Page 53 of Dreaux: The Corporate Assassin

“Are you serious?” He chuckled as he looked back and forth between me and his son. “They’re playing and…” The look on my face told him I was deadass serious, which caused him to change his tune. “Fine. Ricky Jr., what did you say to this—” He peered over his shoulder and eyed me and Bri. “Girl to make her cry?”

“She didn’t want to do like I said, so I told her to shut up and do as I say before I give her something to cry about.” He smirked as if he’d done the right thing. “I was going to make her pay for not doing what I told her.”

A few of the parents frowned in disappointment as they listened to the boy speak. He didn’t look to be any older than ten years old and already had the wrong idea about life and how things worked in the real world.

“Here’s what you’re going to do…” I shifted Briley in my arms as a heated Denim rejoined us. “Both of you are going to apologize to Briley.” I looked from the father to the son. “You’re a child, but the things you’re being taught will have you in for a rude awakening in the real world. You can’t go around threatening girls—hell, anybody—to do something they don’t want to do. If you were a little bit older, I would show you what it felt like to be picked on.”

“I beg your pardon!” The father turned red in the face. “How dare you speak to my son that way. Do you know who I am?”

“The question is, do you know who I am? If you did, I promise you, you’d be thankful that I’m considering letting you walk away on your own accord for the disrespect you’ve not only shown to my baby girl but to me as well.” Stepping to him, I added, “I’m the real, big bad wolf in this situation. Don’t make me come blow your house down with you inside. If I have to make a house call, I won’t be so nice about it.”

Scared out of his mind, he apologized for his son’s actions and encouraged him to do the same. Seeing his father scared made the little bitch-ass kid shiver in fear of what would happen if I went through with my warning.

“What do you say, Big Bri?” I tapped her chin and was given a small smile. “Do you forgive them?”

Tapping her nose to think, I saw the moment her eyes lit up in amusement.

“I will… if Ricky eats a mud pie!” She covered her mouth and giggled. “I think that’s only fair.”

“Briley!” Denim gasped from the side of us. “Are you serious?”

“She is.” I eyed the little boy. “You hurt her feelings trying to be a bully, so it’s only fair you experience first-hand what it’s like to have someone pick on you.”

“Sir, I don’t think that’s necessary.” He grabbed ahold of his son’s shoulders as people around us began to murmur in anticipation of what was going to happen next. “How about we put this all behind us and go on with our day?”

Nodding, I kissed Bri on her temple and handed her to her mother. I took one step toward the father and son duo until I was hovering over them both. Peering down at him through hooded eyes, I grinned as I crossed my arms.

“I got fifteen reasons under this hoodie that will rock your world and ruin your day.” His eyes bulged as tears ran down his son’s face. “You got two options here: eat the mud or get buried underneath it. Either way, you’re eating that muthafuckin’ dirt. Hurry up and make your choice; my girls want ice cream.”

Dropping to his knees and taking his son with him, I watched as the father scooped up a handful of mud and made his son do the same. People gasped in shock before going into a fit of laughter at the scene before them. Glancing over my shoulder, Briley happily clapped as her mother’s mouth was on the ground.

“Next time… think about that before you decide to bully somebody’s kid. The next man might not be as nice as me. Help your punk-ass daddy up, and y’all get out of here before I change my mind.”

Jumping to their feet, people cheered as the two took off running to the other side of the park and jumped in their station wagon. I turned to face my girls, and I couldn’t help but hug them both.

“You’re insane.” Denim giggled as I locked my hand in hers and carried Bri. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“Believe it.” I chuckled as people damn near broke their necks, getting out of my way. “I’m not letting anybody mess with my girl.”

“I like you, Dre!” Bri giggled as she threw her arms around my neck. “Can you come over and watch movies tonight? Mama is making spaghetti.”

Approaching the ice cream truck, I couldn’t help but wonder what I was doing with these girls. Here I am, holding hands in a park and threatening to kill kids and their fathers for making her daughter cry. I know this shit is going to end badly, and although I knew how to clean up my messes, this was an unfamiliar mess that was growing by the day.

“Yeah, I’ll be there.” I placed her on the ground and watched as she cheered before running over to the truck. Pulling her mother toward me, I lifted her chin and kissed her lips. “I’m sorry for hanging up on you and not calling back. That was fucked up. I don’t know what this is with us, but I like you. Let’s just kick it and go from there, and to show you I’m serious, I’ll come over tonight and eat your red sauce.”

Grinning from ear to ear, I laughed as Denim threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. Her lips felt like pillows, and I found myself sinking into them. Breaking away, she wiped her gloss from my lips before walking over to Bri. As I kept an eye on them, I pulled my phone from my pocket and shot a quick text.

Me:

Say Jules, tell me what to look for when I’m eating red sauce a girl done made.

“Good morning,Miss Atkins. Nice to see you back.”

I greeted my fellow agents with small smiles and curt nods as I walked through the building. Today was my first day back after three months, and I was already contemplating another leave. I’ve enjoyed spending so much time with Dre and Briley that coming back in was extremely hard.

Walking down the small hallway, I locked eyes with Agent Micheals. He called and tried to link a few times, but I let him know in the nicest way I was seeing someone. I haven’t heard from him since.

“Good morning, Agent Micheals,” I spoke before I rounded the corner to my office. “How are you doing today?”

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