Page 39 of Jaeda

She yelled for my father. “Linus!”

I muttered a curse under my breath. Fuck! My dad came over with a concerned look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” he inquired.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong is your son, . . . your genius son, is dating a Dillinger.”

My father’s eyes widened. “Quaid.”

“I just want you to give her a chance,” I said quickly. “Jaeda is special, and I really like her. You grew to love Titan. I know you’ll grow to love her too.”

“Titan isn’t our son—” my mother started.

“But he’s my brother. Blood or no blood, he’s my family. If you can accept him, you can accept her.”

“I don’t want you caught up in that lifestyle, Quaid. Titan is already too close for comfort. You don’t remember all the fights you’ve gotten in because of him?”

“He never forced me to fight on his behalf, Ma. Titan can hold his own, but I’m never letting him fight by himself if he’s outnumbered. And as far as the lifestyle, . . . I’m already in it.”

“What?” came out as a low whisper.

I sighed. “I help with the technical aspects of his missions to make sure he and the others stay safe.”

“How long?” my mother asked. “How long have you been lying to us about what you do?”

“I’ve never lied to you. I just omitted that part for this very reason.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game, son,” my father said.

“I know what I’m doing, and I’m safe.” I grabbed my mother’s hands, attempting to ease her nerves. “When you meet her, you’ll see what I see in her.”

She snatched her hands away. “I don’t care. You’re my son. My only child. I won’t bury you because you want to get caught up with a modern-day mob, Quaid Anthony Michaels. You’re toosmart for this. You were raised better than this. Get him out of my face, Linus.”

She turned away from me and folded her arms. That stung a little. I loved my mother, and I had nothing but respect for her, but this was my life. She’d just have to come around eventually.

“Maybe I should go,” I said, standing. I leaned in to kiss my mother’s cheek. “I love you, Ma. Happy birthday.”

Without another word, I walked away to locate Titan. I didn’t have to say a word when I approached him. He bid my uncles goodbye, and we walked back out front.

“What’s wrong, my nigga?” he finally asked when we made it to our cars.

“Ma now knows Jaeda is a Dillinger.”

“Aw shit. She ain’t feeling it, is she?”

“That would be an understatement. She also knows that I work with you.”

He kissed his teeth. “See, now we gon’ be beefing again. She put you out over that shit?”

“She didn’t put me out. I saw she was upset, so I decided to leave.”

“I hate that for you, but you knew she wasn’t gonna take it lightly, my guy.”

I sighed. “I know. Hopefully, she will come around.”

“She will. You’re that woman’s pride and joy, man. She’ll get over it, and I’m sure once she meets Jaeda, she’ll love her. Hell, she’s the most likeable of the six of them.”

I chuckled. “So she’s more likable than Mia?”

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