Chapter 25

I’d put eyes on Detective Pearson so I could keep up with his moves. That nigga was still in the city and I just knew he was up to no damn good. Little did he know, he wasn’t leaving this muthafucka alive.

I already had a plan in motion to handle him and his bitch ass daddy. Before it was all said and done, they were going to watch each other take their last breath.

Tonight, however, all of that would have to wait. Tonight, The Dillinger Foundation was throwing our annual charity benefit. Usually, I flew solo, but this year I was taking Salima. She and Shar were excited to get all dressed up to come out with us.

I’d been on Maceo’s ass about his denial of a relationship. I knew what I was getting into with Salima, but this nigga accidentally found himself with a girlfriend and he just couldn’t accept it.

“When are you gonna give this shit up?” I asked, pouring myself a drink in Salima’s kitchen.

He was sitting on the couch, rolling up a blunt while we waited for the girls to get dressed.

“Give what shit up?” he asked.

“Your denial about Shar being your woman.”

He kissed his teeth. “Here you go. Look, me and Shar have an understanding. She fucks with me like I fuck with her.”

“Let me ask you something. You still entertaining them hos you dealt with?”

“No.”

“Are you at her place more than your own house?”

“I guess.”

“You spend money on her without expecting anything in return?”

“Man, that woman runs my pockets on the regular.”

“Then that’s your woman, nigga. Ain’t no way around it.”

He waved me off. “Just cause you went and fell in love and shit doesn’t mean I’m on that type of time.”

“I see you’re still pillow talking.”

He grinned at me as he finished rolling the blunt. “Why are you so pressed about me and Shar? You don’t wanna be in love alone?”

“Nigga, I don’t give a fuck about being in love alone as long as Salima loves my ass.”

He laughed out loud. “Only you would fall for the woman you pointed a gun at. Sis might be a little crazy too, now that I think about it.”

I had to laugh at that. Maybe Salima was a little crazy for that, but that was my baby. We’d come a long way from that back room at Aura. I couldn’t believe I’d told that woman she was gonna be my wife. Marriage had never crossed my mind before her. She told my mama that shit and now Stephanie couldn’t let it go.

She was coming tonight, and I was finally going to meet her little boyfriend. I still wasn’t happy about that, but according to my sources, he was a good guy. A square ass nigga, but a good guy. I guess my mama was done with the criminals. She seemed to be happy and, that was the only reason I held off on approaching that man before now. He was gonna know what was up tonight, though.

Me and Maceo smoked about half the blunt before he started getting impatient.

“Aye! Y’all hurry the hell up, now!” he yelled down the hallway.

“Watch your ass get cursed out.”

We’d been here for at least an hour, and they’d been getting ready for several before that. I heard the door of Salima’s bedroom open before I heard Shar’s mouth.

“Nigga you don’t rush perfection! You want us to walk in that place looking busted or do you want a bad bitch on you your arm? Sit your ass there and wait cause that’s all you’re gonna do anyway.”

I stifled a laugh as she slammed the door. “She’s got a point.”

He waved me off. We sat there for another ten minutes before the door finally opened and we heard heels clicking across the floor. Salima and Shar appeared looking good as hell. My baby wore a long, strapless, black sequin gown that hugged her curves. Her braids were pulled into a bun and jewels glistened on her ears, neck, wrists, and fingers. Her face was free of makeup, but she never needed that shit anyway.

She strolled over to me with a smile.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“You look beautiful.”

I slid my arms around her waist and pulled her into my chest. The scent of her perfume had me burying my nose in her neck to sniff her. She always smelled so damn good.

I looked over at my brother who was eyeing Shar in a way I’d never seen before. He was just staring at her, and she was blushing like hell. I chuckled to myself. The nigga was in awe.

In his defense, she did look beautiful. Her hair was done in loose curls. Her dress was a strapless, all white gown with a deep split up the side. Like Salima’s, it hugged her curves, and she was dripped in diamonds too.

I tapped Salima so she could watch the exchanged. She turned in my arms and giggled as she looked on.

“I’d say somebody is speechless,” she whispered.

“You gon’ say something or not, bruh?” I asked, finally breaking his stare.

He shook his head and looked around at us. He shot me a middle finger before stepping toe to toe with Shar and peering down at her. Much to my surprise, he leaned in and kissed her.

“You look beautiful,” he said, cupping her chin.

Shar smirked. “Thank you, Daddy. I spent your money well, didn’t I?”

Ol’ tricking ass nigga, I thought to myself.

He grinned as he grabbed her hand. “Y’all ready to go?”

“Yes. I hope this isn’t a stuffy ass event. I wanna shake my pretty ass in this dress.”

“Trust me, it’s lit.”

We filed out of the apartment and head downstairs to where our cars were waiting. I hoped they had fun tonight because after this, we had business to attend to.

W hen we pulled up to the venue, there was already a ton of people filing inside. Maceo and I parked in our reserved spaces up front and hopped out to get the girls. Hand in hand, we headed into the elaborately decorated space.

One thing about my family, we could throw a party. Our charity events always grossed at least a million in revenue. I wasn’t sure if it was because people feared the name, or if they genuinely fucked with the cause, but I didn’t care. The city came out to support the function, and all funds went to a worthy cause.

In light of the recent pedophile ring we took down, tonight’s proceeds were going to the families of the children we found. I was sure we would raise a good bit of money. Every member of the Dillinger clan donated $50,000 so far so it would only go up from there.

Inside was just as packed as I expected it to be. People from all walks of life were in the building looking like money. From mom and pop store owners, to your friendly hood pharmacist, to the mayor, there was a little of everybody.

Maceo and I led the girls to my family’s section of tables. Most everybody was already here dressed in their finest threads. We made our rounds speaking to everybody.

“Don’t you look fly, old woman?” I said to my grandmother.

She playfully mushed my head as I pulled her to her feet.

“You are gonna get enough of calling me old,” she sassed as she cupped my face. She kissed my cheek and then did the same to Maceo. “My boys look so handsome!”

She peeked around us at the girls, and her smile widened.

“Salima… you look beautiful, baby. You would have given me a run for my money in my younger days.”

Salima blushed as she moved to hug Grams. “Thank you, Mrs. Dillinger. You looked quite stunning yourself.”

“Thank you, darling.” Her eyes moved to Shar. “Now who is this pretty young thing?”

“This is Sharina Gladden,” Maceo answered, grabbing her hand. “She’s Salima’s best friend.”

“Oooh! So, you’re the one my grandson is dating, but not dating?” Grams asked with a smirk.

Maceo kissed his teeth. “Come on, Grandma.”

Shar laughed. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Dillinger. Maceo talks about you all the time.”

“All good things, I hope.”

“Mostly about your cooking.” She gently patted Mace’s stomach. “Your baby sure can put it away.”

“He sure can,” came from several people at the table.

He rolled his eyes as he pulled Shar toward some open seating. I went moved to greet my mama and her little boyfriend. They were seated next to my father and Maddie, and that man did not look happy that she was here with this guy.

“How you doing, beautiful?” I asked, pulling her to her feet.

“I’m good, baby. You look so handsome.”

“‘Preciate it.”

“Salima. Honey, you look flawless.”

“Thank you, Ms. Stephanie. You are working that dress, girl!”

My mama did a little twirl, and I frowned when I saw that her entire back was out.

“Ma, where is the rest of you dress?”

“With the seamstress. Don’t start your shit, Stanley.”

I kissed my teeth as she reached for that nigga’s hand and pulled him to his feet.

“Stanley. Salima… this is my boyfriend, Aaron Michaels. Baby, this is my son and his girlfriend.”

Aaron smiled and extended his hand. I was hesitant to shake it until Salima elbowed me.

“It’s very nice to meet you both. Your mother has told me alot about you.”

“Has she? Has she told you I ain’t too happy knowing she’s been dating you for this long and I haven’t met you?”

Salima pinched my arm. “Stanley.”

Aaron chuckled. “She has. I wanted to meet you sooner, but I respected her wishes to keep our relationship private until she was more secure in us.”

I frown. “What are you doing to make my mama feel insecure?”

“Stanley, stop it,” my mother warned me. “Aaron has been a perfect gentleman the entire time we’ve been dating. I just wanted to be sure he’d be around for a while before I introduced him to you. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

I gave her a side eye, then him. “You care about my mama?”

Aaron nodded. “Very much.”

“You know I’m gonna look into you, right?”

“You don’t have to do that. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know about me.”

“Nah, that’s not gonna suffice for me. I don’t know you, so I don’t trust you and I don’t play about this woman. We’ll talk though.”

My mother rolled her eyes. “Go find a seat, Stanley What are you gonna do with him, Salima?”

Salima giggled. “I don’t know Ms. Stephanie. I’ll think of something.”

She winked at me. I spoke briefly with my father before we grabbed a seat with Maceo, Shar, and the rest of my siblings. They were already talking shit, and we jumped right in with the conversation. It started getting a little loud before my grandmother turned around to shush us.

It wasn’t long before my father took the stage to give his welcome speech. When he was done, the servers made rounds bringing out the food. As we ate, there was barely a sound made, that’s how you knew that shit was good. By the time we were finished eating, Salima was ready to work the food off.

As good as she was looking, I offered to work it off her in a different way, but she laughed at me.

“I got you when we get back to my place. I wanna dance, baby. Please!”

She gave me that innocent look, and of course, my ass caved. Wed made our way out to the dance floor along with Maceo and Shar just as the DJ put on “Juicy” by Vedo and Ari Lennox. I didn’t listen to no shit like that, but when my baby started grinding her thick ass all up on me, I said fuck it.

I grabbed that muthafucka and dance back with her. Maceo and Shar were damn near dry humping. I knew they had to be fucking the shit outta each other.

“Get a fucking room,” I said to them.

The both grinned and flipped me off. I felt Salima’s finger to the side of my face. She turned me to face her.

“You need to be focused on me, not your brother and my bestie.”

She turned around and put her ass right on my dick.

“Mmm, mmm, mmm. What was I thinking?”

She giggled as she continued to roll and wind her hips to the beat of the song. The DJ decided to throw it back with “After Party” by Koffee Brown. The dance floor was flooded with people.

The vibe felt like a backyard barbeque. There wasn’t any bullshit. No drama. Just people coming together to have a good time for a good cause. After what seemed like forever, Salima said she needed to go to the bathroom. After grabbing their clutches from the table, they headed toward the back where the bathrooms were. Me and Mace sat our black asses down.

“Bruh, I’m tired as hell already,” he said, gulping down his drink. “I ain’t used to all this damn dancing.”

Jaeda laughed. “You could have fooled me. You and Shar looked good together.”

“Yeah,” Mia agreed. “As much as I wanna be a hater, I can’t be. Y’all make a cute couple.”

“We ain’t no damn couple.”

“Bullshit!” we all said.

He waved us off. “Aye, how are you feeling about Ma’s boyfriend?”

I kissed my teeth. “I don’t know. She looks happy and shit, so he might be a’ight.”

Kerrion laughed. “Yo’ daddy gon’ bust a blood vessel if he mean mugs that man any harder.”

“Nah, that’s Mia’s daddy tonight. You better go tell him to chill out before yo’ mama fucks him up.”

She rolled her eyes. “My mama is grown. She knows who she’s dating.”

“Maddie’s fine ass can do a whole lot better,” I said.

She frowned. “Ewe.”

“What? You know your mama fine. Don’t even act like that.”

“It’s weird hearing y’all comment on her looks. All of y’all call each other’s mothers Mama or Ma, but my mama is just Ms. Maddie.”

“We love your mama,” I assured her. “We just grew up in each other’s houses, so it came naturally.”

Mia shrugged. “I guess. I’m gonna go see if she wants to dance before we end up fatherless.” She excused herself from the table.

Jaeda stood to follow. “Since I’m dateless, I guess I’ll see if Daddy wants to dance, too.”

She too left, leaving my brothers and I alone. While they talked amongst themselves, I scanned the room. All of a sudden, I had this feeling, I couldn’t shake. Something was off. I knew myself well enough to trust my gut.

I saw Shar rushing through the crowd toward us, but Salima was nowhere in sight. Her absence had me on my feet and moving toward Shar with my brothers on my heels. They didn’t ask any questions, they just moved.

The closer we got, I realized Shar had something in her hands. It was Salima’s clutch.

“What happened!” I snapped.

She was frantic and crying. It took her a second to catch her breath before she could speak.

“The… the line to the bathroom was long so we went upstairs to one of the other floors. I was using the bathroom, and she was fixing her edges cause she sweated them out. When the door opened, I didn’t think anything of it. Then I heard a struggle before her bag hit the ground. By the time I got out of the stall, she was gone!”

She started crying hysterically.

“I looked for her and I couldn’t find her!”

I grabbed her by her shoulders. “Take me where you were.”

She nodded frantically before leading us in the direction she’d just come from. Not only was my blood boiling, but my fucking chest hurt. If something happened to Salima, I was gonna burn this fucking city to the ground.