Page 19 of When Darkness Comes Knocking
“Great. Follow me back inside.”
I trailed behind him and inside Perrae’s living room.
“This here is the main system. Once this system is set, the other one in the kitchen will automatically be set. All I need is a four-digit password and she’s all good.
“Okay. I can’t make that decision, so let me give Perrae a call,” I affirmed.
“Take your time, man.”
I removed my phone and called Perrae. She happily supplied me with her four-digit preference. I gave it to Landon, and he quickly got to work. It only took him a few minutes, and their security system was set in place.
Once done, he left, and I called the kids down so I could show them how to work the system. Each of them took turns locking and unlocking their new system. Afterward, I placed the card with their code and system’s information on Perrae’s table by the front door, then went outside to help my crew with her new privacy fences.
When Perrae called me and told me what Myron had done, I was so damn furious. She had to talk me out of pulling up and whupping that man. All that would’ve done was land in me jail though. I had to use my head.
Up until now, everything he’d done would’ve been her word against his. So, I came up with the idea for the security system, and Perrae wanted privacy fences installed. She didn’t want his ass on her property at all.
I didn’t blame her. His yard was littered with trash and spilling onto the space between their homes. There was a funky smell that floated from his crib.
That nigga was just a nasty ass person. If the outside looked and smelled terrible, I could only imagine what the inside looked like. I’d just staked the single plywood slab for the fence into the small hole when loud shouts took place behind us.
My crew and I turned around at the same time. Myron stumbled out of his home and howled on his porch. He hopped around on his porch in pain.
The more he moved and hopped, it looked as if his distress and pain amplified. I turned and looked up at the sound of JJ’s voice.
“Don’t worry about him. Since Myron ruined the girl’s playground, Mama poured a bag of tacks on his lawn and front porch a couple of days ago. He’ll live,” JJ confessed through his laughter.
I chuckled along with him. “That’s what the hell he gets. Punk ass.” I stuck the plank in the hole.
JJ came and stood beside me. “Is what you’re doing hard, Fortune?”
“Not at all. Would you like for me to show you how to do it?”
JJ grinned. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
“Okay, come on over.” My heart soared. I knew how hard it was to reach teenagers, but one day, he’d be my stepson. I wanted us to have a decent bond. The fact that JJ had interest in what I did for a living really made my day. We were making some headway.
<<<
Tonight was our first family night. Sadly, JJ couldn’t stay because he’d already made plans with his best friend. The girls ran off hours ago to make dance videos upstairs.
The moment the twins and Madison met, it was a wrap. They were practically sisters now. I’d never heard that much screaming and giggling at once.
One girl was one thing, but three girls sounded as if we were at a school’s pep rally. It was a lot to handle, but it was something I’d definitely grow used to. Perrae walked up and handed me a glass.
“Here you go, love.”
“Thank you, baby.” I took a sip of the wine she handed me. It was so good. I needed that drink after the way those little girls turned me every way but loose.
Perrae took a seat next to me and wiped the makeup from my face and removed the hair clips out of my beard. They all thought it was so funny, including Perrae. I did too.
I wouldn’t want my life any way but how it was now. Perrae’s kids had grown on me, and Madison and Perrae had taken a big liking to each other. That made my heart smile because this thing we had going on looked as if it was actually working.
That wasn’t to say there wouldn’t be any issues, but I liked knowing that we were moving in a good direction and that we’d handle any issues together. Once she was done, she used the acetone and removed the polish from my nails. Perrae was such a kind and caring soul.
“Thank you, baby. I appreciate you.”
She grinned and leaned back against my chest since she was finished. “No worries at all. I know firsthand how hard Tahiri goes when it comes to polish.”
