Page 37 of Walk Thru The Fire

“Not at all,” I lied.

“You full of shit.” he laughed.

We all washed up and came back to the table so we could have dinner.

“Nic, Mel had to work?” their mama asked.

“Yes, ma’am. I know she’s gone hate she missed all this food.”

“I’ll put some up for her,” she said just as the doorbell rang.

“Who the fuck is that?” Buck announced.

“Lincoln, watch your damn mouth,” Mrs. Shaunie chastised.

“He’s right, Shaunie. None of us were expecting anyone.” His father got up from the table and trekked to the front door.

“I’ll be damned,” we heard him say, and the brother duo got up from the table to see what was going on.

“The fuck?”

“You gotta be shittin’ me?” Jackson and Buck said in unison.

“Damn, that’s how you niggas gone greet me?” Me and Nic looked at each other and Mrs. Shaunie almost broke her neck getting from the table. We followed her and saw their brother Kilo standing there with Mel.

“Franklin?” she cried.

“Hey, mama.” He pulled his mama into a hug, and she cried, causing the ladies to do the same.

“Your square ass head knew my brother was coming home and you ain’t said shit.” Buck mushed the side of Mel’s head.

“Keep your hands off me, boy. He wanted to surprise y’all,” she clarified.

“Well, I appreciate the surprise. Look at you. All grown up.” Mrs. Shaunie simpered.

“Nigga, did they worry you to death or some shit? The fuck your hair at?” Buck’s ignorant ass said.

“Man, get the fuck on. Where my nephew at?” he asked before turning to Jackson, pulling him into a hug. “Happy Birthday lil’ bro.”

“’Preciate that. I thought you had to a couple more months to do?”

“Shit was getting crowded, so they let a few of us out earlier. I didn’t want y’all to get your hopes up if the shit didn’t play out that way,” he revealed.

“Well, I’m glad yo’ ass on the outside. Maybe you can teach this one some damn manners.” Buck pointed at Mel.

“Chill out, man.”

After the initial shock wore off, everybody settled back into the kitchen to finish eating. Kilo met the kids and Jace was excited to have another uncle. You couldn’t tell him that Buck wasn’t his uncle so to meet Kilo sent my baby over the moon. Keenan wasn’t too thrilled until he found out that he didn’t act like Buck. Those two argued like they were the same age. I could only imagine how he’d be with Benny when he got older.

Everyone was getting ready to call it a night, but not before the brothers made plans for the next day. Leave it to Buck to say some dumb shit about him and Mel. Those two were worse than him and the kids. When we got home, Jace went off to his room, and we went to ours. Jackson was happy to have his brother home and help with Buck, as he said. The smile on his face was enough for me, but it wouldn’t be complete without him serving up dick, that I gladly accepted.

19

Chapter Nineteen

Franklin ‘Kilo’ DeLuca

earlier that day…

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