Page 81 of Steel

“It is.”

While Nayelli’s aunts fawned over her, I felt her uncles’ eyes trained on me. They all looked at me with frowns. I swallowed hard. If looks could kill, I’d be dead. Based on what I now knew about this family, . . . there was still time for that.

I decidedto stand back and allow Nayelli to navigate her way with my dad and brothers. Currently, they were introducing her to her cousins. She was all smiles as she got hugs from all of them. I think she was most excited to meet Korri since they were about the same age. I could see them becoming the best of friends.

The only person missing from this family introduction was Mia and my grandfather. Unfortunately, he passed away not long after Quaid and Jaeda got engaged. He fought a good fight, and when he transitioned from this life, we sent him off the right way. I missed that old man, and I knew Grams did too. She was holding it together well. I didn’t know how she was doing it, but she was.

When she spoke at his funeral, there was strength in her that I’d never seen before. She said she’d spent almost her entire life with a man that always put her first. He was a protector anda provider, and he gave her everything she needed to hold this family down with or without him.

“She is a doll, Steel,” I heard behind me.

I turned to see Grams walking up behind me. She looped her arm through mine and rested her head against my shoulder.

“Thanks, Grams.”

“So we aren’t gonna talk about how she and Donna could be sisters?”

I was quiet. I hadn’t realized it until she said something, but Neha and Donnacouldhave been sisters. Thinking back on it, that might have been what drew me to her in the first place. She felt familiar.

“Grams—”

She held up a hand. “That’s your business. Now tell me where she came from.”

I sighed. “I didn’t know about her. Neha kept her from me.”

“I see. So you’re telling me she needs to meet Becky from the Block?—”

I laughed. “Nah, Grams. She don’t need to meet the killa, okay? We good.”

“How? You’re over here being like your damn daddy with Maddie. She kept your child from you, Steel.”

“She did, and I’ve given her hell about it. We sat and had a conversation, and I understand why she did what she did. It’s a lot of trauma and conversations that should have happened behind her reasoning, Grams. It doesn’t make it okay, but I don’t wanna keep fighting with her and feeling all that anger. All I have goes into this business, this family, and my kids. I just want to be the best father I can to that little girl.”

“You love her, don’t you?”

“So much, Grams. You know we fuck with Smoke because he has all girls, but being a girl dad has been a different experience.The way she looks at me. It’s like even though we just met, she knows her daddy will fuck up the world behind her.”

Grams rubbed my arm. “I know you will, suga. You get that from your whorish father.”

I laughed. “Don’t talk about my daddy like that, woman.”

“I gave birth to him. I can call him whatever I want. Speaking of whores, here comes the other one.”

I looked up to see my uncle Blake strolling over.

“Nephew,” he said, dapping me.

“What’s up, Unc?”

“Ain’t shit. Quick question.”

“Sup?”

“Nigga, since when do you have another kid?”

I chuckled. “I found out about her a while ago, Unc.”

“And you’re just now bringing her by?”