We had just pulled into my driveway after being on the road for eight hours. I had texted Racer before we got on the road, telling him we needed to talk. After the night we had, there was no way I was backing out. I had almost lost my girl, fully prepared to become his number one enemy if needed be because there was no way I was backing down.

I lived on Williams Island, a private island near South Beach. All of us actually lived nearby but this spot was the most secluded. I wasn’t into showing off, but I was into being safe. Banger, still very much enmeshed in the community, chose a more residential area, living in Coral Gables. That was a college area to me, too close to bullshit. I dealt with enough of that fucking up disloyal motherfuckers.

So, when I wasn’t doing that, I needed a place to really relax and chill. There was nothing over there except old money and dope money, but both kinds of money got you what you paid for.

Besides, the only college kid that had my eye and heart was sitting next me, sleeping with drool running down her mouth. I leaned over, dabbing it with a napkin. She already drooled in her sleep before pregnancy, but I saw my lil’ shorty had her drooling more.

“Hmmmm,” she moaned, moving her face as I woke her up. She needed to eat, throwing up three more times on the road. The only thing that stayed down was burritos, but she hated that, complaining of gas.

“Wake up, Nazzie baby. We’re here.”

She sat up, looking around as she rubbed her eyes. She hadn’t been there in almost a year as she rarely came home. Honestly, I hated being there by myself, often being the one to accept an assignment from Banger. But right then, it felt like home just because she was there. This damn baby was changing me already, but I couldn’t complain as I welcomed it.

I lived in a two-story, ten thousand square feet, Victorian style home that sat off the water. It was a five bed, six and half bathroom home we snatched from an undercover narc that tried to fuck Banger over. I wasn’t looking for that much house, but it was a gift for killing him.

Out back, I not only had a pool and Jacuzzi, but I had a tennis and basketball court. I rubbed her stomach, hoping she was carrying a big-headed boy but honestly, a healthy girl would be fine, too. I just wanted a house full of babies and my Nazzie.

“I feel sick,” she whined, opening the door.

“I know, baby. Since we telling Racer tonight, I got the rest of them coming through too. Trudie is already on it.”

She turned her head so fast, looking at me smiling. “She knows? I mean does she really know?”

I laughed, nodding my head yes. “Yes, she knows but I made her swear to secrecy. Trudie cursed my ass out, but she told me she been knew we was fucking. Now, she could have been lying, but one thing about Trudie was that she could be trusted. She’s bringing all kinds of shit over there in the next hour. We got saltine crackers, ginger ale, soup, Pepto Bismal. You name it, it’s on the way.”

Once Nazarene got out, I picked her up, swooping her off her feet. “Tejon, stop!” she squealed, hugging my neck tightly. I was so happy to see her happy. I finally had my baby back and she was having my baby.

When we got to the steps, I opened the door and guess who was there? “Get the fuck out of here!” I said, watching Racer mean mug my ass. I was going to fuck Trudie up!

“And before you start, don’t blame Trudie. I was on my way to see CeeCee and before I left, I saw Trudie texting like a mad woman. Anytime her ass punching in her shit like that, I know she working on something. I took that shit from her and guess what I found out? My brother, my best friend is fucking my sister,” he hissed, slowly walking up on me. “So, before I completely empty my shit in you, I have one question?”

I wasn’t no fuck boy. Racer knew that shit, coming up in my spot like he paid the bills around this motherfucker. I didn’t care what he knew, a bitch would be dealt with solely for disrespecting me. I watched his hand, waiting for any move as we both carried.

He knew I wasn’t about to respond to his ass, so he kept talking. “Are you in love with my sister?”

As soon as he asked, his .25 automatic was met with my 9-millmeter. He was extra ready, but I could still fuck him up really good with my tool.

“Nazir, no. Please don’t,” Nazzie said, her voice cracking as she started to walk toward him.

“Don’t you motherfucking move,” I told her, lining his got damn forehead in my barrel’s sight. “You my bitch. The only motherfucker you’re supposed to beg is me.” I said it and I meant that shit, too. She was carrying my seed. That alone made her my responsibility.

I watched him lower his eyes, getting my shit in his sight, too. We were both hittas and I was sure as soon as we let our shits rip, we would both be dead upon impact. That was fine too because I never carried or pulled my shit afraid to die. If it was my time to go, I was going out like a real G.

“I’ma ask you again. Are you in love with my sister?” his face red as fuck, veins popping near his temple. I knew he was hot, but so what? I would die for his ass, so he knew I would die for my Nazzie.

“With all my heart. I would give all of this up right now for her,” I declared, lowering my pistol. “Come over here, baby,” I told her and she did. I kissed her on top of the head, rubbing her back and shoulder.

He lowered his, chewing the inside of his jaw. I still wasn’t in the clear, Racer was a tall and big motherfucker that could kill with his hands. Shit, we both could, but his reach was longer. I was ready though. It was now or never.

“That’s your word?” he growled loudly, his breathing slow and intense.

“Have I ever lied about who the fuck I would die for? Have I ever caught one for you?” I did twice actually, watching his breathing get even slower. I could read body language very well. I hit a soft spot, but it had to be said.

I caught my first one when we first jumped into the game. It was a craps game gone wrong. The niggas were cheating, but Racer was still kicking their asses. He had cleaned them out of twenty bands that night and everyone but us was in their feelings.

As soon as Racer turned around, wishing them a good night, I caught a glimpse of a barrel aimed at him. In a split second, I let two rounds off, splitting dude’s head wide open, while I took one to the chest.

The second time was when we entered a building, We were in New York chasing some damn Haitians that had fucked us over for a boatload of guns. It was Bangers first and last time fucking with the gun trade. Racer was messing with a bitch, drinking and fucking around.

I was ready to go, mad that the female I was with pussy smelled funny. She was going off, telling me she was going to call her brother, making all that noise. I cursed that hoe out, telling her to go find a gynecologist.

The next morning, we are in the lobby, stepping out of the hotel as we prepared to head to the airport. Racer was still out of it, fucked up with a hangover. Out of nowhere, a white van guns our way, busting round after round. Who stepped in front of his ass, not only taking one to the shoulder, but also hitting the driver in the forehead? Me.

So, my track record was solid as fuck. He knew that, dropping his head. That was a subtle sign of surrender, but I ain’t trust that shit one bit. He walked up to me, pushing his pistol in my chest.

“Why are you giving me your shit?” I asked him, Nazarene tightening her grip even more around my midsection.

“You need good luck, motherfucker!” he barked, laughing so loud while my baby and I looked at him like he had lost his mind. “Your ass done got shot twice fucking around with me.”

I thought it was a joke, him trying to catch me off guard until he yelled out, “Cecily, bring your behind out here!”

I exhaled, chuckling my damn self as he not only broke in my house, but snuck her scary ass in there, too.

“Oh, so she’s really your new rider? Y’all stop playing cat and mouse and shit?” I asked, surprised to see her with him all lovey dovey as she gave him a quick kiss in the mouth. That fucked me up because Racer didn’t kiss.

“I don’t know? Cecily, who am I to you?” he asked, sounding all sweet as he smiled at her. Yeah, that nigga was in love for real.

“My hitta, Nazir,” she said, grinning as she grabbed him by the hand. Then his smile dropped. I watched her squeeze his hand, getting his attention.

I braced myself, knowing that was way too easy. I pushed Nazarene behind me, ready for whatever as I tucked his pistol in my lower back along with my own shit.

“That’s my heart right there, Block. Yeah, Nazarene was my first heart. Before mama had Nala, Neela or even Nadje—” he said, naming a few of his siblings. “—it was just me and Nazarene. I can’t lie. I feel like you fucked me over, running game, but I understand why you did it.” I caught him looking down at CeeCee, watching her smile. “Love make you do some loony shit sometimes. Just promise me you won’t hurt her,” he said, clenching his other fist.

Nazarene was shaking so bad, I wanted to knock his big ass down for scaring her. “I won’t and since it’s out—” I said, pulling her from around me to in front of me, “—she’s having my baby. Ain’t no breaking up for us. Now, if you would be so kind to get the fuck out of my face, I’ll be the one to protect her. She’s mine. Before I fuck her over, I’ll put a bullet in my own head first.”

Racer was about to lose it, hearing all of that in one day, but I needed to remind him that I was the one who invited him there before he broke in my shit unannounced. So no pussy was between my legs. He had to respect that shit.

“Bro, why you think I invited you here? I’m all in. This my baby right here.”

“Pregnant? So y’all was doing it like that?” he asked, nodding his head. I knew he was hurt, but still. My girl was a grown ass woman.

“Yeah, we were but that’s changed.” Reaching into my pocket slowly because you never moved fast around someone like Racer, I pulled out the same black, velvet box. “Now, you and I will always be bonded for life. But let’s face it, bitch nigga, I ain’t gay.”

That motherfucker laughed his ass off, but it was true. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life around a bunch of hard bodies. I wanted to come home to head, pussy, a hot meal and my kids.

“Stop it,” CeeCee told him, slapping him on the shoulder. “Really, Nazir?”

“Block, I’m sorry. Hurry this shit up. A nigga hungry as hell.”

It was just like Racer to be so damn insensitive at a time like that. He was happy with his bitch, but wanted me to rush my moment with mine.

“Man, fuck you. Nazzie baby, you see how he doing me?”

“Nazir, please stop,” she said, letting me go as she approached him. He looked down and for the first time, he saw her stomach. He swallowed and looked at me and I closed my eyes.

When I opened them, his hand was extended to me. I took it, pulling him in for a hug. The girls squealed and laughed, clapping as we held on to each other. We were changing and him wifing CeeCee couldn’t have happened at a better time.

“So, does this mean I can marry your sister?’ I asked him, when we broke our embrace.

“Fuck nigga, on God, you was gone have to marry her! My damn sister not having no illegitimate children,” he spat, serious as hell.

“Racer!” she screamed.

“Girl, be quiet. You should be ready to eat, too! Trudie, bring your ass out so we can eat!” he said, and I’d be damned if she didn’t peek out and smile.

“I’ma fuck you up,” I told her, walking up and giving her a hug. “I love you, sis.”

“I love you, too. Damn, where’s Sparky’s ass?” she asked. No one knew, taking off toward the dining room area before she got us caught up in her mess.