Page 36 of A Toxic Redemption

As we walked out of the front door, I snatched from him and tried to take several slow breaths to calm down. I've never been this disrespectful toward women, but Mia had a way of bringing the worst up out a nigga, and it was taking a toll on me.

"I'm going to end up killing that bitch," I mumbled as I leaned against the column on the porch and sparked my blunt. "That nigga too. Brother or not, his ass has gotta go."

"Listen, I get the frustration when it comes to someone interfering with you and your child, but you have to think about what you do before you do it. Your freedom and livelihood depend on it. Now, I can do a few things for you if you would like my help." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and eyed me intently. "The first thing I can do is get a tail on them. I can assure you my guys will be discreet, and it will give you peace ofmind when KJ is in their care. If anything looks funny, they will report it to me right away. Would that be okay?"

"How do I know I can trust you?" I eyed him skeptically. "You just popped up after all these years, and now you want to be deemed a doting father?"

"I know I have a lot of shit to answer for, and I am here to give you and your mother all those answers today. Just please let me do this." Ceaser looked at me with pleading eyes, and I could tell he was being sincere. "I know I failed as a father, but if I could somehow make up for my shortcomings with KJ, I can leave this world a happy man."

"Aight," I answered and tried to ignore the 'leave the world' part. "I can let you put a tail on them, but as soon as they think some shit is off, I need to know."

"Done." He smiled, pulled out his phone, and began typing away. "They will begin this evening as soon as they leave here." I nodded. "Also, I will put you in touch with my lawyer. Grayson's the best in the fuckin' business and has expertise in several areas. We need to make sure you have and know your rights as the father. You may be asked to submit DNA results or have another test done. Is that okay?"

"I'm cool with that." I ashed the blunt and pushed off from the post. "I appreciate this shit. For real."

"No worries, son." He slapped my shoulder as we made our way back inside. "One more thing." He turned me toward him so I could look him in the eyes. "If you want Kaine eliminated and don't want that burden on you, let me know. He's not my fuckin' child, and I will blow him away without a second thought. It will hurt your mother, and I will console her as much as she allows me. He's a snake, and there's no coming back from that shit. The only way to really get rid of it and the problems it brings is to cut off the head. I have a machete just for the occasion. Just let me know."

With that, Ceaser went back into the house and left me standing there in my thoughts. I appreciate the help and resources he's given me, and I will use them to my advantage. As far as Kaine goes, something tells me this is the last time we will break bread together. He'd just better hope it's not his last meal altogether.

CHAPTER

NINE

KHALIL

"Cheesy noodles!"KJ exclaimed as mama placed his food before him. "Thank you, Nana!"

We all sat and chuckled as my son smashed his plate as if he hadn't eaten in days. That boy had the biggest appetite for a toddler. Then again, mama's food was good as hell. Collard greens, dressing, yams, mac and cheese, ham, turkey, fried fish, and various other dishes littered the counter. This is definitely the best part of the holidays. Well, now, outside of my son.

"So, where are you guys going to be staying since you claim you lost your home?" my mother asked as she looked at Mia and Kaine across the table. My father was at the other end while KJ sat to the left of me. "Will you be living close so Khalil can have access to his son?"

"I mean," Mia looked from mama to a still visibly pissed Kaine, "we have a whole life back home and will now have to find another place, but we can't just uproot our son and relocate."

"Ourson," I interrupted and motioned back and forth between me and her. "He is our kid, and I'm not cool with you going back to wherever you were living with him. Shit, you don't even have a house, so you can live in the front yard for all I care.Be for real for a second, Mia. That shit isn't fair to either one of us."

"Like she said," Kaine chimed in as he continued to eat, "we have a whole life, but no worries. We have a few things to handle before we leave, so you have a few more weeks with him."

"Kaine, you're really making it hard for me not to jump over this table and give you the issue you're looking for." I chuckled as I wiped my son's mouth. "I'm going to keep it cool for him," I nodded toward KJ as he stared at us, looking like a little chipmunk, "and her." I nodded toward mama. "But you're really pushing it."

"So, you're Khalil's father?" Mia asked as Kaine and I engaged in a stare-off. "It's nice to meet you, I suppose. Khalil never mentioned much about you, and I'm shocked to see you here today. Have you always been in the area?"

"I've been around," Ceaser answered as he eyed her. "I've done some wrong that I want to right, and I'm here hoping I can do that."

"With your son or my mama?" Kaine asked, causing our mother to gasp and mug him. "Relax, mama, I just want to make sure his intentions are in the right place. I mean, he left you once. I don't want him to reopen old wounds and have you out here depressed like you were last time."

"KJ, are you done eating?" I placed my fork on my plate and cleaned my son as best as I could. "You want to go play in your ball pit?"

"I call Debin?" He looked at me with bright eyes. "She come play?"

"I will call her and see." I chucked as I got him out of his chair. "Come on."

"Who's he talking about?" Mia asked as she followed us into the living room. I glanced over my shoulder and Kaine waslooking at us through slanted eyes as we rounded the corner. "It better not be that bitch from the bakery."

"You're worried about the wrong shit." I shook my head at her audacity. Placing KJ in his pit, I stood for a moment and watched him play. He was full, so I knew he was going to be sleeping soon.

Mia glanced over her shoulder toward the kitchen before slowly approaching me. Her eyes, which were just holding anger from the thought of Luck being around her son, were now replaced with lust. She licked her lips slightly as she rubbed her finger up and across my chest.

"You know, Khalil, if you say the word, I will end it with Kaine." She stroked my cheek, and all I could do was glare down at her. "We can be a family, and custody will not even be an issue."

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