Page 8 of Steel

“I missed you,” she said, snuggling him against her.

“You just saw him yesterday.”

“KJ, why is your daddy in our business?”

She took a seat next to me and pulled the half-eaten plate to her before continuing to feed him. She was my babysitter for the day, so she’d come to scoop KJ up.

“I packed his bag already, Jae,” I said, standing to grab my energy drink.

“Okay. We’re gonna work on sign language today. Quaid found this program for babies, and I wanna try it with him.”

I smiled. My brainiac sister and her equally brainiac husband loved teaching these kids new things. We’d come a long way from snatching that nigga up for her. I hated to admit it, but he was a good dude, and the perfect person for her. They loved doing corny shit together, but it made them happy. She found her twin flame.

“Have fun,” I said.

“I can’t wait to take him to Comic-Con this year. What do you think about being Baby Groot, KJ?”

“That lil’ tree looking nigga?” I asked.

“Yes. He would be so adorable.”

I walked over and took KJ from her. “Unhand my baby. You got both of us fucked up.”

She laughed. “Steel, he’s gonna have fun.”

“You’re gonna scare him. Niggas be walking around there looking weird and shit. Gon’ traumatize my boy.”

She rolled her eyes. “He won’t be traumatized. I won’t let him see anything scary. Quaid already got our tickets. It’s me, him, Jaiden, Korri, and KJ. You should come.”

“Nah, I’m good.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing.”

“And I don’t care to find out.”

She kissed her teeth. “Whatever. Let me finish feeding him so we can go.”

“I’ma go shower and get dressed so I can head out with y’all.”

“Okay.”

I kissed my son before giving him back to his auntie and left the kitchen. Upstairs, I showered and made haste in getting dressed. I had five one-hour blocks of self-defense classes starting at ten and an after-school class for kids. The kids were my favorite class to teach.

I loved watching the progression of their confidence and abilities. I learned to fight at a young age. Niggas used to think that they could fuck with us because of our last name. Everybody had to prove they weren’t scared of a Dillinger. Our father told us a long time ago that people wouldn’t like us just because of that.

We were born into a world that would judge us before they really knew who and what we were. There had always been rumors. There was always some secret beef or animosity. My siblings, cousins, and I never really went looking for trouble askids. It just seemed to find us, and when it found us, it was up. We’d always ridden hard for each other, and nothing would change that.

My studio, KD Defense Academy, had been rated number one for three years in a row. It was one of the things I was most proud of. So many people walked through my door, bruised and broken, but walked out with a renewed sense of self and confidence. It was some beautiful shit to see, especially with my kids.

A lot of them talked to me about things going on in their lives, and most of the time, it was bullying. I hated that shit. While I didn’t condone violence with them, I told each of them they had every right to protect themselves against clear and present threats.

For that reason alone, I offered more than self-defense.

I had a team of two counselors, a social worker, and a private police officer. Many clients come in seeking self-defense because of a significant other, spouse, or abusive family member. I extended the extra services for special cases like that.

Fully showered and dressed, I headed back downstairs. Jaeda and KJ were on the couch watchingMs. Rachel. My baby loved that happy ass lady. He would grin the whole time he watched her on TV.

“I’m ready to go,” I said, opening the door.