Chapter 2
Damn, she’s beautiful.
Beautiful and forbidden.
I had to wonder where my brother found her.
I was used to him having unattractive chicks on his arm, which was his preference.
The nigga swore all fine chicks cheated, so he didn’t date them.
There had to be something so special about Miss Jela that he put a baby in her and wanted to marry her.
The shit seemed fugazi, but it was none of my business.
I missed my people and was happy when Lane Builders opened up another location in my hometown.
They made me the CEO of the company after evaluating the success I’d brought, which allowed the current expansions.
My passion for designing and building homes came from my late father, Iman.
I watched as he built his house from the ground up with his two best friends, creating a masterpiece.
I was only six then, but what he did fascinated me so much that I had my future planned out before I even reached puberty.
Unfortunately, my old man left me when I was thirteen.
Even though he and my moms weren't together, he had always been good to her, even after she cheated on him and got pregnant with Dame. Dame’s pops was the polar opposite of mine.
While my father taught me how to use my head and hands for good, Dame’s pops was showing him how to use both for bad.
Damien Senior was a ruthless nigga, who did bad things and had a hand problem.
He liked to put his hands on my moms until I beat his ass and sent him packing with broken legs.
While I didn't condone violence, I’d get real ignorant behind my mama and the people I loved. Dame was opposite; the nigga lived for violence, which I’m sure stemmed from his ugly-ass daddy.
While I chose not to get in the streets, Dame embraced it.
I always tried to encourage my brother to do better, but his street mentality always blocked everything good I was trying to teach him. He was the wild child, while I was the level-headed one.
As we sat out on our mom’s deck, I ate my food while looking at the chipped paint on her patio. It had been years since I’d been here, but now that I was back, I was going to make it my business to upgrade a few things around here.
“Where you staying, Tru?” Luke asked me.
“I’m going to get a room at the Westin for now. Then I’m going to do a month-to-month at an apartment until my house gets done.”
“Why would you do that? You can stay here with us,” my moms suggested.
“No offense, beautiful, but ya crib is a little overcrowded. You know I need my space.” There was no way I was staying here when she had my uncle, aunt, and four cousins living here.
“You can come stay with me. I got plenty of room,” Dame said, coming out of the house and sitting across from me.
My eyes found the beautiful Jela, who trailed behind him, carrying what I was sure was this nigga’s third plate of food and two drinks.
She didn't say much and could barely look anybody in the face for too long.
She seemed timid, uncomfortable, and out of place.
I watched as she set his plate in front of him and his drink beside him, then took a seat next to him.
“I’m good. I don’t want to intrude.”
He frowned. “Ain’t no intrusion. You’re my brother, and my crib got the space. It’s only me, Jela, and the baby. There’s plenty of room.”
“No offense, but I like to walk around naked.” I chuckled, eyes meeting Jela’s as I sipped my beer.
Damn, she’s gorgeous.
She cast her eyes downward, busying herself with her phone.
“Aye… as long as you do it on the east wing of the crib and not around my bitch or baby, you good.”
I could see Jela cringe slightly at him calling her a bitch.
“Bitch?” I questioned.
“My bad… my lady.”
“I ain't trying to invade your space, bruh—”
“It really ain't shit, nigga. You staying with me, and that's final.”
“You cool with that, Miss Jela?” I asked.
She looked up at me, but before she could respond, my brother spoke up. “She ain't got no say in who I invite into my home. Her ass don’t pay no damn bills,” he said, shoving macaroni in his mouth and immediately spitting it back onto his plate. “Why the fuck didn't you warm this up?”
“I-I did,” she stuttered.
“You lying! This shit lukewarm. Go put it back in the microwave.” He pushed the plate over to her.
I could see the embarrassment cross her face as she stood, took the plate, and carried it back into the house.
“Damien…” Moms started.
“I don't want to hear it, Ma.”
“You need to get control of your anger. That girl can barely look at us because she feels intimidated by us.”
“It ain't my fault she's scary as hell. She had one damn job.”
I frowned. “I know you ain't putting your hands on her, D.” He waved me off and took a sip of his beer. I looked around at my family, and they all looked away. Some of them were snickering at the situation. “Dame.”
“No, Truce, damn. I may yell at her ass, but I don't hit her.”
He was lying.
I could always tell when this nigga lied because he would get defensive as fuck. His bitch-ass daddy used to do the same shit. He’d beat our mother and deny it whenever we would ask what happened to her face while she covered up for him.
I didn't care if they argued, but men hitting on women was where I drew the line, especially coming from my brother, who knew firsthand how ugly that shit could get.
I stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, a’ight. Let’s get these bones going, Unc.” I moved my plate to the side and began washing the dominoes.
“Count me in!” Neveah yelled.
“Me too,” Luke countered.
“We in too!” I looked over and saw my little cousins, Deja and Charmaine, coming out of the house. “Tucci!” Deja yelled, calling me by the nickname she gave me, and rushing over to me. I smiled big and stood as she jumped her little body into my arms.
“Lil’ Bit.”
“Move, Deja, dang! Let me get my hug!” Charmaine fussed as she wrapped her arms around me once I put Deja down.
“Don’t trip, Char. I got enough love and hugs for everybody.”
“I hope you got enough for me,” Aunt LaShaun said, coming out behind Jela.
“You know I got all the love for you, Auntie,” I told her, holding my arms up. She laughed as we embraced, pulling away for her to kiss my cheeks.
“We missed you the last five holidays, baby.”
“I know. I missed everybody too. Y’all got me for good now, so I hope you made my sweet potato pie.”
“That’s wonderful! And you know I did!”
“You know the way to my heart,” I replied, my eyes finding the beautiful Jela again.
I knew I shouldn't be concerned about her.
I shouldn't even be feeling this attraction toward her, but I couldn't help but see the brokenness of her soul, the sorrow in her eyes, and the melancholy of her spirit. I wanted to console her because she looked like she needed to be consoled. I didn’t know her story, but just from the picture painted before me, I knew she wasn’t happy sitting amongst my family.
After chopping it up with my family and playing multiple rounds of dominoes and spades, I was tired.
It was only three in the afternoon, but I was ready to lie down and relax.
It had been a long day of packing and traveling, and my first thought was to get the hotel room.
I knew my family was ready for my arrival, though, so I came to spend the holiday with them before I turned it in for the day, and I was happy I did.
Looking around at everyone, I caught Dame whispering to Jela.
She nodded, stood, and went back in the house, looking as if someone had stolen her dog.
I looked at my brother while he sat eating his food as if the shit between them wasn't awkward.
As much as I didn't want to get involved, I needed to keep an eye on Damien until my house was finished.
I knew if he was putting his hands on shorty, he wouldn't be doing the shit around me.
By six o’clock, the house was full of our relatives from out of town.
Although I enjoyed my family and seeing my grandparents, I was ready to get the fuck on.
I was overstimulated and tired as shit. While everyone was on the enclosed patio, I slipped into the house and headed toward the den to try to rest my eyes.
When I stepped inside the room, I found Jela sitting on the couch, breastfeeding my niece.
When she saw me, she hurriedly placed her boob back inside her shirt.
“My bad. I didn't know anyone was in here.”
“You’re fine,” she responded in a soft tone.
“May I come in?”
She shrugged. “It’s your mother’s house.”
“Doesn’t matter. You may have wanted to switch boobs.” I chuckled.
“I think she’s all done now.”
“Is she asleep?”
“No… Just a little milk wasted.” She giggled lightly, and I loved to hear and see the smile on her pretty face. It was a totally different contrast from earlier, and I found that to be one of my new favorite things about her, aside from her beautiful brown eyes.
Truce, nigga, chill.
“Can I hold her?” I asked.
“Sure.”
I walked over to her, and she placed the baby in my arms. “Damn. What y’all feeding my niece? Hey, chunky mama,” I cooed at her, blowing strawberries on her chunky neck.
She giggled and grabbed my cheeks. I saw pictures of Scottlyn, and even saw her on FaceTime, but physically seeing her in person confirmed my niece was a doll.
I’d never been one to think about having kids. I hadn’t taken anyone seriously enough to consider planting my offspring in their womb. It was still baffling to me that my little brother had a baby and was about to get married before me, but I was happy he was getting his shit together.
“Some of everything. The girl loves to eat.”
“As she should. You know I’m about to spoil the shit out of her, right?”
“I’m starting to see that's what your family loves to do. I guess one more person wouldn’t hurt.”