For The Love of the Mob Ch. 07

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Nia rushed to Thomas Jefferson Hospital as fast as she could in the middle of the night. The hospital’s waiting room was nearly empty when the smell of sanitation hit her nose, snapping her out of her trance. When she reached the nurse’s station, she was nearly choking with tears.

“I-I need to see my father, Reginald Harris,” Nia said with a shaky voice.

The nurse behind the desk barely looked up from her computer. “Name and relationship to patient?”

Nia’s voice went dry and she felt like the room was closing in on her. “Nia Harris. I-I’m his daughter.”

Before the nurse could begin typing, she felt someone hugging her from behind. As she turned around, she saw it was her sister, Sabina, still in her pajamas.

“Nia,” Sabina sobbed as she hugged her sister.

She held her sister and caressed her hair. “Where is he?”

The two walked down the long hallway, sobbing until they reached his room. Nia’s hand was shaking as she turned the nob. Inside, her father was laying limp in a hospital bed connected to tubes and machines with an oxygen mask on. She was stunned and she thought she’d pass out. Anger and confusion took over when she saw Lorenzo standing on the other side of the room near the window.

“What happened?” Nia’s mouth went dry.

“He–” Lorenzo began.

“No,” Nia said flatly. “I want to speak to a doctor.”

The room fell silent until an older doctor came in and gave them the news.

“Your father had a heart attack tonight and then he slipped into a comatose state.”

“Will he wake up?” Nia asked as she held her brother.

“Given his medical history, we don’t think it’s likely he’ll make it through the night.” the doctor said. “I’m very sorry.”

Nia’s mouth fell open and she felt like the wind was knocked out of her. Nasir and Sabrina sobbed in the corner as they stared at their ailing father.

“I came back to his house after I left you tonight and we exchanged words and uh, he had a heart attack. I brought the twins to the hospital.” Lorenzo said.

Nia couldn’t believe it. He’d killed her father.

“Oh my fucking god! You asshole!” Nia screamed as she beat Lorenzo in the chest with her fists. “You gave my father a heart attack and now he’s dead because of you!”

“Nia, stop!” Lorenzo caught her hands and pushed them back. “You’re overreacting.”

“He’s dead, and I can’t do anything about it.” Nia cried. “All these years I’ve been trying to be the perfect daughter for him and now he’s fucking dead because of you.”

“He was sick, Nia,” Lorenzo said, putting her hands at her side. “There was nothing you could do, or I could do.”

“Stay the fuck away from me, Lorenzo.” she spat, pointing her finger at him. “I fucking mean it.”

“Please, baby,”

Nia had an evil look in her eye. “Leave or I’ll get security.”

Lorenzo left the hospital and didn’t say another word.

**

Over the next few days, Nasir and Sabrina stayed at Nia’s apartment for the first time as she planned the funeral. It was hard to live with the grief of losing two parents and having to be both for her siblings, but Nia made it work. She ignored Lorenzo’s calls and texts and told her doorman to refuse him entrance. She knew Lorenzo had power, but she also knew he could be overbearing at times.

She canceled all of her escorting dates and tried her best not to fall apart. Sloan helped her with legal paperwork and provided resources if the twins would be emancipated, but she knew it would be a while before she thought about that.

“Why can’t we move in with you?” Sabrina asked as she flipped through the magazines on Nia’s glass coffee table.

“I just don’t have space, but we’ll figure something out,” Nia said, which wasn’t completely a lie. She didn’t have space for two full-sized teenagers.

Her condo was only a two-bedroom and the second room doubled as her second closet, which she’d hoped would become her cam-girl room, but that was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment. She knew her aunt had space since Nia’s cousin moved out for college, but she needed to speak with her first about it. Nia couldn’t fathom the idea of putting her siblings in foster care.

“But we need to be there for one another,” Nia said, “I love you two as if you were my own.”

Nasir traced his fingers along the marble counter. “You basically raised us. I loved dad and all, but he couldn’t do a lot that you could.”

Sabrina nodded in agreement. “I can’t remember the last time dad cooked us vegetables that weren’t in a frozen bag.”

Nia looked over at her siblings. They weren’t super skinny, but they needed to eat better. “Let’s make something, then.”

***

For the next hour, Nia and her siblings chopped Anadolu Yakası escort fresh vegetables and herbs and baked salmon until it was tender. They were proud, it was the first meal they’d had together as siblings in years. As they ate, they caught up on how school was going, and they didn’t dare talk about their father.

“So why did you do it?” Sabrina asked as she cut into her salmon. “Why didn’t you just pick up a regular job.”

Nia studied her plate before taking a sip of water. “I don’t know, I just, I just saw a market. That’s what I learned about. I saw a market and there was a demand. It’s not like I was a prostitute, but there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s value in all work.”

“It’s weird but I guess if that’s what you wanna do…” Nasir shrugged

Nia closed her eyes. “I’m not sure if I want to do it anymore. A lots changed in the last few months and I wanna start fresh.”

***

The morning of the funeral, Nia brushed her hair into a high bun and wore minimal makeup, knowing she would cry at any given moment. Her black sheath dress reached just below the knee and she made sure to keep her shoulders covered in a dark purple cardigan for modesty. It was the same dress she wore to her mother’s funeral when she was a teenager. As she adjusted her heels, she thought back to her mother and how she missed everything about her, but she was happy knowing her father was with her once again.

“I can’t tie it!” Nasir yelled, exasperated as he stood in the mirror of Nia’s bedroom. “I don’t wanna go!”

Nia exhaled and fumbled with his tie. She was never one to tie a tie, she was usually the one who undid them. But in this instance, she wanted her father there.

“Hey, we can get one of your uncles to help you with it when we get there,” Nia said unraveling his tie. “Just put it in your pocket or something for right now.”

Sabrina wore a dark navy-blue blouse with black slacks and flats and wore her hair in a low bun, she was always the tomboy, the funeral was no exception.

When the Harris family entered the funeral home for the viewing before the funeral, the room was covered in elaborate flower arrangements top to bottom. It was almost too much to look at, but Nia’s heart was full.

She found the funeral director adjusting one of the floral arrangements. “Mr. Thomas, I didn’t order all of these flowers, I—“

“We had an anonymous donor,” he said with a deep voice. “The gentleman said to cover the room top to bottom. He also covered the remainder of the funeral cost.”

Nia was stunned. There was only one man there would do that and she was ignoring him. Her heart sunk but at the same time, she felt so many emotions. She loved that man with all of her being, but she couldn’t look at him without feeling anger.

She stood over her father’s casket and teared up as she looked at him in his shiny purple suit, he’d saved it from the seventies. “I love you, daddy, and I’m sorry,” she said as she leaned down and kissed his cold cheek.

A few hours later, their father’s casket, along with the flowers were transported to the local church for the funeral. Nia found it hard to keep herself together as the organ began to play a sad song.

Nasir and Sabrina were upset, and Nia wanted them close by, for support. Nia grimaced when she looked over and saw that a bow on one of the pews was undone, she went to go tie it.

When she sat back down, she heard a voice off in a distance.

“It’s ok, I got it, kid.” a voice said.

Nia knew that voice. When she turned around, Lorenzo was tying Nasir’s tie. She felt her heart flutter for a moment, he looked handsome in his custom black suit, but then she remembered everything.

Lorenzo looked over at her and held her eyes as he finished tying the tie and gave Nasir a pat on the shoulder. He whispered something in Nasir’s ear, Nia didn’t couldn’t hear it, but she couldn’t handle him being there.

“Lorenzo, we need to talk,” Nia whispered to him.

The two of them stood in the left entrance of the church, underneath the pillars. When they were finally alone, Lorenzo reached out to hug her, but she took a step back, knowing that the moment he touched her, she would lose it.

“I’ve been worried about you,” Lorenzo said softly. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you, but it seems like you want me away.”

Nia studied her feet for a moment before looking into Lorenzo’s haunting green eyes. “Thank you for the flowers, but I can’t do this anymore.” Nia said softly. “I love you, but I can’t live like this anymore.”

“Is it because of your father?” Lorenzo somberly asked. “I told you I didn’t mean to give him the heart attack.”

She shook her head Anadolu Yakası escort bayan and crossed her arms. “It’s not just that. It’s this life, it’s the people. I don’t know if I can live like this anymore.”

Lorenzo felt his heart sinking in his chest, but he toughened up. “I can respect that.”

Nia reached behind her neck and undid the necklace he’d given her. “Here,” she said. “You can have this back.”

“I can’t take that back,” Lorenzo protested. It was more than a necklace, and he’d hate if something happened to her. “I want you to keep it.”

Nia gave him a weak smile that quickly disappeared and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

They stood there and stared at each other for what seemed like hours, but only minutes passed. There was still so much love there and things to be said, but it seemed as if another chapter in their lives had closed. They were losing each other.

“I need to give you something,” Lorenzo said, breaking the silence. “But not here, I don’t want anyone to see.”

Nia had a feeling he probably wanted to have sex again. “I don’t think it’s a good idea if we have sex, I–“

“It’s not about that, but it’s important,” he assured her. “When can I see you?”

Nia heard the music starting in the church and shuddered for a moment. “Um, you can come by tonight at 7. I have to make sure my little brother and sister are okay first.”

“I understand.” he shook his head.

They stared at one another for a few moments before Nia re-entered the church.

***

When Nia returned to her seat for the pastor to speak, she leaned over to her younger brother.

“What did he say to you?” she whispered.

Nasir lowered his head. “He said I’m the man of the family now and that I need to be strong, that I can’t let this break me.”

Nia hugged her brother and caressed his kinky curls atop his head. She took a deep breath before she approached the podium in front of her family.

She cleared her throat and pulled out a sheet of paper and held it in her shaking hands as glanced up at the congregation. “Thank you all for coming here to honor the life of my father, Reginald Harris. All of my life, I’ve been a daddy’s girl and it pains me to stand here before you at his funeral.” She said, tears running down her face. “My father and I were always close, but right before he died, we didn’t say the nicest things to each other and that’s one of the few things I’ll always live to regret. I loved my father with all my heart, and I know he’ll miss us as well. Please join me today as we honor the memory of my father, Reginald Harris.”

**

Lorenzo stood at the entrance of the church, near the door. He watched as Nia delivered her father’s eulogy with tears running down her face and he felt himself getting choked up himself. He didn’t kill her father, but he shouldn’t have gone over to his home that night he hated himself for it. Now, he was watching the love of his life cry with him being the cause of her pain.

After the eulogy, Lorenzo knew he wasn’t welcomed to see Nia, and Kenny invited him over to his house in the suburbs for dinner. His wife, Noelle made a beautiful ribollita soup with a salad and red wine.

Kenny’s youngest daughter, Vera, sat at the table playing with her food and making noises as Kenny and his wife watched with joy. Lorenzo wanted this for himself, he craved this type of love and stability even if it were out of reach.

After dinner, the two sat outside in Kenny’s backyard with beers.

“I like the kid, but get real Lorenzo,” Kenny said. “All you really did was fuck the girl.”

Although their relationship had a lot of sex, there was real love there. Lorenzo allowed Nia to trust again and he showed her a different part of herself; a side that was softer and more vulnerable. For him, Nia was his stability and his escape. He loved her with everything in him.

Lorenzo clenched his jaw and stared at his friend. “You weren’t there, we talked, and we had a real connection. I’ve never met anyone like her before. Truth be told, I was thinking about making her my wife.”

“You were going to marry her?”

“I have my mother’s ring,” Lorenzo said, exhaling. “I was just waiting until the time was right and I was going to ask her to spend the rest of her life with me.”

Kenny was visibly shocked. “You were willing to bring her into this life and remain unscathed?”

“You and Noelle made it work,” Lorenzo said. “I don’t know, I, uh, I’ve been thinking about going straight, going legit and out of the business.”

“It’s up to you, Renzo.” Kenny sighed. “But there needs to be an heir, you know this.”

Lorenzo took another sip of his drink. “I know, but escort bayan who else is there that could take over? There’s Christopher’s brother, Michael but I don’t know. It’s a lot to think about. I don’t think I could bring my own child into this as my father did to me” he rubbed his forehead. “I’m giving all of this away for her, and she’s not here.”

“Give it time, you’ll be okay,” Kenny replied as he packed Lorenzo’s back. “Sleep on it. Talk to your cousin.”

***

Nia and her siblings watched as their father’s casket was lowered to the ground at the historically black cemetery, beside their mother. Sloan was there too, lending a helping hand to Nia being there to support.

“Goodbye, daddy.” Nia tearfully said as she threw a fistful of dirt onto the casket.

The repass took place at a small restaurant in West Philly, one of her father’s favorites. There, Nia sat with her siblings and ate with nervous stomachs. Her cousin Amber was there with a tall, large Native American boyfriend. Something about her looked different, but Nia couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Nonetheless, the women hugged and exchanged kind words.

“Your uncle and I have talked about it and we think we’re ready to take in Nasir and Sabrina. Laila’s out of the house and we have that spare bedroom we could fix up,” Nia’s aunt said. “Everything will be fine, Nia. We’re family and we look after one another.”

Nia felt ready to cry again. She knew it would be a bit of a process handing over the parental rights to her aunt and uncle, but it’s what she had to do.

“Thank you so much, auntie.” Nia hugged. “Thank you.”

“Of course, baby. anything for you.”

After her siblings left, Sloan was there to spend the night with Nia. Although she tried her best to be strong, Nia still cried every night. She cried about her father and she cried for Lorenzo. It was like a piece of her died with the demise of their relationship.

***

That same night, Nia made sure her siblings were safe and sound at their aunt and uncle’s house while she sat at home. Her eyes were still puffy from crying, but she hated Lorenzo seeing her upset.

When her doorbell rang, she checked the peephole and saw him outside of her door in his usual black sweater and pants.

“Can I come in?” Lorenzo asked.

“Yes.”

The two sat in her living room on the sofa and the pain was eating away at Nia like cancer.

“When we first got together, we agreed to always be honest with each other,” Lorenzo said carefully. “I’m always worried about you, about what could happen to you and I put a tracking device on your necklace to ensure your safety.”

Nia’s eyes grew wide and she instinctively reached out to touch it. She was nearly speechless. “I appreciate you caring about me enough that you would do that, but I was an abusive relationship before and I don’t need you to keep track of me of my every single move.”

“But it’s not your every single move,” Lorenzo explained. “It’s only when you’re out on dates or at night when you’re alone.”

Nia chuckled sarcastically. “And that makes it okay?”

“If someone kidnaps you,” Lorenzo clenched his jaw. “I need to know where you are, plain and simple. There’s no arguing with that.”

Nia stayed silent. He had a point. In her line of work, the possibility of her going missing or winding up in a ditch somewhere was high.

“Do you still want me in your life?”

“I-I do but I don’t.”

Lorenzo didn’t say anything.

“I want you to have this.” Lorenzo said as he opened the bag.

Inside, a small sharp six-inch knife with her initials on it. Nia raised her eyebrows and held it in her hand. The black blade was so shiny she could see herself in it.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“I can’t give you a gun because I can’t teach you how to shoot. . .given the circumstances.”

“But if you need me for anything ever, just call me,” Lorenzo said. “I’d never leave you, I hope you know that. I’ll always love you. I’ll always fight for you.”

Nia felt her eyes fill with tears. She wanted nothing but to melt into him, but she wiped her tears instead. There was just too much pain and hurt wrapped up in her and in the relationship.

“Please don’t,” she said, looking into his eyes. “I just can’t take any more of this.”

The paired walked to his door and Nia could barely hold herself together.

Lorenzo exhaled. “I wish you the best and I won’t bother you anymore.”

Nia leaned up and kissed his cheek before leaving him in the doorway. As she walked away, Lorenzo felt his heart beating out of his chest. He had so much pain and guilt and he couldn’t help but stand there and watch her walk out of his life.

*I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I tried my best to edit and catch any mistakes. Did you catch on that all three of stories are connected? Yes! They’re all cousins. I thought that would be a fun detail. There’s only a few more chapters left and it’s about to heat up! What do you think?*

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