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“How’d it go?” Smoke asked as she climbed into the backseat.

“About as well as you can imagine,” Aella snorted, shaking her head. “She wasn’t trying to hear me.”

“At the end of the day, you did what you felt you needed to do, and the rest is up to Brax. Don’t put the weight of your family’s drama on your shoulders, Elle.”

Chewing her lip, she leaned forward in her seat. “Smoke.”

“What’s up?” His eyes found hers in the rearview mirror.

“Before I say anything, remember that I rarely ever ask you for anything.”

“Here we fuckin’ go.”

“Just listen. I know we’ve joked about it, but tying myself to Cass might truly mean I won’t need you as a guard much longer.”

“And?” One of his eyebrows rose.

“And, if that happens, I want you to promise me you’ll spend that time looking after Brax.”

“She ain’t going for that.”

“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”

Smoke’s laughter filled the car. “You know you sound like your Pops right now, right? Think about how pissed you’d be if he put a detail on you without you realizing it.”

“Well, for the first time, I think I’m finally getting a glimpse of things from his point of view. Brax and I might not have the best relationship, but I do care about what happens to her. So please keep tabs on her from time to time. For me.”

Smoke clenched his jaw as he shook his head. “You know you’re the only person I’d do this for, right?”

“I do. And I love and appreciate you for always going the extra mile for me. It won’t be forever. Just until things die down.”

“I got you, Elle. But your sister has one time to trip on me, and I’m done.”

A smile touched Aella’s lips as she sat back. Smoke talked a good game, but despite his rough exterior, he had a good heart and felt more empathy and compassion for people than he’d ever show. Braxton was in good hands, which was enough to sate Aella’s concern, at least for the time being.

“What’s up, Ma?” Cassius called, letting himself into her home.

“Hey, baby,” she said, turning the corner with a wine glass in hand.

“I came to check if everything for the party was a go, but I see I might need to come back a different time,” he chuckled, kissing her cheek before sniffing her glass. “What you doing drinking first thing in the morning?”

She slapped his shoulder, signaling for him to follow her into the kitchen.

Upon stepping inside, Cassius was hit with the smell of an expansive breakfast spread on the island, which his mother’s best friend, Elaine, was picking at.

“Ah, see, now the wine makes sense. Where’s the rest of the Golden Girls’ alcoholic club?”

“I got your alcoholic, boy,” Elaine huffed, frowning at him as he pulled her into a hug.

Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket, Cassius fished it out, grimacing when he noticed Zelina’s name.

His mom’s eyebrows knitted at the look on his face. “Uh-oh. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he said, returning his phone to his pocket. “Why do you ask?”

“Please,” she rolled her eyes. “I’ve seen that look on your father’s face one too many times not to recognize it. Everything okay?”

“Yeah. It’s just woman problems. Another thing I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”