C H A P T E R
T H I R T Y - S I X

       Hearing low sniffles he looked around the darkness trying to sense where the crying was coming from. When a light started to shine down from above, he followed it down to the ground where he saw the light was shining on Marcus who was on knees crying.

When he went to walk towards him he stopped when a womanly figure popped up with a knife in their hands as they held it over his back above their head and before he could call out to warn Marcus he was stabbed directly in the center of his back but his cries didn't stop they just turned into sobs.

Running towards them he bent down to check on his brother and when he lifted his head he saw his eyes were pitch black and in the center of his chest was a broken heart that blood leaked out from.

Tears stained his face as he held his hand over his chest with his mouth agape out of shock trying to reach for the knife in his back with his free hand.

When he looked to see the person who did this to his brother he came face to face with Anaya before she disappeared in the darkness...

       Walking inside the restaurant as he held the door open for her, they sat near the back to be secluded. Removing her shades, she stared at him with a smirk plastered on her face. "So are you in or out?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, I already hurt her ain't no point in me fucking up what she got going on now," He mumbled. "She seems geniunely happy from what I seen on my fake instagram account I use since she blocked my other account,"

"Plus, I mean I like Alisha she was beautiful and cool to talk too but I always knew deep down we didn't feel the same so when I saw her all booed up with that other guy I kinda figured that was who she always wanted and I was acting crazy earlier because I was mad but I really don't know if I can follow through with this."

"Why are you switching up now? We've been texting and talking about this for a while and you seemed as if you were in now you talking like a little bitch."

Glaring at her, he grew offended. "I ain't no bitch, I just feel like this is wrong .. I fucked up, she witnessed me being with another woman. I was playing her in a way, I was still messing with my ex and tried to persue her as well so nah I don't think I can do this."

Anaya rolled her eyes. "She was fucking Shaun while she was dealing with you, you owe her nothing .. now look I don't like Shaun and I want him out the picture, so I have a plan that will not only hurt Alisha but it will also break them up ..and that's when you'll come in, she'll go running into your arms cause honestly my sister is thirsty and desperate for attention so I need an answer from you like now..so we put this plan into affect."

"What if this doesn't work? Then what?"

"Trust me it will,"

He nodded, "What about your dude? If he finds out what you tryna do .. won't this hurt him?"

She laughed. "That's the thing .. he won't find out plus I'm not stupid enough to be caught slipping soon as I get Shaun out the picture things will get back to normal.. Alisha will be miserable and I will be happy with my man."

"Why do you want to hurt her though? I thought you loved your sister..Hell most sisters try to uplift each other .. build one another, I ain't never witnessed no shit like this before."

She smiled, "I do love my sister, but she's trying to out shine me and I will not allow it. All our lives our parents made us compete with one another and I always came out on top and will not lose now, especially behind some dude who isn't even half the man that my man is." She scoffed flipping her hair.

"I think you're just insecure about yourself, you know deep down that Alisha is just flat out better than you, look wise, personality wise and talent wise and you hate that. This really doesn't have anything to do with this so called competition you and her have been doing all your lives .. you like to see her down because it makes you feel better about your shitty as personality .. and with that I'm out, you do what you gotta do but I don't want no parts of it."

"Damion really? Sit down, this is your chance to get my sister back and you're bitching out?"

He shrugged standing up, "I want her back but not like this .. this is wrong, you on your own so take care Anaya."

Watching him walk out of the restaurant she bit her lip shaking her head pissed off. "Fine, if he doesn't want to help oh well.. I can do this on my own." She mumbled to herself getting up to leave.

       "No, black men just love praising white women and dissing black women! But that's okay though, let us walk around with a Tom or Tim they be pissed off, calling us sell-outs and shit like they don't do the samething." One girl named Candice preached.

The women in the shop all nodded and agreed, as the men rolled their eyes. "Fuck what you saying, I love my black women .. I'd choose y'all over anybody anyday."

"And we fucks with brothers like you but those Uncle Tom loving muthafuckas that bash black women can choke and they mama should've swallowed." Glenda spoke up causing them all to laugh.

This was regular everyday talks since Chris started workng there and bringing in more men clients. At first it was a little shakey but after awhile things started flowing better. The men respected the women and the women respected the men.

Cali loved the debates because they always got deep and it was good to see and hear different point of views from male and females. "Deadass, like I saw this one dude online blacker than night and had the nerve to be bashing dark skin women. That shit makes no sense I swear."

"That's a form of self hate, he doesn't love himself but you should've replied and said tell yo black ass mama how you feel cause somebody had to help create his burnt ass since he wants to bash us chocolate sisters." Anari one of Cali's new frequent clients spoke up. "Plus, I love my men dark .. them light skin men they're cool and all but its something about those chocolate brothers they just do something to my soul."

Chris glanced over at her sending a smirk her way as they locked eyes on the low before focusing back on the dude head he was cutting. "I also heard them dark brothers be packing .. light skins got them little chicken nuggets."

A few girls laughed nodding cause they heard the same. "That's a lie cause I got a big dick." One guy spoke up feeling salty that they were coming for the light skin men.

"Well shit prove it." Glenda blurted out being her natural nasty self.

Cali reached over hitting her arm. "You bet not whip nothing out up in here." She scolded causing the guy to throw his hands up defense.

"Man Cal, we are all adults here." Candice urged on.

"We may all be adults but I'm a whole ass nigga and I don't want to see no dicks. I came here to get my shit taped not see an audition for Chip and Dale."

The girls rolled their eyes. "Don't look then fruitcake."

Laughing Cali stood from her chair holding her hands stopping the debate that was bound to happen that she did not have the energy to deal with today. "Okay okay, pipe down guys next topic is should a woman be submissive to her man? In and outside the bedroom." All the guys and women in the shop smirked ready for the debate.

"In the bedroom, I like to be the dominate but I also don't mind if my girl were to take control that shit sexy, but I feel my woman shouldn't be submissive outside the bedroom cause that shit is similiar to being a slave or some shit .. if you look it up. Back then that's how it was, the woman didn't work, she cooked, cleaned, took care of the kids, made sure all his needs were taking care of while the man just went to work and paid bills .. I feel a woman should have her own say so, and her own back bone because at the end of the day she is a grown ass woman and should not he taking orders from her man .. things should be fifty-fifty all the way through." Brandon one of Chris's loyal clients spoke up.

"Um pardon me .. are you single? Asking for a friend." One girl asked making them all laugh.

"Yeah, I'm single." He chuckled.

A few girls smirked, and eyed him as the conversation went on. "I like to be submissive in the bedroom, my husband knows my body inside and out .. he knows what I like.. its like when we have sex my body becomes his and I let him have his way with every inch of it. But outside I guess I can say I am submissive too because I am a stay at home mom but he still respects me. He knows that being a mom is a job within its self .. I really feel it depends on who you're being submissive too cause a man who deep down isn't shit will use that submissive shit against you but my man doesn't it really works with us."

"I agree," A few girls mumbled.

"What about you Ahmad? What you like for Cali to be?"

When they all glanced over at him, he was just staring off into space as he waited in one of the chairs to get his hair cut for their trip.

Ever since the dream he had earlier, he felt iffy since he knew what the dream meant. But the hard thing to do was to tell Marcus about it. "Um he's not really in the mood to talk at the moment." Cali spoke up as she stood from her seat.

She noticed Ahmad's change in mood soon as he woke up but he wouldn't tell her why and that worried her especially since they were flying out to their trip tonight.

Grabbing his hand she forced him to get up and led him to the backroom while everybody continued on with the conversation. Sitting him down at the break table, she stood back with her hands folded across her chest. "So what's wrong? And don't say nothing because clearly it is."

He sighed. "I had this dream and its really fucking with me mentally cause I know the meaning behind it."

Sitting down next to him, she gave him her undivided attention. "What was it about?"

"Yo friend, I had a dream she hurt Marcus .. and so far my dreams been coming true and I want to tell him but I don't know how.. he already been beating himself up thinkng he's the cause of the issues they are having .. I just dont want to cause him any pain cause he really loves that girl."

Cali bit her lip, "You have to tell him, I love Anaya but I have seen her in a different light.. she has it in her to fuck over good people in her life including her own sister."

He nodded. "I'll tell him after we get back from our trip."

"Okay good, but until then relax alright?"

"I'll try.."

The only thing that worries Ahmad is that if he waits too long to tell him and something happens. He would feel guilty so he was having an inner debate within' himself on if he should wait or tell him about his girl.

At the end of day his love and loyalty went to his brother, and he never wanted to see him hurt again. So he sorta prayed like hell that his dream meant nothing and that it was just a dream but deep down he knew it wasn't, he was more so upset that she could possibly hurt him.

       "Ahmad stop playing, we have so much to pack yet you tryna freak me." Cali laughed pushing him away as he was tried to undress her. She started off wearing a dress now she was in her bra and panties.

"We got time, our plane leaves at two in the morning .. its nine, Marquette sleep .. Chris downstairs, and I'm tryna love on my baby and you holding back on what's mine." He smirked wrapping his arms around her.

Cali rolled her eyes, she was in the mood but she really wanted to get done packing first so she wouldn't forget anything. "Can we finish packing then do it? Because I don't want to forget anything."

Rolling his eyes, he agreed letting go of her as he grabbed the suitcase he brought from his condo from under the bed. "You think about my offer?" He asked and she nodded grabbing her panties out of her dresser draw.

"Yes, but I don't know babe you don't think its too soon for all of this? I mean getting a house together is different than us spending a night at each other's houses .. we will actually be paying bills together, waking up to each other everyday ain't no leaving when you mad at me .. yo ass gotta stay right there in my face and I want this for us but then again I don't know." She admitted.

"Plus what about our own places, do I sell my house?"

Ahmad nodded understanding what she meant, but he felt they were ready for this. "I mean I get what you saying but I really do see myself being with you forever babe. It doesn't matter when we do it cause at the end of the day we're gonna do it eventually. We don't have to do it right off the bat but I think it is something me and you as a couple should look into like we need to start planning for it cause look we having a baby and the baby and Marquette need a steady solid home big enough for all of us and the other kids we plan to have in the future. And I'm keeping my condo because of Amira room, call me stupid or whatever but I don't want to touch that area I want to leave it exactly how it is and you can let Chris have your house."

Cali smiled and nodded. She loved when he talked about future plans involving them as a couple. It just constantly reminded her on how serious he was when it came to her. Sitting her folded clothes down in her suitcase she walked over to him grabbing his hands. "We can do that, I feel that's smarter .. we can go check out houses, save up for it and move forward from there cause trust me .. you are not going anywhere I've invested too much time and you got my heart on lock."

Kissing her lips, he bit her bottom lip as he pulled away. "That's good to know, pass me my clothes I got sitting on the chair please," Letting go of his hands, she grabbed the clothes that were neatly folded placing them in his hands.

Bending down to grab a pair of her panties that fell, Ahmad smirked then got behind placing his hands on her waist as he thrusted back and forth. "I long dick her like .. uh uh uh," Laughing she stood up hitting him with the pair of panties that he gladly took out of her hands stuffing them in his pocket.

Walking passed her mirror she stopped infront of it staring at her growing belly. Turning to the side, she held her hand underneath her stomach smiling small. Ahmad soon appeared behind her taking a picture of them then posted it to his snap. "Speaking of pictures, when are we taking our maternity pictures?"

He shrugged taking off his shirt exposing his tatted chest, "I honestly didn't even think of that, we should look into that also after the baby shower."

She cheesed, walking into their closet. "I'm so excited."

"I'm excited too, shit still feel crazy that I'm finna be a daddy." He stated more so to himself.

"I'm sure females would kill to be able to say that Ahmad Hassan Sinclair is their baby daddy." Cali joked walking out of the closet with more clothes.

"Yeah but you just got lucky. Snuck yo little ass inside my heart the heart I thought didn't even exist."

She smiled stuffing her clothes in the suitcase. "What made you give me out of all women in this world a chance? What makes me special?"

He chuckled. "I'ma save that answer for another day."

After they packed up everything they needed for the trip down to underwear, clothes and hygiene products the two wasted no time undressing each other.

Leaving kisses down her neck, she giggled alittle when he started swirling his tongue on certain spots of her body. "Why is you laughing?"

She shrugged, "I don't know but keep going I'll stop."

Shaking his head, he started kissing on her neck again as she covered her mouth to stop the laugh that wanted to come out. Snickering a little he looked up at her which only made her bust out laughing.

Laughing with her he rose up staring down at her. "I'm sorry, I'm trying not to laugh .. I don't know why I'm so goofy right now."

"Get it together Cal," Once she got all her laughs and giggles out, she was ready but right when he was about to go down on her there was a light knock on the door. "You and your son gon' make me hurt y'all."

"Oh so he's my son now because he interrupted you getting some pussy? That's cute." She joked as he threw her clothes at her to put on.

Once they both were presentable, Cali opened the door to see Marquette with tears in his eyes. Immediately growing worried, she lifted him up bringing him inside the room. "What's wrong witchu?"

"I want daddy," He cried reaching for Ahmad.

Ahmad took him into his arms, wondering what was bothering him but then it hit him that Marquette called him daddy. "Did he call me daddy?" He asked lowly looking over at Cali who was already crying and nodding. "He did,"

Smiling, Ahmad leaned back to see his face. "I'm daddy?" He asked pointing to himself and Marquette nodded as he used the back of his hand to wipe his face.

Ahmad and Cali shared a look then focused their attention on him. "What's wrong baby? You have nightmare?" Cali asked and he nodded his head slowly looking at both of his parents blinking those pretty bambi brown eyes he got from his mother letting a tear fall.

"You wanna sleep with us tonight?" Ahmad questioned hoping that would lighten his mood since he hated seeing Marquette cry, it always did something to him.

When he nodded, Ahmad removed his shirt getting comfortable as Cali situated herself and Marquette in the bed. Shutting the lights off, he soon felt Marquette snuggle up against him. Smiling to himself, he lifted his arm and Marquette moved closer and soon drifted back off to sleep.

And that was how their night ended, sleeping peacefully in bed together as a family.

        Carrying Marquette along with their luggage, Ahmad walked through the busy airport making their way towards the exit so they could find their uber and head to the hotel they'd be staying at.

Ashley and Aaron held hands as they followed behind looking around while Cali talked on the phone with her brother trying to handle a situation that happened at her shop. "I just landed and I'm miles away from Texas .. kick whoever out, I don't tolerate drama and they all know that." She groaned.

"Alright sis, one of my clients and Glenda escorting the women out now."

Cali nodded. "Why were they fighting in the first place?"

"Main chick, met the side chick. It was just ugly, like apparently the dude they been messing with been lying and it just went from there but they gon' now."

"Alright good, call me if you need anything else."

"Bet, enjoy ya trip .. love you."

Saying she loved him back, she hung up the phone then jogged a little to catch up with her man and kid. Exiting out of the airport, Ahmad spotted their uber with a sign as he directed his family to follow.

Loading the bags in the trunk with the help from his dad, Ashley and Cali got in the car with Marquette. When everyone was in the car buckled up the uber took off letting them see the beauty of Florida.

Marquette climbed in Ahmad's lap since he had a window seat and looked out the window pointing at the palm trees and big buildings they passed. "You like the trees?"

"Yes," He blushed followed by a laugh.

Smiling small, Ahmad looked over at Cali placing his hand on her baby bump rubbing his hand all around as she looked at a map that consisted of things to do in the city of Orlando.

"What did you have planned first for us to do?" She asked flipping the brochure.

"First get settled into our hotels, take naps and shit then after that I found something online that I booked for us to do."

Nodding their heads, they road the rest of the way to the hotel in silence as their minds wondered about all the memories that were soon to come on this trip.

-

Just a filler chapter, continuing their vacation next chapter
Thanks for the love & support
- Denise 💋