Page 74 of Smoke

About three minutes passed before she walked out of the double doors. Gently grabbing my arm, she led me off to the side of the building.

“Has my sister talked to you about her baby daddy?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“So you know what he’s making her do?”

“I’m aware.”

“I need you to help my sister, Smoke. She’s a good girl. She’s made a few mistakes, but she’s always been a good girl. All she wants is to run her business and be the best mom she can be, and she can’t do that with Patrick around. I know he had something to do with this. I feel it in my soul.”

“I can agree with you there.”

She sighed. “I know I don’t know you. I know I’m asking a lot, but if the things said about your family are true, then this should be nothing to you. No offense,” she added, raising her hands. “My little sister is my best friend. That’s my baby. You have sisters, and I know if anybody was fucking with them, you and your brothers would handle it. I’m asking you to handle what I can’t.”

She peered up at me with serious eyes, and I knew she was dead set on the hit she’d basically asked me to put on Patrick’s head. She had no idea that I was already plotting his demise.

“I hear you loud and clear. I’m already on it. Is his number in her phone?”

She nodded as she pulled out the phone and went to the contacts to send it to me. I then sent it to Jaeda, telling her I needed a location ASAP. Slipping the phone in my pocket, I followed Renay inside and up to Romi’s room. When we got there, she wasn’t in, but her parents, Korri, a woman that favored Korri, and that damn Laurel were waiting in the room.

“Mom, Dad, this is Devin Dillinger. Devin, you already know Korri and I assume Laurel. This is Ms. Sherry, Korri’s other grandma.”

“Your father and I have met,” I said, extending my hand to shake his.

“Nice to see you again,” Mr. Mitchell said.

“Likewise. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Mitchell. Romi has told me a lot about you.”

She smiled softly as she shook my hand, and so did Ms. Sherry. When I got to Korri, she opened her little arms for a hug, so I stooped to give her one.

“Mommy had my little sister,” she told me.

“I know, lil’ bit. You excited?”

“Yes! Auntie Nay says she can’t come home yet though ’cause she’s too little.”

“She’ll be big in no time. I know you can’t wait for that.”

“I can’t wait to hold her. She’s so tiny, Mr. Devin.”

“Before you know it, she’ll be as big as you. Your sister will be your best friend, just like Auntie Nay is your mommy’s best friend.”

“Is your sister your best friend? The one with the Legos?”

I chuckled. “She’s one of them. I have a lot of brothers and sisters, so I have a lot of best friends. They always have my back.”

“I’m gonna have Juri’s back too. Don’t mess with my sister!”

Everybody in the room laughed at that one.

“That’s right, lil’ bit.”

I stood to my feet, and my gaze drifted to Laurel. Looking at her reminded me to have Jaeda look into her shady ass.

“I’m sorry, who are you to my daughter?” Mrs. Mitchell asked.

“She’s taking a training class at my store,” I answered, careful with my words because of Korri.

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