Page 39 of Steel

“N-no.”

“No what?”

“No, sir.”

Kerrion tapped his cheek with a sinister grin on his face. “I’m glad we could come to an understanding.” He released Principal Joe and straightened his lapels. “Don’t let me have to come back here.”

“You won’t.”

Without another word, Kerrion unlocked the door and left the office. I sat there, stunned that he had really put his hands on this man. Principal Joe was visibly shaken after the encounter. He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie.

“I’m so sorry about all this, Ms. Malone. I assure you, there won’t be any further problems. You can take Nayelli home for the day if you would like.”

I stood and left the principal’s office. When I walked out, Kerrion was standing outside the door with who I assumed to be the other little girl’s parents. They, too, looked shaken up by him. The way he was speaking to them and the look on his face said he wasn’t playing any games with them. I watched as they nodded frantically, agreeing with whatever he said.

When he came back into the front office, he had a frown on his face as he approached me.

“I need to be added to her paperwork. Now.”

I nodded, not putting up a fight with him there. We both approached the secretary’s desk, and I told her what I needed. It didn’t take long to fill out the forms to add him as another emergency contact, approved visitor, and on her approved list for pickups. The secretary made haste in filing everything right in front of us, per Kerrion’s request. I decided to sign her out for the day.

“Come on, baby girl,” he said, reaching for Nayelli’s hand when we were done.

She eagerly went to him, and I followed behind them out of the front office. It was quiet as we made our way down the hall to grab her backpack from her class. The teacher gave us the rest of her work for the day, and we headed out of the school.

“I’m gonna take her for the day,” Kerrion told me as we walked to our cars.

I stopped. “What?”

“I’m taking her for the day. I’ll make sure she does her homework, and I’ll have her back by dinner.”

“Kerrion—”

He ignored me as he opened the front door of his truck and placed Nayelli inside. Closing the door, he turned to me.

“I’m not gonna argue with you. She’s my daughter, too, and I deserve to have time with her that isn’t under your watchful eye. She’s safe with me, Neha. I would never do anything to harm her.”

I wasn’t comfortable with this. My anxiety was already creeping in, and I didn’t like this feeling. He and I barely had a conversation. Most of the communication with Nayelli was directly through her. He’d been to the house three times this week, twice with his son. Nayelli was happy with him, and he seemed happy with her. I didn’t want to upset things any more than I already had.

“Fine,” I said, quietly.

He went into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. I watched as he fished out a credit card and handed it to me. Looking at the card, it had Nayelli’s name on it.

“What’s this?”

“I opened an account in her name. Whatever you need for her, get it. Ain’t no limit on this card.”

I looked down at the card, then back up at him before taking it. “T-thank you.”

“I don’t need thanks. I do for mine.” He opened Nayelli’s door. “Say bye to your mama, baby girl.”

She looked back at me with a blank expression. “Bye, Mom.”

I walked over to her and cupped her face.

“Mommy, stop!” she whined.

“Look at me, Nayelli,” I said firmly. She finally gave me her eyes. “Behave yourself. Call me if you need me. I love you.”