Chapter 23
Several Weeks Later
“I’m so glad we finally found the perfect dress,” Dru said as she and Dreya walked out of the mall. “That powder blue was so cute on you.”
“I know, right? I didn’t think it was going to look nice, but it was super cute. Now I just need to make sure I can book a hair appointment since Nya told me she’s booked, but I think Tina told her not to do my hair anymore. And that’s pretty messed up seeing as homecoming is tomorrow.”
Nya was their cousin, and Dru was sure Tina had told her not to do Dreya’s hair.
When Dru tried to text her about scheduling an appointment for a retwist, her text didn’t go through.
There was no other reason for Nya to block her beyond Tina’s urging.
It amused Dru that Nya was so willing to take Tina’s side and do what she said when she had no idea just how fucked up her cousin was.
That was cool. Their family would find out soon enough when she was stripped of her parental rights.
“Don’t worry about Nya. I’ll take you to the new salon I’ve been going to. It’s called The Beauty Bar.”
“Oh, wait! I’ve heard about that. That’s Venus’s salon, right? It went viral on TikTok when someone from her team posted clips of their anniversary party.”
“Yep, that’s the one. She’s the one who did my retwist,” Dru said, absently running her fingers over her locs.
“Hmm, that makes sense. Your locs look so much better than they usually do.”
The sisters laughed as they headed outside, but Dru’s laughter fizzled when she looked around and noticed Ian wasn’t parked in the front.
She’d texted him and let him know when they were leaving the last store.
Her eyes landed on a black-on-black Lexus convertible that looked just like the custom-colored blue one Caden had.
His looked like it belonged in a superhero movie, but the black one?
The black one looked like it belonged in a street race.
When the door opened and Caden stepped out, a gasp escaped Dru’s mouth before she tugged her bottom lip between her teeth.
The last time she saw Caden, it was earlier that morning. It was inventory day, and since he liked stopping by all his pharmacies when it was time to update inventory, she wasn’t expecting to see him. Removing his shades, Caden’s eyes landed on Dru, and he smiled.
“Hey, bae,” she spoke, walking into his arms.
“Wassup, beautiful?”
“New car, big bro?” Dreya asked.
“It’s for your sister actually.”
“Wait, what?” Dru questioned excitedly.
“I know you loved your car, but for the amount it was going to take to get it fixed, I just decided to get you another one. If you want me to get it fixed, I can, but—”
“Fuck that car!” she yelled, snatching the keys and bolting toward the Lexus.
“Wait a minute, Dru,” Caden said, trying to hold back his laugh.
He crossed his arms over his chest, head shaking as the sisters laughed, squealed, and acted a fool over the car. Once Dru was finally settled enough to talk to him, Dreya hopped into the passenger seat, and Dru made her way back over to him.
“I love it! This was my dream car, K. How do you remember everything I tell you?”
“I always remember the things that matter most, and anything concerning you is at the top of that list.”
“Thank you, baby. I love it! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome. Now until we get this Galloway situation under control, I’m going to have a guard on you and your sister.
Two actually. One will be in front of you when you drive, and one will be behind.
When you’re with me, they won’t be around, but if you’re ever alone or with family or Stevie, they’ll be on you. ”
Her head shook as she huffed. “I’m so sorry I brought this drama to you. If I would have known reaching out to Vontae would have led to this, I wouldn’t have done it.”
“Well, I believe everything that happens can be turned into something good. I met you before the Galloway situation, but had that not happened, you wouldn’t be living with me.”
“Always the optimist,” Dru teased, wrapping her arms around him.
“Nah, just grateful as hell to have you, regardless of how it happened.” He placed a kiss on her forehead before saying, “I’ll be home late tonight. I think someone is stealing pills from one of the pharmacies, so I need to look into that.”
“Oh no. Okay. Handle your business, bae. If I’m sleep when you get home, I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Most definitely. You know I’m not going to miss Dreya’s homecoming. I’ve already rearranged my schedule, so I’ll have a busy morning and afternoon, but I’ll be at Marilyn’s house to see them off with you.”
“Perfect!” Dru replied after she squealed. “Since I have these guards, I guess it’s safe to assume Galloway hasn’t come out of hiding yet?”
Caden’s head shook. “Not yet. He didn’t take the bait, so we disposed of the body.
I suspect he will remain underground until he makes his move.
That’s why I need you to be careful and aware of your surroundings.
I’m not going to ask that you stay in the house or no shit like that, but just be careful, sweetheart, and listen to the guards always. ”
“Yes, sir. Let me take her for a spin, and then I might actually bring her and Granny to the house if that’s okay? I know they’re safe at home, but I’d feel better if they were closer to me.”
“Of course. You know we have more than enough room for them at the house. They can stay a night or until I handle Galloway. Whatever y’all are comfortable with.”
She giggled. “You’re saying that now, but you’ll change your tune when you got a house full of women bothering you.”
Caden laughed as his head shook. “Maybe if it was someone else, but these are your people, which means they’re my people too.” After giving her another quick kiss, he said, “Let me know if y’all need anything, aight?”
“Okay, bae. Be safe.”
Caden walked her to the car, then waited until she and the guards drove off to pull behind them.
Even with the threat of Galloway lingering, Dru felt safe and at peace.
She was confident Caden would handle that situation like he’d handled all the others.
In that moment, all she wanted to do was make sure her sister enjoyed homecoming. Nothing else mattered.
It didn’t matter how much she tried to keep them away, Dru’s tears kept falling. Everything had come together perfectly for Dreya that evening—the dress, her hair and makeup, her nails and accessories.
“You look so beautiful, baby sis. Ugh, I can’t stop crying,” Dru said, putting one of Dreya’s stray curls back in place.
“I wish you would get it together,” Dreya said with a grin. “You’ve been crying since I came out the room.”
“I can’t help it!” Dru almost yelled as everyone laughed at her.
Along with Caden, Niko, and Lorenzo, Stevie and Marilyn were there as well. When Dru learned Dreya was nominated for homecoming queen, she decided to go all out. The house was decorated, and she had enough food to feed an army.
“Let me just take a few pictures, and then we can go.”
Dreya groaned and rolled her eyes playfully, just like her sister. “Fine, but hurry. I’m already nervous, and I don’t want to be late.”
“You ain’t got no reason to be nervous, Sis,” Caden said. “You’ve already won.”
“Amen!” Marilyn said, waving her hand like she was in church.
While she and Dru took several pictures, the men headed outside.
Once they were done, Dreya went to the guest room she was sleeping in and grabbed her purse.
She must have posted pictures online, because Dru looked at her phone and saw a text from Tina, and the sight of it immediately made her regret unblocking her number.
Egg Donor:
Since you and my mama wanna do whatever for Dreya, y’all can have the lil girl. Y’all saving me money anyway. That dress is ugly and I can tell Nya didn’t do her hair!
For a brief moment, Dru considered not responding at all.
Then, she decided to see if she could bait Tina into saying something they could use against her at the hearing.
Tina was always quick to justify and defend her actions, so as long as she didn’t catch on to what Dru was trying to do, Dru was sure she’d be able to get her to say something incriminating.
Who hurt you? Why did you even have us? What are you good for except abusing, selling, and berating your daughters? The dress is beautiful like my sister. You’re just mad because you don’t have her to offer to one of your sick ass men.
Egg Donor:
If I wanted to, I could! My rent is due. Run me my money, or I’ll have a van of niggas waiting outside the school for your sister.
“I’m going to kill this bitch,” Dru grumbled, tightening her grip on the phone to keep from throwing it.
“What’s wrong?” Caden asked, wrapping his arm around her from behind.
“She’s fucking sick. You don’t joke about no shit like that,” she said, handing him her phone. “And the sad part is, she’s probably not even joking. I really wanna go beat her fucking ass.”
“Hey, we ain’t doing this tonight.” Caden tossed the phone to Lorenzo and took Dru into his arms. His voice lowered when he continued.
“We’ve prepped the petition, and we are on the judge’s docket.
Tina will be served with the petition soon, and we’ll see who has the last laugh.
All she’s doing is trying to get under your skin and ruin your night.
Don’t give her that power. Tina has a higher chance of making it into hell tonight than getting near you or your sister.
“Fuck her and that text. She literally just sealed her fate and gave up her parental rights, trying to be funny. She made it clear she doesn’t want Dreya, and that she’s damn near prostituting her. Focus on that.”
Dru’s head shook as her tears fell, but she quickly swiped them away.
“I just . . . ugh.” She inhaled a deep breath. “She’s triggering me, and that’s on me. I really hate that bitch, bae. I wish she would just die.”
“I can make that happen,” Caden said with a smile, and that was the only reason Dru laughed. “In all seriousness, go get yourself together before Dreya comes out. She deserves to have a good night tonight. We’re not going to let Tina ruin that.”
“You’re right,” Dru conceded. “If she sees me like this, she’s going to know something is up. Let me go to the bathroom real quick.”
“Alright, sweetheart.”
Caden gave her a sweet, tender kiss before releasing her.
As calm as she was trying to feel, her fists balled, and it took everything in her not to punch the bathroom mirror.
Their court hearing couldn’t come quick enough.
Things were working in Dru and Dreya’s favor, and the last thing Dru wanted to do was say or do something that would make her look unfit in the judge’s eyes.
So as much as she wanted to tell Tina to pull up to homecoming so she could give her the ass whupping she deserved, she decided to block her number again, and keep it that way this time.