Page 59 of Maceo

“You!” I said, pointing to him. “No smoking with them in the car?—”

“Man, your daddy damn near burns a forest around Kilow, and Deja is used to me smoking.”

“You heard what I said. And drive like you have some sense. This is precious cargo.”

“Yes, mother,” he said sarcastically. “You mind backing up so we can go?”

I rolled my eyes, and I leaned in to give my man another kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you too. Have fun tonight with Salima, but not too much fun. I’d hate to dip out of the dance early to come snatch you up.”

“Whatever! Bye!”

I pulled my body out of the window and stepped back. Smoke cranked up, and the next thing we heard was the engine revving and his tires screeching as he peeled away from the curb.

“Wait, Kilow and Deja!”Salima exclaimed.

We were at her house getting ready for a night out. It had been too long since my bestie and I turned up with just the twoof us. Don’t get me wrong. I loved hanging with Jaeda and Mia, but I needed some alone time with my best bitch.

“Yes, girl.”

I pulled out my phone to show her the picture of them before the dance. Maceo and Smoke being chaperones was hilarious. The two of them didn’t know how to act together and were bound to entertain those kids. I knew they just wanted to keep an eye on their baby sister, though.

“Deja isnothappy about them being there. Baby girl knew she was about to be embarrassed, so she milked it for all it was worth. She demanded that Smoke drive them in one of his old-school cars, and they have to take them out to eat afterward. For every time they embarrass her, they have to pay her fifty dollars. My girl might just be a millionaire before the night is over.”

Salima laughed. “Oh, she is gonna make bank tonight. They look so cute together! Look at my handsome baby! I can’t believe he’s sixteen now.”

“I know, right. They grow up so fast.”

“I’m not prepared for Darlyn to grow up,” she said, pouting. “I just want her to be my little baby forever.”

“I know, girl. My girl is going to break hearts, and her godmommy will break necks about her.”

Salima laughed. “You and her daddy.”

“And her uncles, aunts, grandaddy, and grandmas. She won’t stand a chance. I don’t think we thought this through with who we decided to be in relationships with.”

“Not at all.”

We continued to talk as we got ready for our night. Deuce was reluctant to let my girl be in the club without him and insisted we go to one of his spots where he could have eyes on us. It was a compromise we were willing to make. Besides, that meant free liquor all night. He was even making one of his street lieutenants drive us so we could enjoy ourselves.

Even though he nor his siblings were into the drug side of the family empire, they had a whole team of niggas that kept an ear to the streets for them. While the clan as a whole was feared, there were just as many people who respected them.

Two hours later, Salima and I walked downstairs looking like the bad bitches we were. I’d gone with a black semi-sheer corset top, a pair of black leather shorts that stopped just below my ass, and some thigh-high black boots with gold jewelry to accessorize. My braids were styled into the perfect bun atop my head.

Salima chose to wear this sexy, pink, strapless, leather jumpsuit with nude heels and platinum jewelry. Her hair was feather curled to perfection, and her makeup was light and flawless.

Deuce lay on the couch watchingToy Story, with Darlyn sitting on his chest. As our heels clicked across the hardwood floors, he sat up and looked at us with a frown.

“I know you fu—I know you lying.”

Salima waved him off. “Don’t start, Stanley. We look great, and we don’t wanna hear your mouth.”

He looked at me. “My brother know you wearing them little ass shorts?”

“Maceo is my man, not my daddy.”

“Then does Mr. Paul know you’re wearing that?”

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