Unbreakable

13

We get off at my bus stop in silence and I immediately start walking in the direction of my house with him one step behind me.

"Did I make you uncomfortable back there?" He asks me.

I glance up at him, surprised that he would ask me outright. 

"When I answered my son's call." He adds to clarify.

I give him a lazy shrug considering I don't know him well enough to make it a thing.

"You know, I'll be honest with you. I do think it's a little fucked up that you're out here, obviously handling your gang shit. While in the meantime, you're leaving your kid and your girlfriend?" I pause for a moment waiting to see if he will correct me but he just stares back thoughtfully, waiting for me to finish.

"alone to handle life on their own. I've been there before and it's bullshit. I just have very little respect for men that choose that life over their own family."

He nods his head silently as he seemingly considers his next words to me.

"Axel, my son, he's seven. He's smart as fuck. He knows that daddy handles business in order to provide for him and keep him safe."

I listen carefully as we walk noticing the way his tone changes when he speaks about his son. His voice is full of care. He sounds soft and it gives me the tiniest second of doubt that this man could be at the top of one of the most notorious gangs.

"His mom, Kayla, who is not my girlfriend by the way,"

He gives me the slightest hint of a smirk on his lips and I feel a blush creep over my face.

"She has addiction issues. She dipped out on Axel when he was around a year old. Since then I share custody with my mom since she's helped me so much in raising him. Kayla is back in the picture as of a year ago but only for supervised visits as she gets clean."

I look down at my feet, regretting the assumptions I made about the kind of man he was. Sure, I don't know him well enough yet, but he clearly loves his son.

"When I'm home, he lives with me. I make sure to always keep my business and personal life completely separate. I mean, I would put my life on the line a million times over for that kid." He sighs.

"I know what I do is dangerous as fuck. I'm sure that you think it's irresponsible. But I'm in control. I run my shit and it's pretty rare to find someone willing to test that."

I twist my lips into an embarrassed smile as he looks at me to gauge my reaction.

I have to remind myself that not every man is like Andre.

"I'm sorry, Malakai. I didn't mean to assume."

The smile he gives me in return nearly has me in a puddle on the sidewalk.

"My ex was involved with a lot of gang business out here. I tend to think the worst before anything else, because of him."

He shakes it off and puts a hand up to stop me.

"You don't need to explain yourself. I completely understand. I know of a lot of men that share my lifestyle that are not the best guys around."

I silently nod in agreement as we round the corner to my house. I find myself growing anxious as I decide whether to invite him in or not.

I'm sure nothing good could come from it. I glance in his direction and he gives me a sweet smile.

"How old are your kids?" He asks, jamming his hands in his pockets.

"They're two and five. And they're a fucking trip." I giggle as he nods like he already knows exactly what I mean.

"Is Axel your only child?" I look up at him as we arrive in front of my house and fiddle with my keys.