“Ughhhh, Skebo. It hurts so bad,” Sunshine moaned as they approached the exit to Orlando Medical Hospital.
She knew something was wrong earlier, feeling sharp pains in her lower back and abdomen before they got on the road. Although Skebo was upset that they were headed to check up on Oneal instead of enjoying the new house he built, he rubbed and comforted her the entire ride. He wanted to be supportive, but now he was more concerned with her getting to the hospital.
“Hold on, princess. We almost to the ER,” he replied, rubbing her stomach that was firm and tight. She complained she felt a lot of pressure before a gush of water came rushing down twenty minutes before they got off of the exit.
“Baby?” she cried, her lip shaking as she stared at him in pain.
“Yea, Shine,” he said, kissing the back of her hand. He was worried, but he didn’t want her to panic. Neither one of them had experienced being parents, let alone giving birth to not one but two babies, but he couldn’t let her down. He was even beating himself up about the argument they had earlier, both still not knowing Oneal’s current condition.
“I—I—I love you, baby. I have since I was old enough to even know what love was supposed to feel like. Just—oh, God! Skebo, baby! Mmmm!” she yelled before she could finish speaking, gripping her side.
“Shit! It’s okay, princess. Hey, y’all two fucking up in there! Calm down!” he barked panicking for the both of them as he pulled up to the emergency room. Before he could get out, Sunshine grabbed his arm.
“Skebo, baby. Just let me finish. Mmmm. Please,” she moaned, falling in love each second he looked her in eyes, afraid to let her know he too was afraid. “I knew I loved you when I was like thirteen. I came home from school after I lost my money playing at the park. I had plans that weekend to go and get me some black and royal blue Air Jordans. Keyz was acting funny, making me and Shower save our money, talking about how spoiled we were. I must have cried for two days before I came home and found a pair on my bed. My mama would never tell me who bought them, but Keyz fussed me out one day telling me I better be glad Skebo looked out and got me them Jordans, even though you never mentioned it. Now I know that sounds crazy, but—but, baby, that shit meant the world to me,” she cried with an ugly face, snot running down her nose.
“Damn, ole snotty ass girl,” he laughed, his heart racing after listening to her. “You just had to bring up some damn shoes knowing I gotta buy two pair of them motherfuckers from now on. Now bring your ass.” Skebo hopped out of the truck feeling ten feet tall, proud to be the one to share this moment with her. He figured he’d check on Oneal once he got Sunshine situated, but he wasn’t prepared for what he heard next.
“Nooooooo! Stop lying! Let me see him! Where is he?” Kennedy screamed deliriously after being told that Oneal had died. She crawled out of bed with Rashid.
Kennedy, grabbing her cell to check on Peyton, noticed she had two missed calls and one urgent message. The first call was from Chase telling her that Oneal was in an accident. The second one was Orlando Medical Hospital, notifying her that he was just rushed in after being in an automobile accident on I-4. She tried prying herself away from Rashid this time, but it was getting harder and harder. Especially since she knew Oneal was still very much in love with Sunshine. She had tried everything to get his full attention, but not enough to stay out of Rashid’s bed.
“Damn, that’s fucked up,” Skebo muttered to himself en route to the maternity unit on the other side of the hospital.
He figured he had a few minutes to at least get Sunshine an update as she was prepped for delivery learning that Oneal had passed. The walk to the maternity unit was long, as the hallways appeared to stretch with each footstep he took. Whipping out his cell, he did what he had to do, but knew there’d be more questions than answers, but he had to do it for her.
“Yo,” Keyz answered, sounding short and irritated. “Sup, Ske?”
Skebo knew his boy, trying to figure out if now as a good time.
“Shit, man. You good?” Skebo asked, pacing back and forth outside of the maternity ward. Each time the door swung open, he swore he heard Sunshine screaming in pain. All he wanted to do was tell him he had Sunshine and she was good for now until they had a chance to talk. He wasn’t sure if Keyon had put him up on what was going on, but angry or not, they were still best friends.
“Fuck no, but I will be. About to leave my mama crib and pick up Ish from Shower’s house.”
Hearing him mention Shower got his attention real quick. Shower and Sunshine were not only twins, they were best friends, telling each other everything. Even minor information that only girls thought was important to share like when their menstrual cycle came on. Stuff that Skebo would turn his nose up at as soon as Sunshine said something like that around him to her sister.
“Word? A’ight, holla when you done. I got something I need to holla at’chu about. Cool?” he asked, rushing to get off once he knew for sure that was Sunshine calling for him.
“Yea, do that,” he said in huff before he hung up.
Not only was Keyz infuriated with Chico and Myriah for betraying him, but he was upset with Shower for checking him on how he handled his custody issue with Myriah. As soon as she left, his mother was on the phone begging Shower to talk some sense into him. Shower wasn’t a fan of Myriah, but she was a mother too, and hearing how Keyz coerced her into signing joint custody papers angered her. She knew her brother loved his son, even after finding out he may not be his, but Keyz was out of control.
She also knew he would kill Ezekiel if he even pulled the same stunt with their daughter, Ieasha, but this Keyz wasn’t her brother, her protector. This Keyz was a mad man, willing to destroy a friendship and lifetime brotherhood to stop his heart to stop hurting. He also was upset after Iyana got missing for two days, not answering her cell or text messages. He even drove by her place, sitting outside overnight in a drunken rage with his pistol on his lap.
“It’s me and you, big homie,” he said, rubbing his hands together, looking at the ceiling as he referenced God. “Help me deliver my lil’ shorties and give my baby the strength to accept this shit ‘cause this a motherfucking lot right about now.”
Approaching the nursing station, before he could ask for what room Sunshine was in, he heard her yell his name again.
“Skeeeeeeebo! Oh God! Where is he?”
Running off in the direction where he heard her cries, Skebo found Sunshine, sitting up and sweaty. Her face flushed as she blew out short breaths like a blowfish.
“Shine, girl. You ‘bout to make ole doc here think I’m putting in some work before he get in here. Calm down, princess. A nigga here. Okay?” he joked, nervous as hell as the nurse smiled once they made eye contact.
“I take it you’re the father,” she said as he approached the bed, grabbing Sunshine’s hand.
“Oh, I’m—”
“Yes, he’s the father!” she barked at the nurse, upset that she had to endure this pain alone.
“Now go wash your damn hands before you touch our babies!” she yelled, cutting him off as she snatched her hand away from him. “Hurry, Skebo!”
“Mannnn…” he huffed under his breath, finding a nearby sink to wash his hands. “She about to make me knock her lil’ ass out.” After aggressively washing his hands, he heard the doctor walk in, greeting Sunshine, before he checked how far along she was.
“Hi, sir. I’m Dr. Richardson. Now I contacted her OB/GYN in Miami, so he’s aware she’s in labor. I guess these two here wanted to make an early appearance. Isn’t that right, Ms. Paul and Dad?” he said, reading her chart, Skebo standing over his shoulder like he understood what he was looking at.
“Aye, doc. Can I ask you a question?” he inquired, scratching his chin with his mouth slightly curled up.
“Do they get hungry and shit at the same time? Like, if me and bae trying to chill and shit, do they both gotta be sucking on the titties then taking a shit like they got that telepathy power thing I be seeing on them movies? Like for real, yo, ‘cause I been trying to break these lil’ power rangers in but they be bucking. Even after I give ‘em a stern talking. Shit’s crazy, doc.”
The look on Sunshine’s face was priceless while the nurse and doctor chuckled under their breath. Skebo was serious, uncertain why Sunshine was giving him “the look” and they were snickering at him. He just wanted to know when he could have some alone time with her since it’s been the three of them once he locked her down.
“Ah, sir. The babies are twins, but they have their own internal clocks. They may do some things at the same time, but if you put them on a schedule, you should be fine. Are you listening, Ms. Paul? Twins can be challenging,” he said, scooting up to see how far along she was.
“Shit, she know. Her ass a got damn twin. Been fucking with me most of her life. Got me in here all in love and whatnot. Doc, you know I love her pissy drawers. You should see my truck all wet from them lil’ youngins wetting it up on the way here, but I love me some Shine,” he grinned like a lil’ kid, approaching her to give her a kiss.
“No, move, Skebo. You play too much!” she barked, bracing herself for a contraction.
“Shut up,” he laughed, stealing a kiss before she tried to pop him.
“Now, Ms. Paul. I see one of their heads crowning. Sir, your name?” the doctor asked, wanting to prepare him to help her get through these next few pushes.
“Skebo. Skebo Hightower,” he said, proudly rubbing her empty ring finger. He’d never been so happy in his life in spite of all the bad news he had to share with her. He didn’t hate Oneal, but he was hurting for Sunshine and her unborn sons knowing they would never meet their father once they made their entry into the world.
“Well, Mr. Hightower, when I say push, gently rub her back while she gives me a nice push. Can you do that for me, Ms. Paul? Mr. Hightower is going to be there right with you.”
Her lip quivering as emotions of pain and happiness danced around in her head, Sunshine whispered “yes,” sitting up as the contraction came hard and fast.
“Grrrrrrrrrrrr. Grrrrrrrrrrr,” she grunted in between quick breaths.
“Nice job. I got baby number one’s head. That a boy. I got you,” he said grabbing the suction from the nurse as he removed the amniotic fluid from the baby’s nose and mouth while he held his head.
“Now give me another push,” he coached her, easing one shoulder out while she pushed down, grunting and crying. “Awww, there he is. Calling it, 4:02PM for baby number one.”
Skebo, known to joke, turned pale, almost fainting as he watched the doctor prepare the baby’s cord to be cut. He’d never witness anything like this in his life and neither was he ever at a loss for words until now.
“Dad, ready to cut the cord?” he asked, as the nurse grabbed baby number one whose screeching cries got Skebo teary eyed, while Sunshine prepared for baby number two.
“Ske—Skebo, baby,” Sunshine whimpered. “Get our ba—baby. Ahhhhhh, I feel another contraction coming.”
“As you should. I see the head,” Dr. Richardson advised her while Skebo approached the cord of baby number one, his eyes full of fear. “Mr. Hightower, I promise you won’t hurt the baby. Just remember we have baby number two coming right behind him. Now, Ms. Paul, give me a big push. I got you. Dad’s hands are a little busy right now.”
“Aye, Shine. You have this man drop my got damn baby in here and me and my jits outta here. Real talk. Now focus and push my shorty out. Don’t you see me busy over here?” he snapped, mad that she was busy watching him instead of focusing on what she needed to do.
“Ughhhh. I hate—No, I lovvvvve you. I love you!” she belted, giving one strong push as baby number two came out crying.
“Oh, oh, mom. This one has some lungs,” the nurse teased, handing the doctor the suction pump to clear his mouth and nose. Skebo peeked over their shoulder, stuck, trying to focus on baby number one getting his vitals checked, while baby number two came into the world.
“That’s it, Shine, girl. Push my lil’ man out!” he yelled, smiling like a proud father. “I see him, princess. Push, Shine.”
Watching her pouty lips poked out with tears running down her face, her hair stuck to the sides of her face, Skebo’s heart swelled with how beautiful she looked. Even when she was in pain.
“Grrrrrrrrr. Mmmmmmm. Okay, okay, okay,” she chanted, leaning forward with Skebo now by her side, rubbing her lower back and neck.
“That’s it, princess. That’s it.”
“Baby number two. I’m calling 4:06PM!” Dr. Richardson replied proudly, like it was his first time delivering twins. Each time felt like the first time, but Skebo made it quite entertaining.
“Now, Dad. Come on over here and finish this off while I get this afterbirth.”
“Awe, damn. It’s three of them?” he teased, as Sunshine pinched his forearm.
“Hey, doc. This child abuse. You see her pinching me. She can’t be trusted. Just give me my shorties so we can go,” he laughed, cutting the cord of baby number two.
Laughing, the doctor and nurse both shook their heads, quite happy that they had two successful deliveries without incident. Dr. Richardson wasn’t her OB/GYN throughout her pregnancy, but they made him jumping in quite entertaining.
Whisking baby number two away to get his vitals checked, Dr. Richardson checked the afterbirth before he congratulated them again. Although the babies whined and wailed softly, Skebo saw and heard nothing but Sunshine, who looked quite beat after they day they had. He hated that he had to bear bad news, but he wanted to give her the best memories surrounding the birth of her sons.
“So what are we naming them?” she asked, her eyes appearing to be full of sorrow as she worried about Oneal’s status.
Unsure of how to respond, Skebo kissed her forehead, shrugging his shoulders. At this point, she could name them whatever she wanted as long as they all went home to his house and she was in his bed. He was a simple man, never requiring much of a woman but to take care of him sexually, until Sunshine. Now, all he wanted was for her to take care of his heart. She could be two hundred pounds or more. He’d still love her and wanted to give her more babies if she’d let him.
“Shit, I’on know,” he replied, trying to avoid the topic of Oneal. He knew she needed to know but not at this moment unless she asked as he watched the solemn look on her face.
“Well,” she said, grabbing his hand, “I was thinking that maybe we name one Sirius and the other Damario. You know… your real first and middle name?”
Feeling as if his legs were about to give way, Skebo pulled up a chair, sitting down next to her. He studied her face just to see how serious she was. The selfish side of him wanted to scream ‘yes’, while the sensitive side of him wanted to remind her that he was not their biological father.
“Shine, baby. I’m flattered, but, man. Shit’s crazy, princess,” he said, dropping his head down unable to face her. His heart hurt knowing how hurt she would be once she learned that Oneal was dead. He would love for them both to bear his name, but he couldn’t consent to that without telling her about their father’s untimely death.
Rubbing his soft curls, Sunshine basked in his presence knowing that although Oneal was gone due to Skebo’s body language, she would be fine because he would be there helping her get through it.
“I know,” she whispered, tears falling from her eyes. “I know he’s gone. I know.”
Shaking his head, Skebo collapsed on the side of her bed, wrapping his arm over her body. He didn’t want to hurt her physically, but he needed to feel the warmth of her body. Her touch was soothing but this was a big one. He was ready to take on Keyz for falling in love with his baby sister, but not helping her get through the loss of her ex. This was huge, but he knew she needed him. Weeping, he took her hands, standing up as he tried to gain his composure.
“Shine, girl. I’ve been loving you before I knew what love was. Like for real, yo. Shit’s crazy how we got from me sitting in your mama’s living room watching TV, eating at y’all dinner table ‘cause I ain’t have shit at mine, to me damn near doing anything I could just to make you happy. You just don’t know how proud I felt buying that damn fish tank and gold fish and the Jordans but real talk, I stole them shits,” he laughed, shrugging his shoulders to lighten the mood before he confirmed her statement.
“Oh God,” she laughed, sniffing from a stuffy nose.
“Naw, check it. A nigga had money but a motherfucker wanted to try me, telling me the lady in front of me had the last size four. With no fucking remorse, he bagged them shits up, handing them to this white bitch with her nose all tooted up and shit. So right after she bought ‘em, I followed her ass right outside in the parking lot and helped myself to them. She went from turning that damn Pinocchio nose up to tossing them at me.”
“Are you serious?” she asked, sitting up in disbelief. She was fourteen, a kid, and he saw something in her she hadn’t even seen in herself. She never felt loved by a man other than Keyz, although she was crushing on him.
“Man, ugly girl. Shut up,” he smiled, feeling embarrassed that he actually told her he stole for her. She was worth it, but he’d never admit that to any girl except Sunshine.
“So, all I saw in my mind was you crying and Keyz yelling about how motherfucking spoiled you was when he was the one that did that. Hell, you and Shower, but you were different. Shower would say ‘fuck you’ and keep it moving, but not you. Naw, princess. You cried so hard until your face was swollen and even still, you was the prettiest little thing to me. So hell yea, let’s name these shorties after me. Tell whoever the fuck we got to tell that I need to put my John Hancock on that doc ASAP. Now, I’m sorry for your loss. I promise you I am, but baby, we can’t question that man upstairs,” he stated, pointing his finger up in the air.
“All we can do is accept it and make sure Sirius and Damario know a nigga got nothing but love for them. You do your thing on how and what you tell them about their daddy, but they mine, Shine. I’on care if you not fucking with me no more even though that would never happen, just know they mine,” he declared, wiping her snotty nose with some tissue near the bed as she whimpered unsure of how to respond.
“So, Shine. Can I be your baby daddy?” he asked laughing. “To have and to hold them shitty ass pampers until them lil’ niggas can get on the toilet themselves?”
“Okay, now,” the nurse said, cradling both babies, one in each arm before Sunshine answered him. “Who’s grabbing him so we can name them?”
“Give him baby number one,” Sunshine finally spoke taking it all in, including Skebo’s silliness, “because he came in the world quiet. I can’t have two of them making all that noise at the same time.’
“This girl,” he smirked, accepting the baby from her. “This one we calling Sirius. Sirius Hightower. And him,” he said, nodding his head at baby number two, “We calling him Damario Hightower. Both of their middle names will be Oneal. A’ight, princess?”
Covering her face full of emotion, she nodded ‘yes’ before she opened up her arms to receive Damario.
Squirming the moment he laid on her chest, Skebo whispered in his ear, “Slow down, patnah. Them my titties.”
“Skebo, stop that. You teaching them bad words already,” she whined, watching him lightly bounce Sirius who squinted his eyes like he was mad.
“Naw, teaching them who the fuck in charge. Now get some rest, Shine. We got a lot of shit ahead of us,” he said, referring to not only the death of Oneal, but also the problems they will have once they told Keyz they were in love.
“I know, baby. I know,” she whispered, reaching up to give Skebo a kiss, who met her before she sat all the way up.
Keyz, now a deranged man, was on a warpath combing the streets of Miami in search of Iyana. He’d hated that he didn’t have Rickey or Sky’s information, but he went and created a scene at her job and even harassed her neighbors after he got no response from her in three days. He was hurting, not only because of the betrayal from his boy, but because he didn’t have her to soothe and console him. In such a short period of time, Keyz realized how open and vulnerable he became after he opened up his heart to her. For years, he suppressed this kind of love and now he had it, he was about to lose it, not having her in his reach.
Smoking a blunt at his cigar lounge, Keyz called a meeting with crew letting them know he was out after this last drop he was getting, and going off on his own. He loved the C.U.B. crew, but he killed for less than what Chico did, leaving him no choice but to do his own thing. Staring at Shona, Kaleela, Tone, and Chello, Keyz felt proud of the bond they built, but either they were in or out. It didn’t matter to him if they chose C.U.B., but they couldn’t have both. He never questioned Skebo’s loyalty, trusting he had his back, so he figured he would holler at him later.
“Damn, Keyz,” Kaleela said. “You gassing up early, yo. Like what the fuck. It’s nine in the morning.”
A few of them laughed thinking the same thing, but the look in Keyz’s eyes told them this meeting was anything but a joke. They’d seen it before; his eyes had murder in them and nothing could change it but him committing a homicide. Dressed in all black, the crew looked at each other wondering why he called a meeting at his legitimate place of business and so early in the morning.
“And?” he asked, giving Kaleela the death stare.
Kaleela was the hardest bitch in their crew, but she wasn’t ready for Keyz’s wrath. Realizing that something was off, she chose to sit back, firing up one herself instead of testing his gangster.
“So, boss man. What’s up? Who we about to fuck up? Things been real quiet lately, but you know a nigga ain’t scared to shake some shit up if we being fucked with,” Chello asked, being the most serious one of out the crew.
He had been in the game for more than twenty years, older than all of them, but he respected Keyz’s position from day one. He was an old head that loved the game, but loved family more. His baldhead and big, burly stature bore multiple tattoos, one being their sign of a bear on his shoulder. His dark, chocolate skin masked it unless you looked long and hard but he wore it proudly.
“So you ready?” Keyz asked, sitting up as he stared at him. “You ready to go to war with me no matter who they are? You ready to die with me and for me? That’s what you saying, Chello?”
His eyes skating around the room, Keyz studied their faces, jaws tightening up and muscles flexing as they sat silently waiting for Chello to respond. They knew it was a test. They just didn’t know why they were being tested. To their knowledge, money was good and the crew was solid. So Keyz challenging Chello took them by surprise.
“Youngster,” Chello replied, smiling as he leaned forward. “Yea, I said it. I remember when Chico brought you on. You was a hothead, ready to fuck shit up if somebody breathed wrong. Ready to blow a motherfucker head off for any one of us in here. So if I gotta go to war with you and die for you, so be it. Just say the word.”
Shone, Kaleela and Tone knew the question was asked for them too, even though they weren’t addressed. Without hesitation, Tone sat up extending his fist to Keyz and Chello who lightly tapped it. Shone and Kaleela, uncertain of what to do, waited for each other, being they were sisters. At the end to the day, C.U.B. was family but they were blood, left to fend for themselves at the age of eight and ten after their mother was killed by their uncle who was also their father. Being the outcast of the family, they found love in the crew, but their loyalty still lied with each other.
Being the oldest, Shona spoke first. “Now we have been fucking with you for a minute, but I’ma need you to make this shit real clear for me, Keyz. Real talk. I fuck with you but I can tell shit about to get hot and judging from who’s not here, I gotta ask why. Like, where’s Skebo? Chico?”
Nodding her head in agreement, Kaleela cosigned her sister’s concern, leaning back in her chair prepared to follow her lead. Shona was a girly girl, but the crew knew how powerful and important she was to the game. Not only was she fucking Chico, she was responsible for most of the marks they knocked off in order to expand their territory. Her maple brown skin and thick frame made for an easy fall, given her natural beauty that could con a priest in mass service. Kaleela, on the other hand, a stud with sex appeal, blended in well with the fellas and got down harder than most of them when work needed to be put in. At five feet three, most underestimated how lethal her hands were, but she had bodies for days to prove there wasn’t any bitch in her blood.
“So, ‘cause that nigga done fucked the lining out your pussy, Shona, you think he fuck with you the long way? Like you the next bitch in line once Meka step the fuck off. Huh, Shona? That’s what you thinking?” he sneered, putting his blunt out as he stood up, understanding her position.
As he approached her slowly, he dropped down, squatting in front of her and Kaleela, giving them another chance to say how they fuck they felt. He knew a while back Chico was fucking Shona, but he never questioned her loyalty until he had to. Today, it was clear it was questionable.
“Man, Keyz,” Kaleela replied. “Fuck all that. She good. Get dick for days whether it’s Chico or the next nigga. Now I would appreciate you just answering her fucking question. We all bleed and that motherfucking glock you got on your hip was made more than one motherfucking time. Ain’t nain bitch in here not strapped, but this bigger than this, so speak freely. We fucking fam, yo. So just say that shit.”
Leaning on her knees, Kaleela pulled on her blunt one time before putting it out on her gold and black Huaraches. Anyone who knew Kaleela knew her shoe game was sick with over three hundred pair of sneakers in her walk-in closet. Accepting her challenge, Keyz grabbed the bridge of his nose and looked at Shona, giving her one more time before he called it. To him, it didn’t matter who the fuck wasn’t there. All they needed to be concerned with was if they were with him.
“That’s yo’ your word, Kaleela? Shona?” he asked with an evil grin, licking his lips.
Staring at her sister, Kaleela knew what they had to do. Once Shona stood up, she stood with her prepared to leave. Shona may not be the next bitch in line, but she was still his bitch if he wanted her. Both, just like Keyz, would have been in jail or dead had it not been for Chico, and they weren’t prepared to cross that line.
“Yea, we out, homeboy,” Kaleela said, lightly dapping his fist.
It hurt him to have to do that, but he also needed to know who was fucking with him the long way. The move they just made impressed him, but hurt him at the same time. They put in years together coming in a year after he and Skebo, so he understood their loyalty. He just hated that a choice needed to be made.
“That’s what’s up,” he said with finality. “Watch yourself. Hey, Chello. See these bitches out.”