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“Good, make sure he stays that way.”
She shot him a nasty look which War ignored. “I’mma come get him next weekend and let him spend some time with Kirsten and my mother.”
She scoffed. “Oh, they’re claiming him now?”
“They never denied him. I did.” Before Neece and JoJo left the hospital, War made sure to get the proof he needed. A family blood test to ensure JoJo shared his DNA. War wouldn’t be responsible for a lie so if JoJo wasn’t Merritt’s son, Neece would have been on her own. Turned out there was a familial match which meant JoJo truly was Merritt’s son. There were no other male siblings or cousins Neece could have slept with to give JoJo the DNA that flowed through his veins.
“Right, because you don’t trust me.”
“I don’t trust anyone, Neece. Don’t take that shit personal,” he muttered.
“I cheated on Merritt because he cheated on me. I’m not a terrible person, War.”
His calm demeanor remained intact. “I’m not accusing you of being one.”
“You sure, because doing a DNA test on my son, Merritt’s son, is damn sure a silent accusation. My relationship with Merritt wasn’t perfect but I would never be so low to put another man’s baby on him. I’m not that fucked up.”
“Your word don’t mean shit in the grand scheme of things, Neece, but you know that. You know how I function. I needed proof. All this…” His eyes circled the kitchen, signaling the house she lived in. “Ain’t cheap. I got eighteen years of making sure JoJo has what he needs. I wasn’t leaving that shit to chance. I needed to know.”
“It’s not your money,” she spat in anger.
War chuckled lightly. “It’s not yours either. Merritt made sure it didn’t end up in your hands for a reason, Neece.”
She was still bitter Merritt never gave her access to any real money. When he was alive, she lived good. Monthly deposits kept her in labels and jewels and riding around the city in lavish whips but while Merritt was wild and reckless with his life, he was smart with his money.
War taught him well. Merritt had investments and kept cash outside his home and away from the woman in his life. Merritt left enough behind that Neece and JoJo would be set for a while and he left the rest up to War to invest. Cali was on the list of people Merritt wanted him to take care of if War followed the plans left behind by his cousin but he knew he wouldn’t. Cali’s well-being would fall on his shoulders now.
“More proof you didn’t trust me. He only did that because you told him to.”
“And if I hadn’t then what? His accounts would be empty, right?”
“Fuck you.”
War didn’t react to her spiked emotions. He never did. Neece had reason to be angry. She also needed to accept her life was the way it was and arguing with War wouldn’t change that. He had shared custody of JoJo. Another precaution he put in place to ensure whatever man caught her eyes after Merritt died couldn’t convince Neece to keep JoJo from his side of the family.
He lost Merritt and refused to lose JoJo too, so War paid for their living expenses and in return, he had fifty-fifty shared custody of his baby cousin. She wanted the money and lifestyle and if sharing her child guaranteed that lifestyle, she was more than willing to agree.
The thought of his role in JoJo’s life had him thinking of Cali. How would she feel? He was helping to raise a child of Merritt’s that Cali hadn’t been aware existed.
“I’mma head out. I’ll get JoJo Friday and keep him over the weekend. He’ll be back on Sunday. Don’t get missing.”
“Right, because whatever War wants he gets.”
What I want is Merritt to be able to raise his son.
“Just make sure he’s ready. Come lock up.”
With his final demand, War moved through the house to leave. Neece was behind him but kept a safe distance to control her anger. War paused at the door with his hand on the knob. He lowered his eyes briefly before his gaze landed on Neece over his shoulder.
“You seeing anybody?”
“Is that any of your business?”
War laughed darkly. “Answer the fucking question.”
“Nothing serious.”
He tossed his chin and proceeded to open the door.
