Chapter 34
I stood in the shower, allowing the water to mask my tears.
It had been a week since losing my shop, and my heart was in shambles. I couldn’t seem to catch a break. Every time I saw a little bit of light, it was snatched from me. My happiness had been up and down for months now. When was the cycle finally going to be over? Every weapon formed against me was prospering in some way.
Devin and I had stayed at the scene of the fire until they could put it out. My heart ached driving away from the smoky rubble. I’d put so much into my business to make it what it was, and in the blink of an eye, it was gone. Yesterday, forensics concluded that the fire was started in the basement. From the pictures, I could see the trail of accelerant leading into every part of the beauty bar. It was clear whoever set the fire intended for it to destroy everything.
When we got back to my house, I had a good long cry in my sister’s arms. She held me and rocked me until I had nothing left in me to cry out. I’d barely slept since then, and I felt terrible because I wasn’t my best self for my girls. Devin had brought us to his house because he wanted me to feel safe. Nobody was crazy enough to come into the compound unless they had a death wish.
He’d been amazing with the girls. Renay was also on the compound with Jakobi, stating she wanted to be closer to help out while we were here. Between the two of them, they were taking great care of us. Devin got Korri up, fed, and took her to school. As they left the house, Renay came over to help with Juri.
When Devin couldn’t be there, she made sure I ate.
I’d fought depression for so long, and now it felt like the feeling was slowly rearing its ugly head. I knew if I let it consume me, it would be months before I could pull myself out of it. I didn’t have months to waste because I had two children that needed me.
Stepping out of the shower, I grabbed the towel to dry off. Wrapping it around myself, I made my way into Devin’s bedroom. He’d given me and the girls the room while he slept on the futon in one of the guest rooms. While I wanted to be next to him, I appreciated him giving me the extra time with my babies. Still, I could hear him come check on us throughout the night. Anytime Juri cried, he was right there to comfort her.
After getting dressed, I headed downstairs to force myself to eat something. I didn’t have an appetite, but I knew I needed to eat. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, I thought I would see Renay and Juri, but instead, I saw Granny Rebecca. She looked at me with a smile and opened her arms to me.
I didn’t hesitate to go to her. She wrapped me up in a loving embrace, and it was like the floodgates opened again. I just couldn’t stop fucking crying.
“I’ve got you, baby,” she said, rocking me.
“I’m so tired,” I confessed.
“I know. Devin has told me all about what’s been going on the last couple of months. I hate to hear the way you’ve been treated. You seem like such a lovely young woman.”
“I’ve always tried to be a good person, and it feels like I’ve been shitted on over and over for months now. I don’t know how much more I can take. Something has to give.”
“It will, I promise. My son and grandkids are working hard to get justice for you. Sometimes, you have to take the law into your own hands in this family. That’s all I’m gonna say about that. Come on. Let me get you something to eat. Smoke told me you haven’t been eating much.”
That was when I noticed the aroma of something so delicious my stomach growled. She led me into the kitchen and told me to sit at the table while she fixed me a plate. When she placed a helping of grits, eggs, onion sausage, liver pudding, fatback, and pancakes in front of me, my mouth watered. I hadn’t had a good ol’ country breakfast in so long.
Grabbing my hands, she said a quick prayer and motioned for me to dig in.
“Where are Juri and Renay?” I asked, cutting into the pancake.
“Senior wanted to see his grandbaby, so he came to get her. Renay next door with Shar and Salima.”
I gave a half smile. Salima once told me how Senior would randomly pop up to get her daughter. She said her baby loved that man about as much as she loved her daddy.
“I guess they are enjoying the compound,” I said. “It’s peaceful here.”
“It better be. My husband sacrificed dearly to buy this plot of land for his family. We had no idea it would grow into what it is, but this is home. Ain’t nothing but love here.”
“I feel that.” I paused in eating my food to look at her. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything, baby.”
“Were you ever… you know, afraid of being with him knowing what he did for a living?”
She chuckled. “No, chile. I grew up in poverty in the hood. I’ve seen a little bit of everything and done some of it too. This quiet life became mine only after we had children. I traded in my guns for bibs and bottles, but make no mistake. I can still get down with the best of them.”
I giggled. “Here I thought you were innocent.”
“Don’t let the sweet, cookie baking grandmother fool you. I’ve lived the life of a savage in these streets, right by my husband’s side. We built this shit together. Anything he got out the mud, I was right there hustling with him. Honestly, I’m glad Senior decided to go another route with his kids. I mean, they are no less savages, but they do it for the right reasons.”
“I was afraid to tell Devin too much because I didn’t want him getting in trouble on my behalf, but I’ve come to realize that he is the trouble and people should be afraid of him.”
“Are you afraid of him?”
I shook my head. “No, ma’am. I feel safe with him. While people may try to get to me in other ways, I know they can’t physically touch me because of him. I know me and my babies are forever protected because of that man.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you know that. We protect our own. You and those sweet babies are family now. We’re all just waiting on Smoke to make things permanent.”
“You think he’d marry me?”
She waved me off. “Chile, please. I’d bet money he’s already picked out a ring for your pretty self. It’s only a matter of time.”
I blushed. “You think I would make him happy?”
She cupped my face. “Baby… that man loves you and those girls. He’s happiest when he’s with you. I know that because Smoke Dillinger doesn’t stay away from home weeks at a time. I used to see that hungry ass boy almost every day for a meal. Now I have to throw his plate away. That says a lot.”
I laughed. “He can definitely eat.”
“Chile, all of them can. I’ve never met anybody that eats the way these boys do. You would think they were starved their whole lives.”
We shared a laugh. We continued to talk while I ate. Granny Dillinger told me many stories of her upbringing and life with her husband and children. I laughed at stories about Devin as a kid. My man had apparently always been a little bit of a menace.
As I swallowed the last of my juice, the front door opened. A few seconds later, Devin strolled into the kitchen. He went straight to his grandmother for a hug and kiss before coming to me. He squatted next to me and cupped my chin.
“I see Grams got you to eat.”
“She did.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m tired, but I’ll be okay.” I leaned in and kissed his hips. “I never said it, but thank you for bringing us here.”
“My home is your home. Now, where is my baby?”
“With your father.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, we aren’t getting her back today. She’s as good as spoiled by now. Come with me. I wanna show you something.”
He stood and reached for my hand. I slipped my palm into his and stood to my feet. He led me upstairs and down past his bedroom to a set of three doors.
“Now, I might be overstepping like a muthafucka, but I wanted to do this for our girls. Maybe I’m thinking too far ahead. Maybe I’m doing the damn most, because we know I tend to do that. But I want y’all here with me. Whenever you’re ready, I want this house to be our home. That means my girls need their own space.”
He opened the middle door to reveal a pink and white themed bathroom. Everything was so cute and girly, perfect for Korri and Juri. It was stocked with pink and white towels, a baby bathtub, and every product I had for them at my house.
The bathroom had two adjoining doors. When he opened the first one, it led to a nursery similar to the one Juri already had, except it was lavender, white, and gold themed. The second door led to a little girl’s room, perfect for Korri. It held a canopy bed set, a huge TV mounted to the wall, and a corner for her toys. The other corner was set up with a desk, a bookshelf, and a shelf full of brand-new Lego sets.
Once again, I was in tears.
This man really outdid himself. I collapsed against him, crying profusely.
He chuckled. “I take it you like it?” he asked.
“I love it.” I pulled back and looked up at him. “Thank you for thinking of us, Devin.”
“Baby, these days, you’re the only thing on my damn mind. Keeping you safe and happy is all I want to do.”
“I love you… so fucking much.”
He smirked. “I’m a lovable nigga.”
I playfully smacked his chest. He lifted me and wrapped my legs around his waist as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“I don’t know what I would do without you,” I confessed.
“Well, you’ll never have to worry about that. I’ve got you in every way. Go put on some shoes. I’ve got one more thing to show you.”
I pulled back and looked at him. “What did you do?”
“You trust me?”
“With my life.”
“Then go put your shoes on and meet me in the truck.”
He placed me on my feet, and I followed his request. When I made it outside, Granny Dillinger was about to pull away on her golf cart. I stopped to hug her and thank her for her company before getting into the truck with Devin.
He put on some R&B and grabbed my hand as we pulled onto the road. That was how I knew this man loved me. He loved hip hop and trap music, but with me, he was down for the sappy love shit, as he called it. We drove into the city, bypassing most of the busy streets until we came to a stop in front of a big, stand-alone building.
I was familiar with that space. It was built a couple months back, but the owners never did anything with it. All this time, it had been sitting here unoccupied. Devin got out and came around to retrieve me. We stood in front of the building, me looking confused.
“What is this? Why are we here?”
“This…” He reached into his pocket and handed me a set of keys. “This is your new location.”
“W-what? How did you… when did you… what!”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry about all that. I told you I got you, and I’ll always have you. Go take a look.”
I stood there for a moment, completely flabbergasted by this gesture. I had to will my feet to move. With trembling fingers, I unlocked and opened the door, then stepped inside. The place looked practically new. It was huge and still had that fresh paint smell. It would need some updates to make the suites, but the foundation was perfect.
Currently, we were standing in a back room that I could see me making my office. There was a huge desk and bookshelf combo built into the wall and so much space left for decorating. So many visions of what I could do here flooded my mind.
“It’s big enough to add a workshop in the back to make your skincare products,” Devin said from the door. “Shar’s daddy is a contractor, so I can commission him to do the work. Whenever you’re ready, we can jump on that.”
I turned to face him. “Devin… this is too much.”
“It’s never too much for you, love. I’ve also contacted your staff. They’ve been paid enough to keep them afloat until this place is up and running. All of them promised to return, and they are available if you need any help.”
I didn’t know what to say. Thank you just wasn’t enough.
Briskly, I walked over and crashed my lips into his. My hands worked to undress us both. I desperately needed him inside me… filling me… loving me so fucking good. He lifted me and carried me over to the desk, placing me on top of it. Feverishly, our lips and tongues intertwined in a familiar song and dance. I reached between us to stroke his dick, my pussy secreting her juices as he grew in my hand.
Dipping his head, Devin latched onto my sensitive buds, suckling one then the other. My need for him was so overpowering that my clit began to throb as he gave my nipples special attention.
“Devin… oh God!”
“I’ma give it to you, love,” he said in a low gruff tone. “Be patient.”
He continued sucking my nipples as he gripped my thighs. His fingers inched closer to my middle. The closer he got, the wetter I could feel myself becoming. When he finally touched my clit, I cried out.
“Look at the way this pussy is trembling for me, mama,” he whispered in my ear. “How bad does she need me?”
“So bad… Please… fuck me.”
He chuckled as he draped my legs over his arms and leaned into me. “You want me that bad?”
“Yes,” I answered, breathily. “I need you.”
“Put that muthafucka in then.”
I reached between us, stroking him slowly before placing him at my entrance. He kissed me slow and nasty as I guided him in, moaning as he filled me.
“Shit!”
“Take it,” he said, filling me to the hilt. He pulled out to the head and slowly filled me again. “Every fucking inch.”
He stared deep into my eyes as he fucked my pussy with slow, deep strokes. Every time he kissed my cervix, I gasped, causing him to smirk.
“I love the way your pussy shows me gratitude, baby,” he said, pinching my nipple. “This muthafucka so damn wet for me. Look at that shit.”
My eyes dropped as I watched his length disappearing into me. Every time he slid out, my pussy coated him even more. He bit his lip as he watched us too. With my legs spread wide, my clit peeked out at him. He spit on it, then used his thumb to massage it in.
The act caused me to tremble and him to chuckle.
“Mmmm… you like that, baby?”
“Yes…”
“You love when I play with this pussy, don’t you?”
“Yes…” I whined. “Shit!”
“Look at me while I’m fucking you.”
My eyes didn’t hesitate to find his again. He draped my legs over his shoulders and clasped one hand around the back of my neck while bracing himself against the built-in bookcase. His strokes became harder and deeper. The way he had my body contorted caused the tip of his dick to tap against my G-spot.
I could feel the pressure building and knew when I came that a flood was bound to follow. I panted heavily as the muscles of my stomach expanded and contracted.
“I’m gonna… oooo, fuck. I’m gonna cum!” I declared. “I’m gonna cum!”
“Cum for me, then, ’cause I’m about to paint your fucking walls. I hope you’re ready to have my babies.”
“Yes! Yes, yes, fuck!”
The dick had to be good because there was no way I just agreed to that shit when my baby was just over twelve weeks old. Still, I found myself cumming repeatedly as he coated the walls of my pussy and my cervix with his seed. My cries of pleasure echoed throughout the empty space as he finished with a loud grunt.
His lips crashed into mine while his strokes slowed then stilled. As he eased out of me, I could feel the combination of our juices seeping from me.
Devin chuckled. “Well, that’s one way to break in the new place.”
I laughed because it damn sure was.