She's My Queen

Chapter Seven

TIANA

"Okay, Troy. Let me get you a glass of water because clearly you had a rough time coming here." I say, looking at him in disbelief.

I went to walk away and he reached out and grabbed hold of my wrist and forcing me back to face him. "This is not a fvcking joke, Tiana. I'm being serious."

I snatched away, frowning at him. "Why should I believe you? Honestly, Troy, What are you doing here?"

He was silent for a moment, staring at me as if I was a different person. Truth be told, I'm not worried about anything or anyone except Cariana at the moment. I'm doing what the doctor said and trying things at home to keep myself calm and relax.

"What's going on with you?" He questioned, crossing his arms.

"Nothing is going on with me. I'm sick of Bullshît and I'm not stressing myself out over anymore lies, secrets, or other people." I say truthfully. "Troy, this is the wrong time to admit to false actions."

His facial expression turned dark. He sniffed in annoyance and reached behind him, pulling out his phone. He typed what I assumed was a code and scrolled until he stopped and flipped the phone for me to see.

And what I saw instantly made me feel nauseous. I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand and glared shockingly at the image I was faced with. I shook my head at the bloody body on the hospital bed with his eyes open. There in the flesh, my father.

I shouldn't give a damn but a small ounce inside me did care a bit. I mean, he was my father and—

"Do you believe me now?" Troy's nonchalant tone took me from my thoughts.

"W-Why would you kill your own father?" My words came out in a whisper.

He scoffed. "He isn't my father nor yours. Same with that bîtch we called a mother."

My mouth opened in shock at his harsh name calling. Troy never was one to be so spiteful and nasty with the name calling.

"What happened to you? There's something about you that is off, Troy."

He exhaled a long breath. "You can say I opened my eyes."

I went silent. My entire body was numb. Troy killed our father and mother and claims the people who raised us was not our real parents.

Can anything get more crazy?

This was more bs added along with Cartron.

"Tiana? Tiana, did you hear me?" Troy's voice continued to call out.

I inhaled sharply before lifting my gaze to his. "W-Wh..." I stopped talking and looked down at the counter.

It was too much. So much going on. My hands slipped into my pocket and I frowned when I didn't feel my phone. I had to call Carter. I had to tell him.

"I-I need to call Carter." I say, about to leave when he stood up and held out his hand.

"Wait," he spoke calmly. "We need to talk first and then you can call him so I can talk to you both at the same time about King's true intentions with you and Cariana."

I frowned deeply. "H-How do you know her name?"

He sighed. "Trust me, Tiana. After what I found out, I've kept tabs on you. But I want you to know that the man you cared for and thought was your father, he doesn't deserve an ounce of your tears. I also think your engagement should continue on."

"How do you know all this stuff, Troy?" I asked in shock.

"Sit down and breathe." He said instead.

I sighed and sat down. I inhaled and exhaled a few times before looking at him and waiting for an explanation. Cariana was to busy sucking on her pacifier to be bothered and I was thankful for that because I couldn't handle her in my arms right now.

"After you decided to spare my life and the woman we called a mother, I went back to San Francisco. I was hoping that I could start over but turns out things got interesting over the months. I was in the process of getting rid of our childhood home when I came across a photo with a happy looking couple stashed away in a box in a vent. I was straightening up when I came across something shiny. There were documents inside and they held the couples name and our names with birth certificates and pregnancy test."

My brows furrowed in confusion but I kept silent and listened.

"Calvin Troy King and Melissa Trinity Brown-King. Melissa was the only child and Calvin King has one sibling and that was King himself. Two brothers who grew up happy until on became jealous and fvcked up the other's life. It became worse when Melissa and King were involved before then and she was found out she was pregnant but not by King but Calvin. After the baby, Melissa received threat emails and she was blackmailed after a simple one nightstand with King a few years later. When she found out she got pregnant again, she was unsure who the baby's father was until she was born. Turns out King was not the father but it sent him off edge and he did something that would bring heartbreak to his brother and his wife."

I swallowed hard as I had a strange feeling on where the story was going. Tears began to brim as I started to connect the little pieces as Troy continued on.

"A-Are we those babies?"

Troy nods. "King blackmailed our moth—Melissa about their affair and she chose the option and what was best for us. She was going to send us away but what I read and from what I heard from old connects, she didn't get the chance to. King stole us and I have yet to know what happened to our parents."

Tears slipped as I thought. This was a lot. A lot to process. I inhaled and nod my head. "T-Then we have to find them and learn the entire truth."

He nods in agreement and opens his mouth to say something when a knock at the door cut him off.

I looked to him and slightly push Cariana towards him. "Watch her for me."

He nods and I watch the same look from earlier appear on his face. Adoration.

I made my way to the door and looked through the peephole. I couldn't help the smile that lifted upon my face. I switched the locks and I was met with the person I wanted to see for a long while.

"Queen, are you alright?" Eva queried with much concern in her tone.

I nod stiffly and she gives me a sad smile and pulls me into a hug. I don't hesitate to hug her back and everything that Troy told me just flooded back and caused my eyes to water. I sniffed and she hugs me tighter and rubs up and down my back.

"Whatever it is, Queen, you'll get through it." Eva says.

I pull away and wiped my face with my hands. Eva places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. She walked in and closed and locked the door behind her.

"How about I make you some tea?" She suggests as we walk in the direction of the kitchen.

"It's alright. What I'm feeling is just temporary. What are you doing here? Did Carter send you?"

She smiles. "I actually missed seeing you, Queen. The boss has been a bit down but he try's to keep the facade going. He did send me to come and make sure you're alright for a few days. That's if you don't mind."

I shook my head. "Not at all. I know Carter only wants the best for Cariana and I."

She opened her mouth to respond but she immediately shut it.

We walked into the kitchen and her eyes lit up but dimmed a bit when she saw Troy. Troy looked in our direction and he nods acknowledging.

"Troy, this is Eva. Eva, this is my brother Troy." I introduced them properly.

"Nice to meet you." Eva shook his hand and Troy did the same. "You too."

The small glint didn't go unnoticed in Troy's gaze as he stared up at her.

Eva must have noticed as well because she pulled her hand away awkwardly and shifted uncomfortably.

Reminder to make sure he keeps himself together while he's around.

She turned a bit and looked down at Cariana and a smile formed on her lips. "Oh, she's so precious. Can I hold her?" She asked, looking at me.

I smiled and nod. Eva waste no time to wash her hands and takes Cari out of her seat and cradles her. "Aren't you a splitting image of your parents. Pure beauty." She cooed and surprisingly, Cari made a small noise.

Troy watched them and he stood up and walked to me. "I think it's time for me to head out."

I sighed. "Where are you staying?"

"Hotel not too far from here. If you could give Carter a call, I'll explain things to him while you process."

I nod and pull him into a hug. He hugs me back and kisses the top of my head. "Everything will work out, T. I'm sorry I put you through a lot of shît."

I pulled away and looked up at him. "We're cool now. The past is in the past. Time to move on to better things."

He nods. "You're right. I hope you're taking your own advice, sis."

I look down, hiding the fact I wasn't.

He cleared his throat. "After all this shît is over with, T, talk to him. I don't know what happened between you to but my guess is that it has something to do with King."

I let go of him and ran my fingers through my hair. "I messed up on some things on my part." I murmured.

"A real conversation, Tiana. Not snippets." He said as we walked to the door.

"I hear you. I'll see you tomorrow?" I question as we stopped at the door. I opened it and waited for him to respond.

He nods. "Tomorrow. Love ya."

"I love you too."

I closed the door behind him, locking it. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts until my thumb rested on his name.

Grow courage. You talked to him this morning.

But the kiss we shared shouldn't make me think things will be awkward.

Oh, fvck it.

I pressed his name and placed the phone to my ear. After a few moments of ringing, the other line picked up.

"Babe?"

My heart skipped a beat out the sound of his rough voice. I inhaled softly as I took a few seconds to think of what to say.

"H-Hey Carter," I breathed nervously.

"Something wrong?" Concern laced in his tone and shifting was heard on the other end.

"No, I just..."

Why am I so nervous to talk to him?

"Talk to me, baby." He says.

I swallowed the gulp of air that wanted to escape before finally finding my courage.

"Can you meet me somewhere for lunch?"

I closed my eyes hard as I waited for him to respond. It was quiet for a moment before he spoke again.

"Are you asking me out, babe?" I could hear the amusement in his tone.

"No, yes...we need to talk."

"Are you ready to really talk?"

I sighed. "Yes. Eva will watch Cari and we can go out for a few hours. I'll pick the place and time. Is that okay."

"Whatever you want."

I blew out a low breath. "Okay, ill see you tomorrow."

"Alright."

I wanted to breath the three words to him but I couldn't find myself saying it. The position we're both in would just make it a bit harder.

So, I ended the call.

When I turned to go back in the kitchen, my phone dings. I look down and tears went to my eyes. 

'I love you. Always.'

____________________

Thoughts? 

Warning ⚠️

This book will be intense in good and bad ways. I'm not giving spoilers but I am warning you.

Also, Troy explaining what happened was just a snippet. The entire story will be explained in the future