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“I don’t know yet, but I need to check a few things out first.”

Before I even thought about letting Shakaylen leave this house or go anywhere by herself, I needed to make sure shit was clear. I knew David, and after the way shit went down at the auction, I didn’t trust his ass to just take that loss and move on.

If David was somewhere plotting, I needed to know before he made a move on her.

“What type of things?” Kendric asked, lifting a brow.

“I need to make sure shit safe. I’m not letting her go back out there just for something to happen to her ass.”

Kendric nodded. “I hear you. You want me to be on the lookout?”

“Nah. I’m gone use one of the niggas we been training. Give one of them a chance to prove himself.”

I already had somebody in mind who’d done well in training. I’d keep him on gathering information and make him report straight to me. He wasn’t going anywhere near David.

“You think that’s the right move?” Kendric asked.

“Yeah, how else they gone learn how to do they job?” I looked over at him. “Plus, too many people know who you are. If David got somebody watching, your ass hanging around ain’t exactly low-key.”

He thought about it for a second before nodding.

“Aight, bruh. Just let me know if you need me.”

“I will. And good looking out for staying here with shorty.” I nodded toward the stairs.

“No problem.” He laughed as he stood up. “But you better get her ass under control.”

A slight smirk pulled at my mouth. “I got plans for that. But right now, I’m just trying to keep her ass safe.”

“I feel you. I’m finna head out, though. I got some shit I need to take care of.”

“Aight, bet.”

We dapped each other up, and I walked him to the door. Once he was gone, I locked up behind him and headed upstairs.

I needed a shower and some comfortable shit on before I did anything else.

After finding something to wear, I went into the bathroom and turned the shower on. Once I finished, I planned on making something for me and Shakaylen to eat.

It had been a minute since I’d cooked. Most days, I didn’t have the damn time, and cooking for somebody else damn sure wasn’t part of my usual routine.

But tonight, I had the time.

I finished my shower, dried off, and threw on something comfortable before heading downstairs to start cooking.

I decided on baked barbecue chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I pulled out what I needed and got to work, checking the chicken while I put the sides together.

Once everything was done, I fixed both of our plates.

She could come down and eat whenever she got tired of being mad at me.

I set her plate to the side, grabbed mine, and took a seat at the island. After saying my grace, I started eating.

I was a few bites in when I heard soft footsteps coming from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw shorty making her way down the stairs.

“You hungry?”

“A little bit.”