Page 57 of He Thugged Me First

“Being you.”

“Good, but back to other things. I need you, Mazz and Quari to take care of whatever y’all were whispering in here about earlier. Somebody was able to walk into Mel’s school and pick her up like he was one of you guys. I don’t like that, because what if?—”

“We won’t dwell on the what if. We’ll thank god that she is here and fine, and then we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.” I said with finality. She was doing that worrying thing again.

She nodded. “I’m gonna transfer her. I went into those people’s school showing my ass and they were negligent.”

I nodded and looked her over. I eased my hands up her thighs before squeezing them. “Cool.” I pressed my lips against hers.

Quari

I don’t know why the hell I allowed Kasair to talk me into this shit. In this game it was safe for me to say I didn’t know what the hell was going on. I’m used to pulling the trigger and collecting. It was short and sweet. I’m not used to this patience being a drug dealer is required. I’ve never been one to even have patience unless I was seeing a mark. The idea of beefing with numerous niggas over some imaginary spot baffled me. The shit felt more like retail wars than any type of fast money to me. The thing is no matter any ill feelings I had about it, I’d never abandon my boy. I gave Kasair my word that I’d be his number two and I intended to keep it. I just didn’t know too many hit men turned drug dealers and honestly I knew why.

“Why are you over there mugging thin air?” Love’s delicate voice asked me as she rested her hand on the middle console.

I grabbed it and brought it to my lips while still focusing on the road. I probably told Love everything on my brain because she was the only person I knew wouldn’t judge me. She was my everything and I always valued what she had to say, but this was something I wouldn’t put on her brain. I didn’t need her questions along with my own. “I ain’t mugging no damn air.”

“Tuh, I should’ve taken a picture.” She giggled.

After I let her hand go, I reached over and rested my hand on her fully belly. I couldn’t believe that in just a few short months I’d meet the stubborn ass baby she was carrying. We had long ago given up on finding out the sex because she figured out kid wanted to surprise us.

“What do you think we’re having?” Her small voice sliced through my thoughts.

“I begged the old dude upstairs not to give me a daughter, but her attitude further solidifies that she’s coming.”

Love giggled. “What are we gonna name her? I mean if it’s a girl.” I cut my eyes over at her and she had the biggest smile on her face and it made me want to just give her the world. When she and I first got together my biggest fear would be that she woke up and realized she could do better than me, but that went away when I saw how she looked at me. She looked at me like I was her world, like I was the tallest nigga alive and that alone made a nigga feel so secure in her life. “Quarianna.” I responded.

“Hell no.” I could feel her mugging me from the passenger side of the car.

“I mean shit, ya name is Love. What do you think you’re gonna do? Try to name my daughter Happiness?”

That pulled a laugh from her as I pulled into my sister and her husband’s home. Today was my niece’s birthday and her spoiled ass made sure she called me and made me promise thatI’d be here. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be spending my Friday night here, but I guess. It was anything for the princess in my eyes, and plus ever since I met the lil girl she had me wrapped around her finger. When Klusive or Gina would tell her no she couldn’t get something, she texted me or her other uncle. Of course she got it and Gina called me cursing me out about it later. “Can’t believe I let you tal?—”

“No, not me. Kirey called you and you said yes.” Love already knew what I was about to say.

I hopped out of the car and walked around the front to open her door before I opened the back door to get the blue bag with Kirey’s gift in it. “You know where I like to be on Fridays.” I winked my eye at her as I closed the door.

She giggled. “Well Uncle Quari, you do know your niece really wanted you here.”

I pulled her into me and pressed my lips into hers. “Yeen shit. The longer we’re here, the longer you’re up tonight.” I handed her the bag and

She shook her head. “I can’t hang and you know this.”

I laughed as we walked up toward the door. She was right. Love slept now more than ever and she hated to be woken up from her sleep.

When we got to the door, it was already opening and my niece stood there looking at me like I was taking up all her time. Kirey was spoiled as shit and all I could do was silently pray harder that Love was having a boy. I don’t think I could do it.

As soon as we crossed the threshold, Kirey hugged Love and hopped into my arms with the biggest smile. “What did you buy me uncle?”

“Damn shorty, that’s all I’m good for?” I asked as Love and I continued into the house.

“Wel—”

“Don’t look hurt, I know that’s all I’m good for.” Klusive walked around the corner holding a beer.

I laughed as my niece hopped from my arms and tried to explain, but it wasn’t necessary.

Klusive hugged Love after she handed the bag to Kirey. “You might not wanna find ya self in there. We’re downstairs.” Klusive gave me that eye. I already knew it was a set up at this point. My sister was probably in the kitchen talking shit with my cousin Century and the crew.

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