Page 167 of When a Soul Cries

“Wait a fucking minute.”

Rome’s forehead creased deeper. “What now?”

I pointed at the baby so fast my whole arm shot forward. “WHAT THE FUCK?!”

My voice boomed through the living room.

The baby startled so hard that her entire little body jumped. She immediately pressed herself against Rome, her fingers tightening in his shirt.

Rome’s reaction was instant.

His arm wrapped more securely around her while his free hand moved slowly over her back. His head dipped toward her for half a second before his eyes snapped back to me. The look on his face could’ve killed somebody.

His jaw flexed.

“What the fuck, bro?” Rome hissed through clenched teeth. “Calm your loud ass down. You scared her.”

I stared at him.

Then I stared at the baby.

Then I looked back at him.

Not only was my brother holding a baby, but this nigga had just checked me for scaring her.

“Nigga, no.”

Rome’s nostrils flared. “Kai.”

“No.” I pushed myself out of the chair, still staring at the little girl. “I know that baby.”

That finally got his attention.

Rome’s expression shifted from irritation to confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I said I know that baby.”

“You don’t know no damn baby.”

“Yes the fuck I do.”

The little girl peeked over at me again before apparently deciding I was still too loud for her liking. She tucked her face underneath Rome’s chin.

Rome automatically adjusted her.

I caught that too.

My eyes slowly moved from the baby to my brother’s face.

“Hold on.” I squinted at him. “What the fuck was that?”

“What was what?”

“That little soft shit you doing.”

Rome looked down at the baby, then back at me like he genuinely didn’t know what I was talking about.

I pointed between them. “That. All this rubbing backs and adjusting people and shit. Since when you know what to do with a baby?”