Chapter 22
“Are you sure you can handle things, Danielle?” I asked, pulling into the parking lot.
“I’m sure, Romi. I don’t know where Laurel’s ass is, but you know I’ve got you covered.”
I sighed. Danielle had called to check in and ended up telling me that Laurel hadn’t been to work in days and that she was basically scheduling clients herself. My suspicions of her were growing by the minute.
“I hate to take you away from your clients,” I finally said.
She kissed her teeth. “Didn’t I start out as your receptionist while I was in school? I’ve got this. Laurel is in the wind somewhere, probably running after some nigga. You’re on maternity leave, and we still have a business to run. You’re a wonderful boss, Romi. Any of us here would be happy to step in and help where we can until you get back. Just focus on little mama and leave the rest to your capable staff, okay?”
I sighed. “Okay. Thank you again.”
“You don’t have to thank me. Besides…” she giggled, “your Big Daddy has already come in here and laid down the law.”
“Say what now?”
“You know who I’m talking about. By the way, we are gonna have a conversation about how you pulled Smoke Dillinger, belly and all. You’re a bad bitch, boss lady.”
I rolled my eyes and stifled a laugh. “I cannot with you.”
“Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. He came in here this morning when we opened and called a team meeting. That man promised each of us a ten-thousand-dollar bonus if we keep shit running smooth the entire time you’re out. I need my coins, so you better believe I’m keeping the girls in line.”
What was I going to do with this man?
“Well, I trust you all, so happy spending. Just don’t call out of work on me.”
“Never! I do my baldheaded activities on the weekends.”
“Bye, Danielle.”
She laughed. “Love you! Kiss that baby for me!”
“I will.”
I hung up and shut off the car. The last thing I was expecting to hear was Laurel being missing in action. I was upset that nobody called to tell me anything, but I understood why they didn’t. I had enough on my plate, and I couldn’t be worried about the woman I suspected was in this shit with Patrick.
I was, however, worried about what could be going on at the shop during the late hours. With me being out of commission, Patrick had free range to do whatever he wanted in my basement. Devin told me he was keeping tabs on him, but he hadn’t told me anything else. I suspected that there was more to the story, considering he snuck out of bed at two in the morning the night I was discharged.
I’d awakened to go to the bathroom, and he was gone. I’d lain awake for two hours, terrified to go back to sleep because I was home alone. When he finally came back in, I was so relieved that I didn’t say anything. I’d pretended to be asleep when he walked into my bedroom. I’d listened to him take another shower before climbing back into bed with me and going to sleep.
That moment lived rent free in my head. I wanted to ask so bad where he’d been, but I decided against it.
Shaking the thoughts from my head, I climbed out of the car and made my way to the entrance. My mother was already waiting inside for me. She’d offered to pick me up, but I told her I was fine. My incision was healing nicely, and I put a pillow between me and the seat belt for comfort.
After exchanging greetings, we made our way up to the NICU to see my baby. The nurses greeted us with smiles as we passed their station. When we walked into her room, her nurse was checking her vitals.
“Hi, mommy. Hi, grandma. Your little lady has been waiting on you. Why don’t you two wash up, and I’ll get her ready for you.”
“Thank you,” I said, placing my things on the couch.
I smiled, noticing they had put her on the little crochet hat Ms. Allison had made for her. She’d been keeping in contact with me since I’d been home, and I found her to be a sweetheart. She told me whenever I was comfortable with it that she would love to come visit Juri. I’d sent her a text before I left the house to let her know she was more than welcome to come today.
With my hands cleaned and my gown on, I walked back over to where the nurse was waiting with my baby. She carefully placed her in my arms.
“I’ll give you all some privacy. Page me if you need me.”
I nodded, and she left the room.
“Hi, my pretty girl!” I said, cuddling Juri against my chest as I took a seat. “Mommy missed you so much.”
My baby was now a week and a half old and showing progress, which made me happy. I knew she had a long way to go, but I’d been praying for her and over her every day since her birth. I had faith that she would emerge a strong, healthy little girl.
“I can’t get over how tiny she is,” my mom said, touching her hand. “In a few months, I can see her growing into a little butterball, just like Korri was.”
I giggled. “Me too.”
“She can’t wait for her to come home. She thinks she’s gonna have her own little doll baby.”
“I can see it now. When she gets big enough to hold, I’m gonna go looking for my baby, and Korri is gonna have her in her room. I really hope they are as close as me and Nay.”
“They will be. Renay already said she’s moving in once Juri comes home, although,” she eyed me suspiciously, “I think that spot might be taken by a certain someone.”
I blushed at her reference to Devin. He’d been amazing, and I was so thankful for him. Even though he worked, he was never too busy to be what I needed. I had breakfast every morning when I woke up. He brought me and whoever was at the hospital with me lunch. And every night, he’d been right there to help me with simple tasks so I didn’t bust my stitches open. The more he was around, the more I was falling for him. I mean, how could I not fall for him? He’d become part of my everyday life.
“You know as well as I do that your daughter doesn’t care,” I finally said. “Even if Devin is around, she’s going to bombard her way into my house either way.”
“This is true. So…”
“What is it, Ma?”
“Devin. I like him, I really do. He’s been good to you. But—” She closed her eyes like she was carefully choosing her words. “Are you sure about him, baby? I know you’ve heard like everyone else how those Dillingers are… what they’re into. His… other… profession is no better than Patrick’s.”
I sighed. Devin and I had a long conversation in bed a few days ago about his family. We’d been lying there watching TV… well, he was watching TV. I was staring at his side profile.
“You know I can see you watching me,” he said, never breaking his gaze.
“Devin, can I ask you something?”
“Uh-oh.” He turned to look at me. “Are you about to ask me something I’m not gonna want to answer?”
“That depends on how much you’re willing to share.”
“Go on.”
“Your family… specifically you, your siblings, and your dad, what do you do? I know you have the gun shop. I know Deuce has lounges. But what do you do together? I’ve heard… a lot.”
“Can you handle the truth, Ro Baby?”
“I can handle honesty.”
He muted the television and turned to fully face me. “Some people would call us hood vigilantes. For me and my family, it’s protecting those the law doesn’t protect and who can’t protect themselves. There are a lot of vile, disgusting people out here, Romi, many of them right here in this city. There’s a ton of underhanded shit happening because the people with power choose to play dirty.”
“I know that much, but… where do you and your family fit into that?”
“We own most of the city. Most of the important officials are on our payroll, so we can move how we need to move. My father has contracts with several government agencies to take down some of the worst criminals in the underground world.”
“Like… dead or alive?”
“It depends on what and who is asking. They take the credit; we take the payout.”
“You don’t feel bad about ending a life?”
“In this case, no. I’ve never ended the life of someone who didn’t deserve it or had it coming. Make no mistake. I’m not out here nutting the fuck up for nothing. In the city, it’s all about protecting my community, and when I say that shit, I mean people that look like you and me. People like Mr. Luckey that sells those bomb ass catfish sandwiches. People like Ms. Delores at the floral shop or Ms. Jenkins at the bakery. My family’s non-profit puts food in people’s stomach. We supply families with holiday meals and kids with school supplies. There’s a whole store at our headquarters where those in need can come shop for free. So yeah, we might be quote unquote hood vigilantes, but we serve the hood too. That’s always gonna be the case.”
I had to respect his honesty, especially with some of the people he named. I remembered the stories on the news about a group of thugs terrorizing the older business owners in the community. Just as quick as it happened, it was over that fast because the Dillingers stepped in. They really did protect the community, and now one of them was protecting me.
“I trust him, Ma,” I finally said. “He’s done a lot for me without being asked or wanting anything in return.”
She raised her hands in surrender. “Okay, baby.”
We sat in silence for a while. The nurse came to grab Juri so they could run a few tests on her, leaving me and my mom alone. Before long, the door to the room opened, and Devin walked in with a bag of food. I smiled as he approached me and leaned in to kiss my lips. He then moved to my mother for a hug.
“I brought y’all some brunch since somebody barely touched her food this morning,” he said, throwing a glance at me.
“I was anxious to get here,” I defended.
He was reluctant to let me drive today, but he had inventory coming in early this morning, so he didn’t put up too much of a fuss.
“Where is my baby?” he asked so nonchalantly.
The man had fallen in love with Juri so quickly. I thought I was bad about checking the camera when we weren’t here, but every time I watched her, he’d make his way into my space to see her too. Every time he came here, he held her and talked to her. She’d opened her eyes for him several times already, and I was a little jealous because she’d yet to fully open them for me. I guess she wanted to know where that deep ass voice was coming from.
“She had to get some testing,” I answered. “She should be back in a little bit.”
“She doing okay?”
“She’s doing the same as she was when you asked me an hour ago, Devin.”
He gave me a side-eye. “Don’t play with me like that. Get your daughter, Mrs. Mitchell.”
I giggled as he playfully mushed my head. My mother smiled.
“I love that he’s concerned for her,” she said, patting his arm.
“Exactly. I’d hate to have to show my ass in here,” he added as he went to wash up and put on a gown.
I shook my head. “We wouldn’t want that. I thought you had to work today?”
“I only had one training session today after my inventory. Kaylynn can handle the rest. I just stopped in to bring you some food and see baby girl. I have some business to handle today, but I’ll be back.”
Just then, the door opened, and the nurse rolled Juri in with Ms. Allison right behind her. She had the most pitiful, tiny cry, and it broke my heart to hear it.
“She’s a little fussy,” the nurse said, lifting her from her bassinet.
Devin went over and reached for her.
“What’s the matter, mamas?” he asked in the softest voice. “You don’t like being poked and prodded, do you? I know, I know. You good now, though. I got you.”
Her cries slowly subsided. He was so wrapped up in her that he didn’t even speak to his mother. She stood there, looking at him with her hand over her heart.
“I can’t take this,” she said, dabbing her eyes.
He finally looked up from Juri to acknowledge his mother. “Oh, shit. What’s up, Mama?”
“Watch your mouth in front of this precious baby, Devin.”
“My bad. I’m adjusting.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek. “What are you doing here?”
“The same reason you’re here. I came to see Juri.” She came over to hug my mother and I. “How are you feeling, baby?”
“Better than the first couple of days. Slowly getting my energy back.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that. How is little miss Korri?”
“She’s good. Begging me to bring her baby sister home.”
She smiled. “You know, Devin will never admit it, but he was just as excited for us to bring his little sister home.”
Devin snorted. “And look at her now. Running my pockets every chance she gets.”
“That sounds like a you problem. Make that a you and Maceo problem. Honey, you would think she’s their child and not their sister.”
I laughed. “Even at my big age, my sister acts like my mama, and there are only two years between us. I can imagine how bad they are about her. I guess we never outgrow being the baby.”
We all grew quiet as our gazes landed back on Devin and Juri. He was in his own little world.
“I hope you know what you’ve started,” Ms. Allison said, lowly. “You’re never going to get rid of him now.”
I smiled and thought to myself, Why would I ever want to do that?