Page 47 of A Toxic Redemption

"Khalil, you were both robbed of having the other person in your lives. Will you give the relationship with him a try?"

"Mama, can we discuss this later?" I cut the ignition and gathered my things. "I'm at the lawyer's office, and I gotta get off the phone."

I know she thinks I just wanted to get off the phone with her, and in a way, I did, but I didn't want to be late fooling with her. After making promises to call her or come see her later, I was headed inside.

"Mr. Simmons." Grayson rose from his desk and greeted me with a handshake as I entered his office. "Thank you for stopping by today."

"Thank you for all of your help," I expressed as I took a seat across from him. "I appreciate it."

"Your father is a very good friend, and I was more than happy to help him out, so it's no big deal." He shuffled some papers around on his desk before bringing his attention to me. "From the information I've gathered, your son's mother went back and had you listed as the father of her son a year or so after he was born. All you have to do is sign the birth certificate, and we can get that processed and move on with the custody battle and child support Ms. Bell is requesting."

"Child support?" I leaned forward. "If we're splitting custody, I don't want to pay that bitch shit. How in fuck is she already requesting money from a nigga?"

Don't get me wrong. I have no issue taking care of my son, but by no means will I be taking care of his rotten pussy ass mother. Mia needs to get a fuckin' job or make her nigga get one. My focus is KJ and KJ only.

"Ms. Bell is requesting twenty thousand a month and nothing less," he continued as he looked over the rim of his glasses. She also wants you to pay for the medical and dental for your son as well as tuition.

"Twenty stacks? Tuition? The lil' nigga is only three? She better put his little ass in daycare for about eight hundred a month."

Mia had the game fucked up if she thought she would run game on me and take all of my money for a son I just found out about. I'd kill her ass first.

"Mr. Simmons—"

"Call me Khalil, man."

"Khalil, I understand your frustrations, and I know what I'm telling you is the last thing you want to hear." He looked me square in the eye so I could understand his seriousness. "I am going to make sure I do everything in my power to make this as painless for you as possible. Tell me, what do you want? Be honest."

"My son," I spoke with no hesitation. "That's all I want."

"Do you want his mother to be in his life?"

I stared at him for a moment to think about what he was asking without technically asking. Mia wasn't a horrible mother, but the bitch was a pain in my ass. I didn't want to kill her because my son needed his mother, and I didn't know how not having her would affect him later, but before I let her play these games with me, I would have him calling Lucky 'mama' in no time.

"Tell me my options first." I ran my hands down my face and signed. "Just let me know what I'm working with before I say what I feel."

"Okay." He passed a few pieces of papers my way. "This is just what I already went over with you regarding the tuition and child support."

I looked over the papers and confirmed what he was saying. What caught my eye was a statement Mia made about me not having any legal income, and that was why she was requesting the outlandish amount.

"I can tell by the look on your face that you ran across the statement she made about your income. I suggest you find a business to wash your money through and soon. Get with your father when you leave here, and he will help you. I've recently learned the dynamic of your relationship, but I feel like he is the one that can really help you."

"Aight, I'm going to holla at the nigga." I handed the papers back to him and stood up to leave. "I can tell you right now, Mia'snot getting that much money from me. For her to say what she said, though, lets me know she wants to play a dirty game, and I'm with that, too."

Mia had the right game but the wrong nigga. Tell the law that a nigga was into illegal shit was the type of shit I didn't need lingering in the air at the moment, but I had a trick for her ass.

"Everything is speculation, of course." He stood and walked me over to the door. "Just handle your business and be careful with what you do. Keep me in the loop with whatever you do. That's the only way I can ensure this works in your favor."

"I got you." I shook hands with him. After making promises to be in touch and speaking to my father, I was out of his office as fast as I came.

Back inside my truck, I checked my phone and noticed more missed calls and messages from Allison, Alicia, Persia, and Bino. Deciding to hit the latter back, I called my cousin.

"Gah damn, 'bout time you called a nigga." His voice boomed as it came through the speaker. "We ain't seen or heard from you since Christmas dude. That was two weeks ago."

"I've been busy," I stated simply. "A nigga's been with KJ, and Luck's been taking up any free time I've had. I've just been out of the way."

Truthfully, I haven't been wanting to talk to them niggas because I know I have heat with their mother. I know there will be a potential fallout, and I've been trying to avoid it. I love those boys more than my own brother, and I'd hate to lose the relationship with them. Even with that, though, fuck that.

"Well, come through the spot nigga." Bino inhaled deeply, and I could tell that he was smoking. "Plus, your girlfriends are over here looking for you. Now you know I don't like no mess, but I couldn't pass up on the chance to see some action."

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