Chapter 24
Pride consumed Caden as he watched Dreya teach his mother and Marilyn a TikTok dance.
Dru was outside with the guys smoking. Even with the stresses of being a CEO and his fraction of The Syndicate, in that moment, for Caden, life was perfect.
After Dreya won homecoming queen, she decided she wanted to stay at her school.
That made her decision to live with Marilyn make even more sense.
As caught off guard by the decision as Dru was, she’d handled it gracefully and understood where her grandmother and sister were coming from.
What Marilyn had said was true.
Dru had spent her life surviving and existing.
Now, it was time for her to live and thrive. Caden had taken it upon himself to ensure that happened, and nothing was going to get in the way of that.
After taking a quick video of Dreya, Marilyn, and Candace, Caden went outside. While Niko and Lorenzo joked and talked shit, Dru was puffing and passing a blunt with Nikolai as they talked about the garden Dru wanted him to start for her.
“I’d put it over there in that left corner,” Nikolai said as he pointed. “I can have you a row of greens, tomatoes, corn, . . . whatever you want. We can do a peach and orange tree too.”
“Peppers too?”
“Peppers too.”
“Yay, I’m so excited! You’ll have to help me with it, Daddy Spencer. I don’t have a green thumb at all. I just always wanted a garden after I watched Baby Boy.”
Nikolai laughed. “I got you, daughter. We gon’ keep it together. It’s going to take time, patience, and care, but it’ll be easier than you think.”
A lazy smile was on Caden’s face as he lifted Dru out of her chair, sat down, and put her on his lap. As he placed a kiss on her shoulder, she snuggled against him.
“Thank you for sharing your family with me,” she said softly.
“Aww, ain’t she sweet,” Nikolai said. “I love her.”
Caden chuckled. “I love her too, Pops.”
Dru’s smile faded as she looked at him. Though they never kept it a secret that they were falling in love with each other, that was the first time he’d actually made that statement. That declaration.
“You do?” she almost whispered, cupping his cheek.
“I do.”
Dru smiled and brushed her nose against his. “I love you too.”
“I’ma leave you two lovebirds alone, but let me say this,” Nikolai said, sitting up in his seat.
“Dru, you are a part of this family for life. Love, family, they heal. We have welcomed you in sincerely, and I hope you feel the healing power of our warmth and embrace.” His eyes shifted in his son’s direction.
“You make sure you give her the safety, security, softness, and gentle love that she deserves. And don’t take too long to propose. She already in the family now.”
“I wasn’t going to do that anyway, but yes, sir.” Caden agreed as Nikolai squeezed his shoulder before walking away.
“Well, I like how he just put me in my feelings, made me wanna cry, then casually walked away,” Dru joked, blinking back tears.
“Yeah, Pops doesn’t talk a lot, but when he does, it’s either some real shit or jokes. The fact that he sat out here talking to you says a lot. He really don’t like people like that. It took him about two years to start talking to Lorenzo.”
Dru giggled. “Love that for me. And I love you and your family for me.” She turned a bit more and caressed his chin.
“I’ve gotten close to exes’ families before, but it never felt like this.
Never felt this real and sincere. I didn’t know getting you would include getting your family and being accepted by them, too, but I love it.
And I really do love you. Your parents treat me like I’m their own, and after going my whole life without that .
. .” A shaky breath escaped her as she rested her forehead against his. “Thank you, K.”
“You’re welcome, beautiful. We got you always.”
Her cheeks lifted, and a smile turned into laughter when his kisses turned into tickling her.
They sat on the patio for a while before Dreya challenged Nikolai to a game of Monopoly.
Everybody wanted a part in that game. As they all made their way down to the game room, Caden sent up a quick prayer to God.
With the addition of Dru and Dreya in their lives, their family felt complete.
“Oh, you getting your pussy ate off the bone for this,” Caden declared, looking at the tickets Dru had gifted him with.
Not only did she get him tickets for the rest of the Memphis Grizzlies games that season, but she got him tickets for all the Demolishers home games as well.
She’d taken the time to casually ask his favorite teams and players, then used that information to give him the perfect gift.
As if the tickets weren’t enough on their own, she’d gotten him team shirts, hoodies, and hats, and had a pair of Nikes custom painted in Grizzlies colors.
“These shoes are dope as fuck. Zo gon’ try to steal these off my feet. Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Yay! I’m glad you like it all, but can I wear the Demolishers shirt when we go to Falcon’s bar this weekend? I have a pair of heels that will match that perfectly.”
Caden frowned as he looked at her, making her laugh heartily.
“Hell naw you can’t wear my shit. Not before I wear it.”
“Caden, please!”
“Why you ain’t get you one when you got mine?”
“I didn’t think you’d have a problem sharing with me,” she whined.
A groan escaped Caden as his eyes lifted toward the ceiling. It didn’t help that she was fighting back laughter at his expense. “You can wear it after I wear it. Is that fair?”
“I guess. Just make sure you wear it before Saturday so I can wear it.”
Her cackling turned into a yelp when he smacked her ass and picked her up before she could run away.
“You are something else, girl.”
“Ayo!” Lorenzo called from downstairs in the foyer as he entered their home. “Time to go!”
Caden covered Dru’s face in kisses before ending on her lips. “I gotta go handle some business, but I’ll be back in time for dinner, aight?”
Dru pouted as she nodded. “Okay, bae. Be safe.”
“Don’t pout. I’ll be back soon.”
“Yes, sir. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He gave her another quick kiss before forcing himself to pull away. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t want to leave. Lorenzo waited until they were outside and headed toward his car to say, “Your mother-in-law called and said she has the money.”
Sucking his teeth, Caden held back a smile. “You ain’t shit for that. I’m surprised she got the money up, but I guess I shouldn’t be.”
“Nah. I mean, she’s taken on a hell of a lot of work since you paid her that visit. I told you Tina can get that money when she wants to, which was why I was even more surprised to hear that Dru was paying the rent and other bills.”
“Yeah.” Caden sighed and ran his hand over his waves.
“At this point, I’m convinced Tina just uses her money on what she wants.
Dru said she has a closet full of designer clothes and jewelry, and that she would randomly leave town for weeks at a time.
She was out here living her best life while Dru was working herself to death. ”
Just the thought of it was starting to piss him off.
Caden couldn’t wait until they were done with her for good.
“Well, do you want me to pick the money up tomorrow? She said she wants to take a break after this, and she’ll reup in about two weeks if you will allow her to.”
“Hell naw. After this, that bitch can’t do shit for me but die.” Lorenzo laughed as he pulled out of the circular driveway. “And since this is personal, I’ma pick the money up. I want her to see me give it to Dru, so she’ll know that’s who she’s been working for.”
“Bet. I know the little one is going to love that. I’ll let Tina know.”