Page 59 of Cuffed By Your Love

I kissed the top of his head and tried not to laugh too loud. “We’ll unpack that later.”

As I turned to head back to the truck, I spotted her.

Jonay.

She walked across the lot like a major plot twist. Her soft yellow sundress flowed in the breeze, and her skin was moisturized like a paid sponsor for Skin + Noir. She carried a lunch bag as if she were dropping off peace masquerading as a home-cooked meal.

“I brought y’all lunch as promised, cuties,” she said with a quiet smile that always made me want to kiss the corner of her mouth first.

Before I had the chance to tell my baby thanks, chaos erupted. The energy shifted, and that old fuckboy frequency slithered into the parking lot.

This clown Kam had on a beat-up graphic tee that said “Hustle or Starve” but was looking like he chose both. His slides were dragging, breath probably smelling like Hennessy, and feelings hurt.I will have to punish her with this dick later because there was no way my lady ever let this lame breathe on her, let alone get close enough to claim her fine ass.He was walking toward us like he had a point to prove but couldn’t spell it.

I gently lifted EJ into my arms and handed him to Jonay, then cautiously guided my baby behind me because I didn’t know what type of time this bitch ass nigga was on.

“Ohhh, so this what we on now?” Kam barked. “You really out here playing step mama to this bitch-ass nigga son? Butwhen I wanted a baby, you clutched your uterus like it was the last designer bag in stock. That’s why I cheated on yo’ dumb ass.”

I felt Jonay flinch. I saw EJ frown, confused. And I swore, the sun dimmed for a second.

I stepped up. “Watch your mouth, Kam.”

Kam zeroed in on me, laughed, and spat his venom. “What you gon’ do, Detective Edmonds? Write me a ticket? Arrest me for exposing the truth?”

“Nah, but I will make your jaw touch your spine if you disrespect her again.”

“Yo!” Kam barked, stepping in front of Jonay and pointing at me. “You couldn’t keep your bitch safe, so now you tryna take mine?”

I blinked… Reminding myself I was a public servant and couldn’t punch this nigga dead in his shit without repercussions. I let the words process. I let the rage marinate, trying to stay calm.

Jonay grabbed my forearm. “Elias. Please.”

Before I could respond, a teacher was already calling 9-1-1 from the front desk. Another ran to grab the director.

“Nah, I’m good,” I replied. Calm. Cold. Controlled. For now.

“My wife was murdered,” I said, my voice so low it sounded like gravel. “You gon’ wanna watch your mouth before it gets you fucked up.”

He smirked. “Oh, you mad now? You feeling something, piggy? You gon’ pull a gun like the rest of y’all coward ass badge boys?”

Then this goofy, dusty, pressed motherfucker did the unthinkable.

He mushed me, full palm to the forehead like I was a toddler needing correction, like my nigga Roland’s drunk ass did to Slim inThe Wood. Then this clown went around me and grabbed my baby’s arm. I heard her scream.

That was it. I saw red. I blacked the fuck out. I hit him with a right hook so hard the air cracked. His jaw folded like a lawn chair in a windstorm. He hit the concrete with a thud that made Miss Rhonda scream, “Oh my lordt!”

Jonay screamed. EJ looked like he was watching an episode ofPowerlive. “Did Daddy knock that man’s teefs out!”

Jonay stepped in front of me, chest heaving, eyes wide. “Elias, stop! Baby, please, not here!”

She was crying, panicked, holding EJ close like a mama lion, still trying to protect me while I was protecting her.

My heart was thumping like a war drum.

Kam rolled on the ground, bleeding out the corner of his mouth, talking about, “I’ma sue yo’ ass!” like he wasn’t the one who came on demon time and started all this shit.

Jonay turned to me, voice trembling and rambling. “I-I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I ain’t know he was gon’ pop up like this. Is he following me? I never wanted this kinda drama around you and your son. You don’t deserve this.”

I grabbed her chin gently and made her look at me. “Deputy Gorgeous, don’t say no dumb shit like that again.”