Page 8 of Certified Pressure 2

I caught the way her shoulders slumped when whoever was on the other end gave her the answer she didn’t wanna hear.

She closed her eyes, pressed her free hand to her forehead, and just stood there.

“So, there’s nothing you can do if Mama say she takin’ her?

That’s it? That’s the end of it?” Her voice cracked and I felt that shit in my own chest.

When she hung up, she stayed frozen for a second before spinnin’ on her heel and stormin’ toward the nurses’ station.

I followed close, my steps heavy and my fists already balled ‘cause I knew this wasn’t gon’ end clean.

She marched right up to the doctor that been checkin’ on Zurie and blocked his path before he could disappear into another room.

“Can I talk to you? Please,” she said, her voice quick and shaky.

The man adjusted his glasses like he already knew it was about to be one of those conversations. “Of course, Miss Monroe. What’s on your mind?”

Pluto grabbed hold of his sleeve like she was afraid he’d walk off.

“Don’t let them take my sister home. Please, I’m beggin’ you.

You can’t let them do it. She’s not safe with them.

My mama don’t care, my daddy don’t care.

She just had an episode and they’ll act like it’s nothin’.

Please, I’ll do anything, just don’t let them take her back there. ”

Hearin’ her beg like that fucked me up, ‘cause I could tell she wasn’t the type to beg nobody for shit. Her eyes were shiny, her lips tremblin’, and she had this wild desperation about her that made me wanna snatch the whole hospital up and bend it to her will.

The doctor sighed and pulled his arm free, foldin’ it behind his back.

“I understand your concern, truly. But this isn’t a decision I can make.

Once your sister is stabilized and discharged, we have to release her to her legal guardians, which are your parents.

The only way we can stop that process is if there is documented abuse or neglect that places her in danger, and in that case, social services would have to be involved. ”

Pluto’s face crumbled. “So you’re telling me there’s nothin’ I can do? I have to just sit back and watch them take her?”

The man hesitated, like he wanted to soften the blow, but he kept his tone professional. “Unless you’re prepared to involve child protective services, that’s the reality. I’m sorry.”

She turned her back on him fast, her hair swinging across her face, and her whole body tense like she was fightin’ not to fall apart. He gave her one last look before walkin’ away, his shoes squeakin’ down the hall until he was gone.

Pluto stood there, her arms wrapped around herself, thick tears slippin’ down her cheeks. She shook her head over and over like she could will the truth away, like if she denied it long enough Zurie would end up safe in her arms instead of in that fucked-up house.

I couldn’t just watch her crumble. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her, pullin’ her in tight against me.

She didn’t fight it. She just pressed her face to my chest and let it go, cryin’ soft at first, then harder, her fists bunchin’ in my shirt.

I held her there, my jaw clenched, and my own heart beatin’ wild.

Inside, I was on fire. I wanted to storm back into that room, drag her daddy out by his neck, and make him feel what it’s like to be powerless for once.

I wanted to cuss her mama out until she had no choice but to look in the mirror and see the failure she was.

But I didn’t move, ‘cause I knew it wasn’t about me.

It was about Pluto, and right now she needed me to be a wall, not a wreckin’ ball.

She mumbled against me, “I can’t lose her. She’s all I got. I can’t let them take her home. She won’t make it there. She won’t.”

I rubbed her back slow, pressin’ my lips to the top of her head. “I know, baby girl. I know. I got you, alright? I ain’t gon’ let you drown in this shit.”

The more I held her, the more I realized how fucked up this situation was for me too.

‘Cause if Zurie had to go back with them, then Pluto was gon’ stay behind to fight for her.

That meant I’d have to go back to Trill-Land without her, and the thought alone made my heart feel heavy.

I ain’t wanna picture my life without Pluto ridin’ shotgun.

I ain’t wanna think about pullin’ up to the estate and not seein’ her quiet ass sittin’ by my pool or catchin’ her starin’ at me like she was tryna figure me out.

I hated feelin’ like I ain’t have no control, but that’s exactly where I was. A nigga who could damn near move mountains back home couldn’t even protect the girl he wanted right here in front of him. I hated that. I hated her daddy, her mama…I hated the whole setup.

Pluto finally pulled back a little, her face streaked with tears, her lips swollen from bitin’ them too hard. “What am I supposed to do?” she whispered.

I cupped her face with both hands, wipin’ at her tears with my thumbs. “You fight, shorty. That’s what you do. You keep fightin’ for her, even if these people don’t hear you. And you don’t gotta do it alone no more, ‘cause I’m right here.”

She searched my face like she wanted to believe me, like she wanted to grab hold of the promise and never let it go. But her eyes told me she was scared, scared I’d leave, and she’d lose both me and Zurie in one breath.

I pulled her close again, lettin’ her breathe me in, lettin’ her know I was solid. I couldn’t fix everything, but I could give her that.

But in the back of my mind, I knew this shit was only gon’ get harder.

Crownview Suites Hotel

After finally leavin’ the hospital and orderin’ food from this wing joint, I checked into Crownview Suites with Pluto.

I ain’t want no half-ass place, so I drove us across town where shit was clean, where the hotel lobby smelled like money and the carpet ain’t have no stains.

I grabbed the black bag with my weed, cash, and Casamigos, plus the food, and we made it upstairs.

Pluto dropped down on the edge of the bed lookin’ beat, like the whole day had been draggin’ her under water.

I crouched in front of her, touched her knee, and told her I’d get her straight.

She ain’t argue, but just nodded, her eyes low like she barely had the energy to hold ‘em open. I dug through her luggage, pulled out a silky lil’ gown, her soap, and her lotion, then went in the bathroom and ran her shower till the steam started foggin’ the mirror.

“Come on, ma,” I called to her. “Go wash all that shit off you. I got you.”

She stood up slow, walked in without a word, and I shut the door behind her. I needed a minute too, so I grabbed the ice bucket and stepped down the hall. My phone lit again. It was Ka’mari. She had been blowin’ me up nonstop, so I finally answered.

“What?” I said, my tone dry as hell.

“Where you at, Pressure?” she snapped.

“I’ll be back tomorrow. Just chill.”

“So you really want me gone, huh? Out the mansion? That’s what you want?”

“Do what you feel is best.”

“That’s it? That’s all you got for me?” she pressed.

“I can’t do this shit with you right now,” I cut her off, then hung up. She wasn’t finna ruin this night.

By the time I got back, Pluto was sittin’ on the bed with a towel wrapped around her hair, her skin fresh and glistenin’, her gown loose across her body.

She looked tired, but she still looked like the baddest thing walkin’.

I kicked off my shoes, peeled my shirt off, dropped my chains on the nightstand, and slid in the bed beside her.

I broke down my weed, rolled it up, sparked, and let the smoke fill my lungs before passin’ it to her. She pulled soft, coughed a lil’, and smiled tired but cute as fuck. I grabbed the Casamigos, poured us both cups, and clinked mine against hers. We drank and let SportsCenter play low on the TV.

When I pulled her closer, she came easy, her body warm against mine.

I kissed her, soft at first, then deeper, lettin’ it build till I had my hand on her neck, squeezin’ just enough to make her gasp against my tongue.

I licked the corner of her mouth, slid it inside, and kissed her like I needed her to breathe.

She melted into it, her body loosening up, and her hand slidin’ over my chest.

“Damn, you soft as fuck,” I murmured, kissin’ down her stomach until I was between her legs. I pulled her gown up and spread her open, restin’ her smooth legs on my shoulders. I licked her pussy slow, draggin’ my tongue through every fold, then sucked on her clit till she gasped.

“You taste good, baby,” I muttered against her.

She moaned, soft and shaky, her hand grabbin’ at my head as I ate her like she was my last meal.

I licked long and deep, sucked her clit till her hips bucked, and slid two fingers inside her while I circled my tongue around that sensitive spot.

Her pussy was gushin’, sweet and wet, coverin’ my beard while I worked her over.

Her moans got louder, her back archin’ as she whimpered my name.

I loved seein’ her like this—vulnerable but still so damn strong at the same time.

I pulled back just to watch her face, her lip caught between her teeth, her eyes half-closed and glossy.

My beard was shinin’ with her juice, and I licked my lips slow just to taste her again.

She bit her lip harder, furrowed her brows and that shit had my dick throbbin’.

I slid back up, pulled her gown off the rest of the way, and sucked on her titties, my tongue flickin’ over her nipples while I squeezed her soft curves in my hands.

She gasped, diggin’ her nails into my waves, and I switched sides, suckin’ the other titty till she was moanin’ and pushin’ her chest up into my mouth.