Misunderstood (Toussaint Mafia #4)

Chapter 14

“ W hat happened to your eye, Kalvin?”

Kalvin shuffled his feet before slowly peering up at Maia. When his eyes watered over she had to swallow down her anger so that she could be there for him. She pulled him into a hug on the cracked steps and rubbed his back. While Kalvin was damn near towering over her, Maia was able to still provide peace to his tormented spirit. A spirit that was in turmoil because of his older brother.

“I promise things will get better,” she whispered staring up at the two story flat that seemed almost vacant. However, the shadowy figure that was peering out of the torn blinds showed her that it wasn’t. “Very soon,” Maia swore, anger filling her veins like hot lava as she glared at Kygo’s cousin.

“You promise?” Kalvin asked.

Maia pulled back and looked up at him with reassuring eyes.

“You know if nobody else got you, I do. Now let’s get some pizza and grab those shoes you like.”

2 a.m..… the night still young

You live by the gun, you gon' die by the gun

Ain't no handouts for nobody

When I ain't had shit, they ain't offer me nothing

Promise lowered the volume of "Painting Pictures" as his dark eyes zeroed in on the intended targets. Fate had a funny way of catching up to people. Not only had Promise warned Kygo about being in his hood, but he’d also told his friends to stay away as well. Now, because of their sloppiness they would all have the same demise. When Promise spotted the shady bitch that was also related to Kygo that was Kalvin’s caregiver it made his night that much better.

“Damn, they all here. We only had to do one pull up. Good shit,” Peace mumbled sitting beside him.

“Yeah, but I wish that hoe ass nigga Rocco was with them. It’s all good though. I got different plans for his ass,” Ossa grumbled from the backseat.

Promise smirked. Between, Maia and Masami stressing how worried they were about Ossa being on a rampage, Promise made it a habit to keep him close. Not only was he about to be married to Ossa’s sister he grew up with the nigga. They was like family already and the last thing he wanted to do was go to Ossa’s home-going celebration. That would surely gut his family.

“Nah you doing right by being patient. The minute his ass resurface its over for him. Duke nem waiting in the cut. I’ma have them scoop these niggas up, I just need to take some of my stress out on this bitch ass nigga before they grab him. I can’t let that shit ride, the way he beat up Kalvin on some hoe ass nigga shit. Who beats up they brother though? This is a pussy ass nigga, and his time is up. I been tired of this nigga. Then to come home to Maia about to take some pills because she stressed about his ass was the final straw. This nigga trying to revert her back to that unhappy place she was in when I met her and I’m not having that shit. He gotta go,” Promise growled, nearly foaming at the mouth at the anger he was feeling towards Kygo.

Promise rarely put in work. Honestly he didn’t have to, but this was personal. He needed for Kygo and the hood to know he wasn’t to be fucked with. And that doing anything to disturb Maia Toussaint’s peace was bad for your health.

Literally.

“Yeah, his time been up,” Ossa mumbled pulling out his ringing cellphone.

“You talk to Boston about that nigga?” Promise asked his brother.

Peace shook his head as he placed his pistol into the band of his black sweats.

“Nah, I don’t wanna stress her bout the shit, but I got plans on pulling up on him. He got a seminar coming up for some kids and I’ma go to it,” Peace replied, making the men in the Bentley truck laugh.

“Man, let the nigga holla at the kids and talk with his ass another time,” Promise chuckled, watching Kygo sip liquor outside of the two story home like he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Fuck them kids. That nigga gone have to talk with me about them messages. I’m not gone be on no ignorant shit unless he is. However, that nigga respond is how I’ma respond. Simple as that now let’s go handle this shit so I can go home and rub my baby’s back. I told her I was running to the studio with your black ass,” Peace grumbled. “Got me lying and shit like I’ma fucking kid. I could have been at home.”

Promise frowned as he and Ossa exited the truck with Peace.

“Nigga you didn’t have to come. Stop acting like your bitch ass don’t wanna be here. Always trying to be my shadow and shit,” Promise fucked with his brother.

Peace waved him off as Ossa chuckled. The men traveled across the street and before they could make it to the sidewalk, the talking seized. Peace and Ossa dapped up the young runners they knew as Kygo sipped his Hennessy from the bottle. Kygo stood near the steps of the home with a nasty scowl on his face that was directed at Promise.

Promise eyed him with the same scowl, ready to bash his shit in. Promise popped his neck before pulling out his cellphone. He called Maia and placed the phone call on speaker as Peace and Ossa stood around with the group of men, staring Promise way.

“Hey baby, I said I was okay and you’re right. I don’t need any of that. I have you and I have my family. I love you Promise, I want you to come home to me,” Maia spoke softly into the phone, coming off nothing like the woman he’d met.

Attention, friendship and ultimately loved changed her. Promise hadn’t even expected for Maia to warm up to him the way that she had but it happened. One day he looked up and they had love. The type of love that made him feel soft because he cared about her pain and her heart. Shit made him vulnerable because he knew that if somebody hurt her it would hurt him. Maia was his weak spot in life and Promise was okay with that. Most men in the life feared having someone that they loved because they felt like it would make them weak but not Promise. Promise stepped for everybody he loved and for Maia he would become a niggas worst nightmare. Niggas knew not to try her outside of Kygo who was about to learn what happened when you fucked with the wrong nigga.

“Maia, it’s all good. You know I’m not going nowhere. How you feel about Kygo taking a trip? You think Kalvin would miss him?” he asked, eyes glued to Kygo who was grilling him hard.

Maia snickered into the phone.

“The best place for us to visit him is up on Civic Dr. baby,” she said softly making Peace and Ossa chuckle.

Civic Drive was where the cemetery was located at in Marcy Falls. Maia’s response warmed Promise heart. He wasn’t insecure and he didn’t doubt her love. However, he was human, and he still needed to hear that confirmation that she didn’t give a damn about Kygo’s life coming to an end.

“Sayless, see you soon.”

Promise ended the call as Kygo dropped his liquor onto the ground.

“I’m under the protection of the Chery family. Something happen to me, and I’ll make sure the cops get all type of evidence on Maia and her?—"

Kygo’s words were cut off by Ossa slamming his fist into his face. Kygo fell onto the ground and held his bleeding jaw as Ossa stood over him.

“You snitching now my nigga? Fuck them Chery’s and fuck you,” Ossa grumbled.

Before Ossa could kick Kygo he was moved out of the way by Promise. Promise pushed Ossa back and allowed for Kygo to stand.

“Square up nigga,” Promise told him.

Kygo smirked as his cousin the woman Kalvin was staying with stared at them with worried eyes.

“Um, Kygo lets go. I have to work in the morning,” she said nervously.

“Have a seat sweetheart,” Peace told the woman in a tone that wasn’t to be questioned.

The woman nervously sat down on the bottom stoop of the home they were in front of as Kygo began to talk shit.

“Regardless of what Maia say she loves and will always love me. That’ll forever be my shit,” Kygo boasted, arms up as he was in his fighter stance.

Promise hadn’t even placed his dukes up as he sized up Kygo unimpressed. Promise felt his anger mount in his body turning it to stone as he looked at Kygo.

“Not even you can believe that shit. The minute I spoke to Maia at the studio that night I knew she was mine. I also knew your scary ass wasn’t gone do shit about it. She’s gonna have my last name and give me as many kids as she wants to my nigga. That’s all me and Kalvin?” Promise smirked as he thought of the ways he was going to raise Kalvin up to be a good man. “My lil nigga is gone be good. Good college, straight future with a nice ass savings account. They don’t need you muthafucka.”

Kygo’s fist shook as he looked at Promise.

“Fuck you! You came to tell me that shit or you came to fight me?” he barked, looking like he was about to cry.

Promise chuckled. He whistled calling his young demons to the street and men seemed to come out of every dark spot on the block as Promise pulled out his gun.

“I came to tell you that shit. Fuck I look like fighting?” Promise laughed.

Not giving a fuck if they was being watched Promise advanced on Kygo and slammed his pistol across the top of his head one good time. Kygo fell onto the ground and Promise leaned down as he eyed his handy work.

“Didn’t I tell you what would happen if you fucked with me and mine? See you in the next life pussy ass nigga.”

Kygo groaned holding his head as Promise stood. Promise looked at his shooter and patted his arm.

“Clear the block, I want all of them gone. Wiped off the map and I want her house cleaned. Make it look like she left in a haste. I don’t want a stitch of them discovered ever,” he whispered to his goon before walking off with Peace and Ossa trailing behind him.

“It’s good to finally see your face again. With everything that has been going on, I was becoming worried about you. Which is why I insisted that we meet at least once this week to catch up. The biggest trigger for anyone trying to change their old ways is for drama to fall into their path of a new life and for you that’s a lot of drama that has come your way. I hope that today we can unpack some of that drama, Maia,” her therapist Jackie explained holding onto her notepad as she sat across from her.

Jackie straightened her orange and black Dior reading glasses as Maia peered around the office slowly. Maia awoke to the news of Kygo being placed in a more peaceful resting spot and she was good. However, after Promise found a few pills on her nightstand that she didn’t even take he insisted that they attend a therapy session. So, there they were attending the session because Promise was hands on with her and even if she wasn’t going to admit it, Maia loved that about him.

“I’m fine really,” Maia asserted, swiping her tongue over her lips. Maia then fixed her two pigtails that reached her waist as the man beside her cleared his throat.

“Maia hasn’t been sleeping right in months. Shit she been up for the last two days with insomnia and she’s moving around like that shit is normal doc. I’ll wake up to her on the balcony staring at the traffic or come home to her cleaning the house that’s not even dirty. No lie she’s still fine as hell but she’s losing weight and getting dark circles under eyes and I’m worried about her,” Promise spoke up. “Her mom not being dead along with her pops being on the run is stressing her out. Then she’s dealing with possibly losing someone that’s like a little brother to her in a custody battle and honestly that’s fucked with her mental the most. I keep reassuring Maia that everything is gonna be okay, but I feel like maybe us coming here can add to that. Because the last thing I want is for Maia to revert back to her old ways that was unhealthy for her. She doesn’t wanna talk to you. Especially because of who you are and the case, but I told her you was good. I go off vibes you know,” Promise said placing his left tattooed hand onto Maia’s thigh. “And I feel like you wanna not only see Maia be better but that you actually value your life. Was I wrong about that doc?”

Maia watched her therapist nod quickly as her thin, manicured brows pinched together.

“Of course. Whatever is happening outside of these walls have nothing to do with us, Maia. I would never put my license in jeopardy like that. Your secrets are safe with me,” Jackie assured her.

“Not just that license but your life,” Promise said squeezing Maia’s thigh and Jackie swallowed hard before nodding.

“Yes that as well. I understand who you are and by taking you on, I know the cost I would pay to betray you all. However, that isn’t my intentions. I want Maia to heal from her pain. That is my calling in life. Now Maia I want you to take a deep breath and tell me how you have been feeling since learning that your mother was in fact alive?”

Maia snorted. Her eyes rolled before she could stop them, and Promise leaned towards her carrying with him an insanely good smelling scent. His warm breath brushed against her neck as he spoke and briefly her eyes closed.

“How we gone step for each other with you in your head like this, Maia? I’m ready to marry you, put my baby in you and clap those Chery ass niggas for trying us. I need my right hand to be alert and in a good headspace so that I can be in one too. Relax and get some shit off your chest ma,” he spoke lowly before kissing her cheek. “I’m right here and I don’t give a fuck about who left you because I never will. Every problem you have, I take care of it but you still worried and that’s got me stressing, Maia. I can’t handle business if I’m worried about you, so I need for you to open up to her. We ain’t even said “I do” yet and we locked in. Right?”

Maia’s heart raced; how lucky she was to have such a trill ass nigga by her side. The true embodiment of a boss. He didn’t ask for shit. Not even her heart now he was demanding she heal. Like where the fuck did he come from because it couldn’t have been from Maxine’s corroded ass uterus.

“Right,” she whispered looking into his dark gaze while opening her eyes.

Promise had grown his hair into a tapered curly fro and the extra hair looked so damn fly on him. He was thicker and still possessed a darkness to him that scared many but to Maia he was the best man she’d ever encountered. For that reason alone, she was willing to be her best self because she wasn’t in the space of letting his fine ass go.

Men like him didn’t come around twice.

Maia pulled back from her thoughts and looked at her therapist. She fiddled with her engagement ring as her mind traveled to the blank space that seemed to lure her in trapping for her hours on end. Maia hadn’t left her home because she was in a sunken state that she couldn’t get out of. While it was confirmed through Promise that Kygo along with his cousin was out of the picture, Maia was still unsure if they state would give her custody of Kalvin. Simply the thought of having to watch him being hauled away to another home that wasn’t her’s was killing her slowly.

“I don’t know if I should,” Maia mumbled, still unsure of how much she wanted to divulge considering her family was facing a Rico case.

“Everything here is confidential, Maia. You should know that?” Jackie said reading her thoughts and Maia sighed, giving in.

If Jackie talked then she would be making the news.

Simple as that.

Fuck it.

“Well,” Maia mumbled before clearing her throat. “Since everything has gone down, Promise is right. The life I’ve always known is over and the mother I thought was dead is alive. I will never be the same again and that hurts me so much. I mean I feel weak for even saying this, but it does. Between stressing over my family and wondering what’s going to happen with Kalvin, I can barely sleep at night. Then the stress from it all has me wanting to get high, high . Like take some pills or drugs to make my life more bearable. I’m not myself and it’s clear that Promise sees that, but I don’t know what else to do and I feel bad because I should be counting down the time to my wedding. Not stressing about this stuff.”

Maia closed her eyes at her revelation feeling weak for admitting such a thing. Especially in front of Promise. Someone she only wanted to show her strengths to.

“Maia, it’s understandable to want a break. Your life isn’t easy. I can see that from looking in on it. None of us have the playbook to life and it will not always be easy,” Jackie said soothingly in her therapist tone that had a way of making Maia relax.

“But why does my life have to always be filled with so much bullshit? I can’t remember the last time it was peace in my life,” Maia grumbled crossing her arms.

“Maia, did you have any breathing trouble waking up this morning?” Maia shook her head, and her therapist continued. “And you didn’t have any trouble walking to the bathroom to relieve your bladder? Was your hot and warm water turned on? Were you able to eat from a fully stocked refrigerator?”

Maia licked her lips, realizing what her therapist was doing. Her eyes traveled to the diamond flooded Patek then the three rings she had on including her engagement ring and she instantly felt ungrateful for complaining. Promise spoiled her and dolled her up like she was something very special to him. From the best clothing to the best chef, he did it all. Still the drama in her life seemed so significant that it was all she’d been focusing on.

“I’m very blessed and I get that. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t like telling my feelings because it seems trivial. Like I’m being ungrateful.”

“I didn’t say those things to make you feel bad, Maia. I said those things to pull you back to reality. Your reality is that you do have family issues as well as legal ones. Your reality is also that you are blessed to have a fiancé that cares about your mental wellbeing. You are blessed to be in good health and have money to take care of yourself. Even in times of strife we have to acknowledge the blessings that we do have. That is the way to keep yourself centered because if you don’t the depression could eat you alive,” Jackie told her, and her words made Maia look at her with sad eyes. “You have been through a lot and that doesn’t go unnoticed. You will have to repair that pain, Maia even if you didn’t cause it. Now that your mom is back what are you feeling?” She asked still focusing on Jazmine being back.

“Anger then it was confusion. Now I’m not mad at her but more sore hurt I guess that she stayed away for as long as she did,” Maia admitted, after giving it some thought.

“Are you open to trying to rebuild your bond with your mom, Maia?”

Maia nodded without having to think about it and her therapist smiled.

“Good, it’s not always reality but it helps to have a healthy relationship with your mom. I feel like she can help you in ways you didn’t know and give you a love that is pure. With your father his love seems to come at a cost. If he was to get convicted, how would that make you feel?” Jackie asked.

Maia shrugged.

“Good, he deserves it.”

Jackie studied her intently.

“Do you really feel that way or do you feel like after everything that has happened you should be saying that?”

Maia sighed, hating how Jackie had a way of creeping into her thoughts and reading her mind.

“A little of both I guess. However, in my heart despite the love I have for him, I know that him getting locked up is best. My father has hurt me worse than a man ever could. So, when I find myself falling for the mental bullshit he drilled into us about loyalty and how everything we do is for the family I remind myself of those times,” Maia stopped speaking to gather her emotions. Just because she was warming up to her feelings didn’t mean she wanted to start crying in her therapy sessions.

“I remember the times when I had to be degraded by a man and deal with his cheating ways all because my father wanted to use him. I remember the times my father had the doctor drug me when I wasn’t behaving. All of the times, I spent locked away in a room. I’ve experienced it all from shock therapy to being manhandled and it hurts. It hurts that the man that was supposed to love me the most didn’t. Then it hurts that a part of me still loves him. That’s how I know something is wrong with me. So yes those intrusive thoughts keep me up at night. Have me wanting to pop a pill but shit can you blame me?”

Promise balled his hands into fist while sitting beside Maia as she discreetly wiped her tears away. When she sniffled, he grabbed her hand and placed a loving kiss to the back of it.

“You safe now, Maia. I wish a nigga would try to harm you. No matter who he is, I’m shutting that shit down. You know that, right?”

Maia looked at Promise with sad eyes. “I do, but sometimes the stress of it all wears me down, Promise. If we were to lose Kalvin, I would go crazy. Maybe we should postpone the wedding?”

“Nah, we’re not about to do that, Maia. Why are you trying to stop me from making you happy? You say you’re tired of the drama, but are you really?”

Maia frowned at Promise. “You know that I am,” she snapped, and her therapist cleared her throat.

“I want you to really think about his question, Maia, and the things he’s saying. Don’t just wait to respond; truly listen to him. This is also a good lesson, as you are soon to be wed. With communication, it’s best to understand your partner's words and feelings. Just as Promise needs to understand that, no matter how much he tries to alleviate your worries, you still have concerns. Now it’s your turn to show him that same grace. Promise feels like you might be afraid to be happy and are intentionally holding onto pain,” Jackie explained.

“But why?” Maia asked, frowning.

“Because as people, we grow accustomed to the way our lives are. If you’re used to drama, then peace may sound nice but feel uncomfortable at first. If you truly want to be happy, and you’re with a man who is doing everything in his power to make you happy, then you need to reevaluate your actions, Maia,” Jackie said, causing Maia to clamp her lips shut and frown at her words.

Hours later, Maia sat beside Promise inside the restaurant. She appreciated the private booth dining areas. They were in the newest spot in Marcy Falls: Corktown, La Bella Notte Trattoria. It was an upscale Italian eatery that hailed from New York, bringing fine dining to Marcy Falls.

Maia loved Italian food and was already dancing in her seat at the thought of eating the delicious food.

“Kalvin good?” Promise asked sitting back and placing is right hand onto her thick thigh.

Maia peered over at her man and nodded. Never had a man done for her with the intention of solely making her happy. It was new, scary and endearing all at once. Promise had ditched his suit for the night and was wearing street gear while looking so fucking good doing so. His blue joggers worked hard to conceal his gun and the heavy piece he was toting in the front while his crisp white Amiri t-shirt stretched across his chest as his thick Marceline chain hung from his neck. His curly taper was thick, lined up and slightly in need of a cut down but Maia didn’t mind. She loved the renegade look on Promise, shit it made him look sexier to her.

She leaned towards him, and he smirked as his eyes ate her up. Maia was dressed down in black joggers with a brown body suit, brown and white sneakers, scrunchy cream socks and half denim jacket. Her hair was pulled into a hair clip, and she wore a fresh face. Even still he looked at her lovingly, taking his hand to grip her chin.

Maia giggled when he pulled her close.

“Kalvin, good, Maia?”

“He is and thank you for taking care of him.”

Promise nodded as he looked down into her eyes.

“You feel okay, sexy?”

Maia exhaled.

“I do.”

Promise kissed her lips and when he bit her bottom lip she smiled so hard it hurt her face.

“Love you,” Promise said against her lips.

“Only you I love,” Maia whispered, and Promise kissed her again before she sat back.

Maia and Promise ordered appetizers and drinks before Maia turned to him and started speaking. After leaving her therapy session, Maia was feeling renewed. She never thought being read would actually give her a revelation about herself, but it had.

“I do wanna be done with the drama and I don’t want you to worry about me. Since we linked you have been by my side every step of the way trying to make me happy. Hell trying to ease the worry from my life, and you’ve done just that. I’m not alone anymore. I have a man that loves me and is willing to do whatever to see me smile. I get it, I can relax and be happy. Hell, I deserve it,” Maia replied, and Promise looked at her with proud eyes.

“Nobody deserves it more than you, Maia. No lie it feels good to see you talking like that and I can hear in your voice that you mean it. But even if the feelings double back, talk to me about it, ma. Don’t ever think you can’t come to me because you can. Like I said before I love Maia Toussaint at every level, happy and sad, it don’t matter. I still want your beautiful ass, and a mood shift isn’t gonna change that. I just want you to know that I really got your back. Kalvin will be home with us real soon. We’re gonna get married and you gone give me a baby,” he told her.

Maia started to blush as she looked at Promise. She wasn’t sure if she could even be a good wife let alone a mom but if he wanted her to fly a plane she was gone do what the fuck she had to do to make it happen. So, if being a wife and a momma was next on her list then she had some work to do.

“A baby huh? I guess I could see myself carrying a few of your kids. Hopefully all boys, my sisters have me not wanting to ever have a girl. Plus, boy moms are the shit,” she smiled.

Promise licked his lips as his eyes seared into her.

“Boys is cool, but we gotta have at least one lil princess that looks like you. Plus, my mom would go crazy over a girl grandkid and shit,” Promise smirked.

Maia had to fight to hold in her eye roll. She didn’t want Maxine or Tallulahoe ass around her damn kids.

“I’m ready for whatever, but most of all, I’m ready to be happy, Promise. I swear I am, and I’m done with the pills for good. You don’t have to worry about me,” she assured him.

Promise watched as the servers approached with their drinks, his hand falling back to her thigh.

“We right near the finish line, Maia. All I been wanting to hear was you say that shit. On my life I’ma make you happy and we gonna raise Kalvin up right. We will be good, and it takes a lot of weight off my shoulders to see that you believe me. Now let’s eat up this food, so I can take your fine ass home and take care of you too.”

Maia blushed and instead of responding with words, she responded with affection. Leaning over and kissing Promise on the lips while inwardly thanking God for sending him her way.