chapter Thirty-One
Unveiling
Toby
Two months later….
“Okay, I think it is time you two tell us what is going on. And I mean everything,” Dad says, as he holds Lulu in his arms.
My dad has taken to both of my kids. I never thought I’d see my dad turn into a big old softy. My chest swells with pride, every time I see one of my kids make my dad smile like his life is the greatest in the world.
However, that feeling is missing from this particular moment. I’m surrounded by my family and they want answers. I’ve lied to almost everyone in this room at some point and I have to clear that all up.
To date, Noah is the only one that knows the truth, the whole truth. From my end, anyway. Dad still hasn’t revealed all of what he knows about my situation with Kamara. Not even with us living under his roof for nearly two months.
“Don’t leave out a detail,” Mom agrees with a nod, as she rocks TJ in her lap.
I clear my throat and look around the room. Wyatt gives me the same glare he’s been giving me for two months. Kamara slips her hand into mine.
I squeeze her fingers and start with clearing up my most recent lies. “Kwäzē and Kamara’s family aren’t the reason we’ve been in hiding. At least, not in the way I’ve presented it.
“Wyatt, the real reason I had my family stay at your place while I was away, is because all four of our lives are in danger. Before Bean said that last attack was by the Russians, I thought we’d finally been found.
“I…I don’t know where to begin with the rest of it,” I murmur.
“So, you endangered my wife, knowing someone is out to hurt you?” Wyatt roars, trying to remove Nellie from his lap.
“Wyatt, please. Let them finish,” Nellie pleads.
“What else can he say to make this right?” Wyatt asks incredulously.
“My name is Queen Ogeima Feechi Kamara Abioye-Black. This is my husband, King Toby Aodhan Black,” Kamara blurts out with her head lifted in the air.
“The fuck she just say,” Ry gasps.
“Oh, shit, I’m hearing things,” Brax snorts.
“Yup, some Toby shit, I’m done,” John huffs, shaking his head.
“Huh,” Felix says, looking the most perplexed.
I press my lips and rub my forehead. I guess that would be one way to tell it. Kamara has always been to the point.
“Don’t you have to be married for some shit like that,” Wyatt asks, holding his glare on me.
“Yeah,” I nod. “We were married a few months before the twins were born.”
“Oh, no, Love,” Dad says, as he scoops my mom into his arms to keep her from attacking me.
I rub the back of my head, remembering the last time she went upside my head. I see that hurt look in her eyes again. I know it has been so hard for her to wait this long to get the full truth.
“Did ye know he was married?” Mom looks up at Dad.
“No,” Dad says through his teeth.
“What do ye know, Joe,” she hisses.
“Kamara was only a Princess, when she came to America. She is engaged to a lunatic back in her homeland. Their family has been trying to block the marriage for years. To my knowledge, we are still covering her tracks to prevent that,” Dad pauses, narrowing his eyes at me.
“The king, her father, went into hiding almost two years ago,” Dad hisses. “You, you are what he was hinting at. He had a plan and hoped it would pan out. For Christ’s sake, Toby. Do you know what you’ve put yourself in the middle of?”
“Yeah, Dad, I do. I had no choice. We were already in love and she was pregnant with my children. I did what I thought I needed to, to keep my family safe,” I retort.
“So, this explains all the hits, trying to find Kamara. It’s been more frequent in the last year and a half,” Felix adds thoughtfully.
“Toby has an idea. It’s crazy, but I think it will work,” Noah finally speaks up. “We’ll make it work.”
“First, someone start from the damn begin. How’d this little fucker end up a King? Someone get me some damn Ale,” my mother huffs.
“I’m with mom. Before we go bring death to this motherfucker’s door, how’d you get your ass in the middle of this,” Wyatt grumbles.
My shoulders sag in relief. For the first time in a long time, my big brother isn’t looking at me like he’s going to kill me. I do as asked and start from the beginning. I start from the day I looked into those big brown eyes and lost my soul forever, the day I met Kamara.
~B~
Kamara
“I didn’t know you guys were married,” I hear spoken softly over my shoulder.
I turn to find Nellie looking at me through wet lashes, as she holds her swollen belly. I fully turn my body and sag against the sink, where I had been getting a glass of water and staring out of the window. I am honestly exhausted.
I just relived my entire life, before a room full of people. No, my new family, they are my family. Everyone is so angry with Toby, but they have not shunned me or the children. No, it is quite the opposite. They have all made me feel like family.
I look down at the glass in my hand, I want to find the right words to say to my friend. Nellie means so much to me. She put her life and the life of her child at risk, to save me and my children. I owe her so much.
“We felt it better to keep some details to ourselves. Toby felt you would go to Wyatt if you knew too much. I wanted to tell you everything, but he made me see it would not have been safe to,” I say just above a whisper.
I look up through lashes to see Nellie nod. She wipes a tear from her cheek. Her small shoulders shrug.
“I’m sorry. It’s just the hormones kicking in,” she sniffles.
“You have every right to be upset with us,” I reply.
“I understand now. I just wish I would have known before. Toby was right, I would have gone for help,” she gives a small smile.
“My husband is a wise man,” I giggle.
“So, should we call you your highness or something,” Nellie wrinkles her brows and chews on her lip.
“Don’t you dare,” I laugh. “I’m still Kamara. We don’t even know if my people will except me and Toby. For now, I just want to live my life without having to hide. I want my parents to be able to come out of hiding. I don’t really care about titles.”
“You know they’re going to fix this, right? It’s what they do,” Nellie’s eyes fill with determination.
“It is my hope that it can be fixed. Toby has had a lot on his shoulders. I never meant for this to happen. I never meant to bring him so much trouble,” I sigh, placing my glass on the counter.
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I think Toby would take you anyway you came, as long as he could have you,” Nellie winks at me.
I find myself smiling. Toby has seemed so much happier now that his family knows about us, even if they are upset with him. We haven’t fought nearly as much as we were, since Nellie and Bean started to help us.
“Nellie, I think Wyatt’s looking for you, Lass,” Cass’s voice fills the kitchen.
Nellie and I, both turn to see Cass standing in the doorway watching us. Nellie walks pass me, touching my arm for reassurance, before exiting the kitchen. I knew this was coming.
I take my glass from the counter and go to sit at the kitchen nook table. Cass takes a seat at the table as well, her eyes trained on me. I toy with the top of the glass, waiting for her to say something.
“I have seven boys. Each one precious to my heart. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to hide one or give them up to live a life away from me. I think what hurts most is knowing I watched my son go through all of this, but I didn’t know exactly what he was going through,” Cass smooths her hands over the top of the table.
“Joe kept telling me Toby was fine. To let the boy be. I missed out on my son’s wedding. I missed the birth of my first grandchildren,” Cass lifts her gaze to mine.
“I’m so sorry,” I murmur.
“Don’t be sorry, Lass. I’m proud of the both of you. Angry with the situation, but proud of you just the same. I just want to make sure you know my anger is not with you,” she replies.
“I didn’t think it was,” I say, reaching out to cover her hand with mine. “You and your family have made me and the twins feel so welcome.”
“Why wouldn’t we, Lass. You’re family. More so than we thought,” Cass presses her lips. Her face becomes extremely serious. “Joe’s nephews are a right dangerous bunch. They’re more dangerous than the generations before them because they’re too damn smart for their own good.
“Toby has the right idea. If he does this, you will be free of your problem, but it’s as good as making a deal with the devil,” Cass tilts her head at me. “Toby will wear more than a crown after this. You will be a different type of queen.
“I get that your father and brother will understand this, but I don’t think you understand it, yet,” Cass leans back in her seat. She narrows her eyes as if trying to see through me. She nods at whatever she finds. “Time will tell.”
What is Toby getting us into?