In Love With A Southern King 2

By K.L. Hall

Angel knows that her long lost brother Trent is a threat to Saint and up to no good, but she refuses to let him slip through the cracks without getting answers. To her, he just may be the missing piece to fill the void her father left. Keeping her growing relationship with her brother a secret from Saint may be the biggest mistake she’s ever made, and the deadliest. She soon finds herself at a crossroads, having to choose between the man she loves and the brother she never knew existed.

Saint has his head in the game more than ever before. He has more to lose than just his reputation now that Trent has surfaced and is threatening the empire he rightfully inherited. With a potential paternity suit looming in the background, he finds himself having to make serious power moves to make sure he is the one standing on top in the end.

Omari finds himself reaping what he has sown for stepping out on his marriage, as he is unable to deal with the news of Sierra’s pregnancy. While harboring that secret, he vows to do whatever it takes to win back Reese’s heart. Reese finds herself making some of the hardest decisions she has ever had to make, all while learning to pick up her life post-Omari. Knowing she deserves better, she is ready to say goodbye and close the chapter of their lives together, but goodbye could mean forever when a tragedy threatens to rip them apart for good. She is left asking herself, is there such thing as second chances?

Sierra’s come up is like no other. One baby. Three potential fathers; all with a paper trail a mile long. Thinking there’s no way she can lose, she decides to play her cards, and learns that she just may not have the upper hand after all.

In this finale, everyone learns the hard way that when playing with fire, you are sure to get burned.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Royalty Publishing House
• Release date: Dec 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781648404320

Book preview

1

Sierra

We make a doctor’s appointment, I’m keeping this baby, she said.

Sierra knew her decision was going to strike a nerve in both Saint and Omari, but she didn’t care. She not only had herself to worry about, but her new baby too. I’ll be damned if this baby grows up struggling like I did, she thought to herself.

What do you mean you’re keeping the baby, Sierra? This not only affects you anymore! You got two other lives that you’re messing with right now. But I guess you’re just too blind to see that, huh? Omari said, before storming out of her apartment and slamming the door behind him.

He slammed it so hard that one of the paintings she had on the wall fell to the ground. Saint gave her a once over without saying a word, and followed suit to catch up with Omari.

I’ll be in touch, she yelled before Saint slammed the door behind him as well.

Now that both Saint and Omari knew what was up, it was time for her to come clean to Trent as well. She didn’t know how he’d react. He’d always been a loose cannon when it came to his emotional reactions. It wasn’t like he didn’t already have children all over the city calling him daddy, but he was as unpredictable as the weather.

The phone rang five times before she heard him pick up.

Hello? she said. Trent?

Yeah, what’s up?

What are you doing? she asked.

I’m, um, kind of wrapped up in something right now, can I call you back?

No, what I have to say is very import—

Okay, thanks, I’ll talk to you later, he said and hung up abruptly.

Sierra scoffed and looked at the phone in disbelief. He’s got some fucking nerve, she thought to herself. She tossed her phone to the other end of the couch and crossed her arms firmly across her chest.

If that’s how he wants to play it, fine. We’ll see who comes out on top when all this shit blows up in his fucking face!

---

Saint

Omari was already halfway to his car by the time Saint caught up with him.

Yo, hold up a second.

I’m not trying to talk right now, Saint.

I know you’re not, but we need to. This Sierra shit could turn everything we worked so hard for to shit in the blink of an eye.

You don’t think I know that, Saint? he grumbled.

C’mon man, let’s just head to the bar, grab a drink, and then we’ll figure out our next move from there, aight?

Omari nodded reluctantly, then agreed. Fine.

The two of them pulled up to Glenn Hotel Sky Lounge on Marietta Street and headed to a vacant spot by the bar.

What can I get you two? the bartender asked.

Um, let me get a Hennessy and Coke, Saint said.

Yeah, uh, me too, just make mine a double, Omari added.

Coming right up.

Saint turned to look at Omari, who still looked like he didn’t know which way was up. He knew he was going to have to take it to the streets to get their mess cleaned up. There was no way Sierra was just going to go away nicely or silently. He could smell her thirst for a financial come up a mile away.

So, what do you think about all this shit? Saint asked, sparking up the conversation neither one of them truly wanted to have.

What do you mean what do I think? I think this shit is fucked up! She’s got us by the balls right now, Saint. What the fuck are we gonna do? Omari asked, knowing Saint couldn’t give him a straight answer.

I don’t know right now, but I’ll think of something.

If this gets out and gets back to Reese or Angel, it’s over for the both of us. Done! And you know it!

Our lives are not over. Not if we get it under control now while it’s still early.

What do you mean? Omari asked, taking a big gulp of his drink.

All I need to know is do you want your wife back or not? Because it ain’t gonna happen with a baby by a hoe, especially after what y’all just went through. How long do you think she’ll stay with you then?

What do you suppose we do? She already said she’s not getting an abortion.

I know what she said, but just let me handle everything, aight? I’m going to figure it out so that it works out in both of our favors. Right now, you just need to focus on your situation with your wife and how you’re going to fix your home.

---

Omari

Man, fuck! Omari yelled out of pure aggravation.

He felt defeated. He didn’t know what he was going to do. On the one hand, he’d just lost a child with his wife and seeing what she went through, he didn’t know if he could see another woman go through that. On the other hand, he knew Saint was right. Reese would never give him another chance if she found out another woman was pregnant with his baby.

Just let me handle it, Saint said. I got this.

Aight. I’m gonna head out. Maybe the drive home will help me clear my head, he said as he downed the rest of the cognac in his glass, paid his tab and left.

Insomnia overcame him after he returned to a lonely house. Even the strongest shot of liquor couldn’t settle his nerves. She’s pregnant. She’s really fucking pregnant, he thought to himself. Omari made his way upstairs into his bedroom and realized Reese wasn’t there. His mind was too far gone to figure out where she’d gone. Instead, he fell across the bed and laid there, staring at the red neon lights on the alarm clock switching minute by minute when his phone buzzed.  

Sierra: I’ve got an appointment at 11 at St. Helena’s Women’s Clinic on Brady St.

He tossed his phone beside him and sat back, trying to calculate just how many times he’d fucked Sierra. It wasn’t like he’d kept count, which was saying something within itself. He sighed and picked his phone up again.

Okay, he replied.

After hours of tossing and turning with no sleep, he got up at dawn to run a couple miles to clear his head. He threw on some sweatpants and a hoodie, and plugged his headphones into his iPhone. He stepped outside on the front porch and let the cool air fill his lungs, exhaled slowly, and started jogging. Omari ran a total of five miles until he made his way back to his front door. His legs were so weak he could barely stand. He realized that as much as he ran, it would never be fast enough or far enough to escape the hole he’d dug himself into.

He looked at his watch and it read 8:47 a.m. He sluggishly made his way upstairs to the bathroom and turned on the shower, refusing to look at himself in the mirror. Up until that point, he had neglected to think of Reese’s reaction to the situation, other than it ending badly. He knew any aspirations he had of the two of them fixing their issues would soon become a distant reality when she found out about Sierra’s pregnancy. Reese had flown off the handle at him when she found out about the affair, which caused her mental breakdown. He could only imagine what she would do or who she would try to hurt if she found out about a new baby on the way. He decided it would be in all their best interests if he didn’t tell her until he knew for sure.  All he could do was buy himself as much time as possible, and pray the baby growing inside Sierra’s womb wasn’t his.

After he got out of the shower, he called Saint.

What’s up? Everything alright? he answered.

Oh, my fault. Everything is good. Were you busy?

Nah, what’s up though?

I couldn’t sleep, man. I just been up thinkin’ about this shit. Did she send you the text about her doctor’s appointment?

Yeah, man, Saint sighed into the receiver.

Omari walked downstairs with the phone still attached to his ear and took a seat on the couch. He flipped on the TV and turned the volume down low. He let his normal military posture slouch down into the grooves of the furniture.

I just can’t believe I might be a father. Well, not so much the father part, just the fact that it’s not with Reese, he said as he sunk down into the couch some more. By the look of his droopy posture, Omari was no more enthused than a pig in mud.

Did you think any more about what I said?

Omari scratched his head and sighed.

Nah, I haven’t...but I will though, soon.

The sooner the better, Saint told him.

---

Yeah, I know. I just can’t believe that we may not be the only possible fathers.

Shit, knowing her, it went from a 50/50 chance to the chances being slimmer than that.  

Omari closed his eyes and shook his head in silence. Not only had Sierra successfully trapped one of them, she trapped them both. He regretted even knowing she existed at that point. She had never seemed messy to him before, but her true colors were glowing bright red and screaming, DANGER.

Have you told Reese anything yet?

No, she wasn’t here when I got home last night and she’s still not back yet, but I know as soon as I do, she’s gonna divorce my ass quicker than I can spell it.

Damn yo, I’m sorry…

I don’t know, Saint. My life is so fucked up right now and all over some pussy. It’s like I’m living in a waking nightmare.

He knew Saint didn’t know what to say. Omari also knew that he was his own downfall. Both he and Saint made their own beds, now there was nothing left for them to do but lie in them, with Sierra right in the middle. Omari was venting. He had never been so emotionally distraught before, but then again, he’d never had a reason to be. Omari’s parents had been married for twenty years, they owned their own house, and his father and his mother were both pastors of a church. Omari nor his younger brother ever wanted for anything, so the feeling of pain and rejection was a first for him.

Don’t worry about it, O. We’re going to handle it, aight? Saint assured him.

Nah, it’s cool. I’ve got to face it. I was wrong.

It doesn’t mean you still can’t ask Reese for forgiveness if she does find out. Just give her some time. She’s a strong girl. She’ll come around, hopefully sooner than later.

I don’t know. Ever since the whole miscarriage and the cheating thing, shit hasn’t been the same. Not that I expected it to be, but it’s like every time I try and talk to her, she cuts me off or doesn’t say anything. I really do need her, Saint. You can think what you want, call me a bitch or whatever, but I love that woman. I’m going to fix this if it’s the last thing I do.

Hey, you do what you gotta do. Who am I to judge?

Omari got up and walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water out of the fridge, when he noticed a note on the countertop. He picked it up and let his eyes glaze over the words on the ripped piece of notebook paper.

Omari,

I think it’s clear that we are on two different pages in this thing called life. I don’t think that I can continue to be around you and see you every day without feeling some sort of