Page 69 of Smoke

“Just… something Patrick said.”

“Which was?”

“He slept with one of my employees.”

“You think it’s her?”

“No… at least I hope not. I’m still trying to figure out who. Somebody gave him information, and I can’t bring it up in conversation because I don’t need the heat of drug activity going on in my place.”

“Has he been back?”

“No, and it’s weird.” She sniffled. “I can’t believe I’m doing this, Devin. This is so fucking wrong.”

I reached over and grabbed her hand. “I told you I got you, didn’t I?”

“Yes, but?—”

“But nothing. I got some shit in motion. As bad as I want to make a move, I have to calculate my shit. I need details on more than just him before I can piece a plan together.”

“I’m scared,” she admitted.

“I know, baby.”

“I just wanna bring Korri home and my baby into this world without all of this. How could I have a great love with Korri’s father then turn around and get pregnant by someone like Patrick? There had to be signs, and I was so fucking stupid!”

She broke into tears, and that shit ate me up. She didn’t talk about Korri’s dad, but I gathered that he was a good guy. If he was still here, there would be no Patrick. Hell, there would be no me either.

I pulled into an empty parking lot and put the car in park before pulling her into my arms.

“I know this shit ain’t fair. I know it seems hopeless, but believe me when I say I got you. You’re gonna be able to bring baby girl home very soon. I promise you that.”

She pulled back and looked up at me. I wiped the tears from her face and kissed her lips.

“Thank you for being the one person outside of my family that gives a damn, Devin.”

“I fuck with you. I mean, I let you call me Devin, and nobody calls me that but my mama.”

She gave a light smile. “That’s what she named you.”

“Now you sound like Salima. She never lets my brother forget he’s named after our father. If she isn’t calling him Stanley, it’s Deucy. He hates that shit.”

“But he loves her, so he tolerates it. He’s come in a few times with her?—”

“Say what now? Deuce?”

“Yeah. He gets a facial and I line up his eye—something tells me I shouldn’t have told you that.”

I grinned. “Nah, keep going ’cause I’m getting in that ass the next time he starts his shit.”

She laughed. “I will not give you ammunition against your brother.”

“You gave me enough. Appreciate it.”

“Devin!” She playfully slapped my arm. “Don’t be mean to him.”

“See, I have to bring you around the family so you can really see who the mean one is. Just know that the family is cool, but they are gonna fuck with you a little. Be prepared for jokes about me being this baby’s daddy. Don’t be afraid to tell them to shut the fuck up.”

“Renay is already talking about it being stepdaddy season, so I’m prepared.”

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