Page 83 of Steel

“We not gon’ talk about the elephant in the room?” Smoke asked. “I know we all see that shit.”

“Whatchu mean?” I asked.

“Nigga, why does your baby mama look like your baby mama?

Maceo shook his head. “I wasn’t gonna say shit, but I see it too.”

The rest of them nodded in agreement.

I shrugged. “I guess I have a type.”

“Nah, nigga,” Smoke said. “You were definitely trying to replace her with a lookalike.”

I frowned. “No, I wasn’t. Okay, they look somewhat alike, but they have different personalities. Y’all are reading too deep into this.”

They all raised their hands in mock surrender.

“I know y’all aren’t sharing a moment without me,” Jaeda said, pushing through the circle.

Smoke kissed his teeth. “Look at you. Always wanna be a part of a brotherly moment.”

“Go to hell, Devin.” She turned to me and pulled me into a hug. “I’m so proud of you, Kerrion. Nayelli is a lucky little girl.”

“I got some words for her mama,” Deuce said, looking around for Neha.

She and Dinah were sitting with the girls, looking like they were having a deep conversation.

“What are they yapping about?” Deuce asked with a frown as Romi got up to hug a tearful Neha. “They being too friendly with her, and I don’t like that shit.”

“She’s telling them her story,” Jaeda answered. “I’m still mad she hid my niece, but I get her state of mind at the time. Hear her out. Don’t be a dick.”

“Yeah, okay. We beefin’ until further notice.”

Her warning went in one ear and out the other as he pulled out his phone.

“Baby. Cut that conversation short and tell ol’ girl to meet us in the house.”

Salima looked over with a frown. I couldn’t hear what she was telling him, but her face told me she was being serious.

He kissed his teeth. “Okay, baby. Damn.”

She hung up the phone and spoke to Neha, who looked in my direction. Nervousness was written all over her face as she stood and headed for the house with Dinah right behind her. My father and brothers, with the exception of Quaid, followed behind her with me on their heels. Neha stood at the door waiting. Dinah stood beside her with her arms folded and a frown on her face.

“Just so we’re clear, ain’t no ganging up on my sister,” she said, looking at the men in front of her. “Y’all might have each other, but she’s got me, and baby, I’m an army of one.”

Maceo grinned. “Yeah, my wife will like you. We just wanna talk to her. You can relax.”

“Come on in here,” Pops said, reaching for Neha’s hand.

She was hesitant to take it but finally grabbed it. He led us down the hall and into the meeting room. We all took a seat as Neha and Dinah looked around the space.

“If this ain’t some mafia type shit,” Dinah mumbled.

Pops chuckled. “Not the mafia. But I know a few.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“I’m assuming Steel told you what our family is by now?”