Page 98 of All In

“You look like you about to nod headfirst into this table.” Najee huffed out a tired laugh.

“This what twenty-four hours awake straight look like.”

“I know.” She grabbed his hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles.

“Thank you, baby.” Something softened in his eyes as he pulled her close and planted a kiss on top of her head. Silence sat between them briefly before he reached for his fork and thought better of it. “When we get home, I’m going to stay downstairs for a while.” Jackie frowned immediately. “No.”

“Baby.”

“No.” Despite looking exhausted, he smiled.

“I figured you, Max, and MJ need some time.”

“We can all spend time together,” she tried to reason.

“And we will.” His voice softened. “But y’all got a lot of catching up to do.”

Jackie looked away because she knew he was right. She just didn’t like it.

Najee reached over and gently pulled her chair closer until their knees touched. He took her hand and waited until she looked at him. “Hey,” he said quietly. “I’m not going anywhere, you hear me. I meant what I said. I’m all in. I’m building a lifewith you and hopefully making one too pretty soon,” he said, touching her stomach. “I love you, Jackie Brown.”

“I love you too, Najee.” Jackie was just about to lean in for a quick kiss when she felt a small tug on the sleeve of her overgarment. “Auntie Jackie.” The moment shattered instantly. Jackie looked down. Micah stood beside her chair, small fingers wrapped around the hem of her sleeve. “Yes, baby?” His face was scrunched up in genuine distress. “Fat Daddy trading on me for that boy.” Jackie blinked. Then followed his gaze across the room. Max sat practically glued to MJ’s side.

A smile immediately tugged at her mouth. “Baby, that’s his big brother.” Micah frowned harder. “But he been with him all morninggg.” Najee immediately looked away. His shoulders shaking. Jackie pointed at him. “Don’t you start.” That only made it worse. Micah folded his arms. “He ain’t even play with me today.” Jackie laughed. “Come here.” Taking his hand, she led him across the room. “Micah, meet my son and your big cousin MJ.” MJ smiled immediately and held out his hand. “What’s up, young bull?” Micah ignored it completely and wrapped his arms around MJ’s waist. MJ looked down, caught off guard. Then slowly returned the hug. The entire table laughed. “Dang,” MJ said.

“We hugging already?”

“Yep,” Calvin called out. “You family now.”

On the other side of MJ, Max sat quietly beside him, finishing another waffle. Syrup covered the front of his Spider-Man pajamas. Jackie narrowed her eyes. “Who gave you another waffle?”

Max froze. “I did, Ma,” MJ confessed. “But I split it for him.”

“Give me that tablet and when you’re finished, I want you to wash those hands and go play with Micah while you can, because we’re leaving soon.” Max slid out of his chair and followed Micah toward the other side of the room where Imani and Sevynnewere playing. MJ stood and stretched. Jackie still couldn’t get over how tall he’d gotten. “You tired?” she asked. MJ yawned before pulling her into a side hug. “Mom, you got little.” Jackie laughed. “No. You got huge.” That earned a grin. MJ looked around the room, taking everything in. “Mommy, what is this place? It feel like a castle.” Jackie laughed. “Well, you ain’t too far off. More like a stronghold.” MJ nodded slowly, still looking around. Then his expression turned more serious. “Seriously, Mom. Who are these people?” His voice dropped a little. “And why everybody got Dracos and bow ties?” Jackie laughed so hard she nearly snorted.

“Boy, hush.”

“I’m serious.” Jackie followed his gaze across the room, then pointed toward the far end of the table. “You see that tall handsome drink of water sitting over there?” MJ twisted his face. Jackie ignored him. “That’s Dr. Nigel Amin-Rashid. Or Mr. Najee, what Max calls him.” MJ looked toward Najee, then back at her. “That your boyfriend?” A smile touched her face. “Yep.”

“He a doctor?”

“Yes. He’s a psychiatrist.”

“Okay, Mom. I see you.”

Jackie could do nothing but smile. MJ looked back toward Najee again, then around the room. “And these people?” Jackie followed his gaze. A warmth settled in her chest. “They are his family,” she said quietly. Her eyes drifted around the room before coming back to her son. “These are the people who brought you home to me.” MJ didn’t say anything right away. He just stood there beside her, one arm draped loosely around her shoulders while she rested against his side.

For a long moment, they just watched the room together. After a while, MJ spoke again, voice low. “I’m glad you not by yourself no more, Ma.” Jackie closed her eyes for a second and leaned into him. “Me too, baby.” She was just about to saysomething else when she felt MJ’s body suddenly go still beside her. His arm tightened around her shoulders. Jackie followed his gaze across the room.

Standing near the front entrance was Uncle Ant, talking to Montana with two large duffel bags in his hands. Even from where she stood, Jackie knew exactly what was inside those bags. Thebounty.

MJ’s jaw tightened.

“What is he doing here?” he asked, voice low and sharp. Jackie felt her stomach drop. She had been so caught up in having her son home that she hadn’t even thought about Big Ant still being around. She hadn’t seen him in months. Part of her wanted to walk over there and confront him for what he’d been doing to Kormia, but he was also the man who’d brought in the tip that led them to MJ. And the situation between him and Kormia was complicated, convoluted, and fucked up.

So, she tabled it for another day. Still, she hated the sight of his snake ass. “He’s actually the one that provided the intel that led us to you,” she said quietly. “What?” The question came out sharper than before. MJ stared across the room at Big Ant long enough that Jackie felt her stomach tighten. “Ma.” Something in his voice made her look at him. “He lying.” Her stomach dropped.

“What you mean?” MJ looked back toward the front door.