Page 26 of A Toxic Redemption

I leaned against the counter and watched Luck as she carefully unwrapped the small box my son handed her. Her eyes lit up and became misty when she pulled out what appeared to be a charm bracelet. I watched as she carefully placed it on her small wrist and pulled him into the biggest hug. We were all smiles as we listened to him tell her about the baker's hat, apron, and letter 'D' that he picked out for her. I could tell that she genuinely liked her gift.

"Thank you so much, Bubba. I'm never taking it off."

"Yay!" He jumped and fist-pumped the air. "Now, cupcakes, please."

I went to take a seat in the lobby and looked on as she pulled a chair to the counter where KJ would be able to reach the items he needed to make the mess that I was sure to come. A few minutes went by before the door chimed in and walked none other than Mia.

"So, is this why you wouldn't let me spend time with my son today?" She walked in and mugged us with fire in her eyes. "You wanted to come here and play with this Betty Crocker ass bitch?"

"Excuse me?" Luck asked, taken aback. Before making sure KJ was okay, she wiped her hands on her apron and rounded thecorner. "You don't know me like that to call me out of my name. Now, I don't know what is going on with you two, but that has nothing to do with me. KJ is decorating his cupcakes, and if you want to talk to Khalil about your personal business, you can do it outside of these walls."

"Khalil ismybaby daddy," Mia emphasized and pointed to herself as she stepped into Luck's space. I got out of my chair and headed in their direction. Mia fuckin' with Luck in her spot wasn't going down on my watch. "So you need to back off."

"Back off?" Lucky scoffed before folding her arms. "You think I want your baby daddy?" She chuckled and threw her thumb in my direction. "Yeah, he can suck a pearl until you black out, but that doesn't mean I want him. Baby, please."

"What the hell do you mean you don't want me?" I frowned as I hovered over Luck. "I'm a good nigga, and I've given you some of the best dick you've ever had. The fuck you mean?"

Something about this girl saying she doesn't want me pissed me off. Like I'm some sort of ain't-shit-ass nigga. I'm a fuckin' catch!

"Listen," Luck glanced over her shoulder for a moment at KJ and, like I knew he was a fuckin' mess, "if you're not buying anything, you have to go. I'm not about to sit up here and argue with you about a nigga that's fuckin' every woman in the city." Luck turned to head back over to KJ but stopped to address Mia one last time. "But please believe that if I wanted that nigga," she pointed at me, "he would definitely be mine, and I put my last dollar on that. Surely that wouldn't be an issue, right?" She raised her brow at a fuming Mia. "I mean, you're with the brother." She sweetly giggled as she rounded her counter. "Relax before I'm introduced at family dinner as your sister-in-law. Good day."

Luck had better be glad we had my son in here. Otherwise, I'd have her bent the fuck over in here. Talking that hot shit aboutnot wanting a nigga had my dick hard because she knows just as well as I do that she wants nothing more than to have a nigga drown in her ocean. Hearing her say she didn't want me made me feel as if she was challenging me, and that is something she doesn't want to do.

"Khalil, you need to go over there and get my son." Mia pushed my shoulder slightly. "I am tired of playing with you when it comes to him. I did you a favor, and I let you meet him, and now it's time for us to get back to our lives." She turned and headed his way. "KJ, baby, let's go. Now!"

"Aye, Mia, let me holler at you for a minute." I grabbed her by her elbow and dragged her outside. A few shoppers were out and about, so I didn't want to bring any unnecessary attention to Luck's spot. "Have you lost your fuckin' mind?"

"Me?" she shrieked. "You have some unknown woman around my son, and you ask me if I've lost my mind? You're already trying to replace me in your life."

"Are you on drugs?" I genuinely asked. "You're not in my life, Mia. We only share a son, so what the fuck are you talking about?"

Unable to help myself, I looked at her as if she were fuckin' crazy. Maybe it's me that's seemed to have lost my mind. Here I am on the sidewalk in the middle of winter, arguing with my baby mama, who's dressed in a t-shirt and leggings, looking like she just got out of rehab.

"I don't know how many times I can tell you that I'm sorry, Khalil, but I am." She placed her face in her hand and cried hysterically. "I will leave Kaine right now if you take me back. I love you and our son and want to be a family. We lost our home, and we have nowhere to go." She sniffled slightly before bringing her eyes back to me. "Can KJ and I stay with you?"

"Yeah, now I know you're on drugs." I chuckled as I turned to walk back into the building. "KJ can stay with me until youfigure your shit out because you're definitely on your own. Don't pop up on me at my house again and don't ever follow me when I have my son. You won't stop until I really fuck around and do something to you, Mia. I don't know why you keep testing me, but if you want to fuck around and find out, I have no issue with giving you what you're asking for."

Mia really thought that just because she had my kid, I wouldn't hurt her. Deep down, despite everything she's done, I don't want to. It has nothing to do with me having feelings for her. It's more so of how I know it will affect my son. KJ's the only one I'm loving and moving for these days, so I try to do everything with him in mind.

"You're going to regret this, Khalil," she seethed. "I will allow you to have Christmas with him, but after that, I'm coming to get my boy. You better enjoy all the time you have with him because it will be a cold day in hell before you get him again. Either we be a family, or you don't get him at all."

Turning on her heels, I stood outside of Luck's shop and watched Mia as she walked her mad ass done the street. To know she was brave enough to threaten me was comical, but it pissed me off at the same time. I really wanted to spare her just like I wanted to spare my brother. However, I see now that they both want to sit and play games with Khalil, and it is time that I show them both who Loon really is.

CHAPTER

SEVEN

DEVYN

"Suga, hey baby!"my father greeted me as soon as he opened the front door. "I didn't know you were coming."

"Daddd!" I giggled as he lifted me from the ground and kissed me all over my face. "I literally called you last night and told you I was getting on the road this morning to head over."

"Girl, let me pretend I didn't know, okay?" He placed me back on the ground and frowned slightly as he hovered over me. "Come on in and get out of this cold air."

Closing the door and following my father inside, I took in my childhood home. Located on the outskirts of Brooksdale, this place would always be perfect to me. The four-bedroom, two-bath brick home was always too big for me and my father, but we made many memories here. I never went without love and affection even though I grew up with one parent, and for that, my father will always have my respect.

"It smells good in here, old man." I chuckled as I took a seat in my beanbag chair that was located in the corner. "What are you cooking?"

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