Chapter 13
“Roux fucking Nelson.”
I’d sent her word that I needed to holla at her about something. She was out celebrating her birthday but told me I could pull up on her. It had been a minute since I laid eyes on her because she wasn’t in the mix like that. Since stepping up to the throne, she kept a low profile, but a nigga didn’t have to see her to feel her. Like my uncle, Roux had shit on lock.
She was all about her money, and niggas didn’t like answering to a woman in this game. They had to learn the hard way not to cross Roux. Baby was a cold muthafucka too. Since my uncle and her father were good friends, they had mutual respect for each other after splitting their territories. Uncle Blake agreed to let Roux keep her father’s territory after he got locked up, as long as she agreed to their previously established terms and conditions.
Currently, I was in Club Pressure , an elite strip club. I had to admit, Roux was looking good as hell. She’d always been bad, but since taking over her father’s drug ring, she’d elevated. I smiled as I approached the pretty face devil in a blue dress. She smirked as she stood to greet me.
“Smoke Dillinger.”
We shared an embrace, and when she pulled away, she grabbed my dick.
“You brought me a birthday present?” she asked seductively.
“This is business, baby.”
She kissed her teeth. “You’re no fun.”
Dropping her hand, she reclaimed her seat and crossed her legs, exposing those thick, pretty thighs. I instantly had flashbacks of the way I used to have them wrapped around my waist. We dated for about three years, from age fifteen to eighteen. That was quite a time in my life. We did a lot of reckless shit together.
Even after we broke up, we kept a sexual relationship off and on for years. Both of us were busy with our respective family shit, so we didn’t bother committing. We had a mutual agreement that if we needed each other to come through and get the other right, we would.
I copped a seat, surveying the area in front of me. Stacks of hundred-dollar bills were neatly placed on the table along with bottles of liquor.
“You expecting company?” I asked. “You don’t even fuck with females like that, Roux.”
“I have a few select bitches I run with these days, Smoke. But you didn’t infiltrate my birthday celebration to hear about that. What do you want?”
“Damn, I can’t ask an old friend a simple question?”
“That’s too much like getting in my business, and you know how I feel about that.”
I raised my hands in mock surrender. “My bad, love.”
“Mmmm… you know that still gets my panties wet.”
I chuckled. “You hell, man. Seriously, I wanna talk to you about something.”
She eyed me curiously before snapping her fingers. The three niggas around the section all turned to face her.
“Give us some privacy,” she said, never taking her eyes off me.
They all nodded and left the section. Roux picked up a drink and took a sip.
“What can I do for you, Smoke?”
“I know you have ears and eyes in the street, so I wanted to know if we had a mutual.”
“Mutual? Name?”
“Patrick LaStrange. He one of yours?”
“No, but I know who you’re talking about. He’s a wannabe dope boy trying to come up. I don’t even worry about him because he knows he can’t make any money in my city. What kind of problems are this Harry Potter ass nigga giving you, baby?”
I chuckled at the reference. “Not me, personally. A client of mine.”
“Oooo! She must have good pussy for you to involve yourself in something that’s not your business.”
“I haven’t fucked that girl.”
“Then you want to fuck her.”
“She’s pregnant.”
“And? Since when do you discriminate?”
“Damn, Roux. Just play me like I don’t have standards.”
She laughed. “Let’s not get into some of the women I’ve seen you with before and after me, okay? I’m just saying. What about this girl makes you want to insert yourself in her business?”
“She’s… nice.”
Roux smirked. “You like her, don’t you?”
“No.”
“You ain’t got to lie, Devin. You ain’t got to lie.”
I shook my head at the Friday reference. Roux played too damn much. I would never admit to her that I was insanely attracted to Romi, baby bump and all. I would never admit to her the peace I felt with that woman. Something in her spirit was soothing and worth protecting.
Roux’s laughter broke my thoughts. “Anyway, what’s the issue with that nigga?”
“I hate to break it to you, but he’s definitely dealing in the city. He wants my client to stash his shit in her salon.”
Roux frowned. “Well, we can’t have that now, can we? You spoke with Blake about this?”
“I did. He’s never heard of the guy, but he’s looking into it.”
“Good. I’ll keep my ear to the street for you.”
“I appreciate that.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t get little miss brainiac to look that man up.”
“I don’t need my sister all in my business.”
“Which brings me back to my original question. You like this girl, don’t you? It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.” She took another sip of her drink. “So you came here to ask me a question you could have asked me over a phone call?”
I smirked. “What are you getting at?”
“If you missed me, just say that. I mean, if you came to give me some birthday dick, I’ll take it.”
I chuckled. “I don’t know, Roux. You still into gunplay? You kinda traumatized a nigga the last time you wanted to play Russian Roulette while you rode my dick.”
She laughed. “Admit it. I gave you a hell of a nut, knowing it might be your last.”
“You might be a little too crazy for me, baby.”
She kissed her teeth. “Whatever. If you aren’t going to fuck me, the least you can do is buy me a bottle. You know what I like.”
“I got you, love. I’ma get outta here. I’ll have the bartender send you a bottle.”
Standing to my feet, I stepped closer and leaned over to kiss her cheek. Being the asshole she was, Roux turned her head so my lips would land on hers. She giggled as she pulled away.
“Good night, Devin.”
“Good night, Roux.”
I pulled up to my mama’s house for Sunday dinner.
Most times, I ate dinner with my pops’ side of the family on Sundays, but since it was my mama and Alec’s anniversary, and they were going to be away for a whole week, I came to eat with them. Shutting off my car, I climbed out and headed inside.
When I walked into the house, I could smell my mama’s curry chicken. My nose led me into the kitchen where she stood over the stove. Walking up to her, I scooped her up in a hug.
“Devin!” she fussed, swatting my arms. “Put me down!”
“Why do you act like that every time I try to give you some love, woman?”
“Because you don’t know your own strength. You damn near squeeze me to death, son.”
I placed her on her feet and loosened my grip. She relaxed and gave me the hug I was seeking.
“Better?” I asked.
“Much better.” Cupping my face, she kissed my cheek. “I missed you. You’ve been too busy for your mama lately.”
“I missed you too, Ma. Don’t start the dramatics and guilt tripping.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. It’s good to see you.”
“You ready for this trip?” I asked, leaning against the counter and crossing my arms. I’d gifted them a stay in Fiji along with twenty thousand to blow.
She beamed with excitement. “Yes! I just have a few more things to pack. Thank you again for this, baby. Alec and I haven’t had a vacation in a while. We need this time together.”
I frowned. “Something wrong?”
“No. We just need some alone time. No work. No responsibilities. No kids,” she added, playfully nudging me.
“We ain’t that bad. At least me and Maceo are out of the house. Deja’s lil fast ass is the one you have to worry about.”
“My baby is not fast.”
“Where is she staying?”
“Tavia said she could stay with them since her and Kailia go to the same school.”
“Those two are about to be up all damn night gossiping and shit. You know Kalia has a crush on Damaris.”
“That boy is too old for her.”
“Right. Where is the brat and her daddy?”
“Alec went to pick up some wine to go with dinner. Deja went with him, I’m sure to convince him to buy her something. You know, you and Maceo really have that damn girl spoiled. I wish you would stick to trickin’ on these females only.”
I laughed. “Why can’t I spend money on my baby? That’s why she has brothers. And wait a minute. How can you say you want me to stick to trickin’ on females when you want grandbabies?”
“You’re your daddy’s son. I’ve accepted that.”
My hand flew to my heart dramatically. “Wow, Mama. You think so little of me.”
“Shut up, boy. You know you aren’t committing to shit.” She eyed me curiously. “Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“That girl from the wedding. The one you spent practically the whole reception with. Who’s that?”
“A client, Ma.”
“She’s beautiful, and you two looked good together.”
“Knock it off, Allison.”
She grabbed a dish towel and swatted me with it. “What did I tell you about that?”
I laughed as I moved out of her reach. “You love to abuse me.”
“I’ll beat your big ass. I don’t care if you’re twice my size and weigh more than me. I’m the mama. Anyway, back to this woman. Is she single?”
“Yes, but?—”
“Tell me about her.”
“Ma, ain’t nothing to tell. There’s nothing there?—”
“Bullshit, Devin. A mother knows her child. You’ve never voluntarily spent that much time with a woman you weren’t trying to stick your little thing in. You like her enough to serve her. She made you laugh. Hell, she made you dance. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen a woman make you let your proverbial hair down and be completely comfortable and vulnerable. You like that woman. Spare me the denial.”
I pushed off from the counter and went around to the other side of the island to put some space between us. I hated that she had always been able to read my ass so well.
“Hypothetically speaking. Even if I did like her… she’s pregnant.”
My mother spun around. “Really!”
“Yeah. That kinda feels like a violation. I mean, I can’t… you know… with a pregnant woman.”
She rolled her eyes. “Devin, please. Stop thinking with your little head and use the brains you were born with.”
“I’m just saying, Mama. How would that look? Can you see me playing stepdaddy?”
“Two words: Alec Proctor.”
Of course she would remind me of my stepfather. The two of them met when I was twelve and got married when I was fourteen. From the beginning, Alec always treated Maceo and I like his kids. We’d never had any beef with him. He came into our lives, set us down, and told us how much he loved our mother and wanted to create a life with her.
My father was there for that conversation, and he made it clear that we were to treat Alec with nothing but respect unless disrespect was warranted. The man claimed us as his sons. He spent quality time with us and developed relationships with us together and individually. I had mad respect for him.
I sighed. “Me and him had a conversation about her. I needed to hear what he had to say about playing stepdaddy.”
“You wouldn’t be playing stepdaddy, Devin,” my mother reminded me. “If you like this woman and want to pursue something with her, you just have to know that her baby is a packaged deal.”
“She has an eight-year-old too.”
“Aw shit.”
The tone of her voice caused me to laugh. She wasn’t expecting that.
“Well, they are both packaged deals. There is nothing wrong with dating a pregnant woman. She’s still a woman. Society is gonna talk anyway. In this world, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. You can’t let negative opinions mess up something good for you. Now, I’m not saying go crazy. Just… if you’re interested, be interested. That’s all I’ma say.”
She raised her hands in mock surrender before turning back to the stove. I sat there, letting her words sink in. I didn’t know Romi well enough to say I was fully interested, but I was intrigued… very intrigued. Maybe I would try to learn a little about her during our sessions. Sexual chemistry was the only way I decided if I liked a woman these days, and I was only looking for one thing.
Looking for more than some pussy… that was going to be interesting.