Page 103 of Smoke

“Devin. No. You’ve done more than enough for me already. I don’t want your money. I’m not gonna let you do that.”

“You wanna know something, baby?” I asked, cupping her chin. “Jaeda is a hacker. I mean, she can hack anything. It would be nothing to have her get your account information and wire you the funds.”

“You wouldn’t dare invade my privacy like that.”

“But I would. I’m your man, right?”

“Yes, but?—”

“If I’m your man, why wouldn’t I invest in your future? Why wouldn’t I make sure you and our girls are straight? And I don’t wanna hear shit about those ain’t my kids from you or anybody else. Those are my babies, point, blank, and the fucking period.”

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. “Why are you like this? You’re making it hard not to fall for you, Devin.”

I chuckled as I caressed her face. “Baby, you’re stuck with me. Know that shit.”

She palmed my cheek and leaned in to kiss me. Her lips parted, welcoming my tongue into the warmness of her mouth. My hand slid down her back to grip her ass. I gave it a hard slap, producing a moan from her.

I chuckled against her lips. “You moan like that for me, and you think you going somewhere? Don’t worry. Once you fully heal, I’ma show you something. While I’m stealing your heart, I’m gonna brand my name all over this pussy. She won’t act right, even for you, when I’m not around.”

She bit her lip as she looked at me, almost like she was daring me to prove a point. Our stare off continued until Renay came over and pulled her from my lap.

“You’ve hogged my sister long enough, sir. I want to dance with her.”

I grinned as I shook my head. “Go on. Have fun.”

Romi smiled softly as she leaned in and kissed me again. “I’ll be back.”

I nodded as she backed away. My eyes stayed trained on her until a little voice caused my gaze to shift.

“Mr. Devin,” Korri said, grinning at me. She was standing with her hands behind her back, twisting from side to side.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Come play tag with us.” She pointed to my little cousins.

“You can’t see me in tag, baby,” I said, standing. “I played football. You think you can outrun me?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she tapped my arm and ran off with my little cousins following suit. I gave them a head start as I came out of my shoes and socks. I guess I had to teach them a lesson.

This weekend owed me nothing.

Meeting the Dillingers was quite the experience. I wasn’t sure what I was walking into with Korri and my sister there, but they made us feel welcomed. I got the feeling that it wasn’t just Devin that told the family about us. Everybody asked about Juri and wanted to see pictures of her. Of course, my man was the butt of a few jokes. He either threatened the jokers or took it all in good fun.

Jakobi finally made his move on my sister. It was funny to watch her fold. All that shit she loved to talk about what she would do to men went out the door the moment he asked to speak to her alone. She stood there grinning and blushing as he spoke to her. I’d never seen her act so shy with a man.

Then again, if Jakobi’s energy was anything like Devin’s, I could see how the charm would have her like that. Before we left for the night, we’d stopped by Devin’s home so he could grabsome clothes. His place was nice, but very much a bachelor pad. While Renay and Korri explored downstairs, he had me follow him to his room, saying he had something to give me. I wasn’t sure what that something was, but I had my hopes up.

It was so much more than I expected.

He’d told me to have a seat on his bed while he went into the closet. When he came out, he was holding the all too familiar duffel bag. My heart instantly began to race, and my hand gripped the sheets as he set the bag next to me.

“Relax… relax. It’s not that. Open the bag.”

I was hesitant as I reached for the zipper with a trembling hand. When I pulled it back, I gasped. There was nothing but stacks of money inside.

“Where did you get this?” I asked.

“Patrick. He was counting it up that night. I know it doesn’t make up for what he’s done and put you through, but it’s yours.”

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