Page 50 of Kissed By the Trillest Thug 2

“You serious?” I blinked.

“As serious as I was when I shot ya ass.”

A smile tried to pull at my mouth. The joke was too soon, but I really was grateful for the offer.

“I appreciate it.”

“Don’t.”

He pointed a finger at me.

“I ain’t offering because I like you.”

That made me laugh inwardly. I knew better than to crack a smile in this man’s face. He wasn’t finished.

“I’m offering because I need to keep a close eye on you, little nigga.”

A smile pulled at my mouth before I could stop it. Anybody else probably would’ve taken that as an insult. Coming from Mr. Browne… It almost sounded like an opportunity.

“I ain’t doing this for you.”

The smile slowly faded from my face.

“I’m doing it for my daughter.”

Mr. Browne leaned back in his chair before continuing.

“I raised Maliah to stand on her own two feet. I raised her to know right from wrong,” his eyes met mine, “and if she’s standing in my office asking me to give you another chance, then somewhere along the way I got to trust that I raised her well enough to make that decision.”

I listened without interrupting.

“That don’t mean I trust you.”

His words weren’t harsh. They were honest.

“It means I trust her.”

He let that settle before continuing.

“Now whether she’s right or wrong… only time gone tell us that.”

For a moment, neither one of us spoke. Then Mr. Browne stood from behind his desk and slowly walked around to the front of it. He folded his arms across his chest.

“So, understand something. You ain’t earning your way back because you talked to me. You ain’t earning your way back because you said the right things. You are here because my daughter walked into this room and asked me to see something in you that I don’t. Don’t make her look like a fool for believing in you.”

This whole thing was about Maliah. We were both two men who loved her to death in different ways. He was her father… he raised her, and I was the man trying to love and be with her. She was doing me a solid, trying to put me back in her father’s good graces, especially after everything that had happened. She hadtaken a chance on me, and I swear I had no intention of letting her down. And if staying on the straight and narrow is what I had to do, then I would.

“I won’t,” I answered with confidence.

Mr. Browne held my gaze for another second. Then he nodded once.

“I hope not. Now get the fuck out of my office, little nigga.”

He nodded toward the door. I smirked before getting up from my seat.

“Out of the house too, or?” I asked.

“This house is big enough. Just stay out of my fucking face.” He shooed me away toward the door.