Some Time Later
Marilyn hadn’t set her phone down and stopped taking pictures yet.
“That’s my baby!” Dru yelled. “That’s my baby!”
Dreya waved and posed for a few pictures before walking back to her seat.
She’d just given her valedictorian speech at her graduation, and Dru had never been prouder a day in her life.
Watching her sister bloom after everything they’d gone through had left her in awe, and she’d never felt more inspired than in that moment.
Back in school herself, Dru was halfway done and two years away from getting her own degree.
She continued to paint part time for the gallery and had two showcases over the last three years.
There was a time Dru was sure the rest of her life would be spent working like crazy and living under the abusive thumb of her mother, but God, and Caden, had other plans.
Caden’s pharmacies were continuing to flourish.
He was working less, in preparation for their first child to arrive that winter.
Though he was still a part of The Syndicate, Caden had downsized, opting to only work with a small team of men that he knew he could trust. Now that he had a wife and a baby on the way, there was no space for snakes within his team.
He knew he’d always have competitors and enemies popping up, but there would never come another day when someone on his team would betray him. Caden made sure of that.
“You embarrassing that baby,” Niko teased. “Sitcho tail down.”
“I ain’t got no tail, girl!” Dru exclaimed, sounding just like Eric Mays, and everyone on their row laughed as she sat back down. “You gon’ be a hater all your life, brother-in-law?” she asked, elbowing him as he laughed.
“When it comes down to my favorite sister-in-law? Always.”
Dru rolled her eyes playfully as she smiled. “I’m your only sister-in-law, Niko.”
“That’s why you’re my favorite.”
Another laugh escaped her as Caden wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into his side. His free hand rested comfortably on her protruding belly.
“Aye, little one,” Lorenzo called. “How much longer is this shit? I’m hungry as fuck.”
“Lord have mercy,” Candace grumbled. “That’s all y’all big asses ever wanna do is eat.”
“Can’t take these people nowhere,” Caden said through his laughter before kissing Dru’s temple.
“True, but I wouldn’t trade them and their shenanigans for anything in this world,” Dru said happily.
She returned her attention back to the principal as the ceremony came to a close. As soon as they were able to, they made their way out into the lobby to wait for Dreya. When she spotted them, she raced over wearing a wide smile.
“Congratulations, kid! I’m so freaking proud of you,” Dru said the moment she had Dreya in her arms.
“I wouldn’t have made it here without you, Sister. Thank you so much!”
“I got you always, baby. Always.” After giving her a kiss, Dru released her. As she fought back her tears, she fixed Dreya’s hair under her cap. “Okay! Let’s take some pictures. I know you wanted to go have dinner with your friends instead of us old people.”
Dreya laughed as Dru rolled her eyes. “And do, but we’re going to brunch tomorrow!”
“Mhm,” Dru said, wrapping her arm around her sister’s shoulder.
They took several pictures before Dreya disappeared into the crowd with her friends.
For a while, Dru just stood there, watching the trail the ghost of her sister’s absence had left behind.
So much of her life was spent caring for and protecting her sister, and now that Dreya was soaring on her own, Dru didn’t know what to do with herself.
“She’s still your baby,” Caden whispered against her ear, proving yet again that he knew her better than anyone else. “She always will be. And you should be so proud of how far the both of you have come.”
Turning in his arms, Dru wrapped hers around him. “You always know what to say. Thank you, bae. I love you.”
“Always. I love you too. Let’s get out of here so I can feed you and my baby.”
“Sounds good to me.” Dru agreed, allowing him to take her hand into his and lead her through the crowd.
A comfortable smile rested on her face as their people followed behind.
She silently thanked God for the changes in both her and her sister’s life, knowing it would only get better from there.
Caden helped her inside the Bentley, dropping a kiss onto her lips that made her giggle in delight before he closed the door.
There was no denying her love for that man and how happy he made her every day of her life.