Page 10

The smell of grilled steak and seasoned potatoes hit Krys the second she stepped into Eddie’s house, balancing a small bag from Nike and a box of gourmet cupcakes.

She didn’t even get a chance to call out before her 14-year-old half-brother, Lil Ed, came flying down the stairs, barefoot and wearing his gaming headset around his neck.

“Tell me you got ‘em!” he hollered, eyes locked on the bag in her hand.

Krys teased, holding the Nike bag just out of reach. “Now, what kind of big sister would I be if I didn’t?”

Lil Ed snatched it up, grinning as he pulled out the new Jordan 1 Retro Og’s she had promised him. “Yo, you the GOAT!” He twirled the shoes in his hands, admiring every detail. “Man, I’m flexing these on stream tonight. The chat ‘bout to go crazy!”

Krys arched a brow. “Not you more excited about the reaction than the shoes.”

Lil Ed grinned. “That’s content, sis! Gotta keep the channel fed!”

Krys chuckled. “Right. ‘Cause being the next Kai Cenat or CoryxKenshin is serious business.”

“Facts!” Lil Ed said, already holding his phone up, pretending to vlog. “Yo, chat, peep the kicks! My sis Krys came through clutch! Big W!”

Krys shook her head, amused, as Eddie walked into the room, laughing.

“Boy, if you don’t put that phone down for two seconds and greet your sister properly,” Eddie said, giving Krys a warm hug. “How you doing, baby girl?”

Krys exhaled, genuinely at ease. “Good, actually. Just came from Ma’s.”

Eddie led her into the kitchen, where Lauren was standing at the stove, humming to herself as she stirred a pot of pasta sauce, her waist-length box braids tied up into a bun, her manicure fresh, her presence effortless.

“Hey, baby girl!” she greeted Krys, coming over to hug her. “I was wondering when you were gonna make time for us.”

“You know I be busy.” Krys hugged her back, genuinely happy to see her stepmother.

She and Lauren hadn’t always been cool; back when Krys was younger, she saw her as “the other woman.” But over time, she had grown to love her. Lauren had never been the type to force a relationship or act like Krys wasn’t already a grown woman when she entered the picture.

Most importantly, she made Eddie better. That was something Krys had to respect.

Her step-siblings, Tyler and Layla, were seated at the table, engaged in a friendly argument over who was worse at driving.

“I swear, Layla, you almost took out that mailbox last week!” Tyler said, throwing his hands up.

Layla rolled her eyes. “Oh, but when you backed into Dad’s truck, we were just supposed to forget that?”

Krys chuckled as she slid onto a stool. “So…neither of y’all need to be behind the wheel. Got it.”

Tyler groaned. “Man, I’m never living that down.”

Lauren turned, smiling warmly at Krys. “You want some pasta? I made extra.”

Krys smiled. “I ate at Ma’s, but I’ll take a small plate. I ain’t turning down food.”

Eddie leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “So, what’s new in my daughter’s empire?”

Krys nodded. “Davis Freight is thriving, running like a well-oiled machine. Actually, better than ever. You made the right call passing it down to me, Pops. Everything is running smoother, numbers are up, and we even got some new contracts lined up.”

Eddie nodded approvingly. “That’s my girl. I never had no doubts.”

Lauren smiled, squeezing Krys’ hand. “You really stepped up. He brags about you all the time, you know.”

Krys returned a smile. “Oh, I know. My dad has been ‘humble flexing’ me since I took over.”

Eddie smirked. “Damn right. And what about all them properties? The apartments? No major headaches?”

Krys sighed. “Nothing I can’t handle. Actually…I just hired a new maintenance guy.”

Eddie arched a brow. “Yeah? The one Bruce sent your way?”

Krys took a sip of her drink, watching him carefully. “Yep. Kenyatta.”

Eddie’s expression didn’t change, but there was something behind his eyes; a knowing look.

The rest of the family, however, perked up immediately.

Layla leaned forward. “Kenyatta? Ooooh, that name sound dangerous.”

Tyler grinned. “That’s your new man or something?”

Krys rolled her eyes. “He’s my employee.”

Lil Ed snickered. “That’s what they all say at first.”

Lauren grinned, but Eddie cleared his throat, cutting through the teasing. “He know what he’s doing?”

Krys nodded. “Yeah. He knows his way around fixing things. But…he’s fresh out.”

Eddie exhaled through his nose, nodding slightly. “Bruce’s boy, huh? Yatta…yeah, I remember him.”

Krys narrowed her eyes slightly. Her father’s tone was unreadable.

“You know him?” she asked.

Eddie nodded slowly. “Yeah, I know him. Grew up on the South Side. Used to be deep in the streets. Had his hands in a lot before he got locked up.” He glanced at her. “He keeping his head down?”

Krys tilted her head, debating on how much to say. “Seems like it. He just trying to stay out the way.”

Eddie studied her for a moment, then simply nodded. “Good. Hope it stays that way.”

Delayed reaction to the current conversation, Lauren raised a brow. “Wait, wait—who’s this maintenance guy?”

Krys waved it off. “Just some dude I hired.”

Lauren squinted at her. “Mmhmm. If I ain’t know any better, I’d say you got a thing for ‘some dude’.”

Krys rolled her eyes. “I do not.”

Lauren playfully cut her eyes. “You sure? You got that little look in your eye.”

Eddie chuckled. “Lord, here we go.”

“I don’t have a look,” Krys said, standing up. “I just came to eat and make sure y’all was still alive.”

Eddie smirked as he finally took a seat at the table. “And to deliver a message from Pam, I assume?”

Krys grinned. Here we go.

She put on her best Pam voice, tilting her head slightly. “ Tell that fool he still owe me for them tires I had to get back in ‘08, and don’t think I forgot about that time he stole my damn blender. ”

Eddie threw his head back, laughing. “I knew she was gon’ bring up the blender!”

Lauren shook her head, laughing. “Y’all so damn childish.”

Krys enjoyed the moment, laughing along with them, while the conversation flowed around her. Everyone was happy. Everyone was at peace.

Her balance.

And yet…thoughts of Kenyatta crept back into her mind. She barely knew him. Didn’t want to know him.

But something about the way Eddie called him Yatta, the way people spoke about him in half-warning, half-respect, stuck with her.

She told herself she wasn’t intrigued.

But she was lying.