Page 99 of All In

“He been there all week.” Jackie frowned. “Where?”

“With my dad.” The room around her suddenly seemed quieter. MJ shook his head. “He even came down South a few times to see him.” His eyes never left Big Ant. “Ma, he was the main one coming to see my dad when he was on the run.” Jackie’s stomach dropped. Because that wasn’t what Big Ant said. MJ looked back toward her. “He’s known exactly where we were the entire time.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

JACKIE

One Month Later…

Jackie’s gaze drifted around the room. The renovation had turned out even better than she’d imagined. Everything was exactly how she wanted it—the floors, the lighting, the open kitchen. Every detail had been intentional. For months she’d obsessed over paint colors, fixtures, countertops, and floor plans. Now that it was finally finished, she loved it. She really did. This house had been good to her. She’d raised her boys here, built a life here, learned how to stand on her own two feet here. Jackie always thought this house would be her forever home. Now she wasn’t so sure. The house hadn’t changed, shehad. Somewhere along the way, the survivor in her had made room for someone softer. MJ was home. Max wasthriving. Najee’s house was nearly finished, and for the first time in a long time, Jackie found herself looking forward instead of looking back. That truth still felt strange, like she’d spent years fighting to keep a chapter open. Only to realize her story had changed, and the best parts had yet to even be written.

Nef’s eyes continued moving around the room, taking everything in. “It’s cute in here.”

The compliment sounded reluctant, like it physically pained her to say it. Jackie smirked.

“Not cute though.” Nef rolled her eyes. “You know what I meant.”

“I do.” A brief silence sat between them now. It wasn’t heavy, but it carried its own weight. Weight neither woman really wanted to address. They had been estranged for many years. But they were far from strangers. They knew each other too well, and not at all. One of Nef’s daughters darted through the living room laughing before disappearing down the hallway. Both women watched her go. “You sure about this?” Nef asked. Jackie looked over. And there it was — the real question.

Not about the house, but about the why.

Because if Nef had anywhere else to go, Jackie would’ve been the last person she called. And if somebody had told Jackie a year ago, she’d be handing over the keys to her newly renovated house to Marcus’s wife, she would’ve laughed in their face. “No,” Jackie said. “I’m not that evolved.”

To her surprise, a small laugh escaped Nef. Real. “I figured.” “Good.”

For a moment neither woman spoke. Then Jackie sighed. “You looked out for MJ.” Nef’s expression shifted. Something quieter settled over her.Jackie thought about the pictures, the text messages, the little pieces of her son Nef had slipped her when Marcus would’ve given her nothing.

“You ain’t owe me that,” Jackie said. Nef looked away first. “He needed his mother.”

The answer came quick. Matter-of-fact. Like there was nothing else to say. Jackie nodded. “And right now your kids need somewhere stable to land.” Nef didn’t have a comeback. She just stood there, tired. Jackie recognized that exhaustion. She’d worn it herself many of days.

“Stay as long as you need to get on your feet,” Jackie said. Nef’s jaw tightened.

“We won’t be here long. Trust.”

“I’m sure you won’t,” Jackie replied. She held out the keys.

“But if you need longer, it’s here.” Nef looked down at them, genuinely uncomfortable.

Jackie dropped the keys into her hand. “I just ask that you respect my home and keep the energy good in here.” Nef nodded once, before tossing a little shade.

“Well, when you leave, we can start the good vibe process.”

Jackie didn’t even bother turning around. She just grabbed her purse and started toward the door. She was halfway there when the old Jackie tried to surface — the version that would’ve had something slick to say back. Instead, she let out a slow breath. Growth was ghetto.

“Nef.” Nef looked up, “I wrote my number on the fridge. If you need anything, call me.”

The room fell quiet. Jackie was to the front door when she heard it. “Thank you, Jackie.” The words stopped her. Because deep down Jackie knew she meant them. Jackie glanced back over her shoulder. Nef was still standing in the middle of the living room, keys in hand, pride and gratitude fighting for space on her face. Jackie nodded once, then let herself out. The front door clicked shut behind her. Jackie stood on the porch for a second and looked down the block. Everything looked the same—he rowhomes, the cracked sidewalks, the corner store. Juan was already on his porch drunk, arguing with somebody who wasn’t there. Nothing had changed.

“But if you need longer, it’s here.” Nef looked down at them, genuinely uncomfortable. Taking help was one thing. Taking help from Jackie was another. Jackie dropped the keys into her hand. “I just ask that you respect my home and keep the energy good in here.” Nef nodded once. Jackie grabbed her purse and started toward the door. She was halfway there when the old Jackie tried to surface — the version that would’ve had something slick to say, something sharp.

Instead, she let out a slow breath. Growth was ghetto. “Nef.”

Yet somehow, standing there, everything felt different. Maybe it wasn’t the neighborhood. Maybe it was her. A small smile tugged at her lips as she took a deep breath and started toward her truck. She was halfway there when a horn sounded behind her. Jackie turned just as Najee’s black Porsche truck rolled up alongside the curb. MJ sat behind the wheel looking entirely too grown for her liking.

Max was in the backseat with a cup of cherry water ice in one hand, red syrup covering his mouth and probably the backseat too. Najee sat in the passenger seat, calm as ever. Jackie stopped walking.Absolutely-the-fuck-not.She walked over and leaned down to the open passenger-side window.

“Najee, why you got him driving this truck?” MJ grinned.