Page 19 of The Perfect Verse
“What? Pussy?” she replied.
“Naw.” He sat up and grinned, eager to get in her business. “I heard someone went on a date. You’re dating men now?”
“One, Shona talks too fucking much, and two, naw. We’re just friends,” she lied, mostly because she really wasn’t sure what they were. He’d called, even sent her and the boys food, but they hadn’t made any solid plans to link up again.
“I should call her ass up. If love is pillow-talking the next bitch’s business, I want no parts of it.”
“No pillow talking, just concerned. Hell, when is she not when it comes to you? It’s second nature for her, no matter how old you are, and you still get on her damn nerves when you make decisions she doesn’t feel comfortable with.”
“Like it’s a walk in a park with her ass,” Kaleela shot back. He was right, though. It was always the two of them, Shonasia and Kaleela, until Chico came along, welcoming them into The Crew. They became her family. They still were. They just didn’t see each other as much because Shonasia and Chico’s situation was a thing of the past. Still, she wanted them to have something like a family.
“Rell reminds me of me.” The corners of her lips lifted. “A busy damn body that won’t listen but loves you, even when you don’t want to be bothered. Then there’s Travis. He wants to be in charge like Shona’s ass, but he means well. I have to find a way, X. Who knows what would have happened had it not been me that found them?”
“But it was you.” He leaned over, pressing both elbows on the desk. “Even I know they’re better because of you. I applaud you for wanting to do it legally, but you have to prepare for the worst.”
The worst was the motherfucker being gunned down for coming between them. That was the only outcome. He saw the thoughts swirling around her head as her jaw tightened. It pained him to see her like that. She’d come such a long way. The smallest thing could easily have her relapse. That alone wasthe reason his last appointment was still sitting in the lobby. He needed her to think and think clearly.
“Let’s start by getting some information from them. Ask them about where they lived, who raised them, and even drive them around. Get a name or two of people they know, even if it’s only a first name.”
“I have. Rell says he doesn’t remember much, but he said something that night we met that tells me he’s suppressing information. And Trav…” She sighed, feeling frustrated each time she tried to get information. “He just lashes out, then claims I’m trying to get rid of them. So, I back down and hold him until he calms down, stops crying.”
“Wonder what happened to them.”
“I don’t know, but whoever they’ve been with fucked them up, too. I see a few old bruises whenever they’re horseplaying. I taught them not to let anyone see their bodies, not even me. Maybe it’s best that I don’t find those bitches.”
“Maybe, but promise me this.” He took her hand, his eyes boring into hers. “Fight for you. Stay clean, Kaleela, because if you don’t, all of this we’re talking about is for nothing.”
“Not for nothing.” She growled, sounding just like her sister anytime they were angry.
“There you go, acting like my baby. Fucking lunatic, but I love her ass. Oh, since it’s legal, let’s get a DNA sample, nothing too intrusive. It can be hair or something they ate off of, or a toothbrush. Bring me that, and I’ll hit up a colleague who specializes in family court. He can also look into any missing person reports, identifying an angle I haven’t considered. Sounds like a plan?”
“For now, I guess. You know all this legal shit is overrated, but hey, the reward is knowing I fought for them the way I wished someone would have fought for me.”
“I got you, Killa K. Relax,” he teased, referring to the nickname he’d given her after she’d shot at Donovan in broad daylight. She swore she’d never live it down, and that wasn’t even the tip of the shit she’d done he didn’t know about.
“Fuck you, X.”
“Naw, that’s your sister’s job.” He grabbed his cell and slid his tongue across his lower lip. “I may need to put in a lunch order.”
“A lunch order?”
She looked at her hands, wondering what she’d touched in his office that may have had their bodily fluids on it. They had sex so much, she was surprised Shonasia wasn’t already with child.
“Shonasia has no damn home training,” she grumbled when her cell vibrated. She needed to leave since she hadn’t planned to be gone as long as she had been.
The boys were with Gabby, Shonasia’s best friend, who was dating Ace. Since she didn’t have them legally, she was careful about who she allowed them to be around.
Bitch Boy Cuzzo: That cell must be fucking broke. Been a few days. Let me see you.
She smiled, looking at his updated name. X caught it but sat silently as her fingers hovered over the screen. It was clear she was taking too long when he fired off another text.
Bitch Boy Cuzzo: Damn, no response. You’re breaking a nigga’s heart, Kee. It’s cool though. I understand.
She giggled, then looked up at X, who was smiling at her. She cleared her throat, then slid her cell in her pocket. She knew he’d be calling any second if she didn’t reply, and the last thing she needed was for X to be all in her mouth.
“Aye, give me a week. I’ll get that DNA. Time to swap out their toothbrushes anyway.”
“Do that. Oh, and tell that nigga I don’t play about you.”
