Page 67 of Smoke

“Patrick LaStrange?” Salima repeated. “What’s he got to do with anything?”

“A lot. Y’all know him or something?”

“Or something,” Shar answered. “We went to high school with him.”

This was news I could use.

“What was he like?” I asked.

Shar snorted. “A wannabe. He was nothing but a follower.” She turned to Salima. “Remember how he used to flex, but hewas using his daddy’s money to do so? He wanted to hang with the dope boys so bad, and they paid him in dust.”

“Who’s his daddy?” I asked.

Shar snapped her fingers like she was trying to remember. “Oh! Derrick Mathis. He works for the city. Like right up under the mayor. If I’m giving you all this information, you’re gonna have to give us something. What did he do?”

“He’s Romi’s baby daddy.”

“Oh my God! She could have done so much better. Don’t tell me he’s a deadbeat?”

Mia shook her head. “Nah, he wouldn’t be looking for him just for being a deadbeat.”

I copped a seat across from them. “He’s trying to stash drugs at the beauty bar. Roux thinks he’s eventually gonna push her out.”

Jaeda scoffed. “Roux? How did she get into this?”

“I thought he might be one of hers since he’s not one of Uncle Blake’s boys.”

“Who is Roux?” Mia asked.

“His crazy ass ex,” Jaeda answered. “She likes to play Russian Roulette.”

“Like with guns?” Salima asked.

Jaeda nodded. “Exactly like that. Her daddy and Uncle Blake used to be good friends. She was always with him, so she was always around. My brothers would do hand to hand combat with her, and she would kick their ass.”

Shar laughed. “Please tell me she’s joking, Smoke.”

I shook my head. “Sadly, she’s not. Roux is a cold muthafucka. She gave us all the business.”

“You mean she gavey’allthe business,” Jaeda said. “I fought just as dirty as she did.”

Shar grinned. “Not my sweet Jaeda being such a savage!”

Mia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you didn’t see her with Charity. Sis gave her the business on your behalf. Please stop thinking my sister is innocent. Virgin? Yes. Innocent? Never.”

“Can’t we please get off me being a virgin! Shit! You don’t have to broadcast it.”

“Can we get back to the conversation at hand?” I asked. “What do you know about his daddy?”

Shar shrugged. “Not much, considering he wasn’t married to Patrick’s mother. She was a side chick, and everybody knew it. He was one of those spend money but not time ass fathers. We rarely saw him.”

I turned to my sister. “Jae?—”

She waved me off. “Yeah, yeah. I know. I’ll get on it tonight.”

“Appreciate that.” I placed the bowl of popcorn down and stood. “I’ll let y’all get back to this. Make sure y’all do something to them crusty ass feet.”

They yelled obscenities at me as I walked out of the house. I’d wait for Jaeda to do her thing so I knew what I was up against. Romi told me the police were no help to her when she reached out to them. I was willing to bet money that Patrick’s daddy was the reason behind that. Of course, it would look bad on him to have his bastard son caught up in some shit.

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