Page 25 of Certified Pressure 2

Ka’mari stepped closer until we was damn near nose to nose.

“Best thing you can do is pack your shit and leave. For real. Because if Pressure find out about this? Man, it ain’t gon’ be no fixing it.

Kay’Lo and Pressure are blood. They tighter than tight, twenty-six years in, and you gon’ be the one that ruin it?

” She shook her head like she pitied me.

“He might forgive Kay’Lo one day because hat’s family, but you?

He gon’ dog you, clown you, kick you out, and drag your name on the way out. ”

Her words stabbed at me, sharp and quick, and even though I wanted to tell her to shut the fuck up, I couldn’t because she was right.

I had come here for Pressure, really thinkin’ maybe it could be somethin’.

But once I saw him all wrapped up with Pluto, Kashmere, and even his messy ass ex standin’ right here, I realized I was never gon’ be that girl for him.

Kay’Lo gave me what Pressure wouldn’t. He gave me time, laughs, attention, and I slipped.

Still, I squared my shoulders. “Bitch, you ain’t gon’ scare me outta here. You think holdin’ that weak ass video over my head makes you powerful?“

Ka’mari’s smirk didn’t fade. If anything, it stretched wider. “Powerful? Nah… it makes me smart because if I gotta tell Pressure what you were doing with his cousin, it’s not gon’ end with you just leaving. It’s going to get ugly. Real ugly. And you know it.”

I hated that she was right. I hated how her words slid into my head and sat there, weighin’ heavy on my chest. I pictured Pressure lookin’ at me with that cold ass stare of his, the way he cut women off without thinkin’ twice, and I knew Ka’mari was right.

He wouldn’t give a fuck about my side of the story.

He’d see betrayal, and that’d be the end of it.

Not just that, his relationship with Kay’Lo would be ruined.

Ka’mari leaned in close, her whisper like venom. “So do yourself a favor and dip before I open my mouth. At least that way you leave with some dignity. Don’t make me expose you.”

I glared at her so hard my eyes burned. “Cool. I’ll pack my shit and go, but you don’t need to be all in my fuckin’ mix while I’m doin’ it.”

She stepped back, smug as hell. “Good girl. I’ll be waiting for you.” Then she spun on her heel and strutted down the hall like she already won.

I stood there, my fists balled, my heart poundin’ and fightin’ the urge to run after her and drag her ass across the floor. But I wasn’t that stupid. I had to think bigger than that.

I turned back toward my room, pushin’ the door open, only to find Kashmere approaching.

“What the fuck goin’ on, Toni?” she asked, her brows knitted tight, and her voice low but full of worry.

I shook my head, pushin’ past her. She followed me inside, closin’ and lockin’ the door behind us. I dropped down on the edge of the bed, feelin’ flustered and heavy, rubbin’ my face with both hands.

Kashmere came over and sat beside me. “Talk to me. What happened?”

I stared at the floor for a long second before whisperin’, “Me and Kay’Lo fucked.”

Kashmere gasped, her hand flyin’ up to cover her mouth. Her eyes went wide, and for a minute she ain’t even know what to say.

“And Ka’mari’s nosy snake ass recorded it,” I added, my voice breakin’ on the edges.

Kashmere dropped her hand, shakin’ her head in disbelief. “You lyin’.”

“I wish the fuck I was.” I rubbed my temples, tryin’ to keep from losin’ it. “She just showed me the video. She got me clear as day, moanin’ and all. And she talkin’ ‘bout tellin’ Pressure if I don’t get the fuck out this house.”

Kashmere exhaled slow, her face twisted in shock. “Damn, Toni…”

I leaned back, lettin’ out a heavy sigh.

“Look, I know I fucked up, and I can’t fix it.

I came here for Pressure, but he ain’t want me like that, so I fell for Kay’Lo, and now it’s all blown up.

I’m just gon’ leave before I do somethin’ crazy and kill that bitch Ka’mari, ‘cause I swear I want to. But if I stay, it’s gon’ be worse.

I already made a mess, and I ain’t tryna make it messier. ”

Kashmere’s eyes watered, like she really felt what I was sayin’. “You really gon’ leave?”

I nodded, quiet for a moment. “Yeah. It’s better this way.”

Silence hung between us for a minute, heavy and sad. Then I sat up straighter. “Put my number in your phone. I don’t want no ties to this place, but I need you to text me. And give my number to Kay’Lo too.”

Kashmere nodded quick. Then we both pulled out our phones and exchanged numbers. We stood up together, and she pulled me into a tight hug.

“I’mma miss you, Toni,” she whispered.

“I’mma miss you too, sis.”

She pulled away, wipin’ at her face before slippin’ out the room. I took a deep breath, headin’ into the bathroom to grab my stuff. I stuffed what I could into my duffel, then swung it over my shoulder. My heart felt like it weighed a hundred pounds.

When I walked back into the bedroom, Ka’mari was already standin’ by the door, waitin’, with a smug grin.

“Don’t say I never did nothin’ for you,” she said.

“Fuck you.”

“No thank you. I don’t want what Kay’Lo just had,” she shot back.

She then laughed under her breath, turnin’ toward the hall. “Come on. Let’s get you outta here before somebody sees you.”

I wanted to cuss her out some more, but I followed.

She knew this damn mansion like the back of her hand, movin’ through the dark like she belonged to the shadows.

We slipped past the corners, slid through hallways, and finally made it to the back door.

She punched in some code on the keypad and swung it open.

The night air hit me, cool and damp, and I realized this was real.

I was leavin’, and without at least saying goodbye to Kay’Lo.

Ka’mari walked with me toward the gate. She leaned over and whispered the gate code, then smirked again like this was all a game to her.

An Uber pulled up at the curb just as I reached the gate, the headlights bright against the night. I threw my bag over my shoulder and watched the gate slide open.

Ka’mari gave me one last smug look. “Bye, bitch.”

I ain’t even respond. I just walked through, my chest heavy, slid into the backseat of the car, and told the driver to take me to the airport.

As we pulled off, I looked back at the Jungle Estate gettin’ smaller behind me, my stomach twisted with regret.

I wasn’t scared of Ka’mari’s lil’ weak ass, but I knew she was right.

Stayin’ would’ve blown up everything, and I wasn’t tryna be the spark that lit that fire between two cousins.

So I left…