Save Room for Us (Crenshaw Kings Book 7)

by Shvonne Latrice

“The DM already popped up on my iPad notifications weeks ago when she sent the shit. You a little late for damage control, love.” I felt like my stomach was in my ass upon hearing his words. Pulling away from my ear, he said, “Get ya shit to go, and don’t hit my line no more, aight?”

ain’t no more me and you, and I don’t wanna hear from yo’ ass no more. If you see me out, act like you don’t know me. You gon’ hate it if I have to tell you again, ’cause I ain’t gon’ be as cordial. I’m trying with you out of respect for the shit we did have, but you ’bout to make me lose all my fucking patience and home training.”

Asif, on many occasions, had drilled into Sophie not to allow men to pick her up, kiss her, put her on their laps, or engage with her in any way that involved touching pretty much.

I climbed out, checking my surroundings like Asif always told me to. He claimed men about to do some fuck shit, his words not mine, always targeted women who weren’t paying attention either on their phone or digging in their purses. I kept that in mind.

“I know.” “How?” I sat up to stare down into his face. “Why you think he was gone when you came back out?” His pretty eyes regarded me for a minute as I pondered. “I just thought he got anxious and ran off. That was you?” When he nodded, I questioned, “But how did you get there so fast? How did you even know he⁠—”

“Are you gonna do this forever, or are you actually gonna retire in a few years like you told me when we first met?” I took his hand, eyeing the many intricate tattoos, but mainly the one of my name inside of a heart, which he’d gotten in Vegas. It was a nice size, hard to miss, which I loved. I, in turn, got his on the front, right side of my pelvis. That was where he’d requested it. The artwork all over his body looked so good against his deep caramel complexion. If there was ever a Sexiest Hood Nigga Alive award, it would go to Asif St. Thomas. “Not forever, hell nah.” He shook his head definitively. “Like I said, I made more money than I planned to, so I got ’bout two more years in me before I retire from this shit. I want my cushion thick and my businesses thriving by the time I do.”

“All of these are filled to the fucking brim with clean money. This one has a safe box though.” He pulled it out to show me, so I neared him to watch him unlock it. “Paperwork you’d need to access my accounts and shit. You can have it all if some shit happens to me. I just ask you break off Banks. My brothers rich enough, but if they ever hurtin’, give it to ’em.” “Asif…” I shook my head. “I ain’t saying something will happen, but you can never be too prepared, aight?” He waited for me to nod before he put everything away. For the next ten minutes, we set up my fingerprint to be able to unlock it, while he made me memorize the code as well, just in case.

Anastazia was the type that was always working toward some shit and always conquering goals. I’d made a good living, but in comparison to her, it never felt like enough. She was always the best, working to become better, furthering her education, and just outgrowing me in a sense. It was like I couldn’t catch up, and the more time went on, the more out of my league she felt.

It seemed like that wasn’t enough, though, or at least in my mind, it wasn’t. She was still beautiful, still had it going on and shit, so that was when I slipped a mickey in her drink and impregnated her, something she’d told me she didn’t want one hundred times over. I knew it was only so she could leave me with no ties, and I couldn’t have that, so I made her have my baby, trapping her for life. But that bitch just wouldn’t be weak enough. No matter what I fucking did, she wasn’t as broken as I wanted her to be. She still went to work, still was sister and daughter of the year to Leeci and her mama, respectively, and was still hitting goals at work like life was good. She was Teflon, and that shit drove me crazy. But I made it clear to her ass that if she ever tried to leave me again, I would kill her, and I meant it. Only reason she wasn’t dead right now was because I was incapacitated like fuck.

She was supposed to be a simple fuck that I threw in Anastazia’s face to make her feel bad about herself, but the shit had spiraled out of control when I went into that coma, because Jacinta took it upon herself to expose our affair as something more than what it was. She’d even told me she was getting a fucking abortion when she first revealed her pregnancy, so to wake up to being a father had me wanting to murk her ass. That meant I’d been fucking with this bitch all the while she was hiding an early-stage pregnancy from me. Jacinta knew full well I didn’t want her coming at Anastazia or making her think I was gon’ be with her instead, but I guess she thought I wouldn’t want Anastazia anymore after she shot me; that was far from the fucking truth. Anastazia was mine, and if I wasn’t gon’ have her, no one else would.

So right now, she could think she was free, happy, and about to run off into the sunset with her little cartel, kingpin—whatever the fuck he was—boyfriend, but it wasn’t gon’ happen. She was coming back to me and then to God.

The thought of that muthafucka Asif sleeping with her, holding her, smelling her, conversing with her, and worst of all, being inside her kept my ass up all night. I remembered vividly what that was like and how addicting she was, which made sense as to why the nigga was willing to put a hot one in me over her. She just did that to people. So when he said he’d been plotting on her since he’d seen her, I knew the shit was true. Him wanting to fuck her while she was mine and then successfully taking her had a nigga incensed.

Out of reflex, I grabbed a handful of Jacinta’s hair, causing her to whimper, eyes filled to the brim with shock. “Who said I wanted her to rot in prison?” I growled. “You was supposed to keep our shit under wraps any-fucking-way! Nobody told you to go running ya fucking mouth. You the main reason why she won’t even look my way, you dumb bitch.” I tightened my grip as she whimpered, begging for me to let go. “I should kill you.” “No, baby, no. I love you. I’m sorry for what I did. I am.” Letting her hair go, I swiftly slapped her ass, hard as hell, making her fly onto the nearby couch with a grunt. I nodded, realizing that even while paralyzed, I still had it.

I wasn’t about to go to war with Asif over her. I was gon’ let that nigga deal with Asif on his own. He wasn’t a nigga I could just plot to have murdered and press on. He was a menace and too fucking respected.

“I know, man.” He started crying. “I know, and I’m sorry. You was right this whole time, I was just… feeling disrespected because these niggas is way younger than me.” He hacked a bit then said, “But look, since all I did was attempt to rob one trap, we can make amends, man. Whatever you need me to do, I can handle it. Show you I’m loyal.”

“I’m dogging that pussy tonight.” I dry humped her a little bit, making her bite her lip lustfully. Sucking her neck, I said, “I wanna eat that pussy ’til you can’t stop shaking, love. Bend you over and dig you out ’til yo’ legs give way, then sit that wet shit on my face and make you cum again.”

“Now I can officially say I got into a shoot-out with my drug dealer boyfriend.” We laughed. “Yeah, don’t go around saying that shit.” I removed the heel.

“Stroke it.” “Stazi—” “Please,” she begged, and again, I obliged her.

“You are so sexy,” she commented, touching herself as her eyes moved all around me as I rubbed up and down my shaft, getting harder by the fucking second. “I’m so wet just from watching you.” Spotting the eagerness in my eyes, she purred, “It’s yours, baby, don’t worry.” “Stazi, you too sexy for this shit. You gon’ make me bust before I get in it,” I admitted, feeling that edge get closer as I took in her sexy frame, titties, hard nipples, perfect ass face, perfect body, and glistening pussy. Plus, the way her ass was talking.

I was officially turned the fuck out.

“That’s my baby. There she go.”

“Can’t nobody make me nut this way but you, love. This the only dick you’ve sucked like this, right?”

Her small hands gripped the bedsheets as her mouth hung open while I banged on her shit like I was from Neighborhood.

“Who run this shit, Stazi?” “You, baby,” she cried out, drooling a little bit as I tenderized her spot.

“Don’t run, love. Don’t take this good shit from me.” I hammered her.

“You got about half an hour love, but we ’bout to fuck all night. Shouldn’t have been teasing a nigga all night and shit like you was ’bout that life. Time to pay up,” I said matter-of-factly before kissing her perfect pussy, then leaving the room to get us some hydration. I ignored her whining, “Asiiiiff!” as I got the shit.

“Did you apologize to my sister?” I queried, making her pause. “She was yelling things, Asif, so I responded.” “She’s a seventeen-year-old girl. I get she may have been disrespectful, but I ain’t fucking with what you said about her being a ho and becoming a teen mom. You responding ain’t the issue; it’s what you said.”

Blaire pretty much took over the conversation, which was cool. She was funny, cute, too, and seemed to enjoy her mother, but I wasn’t seeing the reciprocation. Nori, though she tried to hide it, seemed annoyed by her. It definitely brought back memories.

“Nothing compared to all the shit she’s done for me. She had six of her own fucking sons but had no reservations about caring for me when you refused,” I said. “She took care of a nigga, loved me, showed me what it was like to have a fucking mother. That’s some priceless shit, so hell yeah, I’ll give her what she ask for, but it ain’t the same deal for you nor this nigga I just fucking met.”

I was never wrong about muthafuckas, but I couldn’t lie; this was one time I wished I was wrong.

“I’m serious. Nobody is ever getting this nigga right here.” She pointed to him as he tugged her into his lap, chuckling.

“Talking about my nigga looks bored.” She confirmed what I knew. “Are you bored, Lequay Compton?” She looked at her husband who started laughing along with his siblings. “How could I ever be?” he responded, and Scotland’s angry face melted into a simper she tried to hide as she turned from him to buck her eyes at the stinky girl.

“Asif, Anastazia, I love it! Y’all cute as fuck! Marry her, bruh, ASAP!” Unique said to fuck with her some more with his crazy ass, and it worked.

I thought of commenting but didn’t need to. Milan was miserable, and by the death stare Asif had given her, I knew he had something for her, for the shit she’d caused today.

“I wanna make sure you get whatever you want.” “I love you,” I admitted as we started to kiss more passionately. Asif’s hand drifted under the blanket and down into my shorts before he said, “I love you more.”

I gave you a full report on how that nigga was and you still went after him. And I don’t care what you say, Jacinta. You knew I wasn’t lying. Women’s intuition is real.”

“Low did it all himself. He just hit me to come get the body for him.” He shook his head. “He too reckless.” “He’ll grow out of it, like you said.” “I hope it’s before some shit happens to him. He got potential, and he got muthafuckas that depend on him. I would hate to see him get locked up or murked.”

I need you around here, but I hate that you gotta be privy to shit I’d rather keep you safe from.”

“Listen, I apologize for what I did, coming to the theme park. When I saw Unique saying he was there, I knew you would be, too, for his birthday, and just couldn’t help myself.” It wasn’t long before the waterworks started. “I don’t know why, but I can’t get over you, and I hate her.”

This girl.is nuts!!

“If you ever in yo’ fucking life pull some shit like you did the other day, or anything that results in you bothering me and my girl, or any-fucking-body I love, bitch, I will murk you.”

I loved how orange shit looked on her pretty brown skin. “I ain’t gon’ ever get tired of fucking you.” I sucked her lip as she hung

“And what would make you think I give a fuck what you think about anybody or anything?” I chuckled at the thought, letting my eyes slowly drift away from the scenery outside of my office and toward hers.

“You ain’t seen me since I was nine years old, and all of a sudden, you got input on what you want for me out of life?” I couldn’t help but to snicker a bit at her ass. She was delusional for real. “I’m a grown ass man. Anything could’ve happened to a nigga, and you just now coming around to see me yet claim to care about how my life will turn out.” “I was put away for a long part of that, and you can blame your father for it because⁠—” Waving her off in irritation, I said, “Man, I don’t wanna discuss, rehash, and talk about all this other shit. Fuck you come here to say? I don’t got long.”

“Look, you came around me because you saw I inherited this position at the bank and thought it’d be an easy fucking lick. You ain’t count on me being the type of nigga I am though. You ain’t been around me in so long you was still picturing a nine-year-old boy who would nod and say okay to whatever the fuck you told him. This shit you doing is all about money, and I’m telling you right now, you not getting shit.” I turned my head to look her ass in the eyes again. “Asif—” “I was actually hoping, a very small minuscule ass part of me, that you would be different. That you had grown and was maybe a bit remorseful for being such a horrible ass mother to me, but I realize you just not a good person.” I shook my head at her, holding onto her gaze. “Some people do bad shit, but they still good people. You not like that. Everything you do is with malice ’cause you a bad person at the end of the day. Yo’ intentions ain’t ever good because it’s not in you. You rotten from the inside, and ain’t no changing that shit.”

“It don’t take that much to love somebody you naturally love, Nori.” I shrugged. “Or maybe it does for some people, bad people like you. I’ve always been a means to an end for you, something to help you achieve something else. When I was a kid, I was there for you to keep my father around, keep ya claws in him. Now, I’m a way for you to live the way you used to when you was fucking with him.”

Though I had a great mother back at home, this shit right here was hard. Seeing Lisara love her sons so easily used to have me wondering what the fuck was wrong with me. I didn’t get it. Now, I see it was never me; it was Nori. She wasn’t built to be a mother, a parent period, which was a hard ass job I was seeing. Putting a person before yourself at all times and loving them unconditionally wasn’t something every person could do. It took a strong muthafucka to be a parent,

“When is my birthday, Nori?” “Huh?” She frowned, giving me my answer. Anytime a muthafucka acted like they didn’t understand a simple question, it was because they didn’t know the simple fucking answer. “Shit, how old am I?”

“What did I like to eat when I was a kid? What did I like to do?” I went on, and when she just stared at me, mouth opening and closing like she couldn’t decide on what to say, I blew up. “You gave birth to me, and you can’t fucking tell me what day it happened!” I snapped, and she jumped back some. “Get the fuck out.” I stood, calming down. She had me acting out of character, and I wasn’t fucking with it. “Asif, wait, baby⁠—” “Get out, Nori, or I swear to God I won’t go as easy on you as my pops did. Where I send you, you won’t be able to come back from.”

“I just want you to know I appreciate you, Ma. You make it look easy with all of us, and I know it’s not. Even more so now than before. Not everybody is built to be a mother and a phenomenal one at that.” “Aww, thank you.” She touched my hair and leaned up to kiss my cheek, gripping my hand tighter. “What made you say this though?” “It’s true.” I shrugged, sipping my drink. “It is, and I know you always felt this way, but something seems a little different.”

“Being around Nori made me realize she for real never cared, and not even intentionally; she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. I was a chess piece then and even now. So, I wanted you to know that I always appreciated you, but now even more so.” I finally gave her my eyes. “I hope you know it’s her who is missing out.” She continued caressing my locs. “And she doesn’t deserve to come into your life this late in the game and experience the man you’ve become. She gets no credit, only Chianti.” “You too.” I kissed her face. “I mean, of course me. I was trying to throw your father a bone. I did all the work with you.”