Page 49 of Kissed By the Trillest Thug 2

Exactly what I’d done. As I followed Maliah through the foyer, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d ever be able to walk through this house without feeling the weight of it sitting on my shoulders.

“Mama, we’re back,” Maliah called as she disappeared toward the kitchen.

I barely had time to take another step before Mr. Browne appeared in the hallway. Our eyes met, and neither one of us spoke. He nodded toward the back of the house.

“Come on.”

I was hesitant to follow behind him, but I already knew where we were headed: to his office. The place where fathers had hard conversations with the men who wanted to love their daughters. Only this conversation was about a lot more than love. He nodded for me to close the door behind me when I stepped inside. Mr. Browne took a seat, leaned back in his chair, and folded his hands together across his stomach.

“So, if I’m opening my front door back up to you…” he paused, “there are two things I need from you.”

I nodded once while finding my way to one of the chairs that stood on the opposite side of his desk.

“I’m listening,” I said while I took a seat.

“The first one is simple.”

His eyes stayed locked on mine.

“Who was with you when you robbed me?”

The office fell quiet. I already knew that question was coming. But it wasn’t something that I could answer. After a few seconds, I shook my head.

“No disrespect, Mr. Browne,” I paused so that I could choose my next words carefully, “but I’m sure you wouldn’t fold on one of your brothers either.”

His expression never changed, so I continued.

“I can’t give you that.”

For a long moment, he just looked at me. Then he nodded once.

“I figured that’s what you were going to say.”

He leaned back in his chair again.

“The second thing,” his voice was just as calm as before, “I need to know that if I welcome you back into this family, thestreets are behind you. I’m not asking if you’ll slow down. I’m asking… are you done?”

I didn’t even have to think about it.

“I am.”

The answer came easily. I had really turned my life around since finding out that the auto shop belonged to him. So, I started explaining how life was for me now.

“School’s going better than I ever expected, and my part-time job has been good to me. I like having something honest. I don’t want that life anymore.”

Mr. Browne studied me for several long seconds. Finally, he nodded.

“Quit.”

My brows pulled together.

“My job?”

“Yeah.”

He sat forward and rested his forearms on the desk.

“You’ll come work for me. You’re in automotive school. Come work at my shop.”