Chapter 33
The sound of screaming had me jumping out the shower. I almost broke my ass trying to get to a towel to wrap around myself. Running into the bedroom, I grabbed my gun and sprinted to find Romi.
“What’s wrong?” I questioned, sliding around the corner.
I found her on the floor, holding her chest and crying.
“Baby? Baby, what’s the matter?”
She was hysterical as she handed me the phone. I saw it was the hospital.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Dillinger?”
“This is he. What’s going on? Is Juri okay?”
“Yes. Juri is perfect, actually. I was just telling Ms. Mitchell that she was all clear to come home.”
“She can come home?”
“Yes. She’s doing well. She met her weight goal, and there are no presenting problems. I don’t see any reason to hold her any longer.”
I felt my damn self tearing up. I had to swallow hard and get myself together before I could speak again.
“Thank you. We’ll uh… we’ll be there in a little bit.”
“See you soon.”
I hung up and placed the phone on the counter. Stooping down, I picked Romi up from the floor. She clung to me, not giving a damn about getting wet.
“She’s coming home.” She wailed, her shoulders shaking. “She’s coming home!”
“I know, baby. We’ve been praying and waiting for this.”
“I need to pray.”
“Go ahead. I’m right here with you.”
She pulled away and grabbed my hands before bowing her head.
“Lord… I thank You. Thank You for covering my baby girl. Thank You for keeping Your blessed hand on her as she fought to be here. I know You give the toughest battles to the strongest soldiers, but this one almost broke me. With faith, my family, and this man… this… wonderful, beautiful, loving, and caring man, we’ve made it through our toughest battles. I don’t know what I did to deserve him, but thank You for sending me Devin Dillinger. Thank You for the added love and support of his family. Thank You for love and life. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
“Amen.”
She looked up at me and cupped my face. We leaned into each other, sharing a sensual kiss.
“I love you, Devin.”
“I love you too. Come on, let’s go get ready.”
We headed back down the hall to her room. I finished my shower and cleaned up all the water before getting dressed. Romi decided she wanted Juri’s homecoming to be a surprise, so we kept the news to ourselves.
Thirty minutes later, we were leaving the house and heading to the hospital. The whole ride, Romi kept looking down at the outfit she’d picked out for baby girl. She went from smiling to crying to smiling again. I could only imagine the emotions she felt in this moment.
Twelve long weeks had passed since the day Juri was born. Life was moving, and things were changing… mostly for the better. There had been a lot of heartache, a lot of tears, and thankfully, a little happiness sprinkled in. This was long overdue.
We pulled up to the hospital and parked. I reached for the door handle to get out, but Romi didn’t move. For a moment, she sat there, I guessed coming to terms with the reality of things.
“I can’t believe she’s coming home,” she said, staring at the front entrance.
I grabbed her hand and kissed it. “I know, baby. I’m excited too. You know y’all are stuck with me for the next couple of weeks, right?”
She laughed. “As if I expected you to be anywhere else.”
“I’m glad you know. I gotta get my time in with my girls.”
“They are really gonna call you Big Papa now.”
I chuckled. “I know. I’m never gonna live this shit down. It’s cool though. Those are my babies, even if they ain’t my babies, and nobody can tell me any different.”
She swiped a tear from the corner of her eyes. Anytime I spoke about the girls, she got emotional. I loved them just as much as she did. I chose to be here, and I had never once regretted that decision.
“Come on,” I said, opening the door. “Let’s go get our girl.”
I got out and grabbed the car seat, then rounded the car to get her before we headed inside. The whole ride to the NICU floor, I could tell she was nervous as hell. She told me before that she worried about how Juri would adjust… how we would adjust. All we could do was pray on it and hope for the best. When we entered the room, the nurse was rocking Juri and gently patting her back.
She smiled. “Good morning,” she said cheerfully. “She just had her feeding, so she’s good to go. Are we excited to have her home?”
“Very excited,” Romi said, setting her purse down. “It’s been a long time coming.”
“It really has. I’m sad to see her go, but I’m so happy she’s in a good space.”
Juri let out a small burp. The nurse stood and handed her to her mother. Romi snuggled her against her chest, placing tiny kisses to her forehead. She slightly opened her eyes and peered up at her face.
“Hi, baby,” Romi cooed. “Guess who gets to come home today! Your sister is gonna be so surprised to see you when she comes home from school. I can’t wait for you to see your room. Daddy did such a good job…”
I realized that was the first time she’d actually referred to me as Juri’s daddy. That shit touched a nigga’s heart. I stood there grinning, and she matched my smile. I moved into Juri’s line of sight, and her eyes opened a little more.
“Hey, Daddy’s baby,” I said, kissing her cheek. “Let’s get you dressed so we can dip outta here.”
Romi laid her back in her bassinet before removing her little hat and onesie while I fished her outfit out of Romi’s purse. One thing Juri seemed to hate was putting on or taking off clothes. I was sure it was because she was cold, but she would be fussy from start to finish. Romi made haste in putting on her outfit.
As I was getting her situated in the car seat, her doctor came in to speak with us. She went over the basics, what to expect, and what to look out for while we were home before handing over the discharge papers. After the nursing staff said their goodbyes, we hopped on the elevator and headed down to the bottom floor.
Romi was all smiles as she watched me hook Juri into the basin of the car seat. She was shocked when I rolled up to her house in a brand-new truck a while back. I told her if I was going to be driving us around, I needed something a little safer than the muscle cars I owned. I bought a second one and took my time learning how to install the car seat she’d been gifted at her baby shower. Now that shit was a headache. It was an all-in-one with so many features that I was ready to throw that shit across the yard. I got it though. Juri would be safe and secure no matter who she rode with.
Romi settled in the back seat with baby girl, with the biggest smile on her face. Her eyes held so much love in them it reminded me of the way my mama looked at me and my siblings… all of them. One thing I could say about all my dad’s baby mamas was they loved each other’s kids like their own. That was one thing I didn’t think about when I decided to pursue Romi, and it should have been among the first. Three women and two men raised me, and there was never a lack of love. For as long as this woman wanted me, Kori and Juri would never have a lack of love either.
“Hey, Mr. Devin!” Kori exclaimed as she climbed into the back of my truck.
I told Romi I would pick her up today so we could keep our surprise.
“Hey, lil’ bit. How was school? You had a good day?”
“I had a great day. Did you have a good day?”
“I had the best day,” I said truthfully as I pulled out of the pickup line. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“You have a little surprise at home.”
“I love surprises! What is it?”
I chuckled. “It’s not a surprise if I tell you.”
“Well, let’s hurry up and go home so I can see it.”
“I got you.”
The whole way back to the house, she tried to get me to give her a hint to what her surprise was. She guessed everything in the book but the right thing. She thought it was a puppy, a new Lego set, a new playhouse, and so many other things. By the time we pulled into the driveway, her excitement was on ten. Her grandparents and Renay were here, probably spoiling Juri with attention.
Korri fumbled with her seatbelt, finally getting it off. She didn’t even grab her book bag as she climbed out of the car. I laughed and shook my head as I reached to the back and grabbed it before getting out and following her to the front steps. She opened the door and ran inside. When she rounded the corner to the living room, she stopped and gasped.
“Juri!” she whisper-yelled.
She ran over to where her grandmother was holding her little sister, stopping just a few feet away.
“Mommy, can I have some sanitizer?” she asked, holding out her hand.
Romi smiled as she grabbed the bottle from the table and squirted some in her hand. Korri quickly rubbed it in before taking a seat next to her grandmother and holding out her arms for her sister. Mrs. Mitchell giggled as she carefully placed her in her arms.
“I guess that’s my time,” she said.
Korri looked at her sister with so much adoration.
“This is the best surprise,” she declared. “I’m so happy you’re home, Juri.”
I smiled as I leaned against the entryway. I could already tell they were going to be as close as their mom and aunt. Romi stood and came over to me. She wrapped her arms around my waist and tilted her head up for a kiss. I was happy to oblige her.
“Now this feels right,” she said. “All of my loves here.”
I pulled her into a quiet corner by the door.
“Can I ask you something?”
She nodded. “Anything?”
“Did you mean it… you know… when you called me her daddy?”
She smiled. “I don’t see anyone else stepping into those shoes. You’ve been by my side through the roughest time of my life, Devin. You care for me and my children without being asked and with no hesitation. You’re so selfless with us, and… I can see how much you love them both. You’ve built a beautiful bond with them, and it’s more than earned you the title.”
“I’m just making sure. You can’t take it back now.”
She shook her head as she slipped her arms around my waist.
“I wouldn’t dream of taking it back.”
“Good, ’cause when I change your last name, I’m changing theirs too.”
She blushed and motioned me in for another kiss. This one was raw, passionate, and was about to get a little nasty until the doorbell rang. We parted ways, and I opened the door to see several of my family members with dishes of food in their hands. My grams, both my aunts, my mama, my siblings, their wives, and my pops were all here.
“What are y’all doing here?” I asked.
“Nigga, we came to see our niece,” Deuce said. “You texted the family group chat that she was home, so we pulled up with food. She’s about to run y’all ragged. At least you won’t have to cook.”
Maceo added, “Yeah. We know your cooking is limited, nigga.”
“Fu—forget you.”
“Don’t y’all start,” my mama said. “Romi, I hope it’s okay that we stopped by. We won’t stay long. I even brought masks for everybody,” she added, holding up a Ziploc bag.
“Of course, it’s fine. Come on in.”
My mother passed out masks to everybody before they all trickled into the house. Korri was happy to see them all. She never put her sister down to hug them all like she normally would. Baby girl was reluctant to give her up to my mama, but she didn’t fuss.
She finally made her rounds to my siblings, collecting money from Deuce, Maceo, and Steel after Jaeda told her to tell them she wanted new Legos. My brothers were happy to go in their wallets and break her off with $100 a piece.
She made herself comfortable with Salima and Shar since Salima brought Darlyn with them and Shar was expecting. Darlyn was fascinated with my girl. Every step Korri made, she was right behind her.
“I can’t believe you have a whole family,” Deuce said, shaking his head. “Romi walked in your shop and shook up your world.”
“She really did, man. I love that girl.”
“Awwww!” Jaeda cooed, pinching my cheeks. “Smokey Bear!”
I frowned. “Don’t ever do that shit again.”
She laughed. “Romi doesn’t know your childhood nickname?”
“And we’re gonna keep it that way. I don’t need that cutesy shit. It’s bad enough Salima calls this big nigga Deucy.”
It was Deuce’s turn to frown. “Fuck you. And fuck that Deucy shit, too. I told my wife to stop that a long time ago.”
“Well, she’s hardheaded, and you ain’t stand on business about it,” Maceo reminded him. “That’s right up there with Romi giving you facials.”
“First of all, it’s skin care. I’m a handsome ass nigga. I can’t be walking around here looking crusty and shit. Second, why wouldn’t I prepare my wife’s favorite seat?”
Mia and Jaeda pretended to gag.
Mia said, “Now that Salima is my sister, I don’t wanna know about y’all having sex.”
“We don’t just have sex,” Deuce said, smirking. “We be fucking. One foot on the bed, one hand on the head. Straight blowing her back out.”
That made my brothers and I laugh, while my sisters got up to leave us.
Maceo slapped my shoulder. “On the real, I’m happy for you, bruh. As a newly married man?—”
Steel laughed. “Newly married? Nigga, you had two and a possible ceremonies. Ain’t shit new.”
Maceo waved him off. “Anyway! Like I was saying. Ain’t shit like finding your one. Shar is the best thing to ever happen to me, man. I know Deuce can say the same for Salima. I’d give up my ho ways for that woman any day.”
Steel scoffed. “Speak for yourselves. I have a pretty, thick thing waiting on me to slide through when I leave here.”
I shook my head. Steel wasn’t always like this. Nigga got his heart broken in college and been a savage ever since. He was so damn in love with that girl that I just knew he was going to marry her. Then some shit went down, and she ghosted him, and he didn’t look at love the same again.
Maybe one of these days, he would find a good woman.
I chuckled to myself at the thought. All those talks my mama had given me about finding a good woman came flooding back. As I looked at Romi with our families, I knew I had just that. She was the calm I didn’t know I needed.
Sometime around two A.M
Both mine and Romi’s phones were going off.
After our families went home, we got the kids settled and ready for bed. We set up the baby monitor in Juri’s room so we could keep a close eye on her, then showered and slid into bed. Sleep didn’t come for another three hours because my baby was feeling frisky. She wanted some dick, and I was more than happy to let her have her way with me.
Four orgasms and another shower later, we were finally drifting off to sleep. That was until now.
“Baby… answer your phone,” she groaned, pulling the covers over her head.
“Yours is ringing too,” I said, sitting up.
Flipping the light switch, I grabbed my phone to see it was someone from our street team.
“Tee, nigga, do you know what time it is?”
“I know, man. I’m sorry to have to hit you up this late, but it’s some shit going down at your lady’s spot?—”
“What!” Romi yelled, jumping out of bed.
Tee was talking, but I didn’t hear a word he said.
“No… no, no, no, no no!”
Romi dropped the phone and started running around to find clothes.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“My shop is on fire!”
“What!”
“That’s what I was telling you, man,” Tee said. “The shit is blazing. I was leaving the club and ran into the traffic.”
“You still there?” I asked, getting up.
“Yeah.”
“We’re on the way. Stay there.”
“Bet.” We disconnected the call, and I rushed to put on clothes. Romi was on the phone with her sister, asking her to come watch the kids. She hung up, tears streaming down her face.
“I can’t believe this.” She wailed, fumbling with her pants. “Who would do something like this?”
She started rambling before breaking into a full-on cry. I pulled her into my chest and held her tightly.
“We’re gonna figure this shit out, love. I promise you that.”
I had my suspicions as to who did this, but I needed confirmation. Romi cried for a while before finally pulling it together. She finished getting dressed while I went to check on the kids. Both were sleeping soundly.
Since Renay lived around the corner, by the time we made it to the front door, she was coming up the steps. Much to my surprise, Jakobi was with her. I’d dive into that another time, but right now, we had to go. After hugging her sister, they headed into the house. We climbed into my truck and backed out of the driveway.
I did damn near eighty all the way to the shop. We didn’t have to turn on the street to know that the place was gone. The amount of smoke and fire trucks gave that away. The truck had barely come to a stop before Romi was jumping out, and I was right behind her. She ran toward the burning blaze, only to be stopped by an officer.
“I’m the owner,” she said, just above a whisper. “Please… what happened?”
“Right now, we can’t confirm, but from the smell of it, an accelerant was used. This was definitely intentional. Do you know anybody who would want to?—”
“You know exactly who would want to do this!” Romi screamed. “How many police reports have I filed? How many calls have I made? You were one of the responding fucking officers!”
I looked at him with a frown. “Get the fuck outta here and send somebody else to talk to her.”
“I—”
“What the fuck did I say!”
He huffed and mumbled under his breath as he walked away. I wrapped my arms around Romi’s shoulders and kissed her temple. Tears streamed down her face as we watched the business she’d built burn to the ground.
“It’s gone… It’s all gone. Everything I worked for is gone. They just couldn’t leave me alone.”
An officer made their way toward us, and I asked Romi if she knew him. When she confirmed she didn’t, I allowed her to speak with him because Tee was making his way over to me. We slapped hands as he pulled out his phone.
“So, my homeboy owns the barbershop across the street. They’re closed because he’s doing some renovation work himself. He was here late tonight doing some painting, and when he went to the alley to throw some shit away, he saw a car pull into the back of the lot. He said a woman got out and went to the back door.
“According to him, he couldn’t really make out her face, but he didn’t think anything of it because he knew a woman owned the shop, and most of the workers are women. He did say about fifteen minutes went by before he came back out and heard tires screeching as that same car pulled out of the parking lot.”
“Did he see the car?”
He shrugged. “He didn’t get a license plate, but he did say it was a black Mercedes Benz, one of the newer models.”
I nodded and pulled out my phone to call Jaeda.
“Smoke?” she answered groggily. “It’s two in the fucking morning.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, sis, but I need you.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Romi’s shop was set on fire tonight.”
“What!”
“Yeah. I need you to access her security footage for me. What time was this, Tee?”
“My boy said about one.”
“You heard that?”
“Yeah.” I could hear her shuffling around. “Give me like thirty minutes, and I’m gonna call you back.”
“Okay.” I hung up and turned back to Tee.
“You think that nigga had something to do with this?” he asked.
“I’m positive. I’m done playing with his ass. It’s time to wrap this shit up.”
I didn’t know what bitch Derrick had doing his dirty work, but him, her, and whoever else were gonna see me. On my mama, we were getting this back in blood.