wrong female and got what she was looking for. Either way I’d been staying out of her way and she’d been staying out of mine. Most the times, she was in Ezio’s bedroom and that was on the other end of the house.
I found Ezio in the kitchen bare chested, leaning against the sink counting money. When he looked up to see that I was in the kitchen, he smiled. Ezio was cool but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something didn’t feel right. I didn’t know what it was but I had the gnawing feeling telling me to take my ass back to Jagoda Bay.
“What’s up. Where my lil homie at?”
I playfully rolled my eyes and leaned on the cabinet across from Ezio. He played with Princess all day every damn day. He also gave her ass anything she pointed at just like Matteo did. That little girl was spoiled anywhere she went. I’m just glad it didn’t turn her into a rotten ass child.
“She’s asleep. You gave my baby that popsicle and it had her lil ass on ten.”
Ezio laughed as he continued to count out his money. I don’t know what the fuck my cousin did for a living but he had two nice cars, a crib that was far from a mansion but big enough for a unmarried man without kids his age, and he dressed fly. I didn’t want to say he had illegal dealings but he was getting to it.
“I’m thinking about going home.”
Ezio’s brows lifted.
“To Florida.”
“To home. I had fun here and it’s been everything connecting with you all but I have to leave. We have a whole life back at home. I will come visit more often though.”
“Damn. I was hoping you didn’t say that.”
My antennas went up and I jumped as I felt someone walking behind me.
“Girl, nobody not going to do shit to your prissy ass.”
Mira walked past me wearing a pair of boy-shorts that were in the crack of her ass and a bra. She grabbed a bottled water out of the refrigerator with her good arm and switched back out the kitchen.
“She really hates me.”
Ezio shook his head and placed the stack of money he was counting into a rubber band and next to the other piles resting on his counter.
“Her ass don’t like no fucking body. She will be aite though this my shit. You’re more welcomed than she is.”
“What happened to her.”
Ezio shrugged, “I ain’t touch the broad. I think she ran down on the wrong female and got that ass tapped but who knows. I still owe her ass for running off in my fucking whip. If my shit turned up at the chop shop that’s her ass. Stupid mu’fuckah. But uh, I was hoping you wouldn’t say y’all was leaving. I’ma miss y’all around here. Shit kinda felt like old times.”
I smiled at the memories of all of us hanging out at each other’s house back then. It didn’t happen often but when it did, it was a ball of fun.
“Ezio, can I ask you something and you be truthful with me?”
My cousin crossed his arms and spread his legs.
“I only know how to keep in a hunid, what’s good?”
Fidgeting with my nails that needed to be done desperately, I tried to figure out how to start this conversation.
“Our fathers. All of our fathers. Were they killed?”
Ezio’s jaws clenched.
“Yes.”
“Okay…Were they all killed at the same time?”
“Yes.”
“Is the Cuppacio’s a mob?”
“Used to be. Yes.”
“Were they taken out by their rivalry?”
“Yo, where all the questions coming from?”
“Look, my mama is strung out okay. When we left here, she smoked up the insurance money and she’s been off her rocker ever since. Shit was hard until I met…someone.”
“Your husband? I see that big ass rock you haven’t let come off once. But damn. I ain’t know Tamala was a rock head. Damn. I’m sorry. I know that shit was tough.”
“You just don’t know. I was under the impression my father died for a totally different reason and we went to Florida to start a whole new life. But it was all a lie. She said some things right before I came here that have me questioning everybody.”
“Have you questioning your husband too?”
“Everybody.”
I truthfully spoke.
“Ion like talking about this shit but yes, the entire Cuppaccio mob was killed off by their rivalry. The women and children were left alive.”
I felt sick to my fucking stomach and my head began to spin.
“Okay, last question. What type of person was my father. I want the truth, uncut.”
“Shit...well.”