Orlando I should've known this was bound to go left. I did do her dirty.

"My true intentions?"

"You heard me I didn't stutter!"

"Aye O I'll give y'all some alone time."

RJ left me so if she attacks me I'm a goner. Tell my mama I love her. Anyways I need to focus.

"I promise my true intentions are pure."

"Really you were just nonchalant a few hours ago when you almost hit me!"

I bite my tongue because I know she's right. I just don't want her to judge me by my past.

"Cat gotcha tongue don't it?"

"I admit I was wrong."

Saying those words leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. It left a small scar on my pride.

"Well Orlando I don't need someone who acts like they don't care one minute then the next minute they care."

"Look La'Toya I'm sorry. I'll do anything to make it up for you. I'm trying here I messed up and I wanna make it right. Give me a chance. Aren't you the one who says everyone needs a chance and don't judge them?"

"Aight Orlando I'll give you a chance. I'm still in this hospital bed though until Monday."

"I'll visit you everyday and make sure I bring you any kind of food you want."

"Ooo big daddy now you talking my language!"

I'm amazed at how this young woman just endured a car accident and is still able to make jokes.

"Oh so you admit I'm big daddy huh?"

"Shut up and gimme some food."

"What do you gotta taste for?"

"I want some pizza. Extra cheese and pepperoni."

"Aight you get stopped up that's on you."

"Did I ask for your diagnosis doc?"

"I'm just giving you a fair warning before I prescribe you with this pizza."

She starts to giggle and I just watch her. She's a mixture of things. She doesn't know what she's doing to me. I start to walk out.

"Wait!"

"Yes?"

"I wanna Dr. Pepper. Please make sure it's cold."

I almost forgot to give her the rose.

"RJ come in here right quick."

I already know he was by the door listening in. He just nosy.

"What's up?"

"I want you to be a witness to this."

"Oh lord y'all finna murder me. I should've known you wasn't finna bring me my food."

"La'Toya stop being dramatic. I got something to give you."

"What is it?"

I pull out the rose from inside the bag. I bring it in front of me and kneel in front of her. I hold it in front of her. She picks it up and looks at it.

"Orlando it's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you."

"That's so sweet. I don't want you to go you can stay. I guess I'll wait till tomorrow to eat. I don't even know if I'm suppose to eat."

"So you were gonna allow me to give you food when you weren't suppose to have it."

"Hey I was hungry."

"Do you want me to stay up here tonight?"

"Yes. Only if you don't mind."

"Orlando I'll grab you some clothes from the house."

"Thanks."

RJ This is not good. While we were in the closet I recall listening to the conversation going on in La'Toya's room. My suspicions were confirmed when I heard Ryan's voice. I couldn't really do anything while I was in the closet. I can only imagine what would've happened if he saw the rose in La'Toya's room. I try to push my thoughts away. I gotta keep my bro and his girl safe that's my main focus. My phone starts to buzz. I check it and see it's my mom.

"RJ where are you?"

"In my truck. Why? What's up?"

"I was just worried about you. I heard there was a shooting in the downtown area. I had to make sure you were alive. Your voice was the confirmation I needed. I love you son. Make sure you come home safe and in one piece."

"Will do mama bear. Love you too."

"See you when you come home."

"Aight. Bye."

"Bye."

I look at my phone and see that she's gone. I keep driving until I'm at Orlando's place. I use my key and type in the alarm password. I climb the stairs and go into his room. I don't know what to get him so I grab a duffle back and throw in a jogging set, a matching color hat, Jordans, socks, clean pair of draws, cologne, soap, a lil towel, his charger, and a dry off towel. I pass his game system. Oh what the heck I'll grab that too. I place his game system, controllers, and games on top of everything in his bag. I realize I forgot to pack his toothbrush and toothpaste. I get the last of his essentials and on my way out I hear voices in the kitchen.

"I think we should tell him Jayla."

"I don't think my baby is ready for this lifestyle Marcus. It's hard to adjust to it and once you do it's hard to go back to a normal life. He can't get out of this unless he goes by the guidelines and no one has lived to go through that."

"I know Jayla, but we gotta tell him either way. He's in more danger by not knowing what's going on. What if there was an attack at home or his school? We need to tell him so we can train him for situations like these. We can't just keep going on with dinner like we're regular people. I noticed how you almost slipped at dinner that one time."

"I'm my defense he was four then! He wouldn't have know what was going on then Marcus."

"But it still almost happened."

"Well we've kept it hidden for 17 years now. We just have to wait until the right time to tell him."

"You heard what Big Mama told us there isn't a right time to tell him. We better act now before someone uses his ignorance to their advantage."

After ease-dropping on their conversation I decide to ease on out the house. Uncle Marcus and Aunt Jayla don't know he just crowned his queen. Oh snap. If he didn't know then who told him? Oh lord that dang Big Mama. She's always ripping the band aid off and saying it's okay.

Time to go back to the hospital and give this boy his stuff. By the time I make it back I see him and La'Toya curled up sleeping. I would take a picture, but I wouldn't want it to get into the wrong hands. I drop his duffel bag on the floor next to the bed. Time for me to head on out. Tomorrow is the day I get answers.

Orlando I wake up with the sun hitting my face and La'Toya in my arms. I look down at her and kiss her forehead. I get up and take a shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, and spray cologne over my body.

"I look so fresh and so clean!"

I wink at reflection and I slide outta the bathroom.

"Are you feeling yourself Orlando?"

"You know it."

I wink at La'Toya.

"Boy don't do that."

"Aye imma step out right quick. Do you need me to call Jaida so you won't be alone?"

"Nah I can manage. See you later."

I get into my truck and drive to Big Mama's house. I get out and knock on the door.

"Big Mama it's me Orlando!"

"Boy shush before you wake up the whole neighborhood. Now get outta that cold air!"

I walk in and sit on the couch.

"Breakfast is on the stove."

"Big Mama I want you to tell me about the Legacy's heritage and ours."

"I knew you were gonna ask that. Now sit back and listen to what I got to tell you."

"Yes ma'am."

"On March 31, 1925 Clarence Louis "Headstrong" Johnson was born. He was from West Virginia, but his family moved to Chicago, Illinois. He's known for being the most notorious black mob associate of all time. He use to run the rackets in Chicago and was in the position of second in charge for Harold Joe Peters. In the 1950s the Chicago Violence Unleashed started. Everyone was fighting for the control of the city's African American Rights Property. Clarence Louis Johnson was a feared, respected, and loved by the community. Unlike the other gangsta members he gave back to his community. He's one of the first genuine, black gangstas. He served a number of stunts behind bars. His last stint was a drug charge the year of 1952. One thing I can say about Headstrong is that he was always armed and ready for action."

I watch a tear slip down her cheek as she talks about Clarence Johnson. I'll ask her about it later. She wipes away the tear and sips her sweet tea.

"Ahem. Next we have Adelita Ramirez "The Counterfeit Queen" "The Snapping Turtle." She was born September 10, 1925. She was beautiful, manipulative, and short tempered. She loved to smoke weed, wear couture fashion and order unique, cold-blooded assassinations. She was responsible for an estimated of 320 murders. It was claimed she was behind the shooting of a family of 13 because that was an unlucky number. She was imprisoned for 20 years. While she was behind bars she still continued her counterfeit clothing industry. In 2004 she was released. She was crafty when it came down to her getting the Cartel to smuggle large loads of counterfeit designer brands clothing across the border. They used the many civilians to wear the clothes that the Snapping Turtle designed and manufactured to get them across without being seen. She was "killed" by her own assassination method of a drive-by shooting with a twist.

"Okay Big Mama how does this tie into the Legacy?"

"Go ahead and fix your plate and come back in here. Then I'll tell you."

I do as I'm told. I grab a plate and put 3 pieces of bacon, 3 pancakes, 3 scrambled eggs, a small square on butter on my pancakes, 3 large spoonfuls of grits, and 3 sausage patties on it. Then I grab a large glass and pour milk in it. Lastly I grab the syrup before I head back into the living room. Big Mama looks at me and laughs.

"You always were the greedy one of them all. Don't forget to take some to our queen to be."

"Okay Big Mama I'm back. I'm ready to hear how those to people are connected to us and the Legacy."

"Well in January 1954 Headstrong was released from prison. He was a free man looking for work. He came home and saw all the stacks he gained from his hustling. He didn't want his works to go to waste. So he and Adelita met in secret in February of 1954. They discussed about what they wanted to do and how they were going to do it. So they came to an agreement signed a contract and shook hands. They were the cofounders of the Legacy. They had to have an heir so they did the do, and nine months later a beautiful baby girl was born to them. They tried for another baby the following year and they had twin boys. The boys were born to carry on the family name, but they didn't deny the first born her birth right. She took over the Legacy after her father's "heart attack." Really and truly he didn't have a heart attack he was just staying underground to get the fuzz off of his back. This threw our enemies off his trail as well. Then when her mother had to spend 20 years locked up she had full control over the Legacy. She ran the counterfeit clothing line to make sure she was receiving profits to keep them all a float. In 2004 when her mother was released she allowed her to guide her how to be more like her. So in 2012 was the official day her mom stepped down, but she had to be creative with the way she stepped down. So her mom set up a staged death in front of the public. She didn't die in 2012 she died in 2017 at the age of 92. Before she died her daughter then made it traditional that the next in line male heir had to crown his queen with that specific rose in the memory of her beloved mother."

It took a minute to process it all, but it makes perfect sense. The Legacy has been around for sixty-four years... I calculated that in my head.

"Big Mama you were their child?"

"Now you're catching on."

"So that means your 64 years old you're not even knocking on 100 yet."

"I can't believe you thought I was that old! Black don't crack baby."

"I sho was finna say if you was finna turn 100 you sure are stronger than the ones I be seeing."

"So where your brothers at?"

"That's a story for another time. Make sure you bring your queen over here soon. There's somethings she must know before the time comes. Now go fix her plate and head back to her."

I fix La'Toya a plate and kiss Big Mama good bye. I head straight back to the hospital.