Page 40 of Jaeda

“Hell yeah. That fucking demon. She still ain’t talking to me. Stubborn ass. I’m pulling up on her tonight. She needs some act right.”

“You realize you can’t solve problems with your dick, don’t you?”

“I’ve never had a problem with a woman that my dick couldn’t solve.”

I shook my head. “Trust me, it’s not solved. You just pacified them and bought yourself time. The quicker y’all admit y’all love each other, the easier this all becomes.”

He waved me off. “Whatever. You coming to the crib? I got a fat ass blunt with your name on it.”

“Why the hell not?”

We dapped each other before climbing into our respective vehicles. I really did hope my parents, specifically my mother, came around. I understood her concerns, but I was willing to risk it all for this woman. She, of all people, knew that when I put my mind to something, I didn’t let up. Ever.

“He’s just so perfect, Salima,” I said, looking down at my nephew in awe.

Liam Elias Dillinger.

It was crazy how much he looked like his big-headed ass daddy. It was like Deuce spit him out, and Salima was just the incubator. They’d been home for four days now. Baby boy was so loved. Darlyn wanted to be close to him at all times. She insisted that he was her baby.

“To think he almost ripped me open,” she said, turning on her side.

“To think your water broke in my damn living room. I’m sending you the bill to have my floors cleaned.”

She giggled. “Send it to my husband. Hey, aren’t you and Quaid hanging out tonight?”

“We are. I’m headed over when I leave here. I just had to see this cutie pie.”

“Liam wants to know when he’s getting some little cousins from you.”

“Say what now? You forgot I’m single and a virgin?”

She laughed. “You won’t be either much longer.”

“If your husband or his brothers have anything to do with it, I will be,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“They love you, Jaeda. Maybe their methods are madness, but you are close to their heart.”

I thought about the night they infiltrated the end of my date. I was a mixture of pissed, embarrassed, and turned on because Quaid didn’t back down. I knew any man I ended up with long term couldn’t be a punk when it came to my brothers. It just would never work. They weren’t going to let up on him, and he couldn’t let up on me if he really wanted me. The only way to get respect from the men in my family was to earn and demand it.

My thoughts drifted to the conversation I had with Steel. He’d invited me over the other morning to have breakfast at his house. To know Kerrion Jamel Dillinger was to know that food was his love language and him cooking was a peace offering.

We’d eaten in silence for at least ten minutes before he spoke.

“I apologize for the way we ambushed you,” he said, setting his fork down.

I looked up from my plate and sat back, crossing my arms.

“Why was that necessary, Kerrion?”

“Jae, . . . we love you, okay? We know you can handle yourself, but if shit went left with ol’ dude and he turned out to be a snake, we’d never forgive ourselves for not seeing that shit sooner. If something happened to you, that would kill me, Jaeda. You’ve always been my best friend. When our siblings were with their mamas, it was always you and me till Kalia and Jaiden came along. You’ve been by my side through every part of my life. Even though I can depend on our brothers tohave my back, you were always my sounding board and voice of reason, even if I didn’t take your advice.”

He paused for a moment, seemingly gathering his thoughts. That was how I knew shit was about to get sentimental.

He sighed. “I guess . . . I don’t want somebody to take you away from us in any sense. Who’s to say you won’t fall in love, get married, and decide to leave the family business and the compound? What if you don’t want your kids around this mad ass world we live in?”

My face softened as I reached out to grab his hands.

“Nobody can ever take me away from this family, Kerrion. Are y’all crazy and work my fucking nerves? Absolutely. But I love y’all. Even if my last name changes, there is no me without the Dillingers. But y’all can’t run off any potential man I might meet. That’s not fair. Y’all went off my initial energy with Quaid, but it’s not like that anymore. I like him, . . . like really like him. He’s been very sweet and intentional with me. I feel like y’all would like him if you gave him a chance.”

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