Page 92 of Smoke

She sighed. “I love when my reputation precedes me. I’m gonna head out, though. I have to go see my old man.”

“Tell him I asked about him.”

“I will. Oh, I have something for you. Come outside with me right quick.”

I followed her out of the building and to her car. She opened the door and reached inside, pulling out a manila envelope and handing it to me.

“I told you I’d keep an ear to the streets for you about that nigga. I had my private investigator following him since you told me about him. I’m not sure what’s in here ’cause I didn’t care to look, but she said it’s very telling.”

“I appreciate your help, Roux.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. You owe me one now. Be ready when I call to collect.”

She winked as she gave me a hug and kissed my cheek before dipping out. I climbed into my car and opened the envelope. My brows furrowed as I examined the contents.

“This muthafucka,” I mumbled.

Yeah, Derrick Mathis was next on my list.

I waited around for the cleanup crew to get here before leaving. I needed a hot shower so I could head back to the hospital. I decided I would check in with Jaeda while I was on the compound. I needed whatever she had on Patrick’s father so I could plot my next move.

I shook my head.

Here I was, trying to be cool, and they brought out the Grim Reaper.

I lay in bed,scrolling through the channels.

It was almost five in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep. I’d spent a little while watching my baby on camera, wishing I could just go into her nursery and pick her up. Mentally, I was counting the days until she would be home. While I didn’t want to rush her recovery, I just couldn’t wait to have her and Korri back under the same roof. Korri was officially home now. All we were missing was her sister.

Devin was next to me, knocked out and snoring softly. He’d been here every night since my release, and I was loving having him around. The man catered to me in ways that had me falling for him so much quicker than I should have, but I couldn’t help myself. Watching him with both of my babies warmed my heart.

Though he went to work, he was always back here not long after Korri came home from school. Where I normally helped her with her homework while she was here, he’d stepped in togive me a break. All I could hear from the kitchen were my baby’s giggles. She found him funny, and she loved swinging from his biceps to see just how strong he was.

Then there was Juri.

Baby girl loved when he held her. She just lay there, completely content. When she opened her eyes for him, it’s like she was peering into that man’s soul. When he talked to her, it was like she really hung onto his every word. He’d taken to her, and I had a feeling it was the skin to skin.

That was bonding like no other. I had so many pictures of the two of them knocked out with her on his chest. He told me naps with her were the most peaceful thing he’d ever experienced. I looked over at him and smiled. We were truly lucky to have him.

Focusing my attention back to the television, I continued to scroll through the channels. I stopped when I saw Patrick’s face pop up on the screen.

“In other news, the body of twenty-eight-year-old Patrick LaStrange was found yesterday morning. Mr. LaStrange was shot a total of seven times. The body was discovered by his father, city official, Derrick Mathis, on his front lawn. Mathis says he was heading out for his morning run when he found his son. Police are investigating this as a homicide. More details to come.”

I sat up straight. My eyes drifted over to Devin, sleeping peacefully. I knew I told him to make Patrick suffer, but damn. When did this happen? Was that where he went when he left my house that night? He’d come back and slept like it was nothing. I guess because for him, itwasnothing.

“Devin,” I said, gently shaking him. “Devin, wake up.”

His eyes fluttered open, and he looked at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“I need to ask you something.”

He groaned as he reached over and picked up his phone. “Baby, it’s five in the morning.”

“I know, I just… I saw something on TV.”

He stared at me for a moment before sitting up and pressing his back to the headboard.

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