Page 40 of The Perfect Verse
He was the only one from The Crew, to her knowledge, that was still heavily in the game. He was also the wisest. Many underestimated Chello, but never Kaleela and Shonasia. He was more than a friend; he was a fatherly figure, one who promised they’d always be under his protection.
“Shonasia knows you’re here?” Chello probed as he smoked his blunt. She’d interrupted his afternoon routine just before hisdaughter came home, which consisted of him fucking his wife, showering, and preparing dinner. His wife, Mulan, couldn’t cook for shit, and she didn’t have to. All he needed from her was to assume the position, take care of their daughter, and protect her family by keeping him and anyone affiliated with him off the DEA’s radar.
She also refused to allow any woman to cook or clean for her man. The last three ended up on disability because, despite his age, Chello could pull the attention of any woman.
“Pfft. I’m grown. Not that scrawny fifteen-year-old y’all met.”
She swiped her nose and looked around, impressed with how he was living. It mirrored what she’d wanted someday if she had a huge family. Her eyes crinkled, matching her smile, when she saw the large toy bin filled with toys in the corner and the large movie theater screen whereHildaplayed in the background.
“Hilda?” she asked, tittering.
“I have to catch up. Tiana will be on my ass if she comes home and I can’t tell her about Hilda’s most recent adventure. Have me locked in like some playmate while she makes tea from her fake ass teapot.”
Kaleela wouldn’t lie. Marriage and fatherhood suited him. What started out as an arranged relationship—as a favor to a friend, Shyne, another DEA agent—turned into him meeting not only the love of his life, but his entire heart in human form.
“Not Chello scared of a four-year-old.”
“Hey, I don’t want no smoke.” He lifted both hands and chuckled, waving his wife over, who stood nearby with the hugest grin on her face. She grew emotional at the sight of Kaleela. She missed them more than she knew until she saw her.
“Baby, why you letting her bring this shit to our front door? You know, if she’s here, some shit is about to get fucked up. She only got through the gate because you authorized it. She brokeup with us.” Kaleela knew he was joking. “They are in bed with the law.”
“It doesn’t matter. Her trouble is our trouble,” Mulan relayed, eager to get her hands dirty. She was always up for a fight and would, without a second thought. Her DEA training had done more than create one of the most dangerous agents, but one who was happily married to a drug kingpin she would die for in a heartbeat.
“She’ll always be family.” She eased into her husband’s lap, gazing into his eyes as if she’d just fallen in love. “Besides, if her other people could’ve handled the job, they would have by now. So,” she spoke, looking at Kaleela. “Who do we need to fuck up?”
“There she goes.” He laughed, then pecked her shoulder. “Always ready to go. What if she killed a motherfucker?”
“Then we clean it up or put it on someone else. Not hard at all. Find any footage within a fifty-mile radius, tap into their systems, wipe it clean, and then find our target. You know…”—she shrugged—“some bitch that deserves to be put down.”
“So, you’re just riding to ride?”
“Precisely.” She winked and smiled at her girl.
“Sexy ass.”
He rubbed her skin, starting with her thigh, before he cupped her ass. Her chocolate skin was smooth like shea butter, and she smelled like it, too. She was nothing but a fucking tease as she wore no panties underneath his large T-shirt. Her long, natural hair hung over one shoulder as she batted her coffee-colored orbs.
Her lips instantly crashed against his. Before she pulled away, he whispered against her mouth. Her jaw tightened, but whatever he spoke, she surrendered as she sighed.
“Give me the room, baby.” He patted her ass. “Let me catch up with Trouble.” He shot her a broad smile, and Kaleela smirked.
“Fine,” she muttered and stood. “Don’t be a stranger, and stop by my office before you leave.”
“I won’t. Appreciate you, Mulan. I’ll do better.”
“You better,” she warned her. She sauntered off, mumbling the entire time as she took a glance or two over her shoulder. Even though she spoke four languages, could disassemble a weapon in ten seconds, and kill a man with her bare hands, Chello’s word was the law.
“Fucking girl loves the thrill of danger.”
He tsked and grabbed his morning mimosa, chugging it down. He didn’t give a fuck if his boys felt like it was a prissy girl’s drink. His wife made it to go with the brunch he’d prepared an hour earlier.
“But I love her.”
“I know.”
“And she loves your mean ass, so tell me what you need from us since you interrupted our morning fuck.”
“Answers.” She shrugged, looking at the photo of Rell and Travis on her screensaver. They had sauce all over their fingers from pizza they’d eaten the last time Scooter was there.
