Page 88 of Smoke

He finally looked up from Juri to acknowledge his mother. “Oh, shit. What’s up, Mama?”

“Watch your mouth in front of this precious baby, Devin.”

“My bad. I’m adjusting.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek. “What are you doing here?”

“The same reason you’re here. I came to see Juri.” She came over to hug my mother and I. “How are you feeling, baby?”

“Better than the first couple of days. Slowly getting my energy back.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear that. How is little miss Korri?”

“She’s good. Begging me to bring her baby sister home.”

She smiled. “You know, Devin will never admit it, but he was just as excited for us to bring his little sister home.”

Devin snorted. “And look at her now. Running my pockets every chance she gets.”

“That sounds like ayouproblem. Make that a you and Maceo problem. Honey, you would think she’s their child and not their sister.”

I laughed. “Even at my big age, my sister acts like my mama, and there are only two years between us. I can imagine how bad they are about her. I guess we never outgrow being the baby.”

We all grew quiet as our gazes landed back on Devin and Juri. He was in his own little world.

“I hope you know what you’ve started,” Ms. Allison said, lowly. “You’re never going to get rid of him now.”

I smiled and thought to myself,Why would I ever want to do that?

A Few Nights Ago

“Wake yo’bitch ass up,” I said, slapping the shit out of Patrick.

His eyes fluttered open, and he groaned in pain.

“Where am I?” he asked.

“A dungeon of sorts.” I motioned to the array of weapons behind me.

“Please, man! I’ll leave her alone. I’ll take my shit out of her shop and leave town. She’ll never have to worry about me again?—”

“I know she won’t, because dead men can’t bother anybody.”

“You don’t have to do this! Please!”

I chuckled. “I like the way you beg, boy. I knew you had to be pussy. Doing all this shit to a woman…the mother of your child, but you’re begging me for your life? Go out like the gangsta you think you are.”

I walked over to the table and picked up the blowtorch and cauterizing tool. As I heated the tool up, I looked back at him.

“Not yet, though. I’m gonna let you hang out here for a little while.”

He was literally dangling from the ceiling, bound by his wrists.

“What are you about to do with that shit, man?” Steel asked, puffing on his blunt.

“Well, I don’t want the nigga to bleed out just yet. I’m cauterizing the bullet wounds.”

Jakobi frowned. “This shit is about to stink like a muthafucka.”

“Come hold his legs.”

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