Page 35 of A Toxic Redemption

"At times." I leaned back on the sofa and frowned slightly. His asking about my parenting doesn't sit right with me, being as though he was a whole deadbeat. "I love my kid, though, so it's worth it. Even the part about dealing with his rat ass mother."

"Your brother?" he asked as he eyed me. "Have you done anything with the information I gave you?"

"He's homeless." I shrugged and smiled at his confusion. "I heard the house he was living in burned to the ground."

"Pity." Ceaser chuckled before going silent. After a few minutes, he spoke hesitantly. "And a DNA test for KJ? Did youget one done and make sure there was absolutely no room for error?"

"I did." I leaned forward and stared at him intently. "What are you getting at, man? Are you insinuating he's not my kid?"

"What I'm saying is—"

Ding Dong!

The doorbell sounding off stopped this nigga from saying what it was he wanted to get off his chest. He'd better know that before he left here today, we were going to talk about whatever it is he has to say. It's only right since mama wanted to have this fake ass dinner.

"KJ!" I heard Mia's irritating voice sound off when she entered the room. Today, she looked less dusty in skintight jeans, knee-high flat boots, and a crop top sweater. Her hair was in a cute pixie-like cut, and her makeup looked decent. I ain't gone lie. She was pretty as hell in a sneaky pussy bitch type of way.

"I not go with you," was KJ's way of greeting her, and I couldn't help but chuckle. Since the day we met, he has not wanted to leave my sight, and that made me proud as hell. I made a mental note to speak with a lawyer after the holidays because there was no way I was going to let her run off with my kid again. "Hey, Unkie Kay."

"What's up, man?" Kaine dapped KJ up once he came into the living room. He, too, looked a little less dusty than usual. Just like the day at lunch, he looked like he had a little money on him. I guess he had some stashed for a rainy day. He must have felt my glare because he slowly brought his eyes to me. His frown deepened when he laid eyes on my father.

"The fuck are you looking at, nigga?" he asked with a little too much bass in his voice, and Ceaser found it comical. "Why the fuck are you in my mama's house?"

"Because he's my guest, and you will respect him while you're here." She pointed in Kaine's face before looking at Mia. "Merry Christmas to you too." She looked between the two of them. "Where are KJ's gifts?"

"Well, I was thinking that maybe we would sit this year out since you guys are new to this." Mia nervously looked from mama to me. "Plus, our home caught fire a week or so ago. I was also thinking that maybe after dinner, KJ could spend some time with Kaine and me. It's been weeks, and I miss my son."

"Nah," I stood from my seat and objected. "I don't trust either of you, and if I think you're trying to run off with him again, I'll kill you both."

"Do it then, lil' nigga," Kaine sneered as he stepped to me. "Give me a reason to shoot you."

"Make sure you aim a little higher than my shoulder this time," I spoke where only the two of us could hear. I couldn't help but smirk as his eyes widened slightly. Kaine tried to recover quickly, but he had already shown his hand. "I promise you better kill me next time bitch because if you don't, I'm going to make you wish you had."

I could tell by the contorting of his face that my words bothered him. Stepping back, he sized me up, and I did the same. Christmas or not, mama's house or not, I would give him whatever issue he wanted.

"Son, don't do this." My father stood and got in between us. "I know you want nothing more than to tear this man apart, but your mother will be devastated.

"Yeah, listen to your bitch ass father," Kaine taunted. "You're a pussy ass nigga just like that nigga—"

Whap!

Ceaser decked the nigga so hard that he knocked him out of his shoes as he went flying into the Christmas tree. Mama and Mia came running from the kitchen to see what the ruckus wasabout. KJ thought his uncle falling into the tree was the funniest thing.

"Baby, are you okay?" Mia rushed over to help him up, but he waved her off. "Your lip is bleeding."

"What happened?" my mother asked as she looked from Kaine to me. "Khalil, what did you do?"

"He didn't do anything." My father answered as he stuffed his hands in his slacks. "Kaine tripped and fell over some bullshit he was spitting. Nothing major."

"Kaine, go get yourself together, and let's have dinner." My mother sighed as she grabbed KJ's hand. "Khalil, he's going with them for a little while after dinner."

"Nah, ma," I objected. "I ain't feeling that. Plus, this girl just said they're homeless. Where will they go?"

"He's my son too!" Mia shouted. "I'm his mother, and you're not even on his birth certificate. You don't run shit, Khalil!"

"Bitch—"

"Hey, son, come here for a second." My father grabbed me by the arm as I launched toward Mia. "Let me holler at you."

---