The Connect Who Took My Heart Away 2 Read online

  © 2019

  Published by Leo Sullivan Presents

  www.leolsullivan.com

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited.

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  Facebook: Author CoCo or CoCo Shawnde

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  Also By CoCo

  Trill Love: An Urban Romance 1-3

  I Fell In Love With A Mob Boss 1-3

  Crossing Lines: A St. Louis Love Story 1-2

  She Got Love For A Rich Thug 1-2

  Plugged In For Christmas

  Thug Wishes and Holiday Kisses Anthology

  Tampering With A Thug’s Heart 1-3

  When It All Falls Down 1-2

  A Tainted Hood Love 1-3

  Balla and LaLo’s Story: A Tainted Hood Love Spin-Off 1-2

  Holding A Dope Boy Down: A Dope Love Story 1-3

  Ayinnde and Khiana: Falling for a St. Louis Thug 1-2

  The Connect Who Took My Heart Away 1-2

  To Me

  Acknowledgement

  I feel so blessed to be twenty-three years young and able to dive fully into my passion...into my career. I’m steady growing, learning, and reaching for better through it all. I have to give all thanks and praise to the heavenly father because he truly been on my side! I am so very thankful for the creativity and strength to get up every day to do something I absolutely LOVE.

  To my dear family, I’m blessed to have you alllll. In this industry I witness authors struggle to receive support from their families, and I have to say that is not my testimony. You all have been in deep support from the beginning and I don’t take it for granted.

  To my mother, no one will fully grasp the deep connection and bond we have. A picture, a video, or even this acknowledgment could NOT express how much I love you. You are my dawg, my ride or die, my whole heart!! Growing up, I watched you fight to give me everything my heart desires, to growing up and watching you fight against cancer. I remember wanting to swap bodies so you didn’t have to endure no more pain. You are my superhero. You stayed encouraged and you didn’t give up. You told me you would fight the fight, and you did just that! We in this for the long haul and it’s forever fuck cancer!!! #MaMaCoCo

  To my bestie boo, Shannon, you been with me since lovejoy days playing tetherball! We came a mighty long way together. Your a mother now, which rightfully made me a God mommy. Arynzi is truly a blessing from God, and she has two bomb ass mothers to call her own! Even though her bad butt likes to bang on my computer when I’m trying to write lol.

  To my niece Gabby and nephews Jhordyn and Collin Ace, your aunty loves you dearly. When I’m down, it’s your faces that gets me on track to get back to the grind. No matter the mood I’m in, you three can turn it around. The world is yours if I have a say so in it! S/O to all my babies! Kyn Doll, Tre Tre, Serenity, Ja’Koye, Ja’kyah, Jahlon, Mani, JuJu, Kiah, Trista, Nylah, and Jasheer! #CoCoLoveDaKids xoxo

  To my brother, thank you for being a father figure I needed. You have always supported me and done your best when it comes to guiding me. You are more than my brother, you really my twin! Thank you for everything and keeping my best interest at heart! I love you so much and forever my favorite person!

  To my cousins that are honestly just like sisters, Shareena, Justina, Brichel, and Kquemura, you all have had my back in the toughest of times in my life. I know I can count on you all when my world gets flipped upside down. You all come through without a doubt in mind! Even my sister Meagen, you are a big sister that I can’t forget. We share no blood, but that alone couldn’t make us any closer.

  Paris, Books By The Mu’fukn POUND LOL...My sistacousinfriend, you have and will always remain family in my eyes. You are a dope author, and I’m glad the book industry bonded us together. Whatever you face, you beat it. I see so much strength, greatness, and blessings over you. Our bond has grown and it ain’t shit nobody can tell me about my sistacousinfriend!! Love you luh bitty bishhhh!

  Now to Dedra B, B Capri, Tina Marie, and Nakeria Hendley, thank you all for being in support of me. Whether it was books, or just letting me come to you about how my mother’s battle with cancer was taking a toll, you all was there to listen to me. I appreciate it all and I know good friends are hard to come by. No matter what, know that you ladies have been a tremendous help to me personally and in my career! Love you alllll!

  To my editor Secret, girlllllll! How I adore you and appreciate the work you put in for me! I couldn’t have a better editor than you! Thank you for always being a listening ear and being there every time I call. I love working with you and how real you keep it! Thank you so much and nothing goes unnoticed.

  To my bomb ass readers!!! Thank youuuuu!!!! Whether you read from my old catalog, new one, or this is your first book to try of mine, I thank you! I try my darndest to create something that we all can get lost into and love. I knew what urban books were to me growing up, so I attempt to give you that experience through my work. No matter my personal life, I will also try to give you my all and have a book for you all to open. Your patience with me has been wonderful as I made transitions, for that, I say thank you! Your shares, promotion, link clicks, and reviews are everything to me. If I ever missed telling you, I’m saying it now, THANK YOU!! Special thanks to, Brandi Poole, Geneva Promise, Tina Nance, Sierra S. Dixon, Tootie, Sweets, Zatasha, and Tyesha Shaunae! You all are so very dope!!

  Note

  Dice Howard debuted in the standalone, The Thug I Waited for. By no means do you have to reread her full story to dive into this series. Hope you enjoy!!

  Previously in Part 1

  Miani

  “Y’all ready?” Obasi asked, suited up. I had never seen him dressed in his grown man attire, but it surely did look good on him.

  “Yeah, I just need five minutes.” I let him know.

  Today was Weston ́s funeral, and I was taking Easton to say his goodbyes to his father. Due to Weston getting robbed for all he had after his death, the family had trouble getting the service together, so it was delayed in time until they could have the homegoing. If it wasn’t for Easton, I wouldn’t even have been going.

  Weston had an older sister, Whitney, and she surprisingly reached out to me, and wanted to see Easton. She lived in New York with her own family, and didn't deal with her mother and that side of the family. We talked about plenty on the phone, and she encouraged me to attend, so I was. I knew Weston and his family didn’t accept me, and I was fine with that. I wasn’t searching for approval like a lost soul.

  Today, I was being strong for my son because I knew this was the part of being a mother that counted. Easton may not care for the materials I buy and the money I spent, but I knew today would be something imprinted in his mind forever. Me being on his side was going to mean something that money couldn’t buy.

  Obasi was headstrong on escorting us, and I thought last night he would let us go without him after all. He never came home, and no calls were made. I was used to his behavior, but I thought since the funeral was today, he would at least call me. I got nothing until he came in the house this morning already dressed for the funeral. I hadn’t told him, but I was waiting for a call back for this apartment I had applied to. Dice wouldn’t let me start at the Royal’s until after Weston ́s funeral, and she was trying to give me time that I didn’t need. I was passed r
eady to begin work and be on my own. She felt I needed time to grieve, but I had sat with my thoughts for far too long.

  Basi made me well aware that he wasn’t going inside, and that he would be out front for anything we may need. I knew due to Weston snitching on him causing him to serve time, whatever they used to be back in the day, that shit was over with. Obasi never spoke ill on him, and I didn’t know how he could even do it. That took some maturity. Old Basi would have shot the damn funeral up without a second thought, but today, he was working with a whole different mental stage.

  Easton was wearing some slacks, a tucked in button up, black shades, and a custom-made button with him and his father on it. Even though Weston wasn’t a part of his life much, he still had vague memories that he cherished. I was glad I kept pictures of Weston and his son together, because that was all my baby had now.

  “Momma I’m scared.” Easton openly admitted. He had never been to a funeral, and I didn't allow him to ever attend because he was only six. Since this was his father, it took a lot of explaining of what it was and what he would see. Breaking down the importance of going was hard to explain, but he told me he did want to see his daddy for the last time.

  “What scares you?” I asked with my belongings in my black clutch. Kneeling down in my black heels and dress, I fixed his bow tie.

  “I don’t know.” he shrugged. “He can’t come back can he? He won’t be able to see me no mo’?” he asked with tears in his eyes. “You told me he would come see me soon.”

  “Baby, today you’ll see his body resting. But he’s above in the sky. He sees you.” I said pointing at his chest. “You’ll see him again.”

  “When? I have to die too?” he probed, searching for words to mend his broken heart. Hanging my head, I closed my eyes tightly to prevent tears from ever falling.

  Obasi came around, and he put his hand on my shoulder. “Let me talk to my little homie.” he said, and I took the time to kiss my son´s cheek. Going to the bathroom, I went to clean my face and get it together. I knew I didn’t need to be crying, so I made sure this was the last time in front of Easton. Him seeing me crying did nothing for him.

  By the time I left the bathroom, Obasi and Easton were waiting at the door together. Whatever was said had my son satisfied. We got settled in Basi´s truck, then went to the church. The ride was quiet besides Easton playing his favorite tracks through the bluetooth. When we arrived, Easton clung to me. The viewing was already started, and the funeral was to follow.

  “I’ll be right hurr.” Basi said opening up both doors to let us out.

  “Thank you.” I said now appreciating that he was here. No one could feel my pain to have a child, and the father´s side not be accepting. To walk in a room and not one soul wants you to even be there, I had to hold my head to a whole other level of high. I hated it more for my son than I did myself.

  With my son´s hand tightly gripping onto mine, I walked in the church. It was like I blocked everyone out and the evil glares. The casket was right in the middle of the church, and I could feel my stomach growing tight. Easton moved slower the closer we got.

  “You okay?” I checked, knowing this was going to be hard for him. “We can sit down, then walk up in a few minutes.” I knew taking it slow was best, and not just push him to face his father in this state.

  “I want to see Daddy West.” he said, calling him by what he mainly referred to him as.

  With my son in front of me, I hung my hands around his shoulders, as we came eye to eye with Weston. He was dressed in all white, and had more gold jewelry on than what you could purchase at a store. For them to be low on funds, everything was flashy and BIG! It looked like a florist store operated here because that was just how many there were.

  “Dad…” Easton said sadly. I knew a part of him thought maybe he would speak back. When he didn’t get a response, he cried into my stomach. Holding onto my son, I fell into the zone standing before the casket. Flashes of my old life when I would do anything for this man, it came flooding back. At one point, I was head over heels, and I did feel hurt that his life was taken.

  Standing before him, I promised I would do my part, and his. Easton wanted to give his dad a kiss, and soon as he did, I could hear a commotion going on behind us.

  “Get her OUTTT!” Weston mother yelled, pointing directly at me.

  “Mom?” Easton said crying, and looking confused.

  Shaking my head, I told him to look at his father one more time. It was only the viewing, and I knew that was how far we would go with this today.

  “Don’t touch my son! That’s my damn son!” she put on, not caring that we were in a church full of people. I was given the most dirtiest looks, but most of the hate was coming from her.

  “You may not accept me or my son, but you’ll have to live with this. Easton don’t need you. That man that’s in his casket was what he needed, and ME!” I said fed up with her disrespect. I took her shit at the hospital because he had just died, but NOW, I was done with it. Today was my closure and I was closing the chapter.

  “Mom?! Really! She deserves to be here and my nephew!” Whitney said coming to my defense.

  “Whitney it’s fine. We will go. We not wanted, I won’t stay.” I said standing my ground.

  “That’s right! LEAVE! LEAVEEEE!!” Weston mother cried. She snatched a stack of obituaries from the ushers, and pointed at her son. “This my son! You leave!!!” She opened it, and saw something that sent her off the edge. “WHITNEY!!”

  “Momma, you need to stop.” Whitney said, shaking her head. “The way you acting, you see why I never come around. AND YES! I STILL PUT EASTON IN THERE. That’s my brother´s son. I’m not excluding him like this family is.”

  Witnessing Weston´s mother taking a pen out, and crossing my son out of every obituary, and even going as far as ripping the shit in our faces just because Easton´s name was printed inside, I knew I had to leave before I beat the shit out of this woman. “You can do that shit all day until you blue in the fucking face. My son is my blessing and he too damn good for this trifling ass family!!” I snapped out, carrying my son out.

  The family made a clear path for me to leave, and they just didn’t know how through I was with their ass. I could hear mumbles and talk about me being here from a crowd of people, and I let that shit roll off my shoulders. Wasn’t nothing you could do with the ignorance of this family. Fighting and cussing them out would only give them the fuel to get more ignorant. These people would have to deal with how they treated my baby when he gets older. By being his mother, I knew this was the last time they could do my baby bad. With him crying and us back at the truck, Obasi was looking confused.

  “What the fuck happened?” he asked reaching for his gun.

  “Take us back. I shouldn't have come.” I said having some regret. On one side, I knew this would go down. Then, on the other I knew Easton needed to say his goodbyes and later in life would question why I didn’t take him to his father’s funeral. I rather him go than me never taking him, and hates me for it.

  Obasi took us home, and Easton slept the whole way since he had cried the majority of the morning. Back at home I was officially drained. Not thinking Obasi would stay around, he did. He got in the kitchen to cook when I told him I wasn’t hungry, but he insisted on cooking anyway. He laid Easton upstairs in the bed, so it was just me and him.

  “Today had to happen. No matter how hard, and the regrets you may have, that was something the both of you had to go through. You don’t learn from something the first time, God has a way of bringing you to another situation to teach you.” he spoke in a wise mind. Obasi had never too much talked using the term God, so right now, I was taking it all in.

  Through his words, I knew he felt that I had let Weston get away with too much when we were together, which he was right about. I was never brought around his family. I was always hidden, and Obasi did his part when it came to Easton. It was stupid to even think of how much I allowed. Then, there was Ra
lph, my husband that controlled me like a damn puppet for years. I had been shitted on my whole life by men, and it started with my father. I was finally believing that I needed to have respect for myself, before I felt someone else could show me some. I needed to be able to recognize it for myself, and not to allow myself to be less of value to these men.

  With today working me over, I poured me a drink while Obasi cooked. Still in my funeral clothes, I allowed my phone to stay off in the meantime. Easton was asleep, and I was sure he was going to be out for a while.

  “You still not hungry?” he asked, sliding me a plate of steak, loaded potatoes, and broccoli. I hadn’t eaten today, and the fact I was drinking now, I needed to eat. The aroma in the air and how good it looked also helped with accepting the meal.

  Obasi went upstairs, and came back rolling a blunt as he stood in his baller shorts. Eating the food, I couldn’t help but to land my eyes on him as he moved around the kitchen cleaning up. His dick was swinging like a damn axe under them baller shorts, and I didn’t know if it was the liquor or him making me overheat.

  He ended up inviting me to the front room to eat with him and watch some John Wick movies. He was sitting up smoking, and eating his food with his eyes trained on the TV. Easton ended up waking up after we finished the first movie. Moving to the second, I got my baby something to eat, then he was back in the bed since it was nearing his bed time.

  Basi was rolling up again, and I had downed the whole wine bottle, going to my second. Laying back on the couch, Basi was high as shit, and I didn’t know how he was still all into the movie. With the liquor taking over, I dozed off until the middle of the night, and I found us still on the couch.