Chapter 17
“Jaeda!” I yelled, walking into her house.
Her, Salima, Shar, and Mia were sitting on the couch, watching TV. They looked back at me with frowns on their facial covered faces.
“Must you do that?” she asked. “You see us sitting right here.”
“My bad. I wasn’t expecting you to be in here. You know you love being cooped up in that office on your Geek Squad shit.”
“Fuck you. I assume you want something, so don’t come in here on your bullshit.”
“Well, aren’t you sassy today?”
I closed the door and walked over to where they were sitting with an assortment of snacks and snatched up the bowl of popcorn.
“Why are y’all looking like this?” I asked, motioning between them.
Mia sighed. “We were having a girls’ day. We don’t get too many of those, hence the reason you weren’t invited.”
“And the reason you don’t see your brothers,” Salima added.
Shar chimed in. “In other words, get the fuck out.”
“Hold up, now. Y’all ain’t ganging up on me.”
“Shouldn’t you be somewhere with Romi?” Shar asked with a smirk.
“Right,” Mia agreed. “Kaylynn told us all about the way you act when she comes into the shop.”
I kissed my teeth. “See, now I have to fire your cousin. I don’t act any type of way. I’m enjoying her company. Jaeda, I have a lil’ friend to play Legos with.”
She giggled. “Don’t tell me you and her daughter are cool already?”
“We’ll get there. She loves Legos, and I told her about your basement.”
“Now you know I don’t allow anybody in my basement.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “Of course, nobody can play with her precious toys.”
Jaeda waved her off. “They are collectibles. There is a difference. Buy you a toy if you want to play with one.”
Shar snickered. “I’m sure she has a drawer full.”
Mia stuck a middle finger up at her. “I don’t need a toy when I have?—”
“Titan!” we all said.
“I can’t stand y’all!” She crossed her arms. “Anyway! You don’t have to lie, Smoke. We saw you two at the wedding. You were cute together. I never expected you to be into pregnant women, but hey, whatever floats your boat.”
“You know we’re waiting on you to bring her around,” Salima said. “Our little sister circle is growing! Now if we can find Jaeda a man and Mia and Titan get it together, we can add to the brother fold!”
I stared blankly at her. “You know, I hate that you’re so damn optimistic, Salima.”
“Yeah,” Mia agreed. “Then you’re so happy about that shit. Me and Titan fucking DeLuca will never have anything worth bringing him into the family.”
Shar threw a hand in her face. “Girl, please stop lying to yourself. You love to hate that man. I don’t know why y’all act the way you do with each other then turn around and be in each other’s skin.”
Jaeda clapped her hands. “Same shit I’ve been saying.”
Mia waved them both off. “Get off my dick.”
Jaeda shot back, “Get off his first.”
“Get some dick, then talk to me.”
They started going back and forth while I sat there eating their popcorn.
Shar turned to me. “See what you and your negative energy did? We were having a quiet, relaxing day, and here you come fucking up the vibe.”
“That ain’t on me. I need Jaeda’s help.”
Jaeda sighed. “What now?”
“I need you to run a background on Patrick Lastrange.”
Shar and Salima passed a look between each other, then looked at me.
“Patrick LaStrange?” Salima repeated. “What’s he got to do with anything?”
“A lot. Y’all know him or something?”
“Or something,” Shar answered. “We went to high school with him.”
This was news I could use.
“What was he like?” I asked.
Shar snorted. “A wannabe. He was nothing but a follower.” She turned to Salima. “Remember how he used to flex, but he was using his daddy’s money to do so? He wanted to hang with the dope boys so bad, and they paid him in dust.”
“Who’s his daddy?” I asked.
Shar snapped her fingers like she was trying to remember. “Oh! Derrick Mathis. He works for the city. Like right up under the mayor. If I’m giving you all this information, you’re gonna have to give us something. What did he do?”
“He’s Romi’s baby daddy.”
“Oh my God! She could have done so much better. Don’t tell me he’s a deadbeat?”
Mia shook her head. “Nah, he wouldn’t be looking for him just for being a deadbeat.”
I copped a seat across from them. “He’s trying to stash drugs at the beauty bar. Roux thinks he’s eventually gonna push her out.”
Jaeda scoffed. “Roux? How did she get into this?”
“I thought he might be one of hers since he’s not one of Uncle Blake’s boys.”
“Who is Roux?” Mia asked.
“His crazy ass ex,” Jaeda answered. “She likes to play Russian Roulette.”
“Like with guns?” Salima asked.
Jaeda nodded. “Exactly like that. Her daddy and Uncle Blake used to be good friends. She was always with him, so she was always around. My brothers would do hand to hand combat with her, and she would kick their ass.”
Shar laughed. “Please tell me she’s joking, Smoke.”
I shook my head. “Sadly, she’s not. Roux is a cold muthafucka. She gave us all the business.”
“You mean she gave y’all the business,” Jaeda said. “I fought just as dirty as she did.”
Shar grinned. “Not my sweet Jaeda being such a savage!”
Mia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you didn’t see her with Charity. Sis gave her the business on your behalf. Please stop thinking my sister is innocent. Virgin? Yes. Innocent? Never.”
“Can’t we please get off me being a virgin! Shit! You don’t have to broadcast it.”
“Can we get back to the conversation at hand?” I asked. “What do you know about his daddy?”
Shar shrugged. “Not much, considering he wasn’t married to Patrick’s mother. She was a side chick, and everybody knew it. He was one of those spend money but not time ass fathers. We rarely saw him.”
I turned to my sister. “Jae?—”
She waved me off. “Yeah, yeah. I know. I’ll get on it tonight.”
“Appreciate that.” I placed the bowl of popcorn down and stood. “I’ll let y’all get back to this. Make sure y’all do something to them crusty ass feet.”
They yelled obscenities at me as I walked out of the house. I’d wait for Jaeda to do her thing so I knew what I was up against. Romi told me the police were no help to her when she reached out to them. I was willing to bet money that Patrick’s daddy was the reason behind that. Of course, it would look bad on him to have his bastard son caught up in some shit.
Something told me I was going to pay Derrick Mathis a little visit.
After leaving my sisters, I ventured into town. Since I didn’t have any sessions today, I took the day off and left Kaylynn’s snitching ass in charge. It was around lunchtime, so I decided to stop by Romi’s shop. When I walked into the beauty bar, all eyes fell on me. A few women whispered and pointed at me with lustful looks. I wasn’t a cocky nigga, but I was used to these looks.
Approaching the receptionist’s desk, I spoke to the girl I now knew as Laurel.
“What’s up?”
She looked up at me with a stoic expression. “Can I help you?”
“Is Romi busy?”
“I mean, you are in her place of business.”
“No shit. When is she taking lunch?”
“When she’s free.”
I chuckled. “Me and you got beef? ’Cause every time I come in here, you giving me this stank ass face. What’s up? There must be a reason you have all this fucking animosity.”
She leaned forward and spoke lowly. “What do you want with Romi? What are you getting out of —”
“Let me stop you right there. You don’t need to worry about shit me and your boss have going on, baby. She’s in good hands.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Just as I was about to say something, Romi walked out front. When she saw me, she smiled.
“Hey, you,” she said, coming over.
“Hey, beautiful.”
I slid my arm around her waist and pulled her into me before dropping a kiss on her lips. A few women in the shop whistled and snapped their fingers. Romi giggled and covered her face. She was so damn cute.
“You hungry?” I asked, cupping her chin.
“I was actually about to take lunch, so you’re right on time. Laurel, I’ll be back.”
Laurel gave a fake ass smile. “Sure thing.”
Grabbing Romi’s hand, I led her out of the shop, tossing a glare at Laurel as the door closed. Once we made it to my car, I helped Romi inside, then climbed in myself.
“Aye, how long has Laurel worked for you?” I asked, cranking up and pulling off.
“About three years now. Why?”
“She like women or something? I mean, no judgment if she does. She just seems to have an issue with me every time I come in there.”
“An issue?”
“She keeps giving me these looks. Like she doesn’t want me around you. You trust her?”
“I do. I mean, she hasn’t given me a reason not to trust her. I’m sure she’s just protective, given my circumstances.”
“Yeah, okay. Just be careful with that one. I can always spot a snake.”
She sat back in the seat and crossed her arms with a perplexed look on her face. She seemed to be thinking hard about something.
“What’s on your mind?” I asked.
“Just… something Patrick said.”
“Which was?”
“He slept with one of my employees.”
“You think it’s her?”
“No… at least I hope not. I’m still trying to figure out who. Somebody gave him information, and I can’t bring it up in conversation because I don’t need the heat of drug activity going on in my place.”
“Has he been back?”
“No, and it’s weird.” She sniffled. “I can’t believe I’m doing this, Devin. This is so fucking wrong.”
I reached over and grabbed her hand. “I told you I got you, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but?—”
“But nothing. I got some shit in motion. As bad as I want to make a move, I have to calculate my shit. I need details on more than just him before I can piece a plan together.”
“I’m scared,” she admitted.
“I know, baby.”
“I just wanna bring Korri home and my baby into this world without all of this. How could I have a great love with Korri’s father then turn around and get pregnant by someone like Patrick? There had to be signs, and I was so fucking stupid!”
She broke into tears, and that shit ate me up. She didn’t talk about Korri’s dad, but I gathered that he was a good guy. If he was still here, there would be no Patrick. Hell, there would be no me either.
I pulled into an empty parking lot and put the car in park before pulling her into my arms.
“I know this shit ain’t fair. I know it seems hopeless, but believe me when I say I got you. You’re gonna be able to bring baby girl home very soon. I promise you that.”
She pulled back and looked up at me. I wiped the tears from her face and kissed her lips.
“Thank you for being the one person outside of my family that gives a damn, Devin.”
“I fuck with you. I mean, I let you call me Devin, and nobody calls me that but my mama.”
She gave a light smile. “That’s what she named you.”
“Now you sound like Salima. She never lets my brother forget he’s named after our father. If she isn’t calling him Stanley, it’s Deucy. He hates that shit.”
“But he loves her, so he tolerates it. He’s come in a few times with her?—”
“Say what now? Deuce?”
“Yeah. He gets a facial and I line up his eye—something tells me I shouldn’t have told you that.”
I grinned. “Nah, keep going ’cause I’m getting in that ass the next time he starts his shit.”
She laughed. “I will not give you ammunition against your brother.”
“You gave me enough. Appreciate it.”
“Devin!” She playfully slapped my arm. “Don’t be mean to him.”
“See, I have to bring you around the family so you can really see who the mean one is. Just know that the family is cool, but they are gonna fuck with you a little. Be prepared for jokes about me being this baby’s daddy. Don’t be afraid to tell them to shut the fuck up.”
“Renay is already talking about it being stepdaddy season, so I’m prepared.”
I chuckled to myself as I pulled back into traffic, thinking to myself wouldn’t me being a stepdaddy be some shit?