Page 16 of Jaeda

My brother walked off to a corner of the room and took a seat.

“You,” I said to the man. “Turn around.”

I didn’t lower my gun as he slowly turned to face me. My eyes widened as I recognized him as the guy from the toy store.

“You?” I whispered.

“You know this nigga, Jae?” Deuce asked.

“I . . . I’ve met him before,” I said, still in shock. “Have you been following me?”

“No, I—” He sighed. “Please. If I can explain without all the guns and handcuffs. I’m harmless, I promise.”

“Nigga, you?—”

“Quaid?” Mia said, walking up.

He looked relieved that she recognized him. “You must be Mia. You look just like Titan described.”

“Titan?” everybody said.

“How do you know him, Mia?” my father asked.

“I’ve seen pictures of them together,” she answered. “He’s Titan’s friend. His best friend.”

“Aw, hell naw,” Deuce said. “You already know how I feel about that muthafucka.”

“Now I really wish I’d fucked your shit up,” Smoke said, coming back over.

“Fuck you, with your swole ass,” Quaid spat.

Maceo laughed. “My bad, man. That was funny. Maybe we should hear the nigga out. I mean, if it wasn’t for him and Titancoming through with that live camera footage for me, we might still be chasing Charity’s ass.”

Deuce shook his head. “How do we even know that was him?”

“It was,” Mia spoke up. “Titan told me a lot about his best friend. Remember the Q his crew referred to when we were at the farmhouse? This is him. Why don’t I just call Titan?”

“A sensible answer,” Quaid said, pointing at her.

Smoke mocked him. “A sensible answer. Fuck outta here.”

Quaid glared at him. “Let me guess. You’re the brawns in the family. Clearly you don’t bring the brains with that childish ass shit.”

Again, they started going back and forth. I was a little hesitant, but I lowered my gun. He didn’t seem dangerous, and if he was the person Mia said he was, I partially owed him for helping my brother. I opened my mouth to say something but was captivated by his handsome face and the slick words coming out of his mouth.

The slight roughneck edge presented itself when he was angry. The calm version I met intrigued me, but this version . . . whew! He didn’t appear the least bit afraid of Smoke, who had a good twenty pounds on him. If we let him, he would probably go round for round with my brother. The Dillinger men could be a lot, so anybody that could stand toe to toe with them and not show any fear had a lot of heart.

I looked at my father, who was already looking at me.

“It’s up to you what you want to do,” he said. “If they don’t shut the fuck up with all that arguing, though, the decision is gonna be out of your hands.”

I nodded. “Shut up!” I yelled. “Damn. I can’t even think with the two of you going back and forth. Just shut the hell up and let me think for a second.”

I closed my eyes and went to the quiet place in my head to rationalize with myself. I needed to know what this man’s anglewas, but at the same time, that giddy feeling I got when I first met him was slowly creeping its way back in. I couldn’t talk about Mia and her toxic shit anymore. Not when I was over here lusting after a man that could have potentially put my family at risk.

I couldn’t talk to him with them here, though. That much was clear. Opening my eyes, I stared at the group awaiting my response.

“Uncuff him, Deuce,” I said.

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