Page 81 of Dr. Bell

Adir chuckled on the other end of the phone. “Spend whatever you like, my baby. There’s more ducked off for you in other places.”

“What if I have everything I want?”

“Then, buy what you eventhinkyou want.”

“Hm… Now that spells trouble. You do remember we’re having a baby, right?”

“How can I forget that? He has six older brothers.”

Giggling, I asked, “So, you just decided to adopt Saar, too?

“He’s at our house more than he’s at home.”

“That, he is. And you saidhelike you know the baby’s a boy.”

“I already have a gut feeling what my baby is. You’re the one who wants to wait.”

Chuckling, I replied, “True. You’re such a good man, husband, and dad, Adir.”

“Gotta keep my babies happy.”

“You do it very well,” I responded, grinning from ear to ear.

“Bruh, yo’ eyes look her way one mo’ time, I’ma cut up.” Peace’s voice reached me from across the store. Glancing over to where he was with Humble, Quilo, and the twins, I groaned and headed their way with Russ on my trail.

“Is there a problem?” I questioned the dark-skinned man standing next to Peace. I heard a click in my ear, and I knew that was because Adir hung up. Next, I heard Russ’s phone ring.

DJ, who’d been outside the jewelry store, walked in to assess the situation. According to Adir, DJ was training Humble fora position within the family. That meant DJ had to be with Humble wherever Humble went. His gaze bounced from the man to me.

Considering my last run-in with DJ, I wasn’t too sure of him. He hadn’t tried me since and seemed to be cool otherwise. His mama was sweet and made the best peach cobbler. For that, I was cordial with him.

“You cool?” he asked Peace.

Meanwhile, my eyes were on the guy who had Peace all riled up. Salaciously, his gaze raked over my body.

“Aye, don’t look at my mama like that! Fuck wrong wit’ you!” Peace’s tone caused the man to jump. He backed up and bumped into DJ, who grilled him hard as hell until the man turned to leave the store.

Surprised to hear Peace sounpeacefulI burst out laughing.

Humble chuckled. “You laughin’, but he’s dead serious.”

“Yeah,” Bragg commented. “If Peace cusses, you know you messed up.”

Kalm cackled with his twin.

“Let me guess; y’all love when he cusses, huh?”

They nodded emphatically.

“That’s a different Peace,” Kalm said.

“A crazy Peace,” Bragg added.

Peace merely shrugged. “He better pick his feet up ‘fore I put something hot in his ass!”

Everyone snickered like this was funny. The poor guy looked mortified as he scurried off and picked his feet up a little bit like Peace told him to.

“I can’t believe you,” I told him.

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