Page 38 of A Toxic Redemption

"Can you imagine what I would do to a spiteful bitch that had my heart and betrayed me for years? One that is trying to keep my son away from me because I don't want her? I took it easy on him because he's my mother's child. I will fuckin' kill you, Mia, if you keep playing with me, and I'm not interested in telling you again." I lifted her chin so she could look at me. I couldn't care less about her hoe-ass tears. "I will give you time to spend with KJ. You're his mother, like you said, but hear me when I say this. If I call and you don't answer, or if you don't pull up when I want to see him, it's over for you." I let her go and pushed her slightly away from me. "Let me go calm my baby down and pack his stuff so he can go. Fix the lil' homie some cheesy noodles, too."

After an hour of trying to calm my son enough to leave with his mother, I was finally able to get him to sleep. He fought me at every turn, but with promises of going to see Luck and getting cupcakes, he was satisfied enough for a nap. Kaine left Mia at the house but had to come back and get her when she saw I wasn't taking her ass anywhere and I definitely wasn't allowing KJ in anUber. My mother, Ceaser, and I were now in the living room. We were all lost in our thoughts about what had taken place today.

"Well, I wasn't expecting any of that," my mother voiced as she chuckled, although I could tell she was still reeling from the events. "I guess it's safe to say I ruined Christmas."

"Are you crazy?" I glanced over at her. "Do you see how a nigga's stomach is poking out? This nigga here," I pointed at my father, "has dozed off at least three times. This was the best Christmas I've had in a while."

"I agree." Ceaser sluggishly nodded. "Girl, you put your entire foot in that meal. I've been missing out."

Ceaser's statement caused us to go back to silence. There were some things he's been hinting at and now is the time for me to address it. Shit, we were already here, so there was no need to wait any further.

"Check it," I leaned up in the chair I was sitting in across from him and my mother. "We need to talk. You asked if I was sure about the DNA test, and I wanted to know why. You've been saying some off-putting ass shit, and I want to know what's up."

"Khalil, I swear I'm going to knock all of your teeth from your mouth if you keep cussing in my house."

"Give him a pass this once, baby girl." Ceaser chuckled as he looked at my mother and caused her to blush. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the two of them. "He has questions, and as much as I don't want to answer or talk about them, I have to." He brought his attention back to me. "I asked you if you were sure about the DNA test because all those years ago, I took the results of the one I received at face value and found it to be untrue."

"Huh?" I frowned in confusion. "Explain to me what you mean."

"You remember me telling you I received a test saying you weren't my son and shit? How I asked your mother about it and she ghosted me?" I nodded my head because how could I forget?"It was altered. That test was falsified to make me believe you weren't my son. When I asked your mother about it, and she told me to fuck off, I assumed it was real."

"Wait." I stood from my seat and began pacing the living room floor. "Didn't you say your sister is the one that had me tested?" He nodded. "So she had someone fake the results of the test?"

"Apparently." He sighed and shook his head. "Something wouldn't let me believe that, though. That's why I stood deep in the shadows when you were younger. So many times, I tried to approach your mother about it and get you retested, but she denied me. She told me y'all didn't need me."

"And we didn't!" she snapped and glared at me. "I knew Khalil was yours, and you basically called me a whore and a liar when you got those results. If the only way I could prove that I was right about him being yours was to take another test, I wasn't going to do that. There should have never been room for doubt."

"So when did you find out I was actually yours?" I folded my arms. "I'm twenty-eight years old, bro, and I went without you my whole life. When did you know?"

"When you were in middle school," he somberly admitted. "I had Bino swipe some things from your home when he used to spend the night."

I shook my head because I knew I wasn't crazy when combs and toothbrushes came up missing.

"You guys were so close, and he was more than willing to help. When I found out and asked your mother if I could approach you, she turned me down once again."

"Because we didn't need you!" she shouted as she jumped from the couch. "There should have never been any doubt! You believed the word of your sister over me, and I hated you forthat! At the time, I felt like it was the best decision for Khalil and me!" mama defended.

"Mama, relax." I walked over and pulled her into my arms. "You felt betrayed by him, and no one can fault you for that. Was it prideful? A little selfish? Maybe, but you protected me, and I thank you."

There was no way I could be mad at my mother for guarding her heart after this man let her down in the worst way. If anyone were to blame, it was my hoe-ass aunt. Even after all these years, I didn't like her, and it was because I felt as a kid that she didn't like me. I never understood why and didn't care to know.

"I fucked up." My father stood and approached us. "I was young and dumb and allowed my family to get in the way of my happiness. I lost out on a chance at my own family and the only woman I really loved because my sister had a vendetta against us both."

"What?" My mother raised her head from my chest and wiped her tears. "Shelia did this?"

"Yes." He nodded and grabbed her hands. "I took away the love of her life, and she wanted to take mine. Shelia has hated us both for years, and I fear that the hatred is growing more and more by the day. That's another reason I am back. I wanted to warn and protect you."

"So you mean to tell me my aunt, your sister, wants to cause harm to my mother, and she is still breathing?" I chuckled as I grabbed my keys and phone from the end table. "Yeah, that shit is not happening."

"I overheard a phone conversation a few months ago of Shelia confessing what I already knew about her altering the DNA results. We fought about it, and we haven't been on speaking terms since. I don't trust her, but she's my sister. My parents would roll over in their graves if I harmed her."

"I never met those people, and I couldn't care less about them rolling, flipping, or hopscotching in that muthafucka. When their daughter meets them in the afterlife, she can explain how she got there. I'm out," I asserted.

"Where are you going, Khalil?" My mother stepped in front of me and placed her hand on my chest. "I don't want you out there getting yourself into trouble."

"I'm good, mama." I placed a kiss on her forehead. "I just need to clear my head and to think is all." I glanced over at my father. "You got your eyes on my son, right?"

"Of course."

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