Page 127 of The Sweetest Devotion

It wasn’t goin’ down like that for Dom.

So, I told him to tell his people he’d meet with them at Friedman Park. It was public and out in the open. Far better chances of survival.

Dominique rode shotgun as I drove us to the park and found a parking space in the back of the large lot, giving me a good view of the whole scene. For backup, Savon was nearby should I need reinforcements. I told myself these were kids I was dealin’ with, but these days, that didn’t mean much.

There was nothing like dudes on the come up. The ones who started smellin’ themselves and thinkin’ they were hot shit because they had a little paper in their pockets. Those were the ones who were often reckless. Desperate to prove their street cred or gain one.

Dominique wouldn’t admit he was scared, but I could tell he was relieved to be staying with me as he had all week. I hadn’t made it easy for him. I had him out in the yard with me to learn to make use of his hands, or in the kitchen, to learn to fend for himself. He complained, like the whiney kid he was, but he sucked it up and kept up with me.

I had an envelope filled with ten freshly printed hundred-dollar bills sitting in the cup console beside me. I kept the music on low as I scanned the playground and park for any signs of activity. My phone was out on my lap as well in case Savon spotted anybody.

Beside me, Dominique was nonchalant as his phone kept pinging every other minute.

“Havin’ fun?” I asked on the fifty-eleventh notification.

Dominique smiled and looked my way. “Chill.”

Another ping had him back in his phone.

I rolled my eyes and focused out the window before me. “How’s work?”

Dominique lifted and dropped his shoulder. “It’s cool. They hired some more people. They’re sayin’ if I want, I can move inside and become a stocker.”

“More money?”

“Not really, but if I get more hours I can earn a raise they say,” Dom went on. “I kinda like pushin’ carts. I be in my own little world out there. Nobody faster than me at it.”

I liked that he enjoyed that feat. That he had something he liked about workin’ at Finnegan’s. “Yeah, but if you move inside you could be the fastest stocker.”

That got Dom to grin. One thing I noticed about the kid, was that if he put his mind to something, he wanted to be thebestat it. Despite his shortcomings, Dominique was a good kid and a hard worker, and I was sure if he kept busy with his job he’d be on the fast track.

“So, what’s up with you and your girl, man?” Dominique asked a minute later.

“My girl?” I questioned.

He smirked as he tapped away on his phone. “Yeah, I can tell you talkin’ to someone. You not walkin’ around as pissed-off as you used to. Like someone finally took that stick outta yo’ ass.”

Annoyance took over me as I deadpanned and faced the little shit.

Dominique laughed blatantly and shrugged. “I’m just sayin’, Keith.”

I made a face and shook away his ignorance. “I woke my ass up, that’s what changed. I realized who and what I had left in my life.” I glanced his way. “I couldn’t fall back and let you down, my uncle, or my mom and Betty. I looked in the mirror and kicked my own ass.”

“Word?” Dom asked.

“Word,” I responded. “I mean, there is someone new in my life, but I can’t base my joy on her, no matter how much I like her.” I looked him in the eye as I spoke. “You can’t be too caught up in these girls, man. It’s important to be able to stand on your own two feet and be stable.”

“I hear you,” Dominique said with a bob of his head. He gave me a lopsided frown. “It would kinda suck if you dropped off the grid again.”

I wouldn’t.

Holding my hand out between the driver and passenger seat, I swore an oath. “I’ma be around. I promise. Okay?”

Dominique slapped his hand against mine and we shook on it.

I was about to ask him about college or a trade school when I spotted a group of individuals approaching the basketball court. I sat up and eyed the group, noticing at once they were holdin’.

“No matter what goes down, stay. In. The. Truck,” I instructed sternly.

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