Page 80 of A Toxic Redemption

"Are you sure you want to do that? She's KJ's mama."

"Shit, he beat me to it." My mother snapped her neck toward me with wide eyes. "They'll be together again soon enough, though."

Not wanting to say too much, I let my mother know what I found at her friend's home. I wanted to feel a way about my son's mother being dead, but I couldn't. I'm just glad that's one less body I have to repent for.

"Oh wow," she sat in disbelief, "that's awful." She stood from her chair and stretched her legs. That's when she noticed the shopping bags I placed at her feet. "What's this?"

"I got that for you. I know you didn't want to leave pops and shit, so I figured you need some stuff for a shower." She smirked and tried to hug me, but I curved her. "Nah, ma, you're funky as hell."

"What?" she screeched and swatted at my chest. "You're a liar." She snatched the bags up and looked inside. "Stay out here with Ceaser while I shower. I'll be quick."

She didn't wait for me to respond before she went into the small bathroom that was located in the room. I made sure to get him the biggest, most private room they had available. As it was just him and me in here now, I took the seat my mama left empty. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of the machines.

"Look, man, I've never been one for the sappy shit," I placed my elbows on my knees and stared as he slept, "but I need you to shake back. You got me out here conducting business meetings and shit, knowing damn well I don’t know how to talk to these white people." I chuckled, thinking about how uncomfortable Imake their asses. "There's so much shit you need to show me about the business. Not only that, but KJ loves his PopPop, and he needs you. Mama needs you." I dropped my head as a tear fell into my lap. "I need you. I-I love you, man. I know shit with us is strained in a sense, but I need you to shake back."

Sitting there, lost in my thoughts, I meant every single word I said to him. It took us some time to get here, but I honestly love my father.

Buzz. Buzz.

Feeling my phone vibrate, I pulled it from my pocket to see there were a couple of incoming messages.

Unknown:Meet me at this address in three hours. If I feel like you on some funny shit, I'm killing this lil' nigga.

Attached was a picture of my son eating chicken nuggets in the back seat. I was glad Kaine appeared to have sense enough to feed my boy, but I planned to make him regret the choices he'd made.

"Where are you going?" my mother called out to me as she exited the bathroom. "Is everything okay?"

"I'm going to get KJ," I threw over my shoulder. I reached the door at the same time Kira, Jake, and Bino were entering the room with food. I was thankful they looked out for my mother the way they did.

"I'm going with you," she scrambled around, looking for her shoes. "I don’t want you going there alone. I have to make sure you guys are okay. Just give me—"

"Ma!" I yelled slightly. She had tears running down her face, and the shit was making this harder than it already was. "You're not coming with me. I'll call you when I get KJ back. I have to go."

"Khalil, baby, be careful," she cried as Kira patted her back. She looked to Bino and Jake. "Will you guys go with him?"

"Yeah, mama, we're going," Bino was the first to speak as he kissed her cheek, followed by Jake. "Call Sasha to bring Dee up here. Y'all can have some girl time or some shit."

"I'll excuse that damn cussing this one time," she swatted at him as she came my way. "Be safe, son," she cupped my cheeks, "tell your brother I love him."

Kissing her forehead, I hurriedly left the room with my cousins on my heels.

As we rushed to the car, I said a quick prayer for my son, my mother, and even my brother's soul. Hell was going to be a paradise for the nigga by the time I was done with him. Jake offered to drive, so I wasted no time retrieving the duffle bags of cash from my truck and getting into the passenger side of his whip, giving him the directions Kaine had given me.

In silence, we rode into the unknown.

"Where the fuck this nigga got us at?" Bino griped as we pulled up to the deserted building. "It's dark as fuck out here. Is that nigga even here?"

"He'd better fuckin' be here." I looked out of the window and stared at the darkened, abandoned building. "I just know my son better be alright."

I didn't have the slightest clue where Kaine had me or what I was walking into, but I knew not a single hair on my son's head better be out of place. He chose for us to meet at an abandoned shopping center, and I was thankful for that. There was nothing here but open space and the area was damn near deserted. He had given me instructions to come inside.

"So what's the plan?" Jake asked.

"The only plan I have is to get my kid and head home to lay under my girl. I'll be back." Exiting the car with the bags of cash in one hand and my Glock in the other, I made my way inside. The flickering lights and molded smell caused a nigga to feel uneasy, but I would do whatever for KJ.

Walking further into the open space, I noticed it was empty, and the nigga wasn't even here yet. I stood there waiting for thirty minutes before I started to get antsy. Placing the bags at my feet, I pulled my phone from my pocket to see if I could call him back, but the sounds of the doors opening caused me to halt my movement.

"Baby bro, what's good?" Kaine greeted me as he entered the room with my son walking alongside him. "Nice to see you."

---