Page 13

Chapter Eleven

Nicari ‘Nic’ DeLuca

I knew Mel was going off before I even saw her face. Her voice was sharp, loud enough to echo off the damn skylight in the middle of the mall. I knew then that somebody had her fucked up.

I came around the corner with Kasha and Sophi right behind me, and that’s when I saw Mel, standing ten toes down in front of a chick I’ve never seen before. Curvy, too confident, fake sweet smile. I already ain’t like her.

“You got some fuckin’ nerve,” she said finally. “Walking up to me like that. Acting polite. Complimenting me. Then dropping that shit like it’s a muthafuckin’ gender reveal.”

“I didn’t mean it like that—”

“—You don’t mean shit,” she snapped. “You been hiding? Keep hiding.”

I didn’t wait. I stepped up right beside Mel, giving the stranger a clean look from head to toe.

“Problem here?” I asked.

The woman blinked at me before responding. “Excuse me?”

“I said, is there a fuckin’ problem? ’Cause whatever you said got my sister ready to pop you in yo’ shit.”

Sophi leaned in close to Mel’s side. “You alright?”

Mel didn’t answer right away. She was still locked in on the girl. “Don’t smile at me. Don’t speak to me. Don’t come near me. I don’t care what the hell you think you know or what your reason is. This? Ain’t the time or place.”

The woman shifted, looking uncomfortable now. “I didn’t mean to cause drama. I just—”

“—It doesn’t matter,” I interrupted. “You should go. Now.”

She hesitated, then turned and walked off without another word.

I turned to Mel, scanning her face. “You good?”

She shook her head and eyes tight. “I’m fine.” She lied.

“What did she say to you?” I asked.

Mel hesitated, rubbing her stomach. “Said she knew Kilo. That they had history… and her kid is his.”

Sophi’s mouth fell open. “Wait, what?”

“She said her daughter and my son are siblings.” Mel laughed bitterly. “Can you believe that shit?”

“Bitch, what?” Kasha hissed. “You serious?”

I clenched my jaw. “You want me to call Buck?”

“No,” Mel said quickly.

I nodded, but it took everything in me not to hit send, anyway.

“I don’t even know that girl,” Mel muttered. “Only reason I remember her face is because she used to be around when we were kids. But that’s it. She pops up now, acting like she knows me and trying to drop bombs in the middle of the damn mall.”

Sophi sat on the bench and motioned for Mel to sit. “Sis, take a breath. That baby don’t need this stress.”

“I know,” Mel said, but she was still fired up.

Kasha handed her a bottle of water. “Whoever she is, she bold as hell.”

“Bold and dumb,” I added.

“Yeah, well… she got the right one today,” Mel muttered. “I’m just pissed Kilo ain’t say shit if this is true.”

We all got quiet. Kasha looked between us. “You think he knows?”

Mel didn’t answer.

Sophi rubbed her shoulder. “Whatever it is, you’re not alone. And you know you don’t have to carry this by yourself.”

“Exactly,” I said. “Pregnant or not, we got you. And if anybody come at you sideways again? They’re dealing with all of us.”

“Even Buck?” Kasha teased.

“Especially Buck,” I smirked.

Mel finally cracked a smile, but I could still see the weight behind her eyes. “Thanks, y’all.”

We wrapped up the rest of the shopping trip on alert, sticking close to Mel and staying tight like we always did. But I was still pissed off. That bitch might’ve walked away easy this time, but something told me this wasn’t over. Not even close.

Before we left, we promised to check in later.

I couldn’t wait to get home and get in Buck’s shit because I know who knew about this shit and lied to my face.

***

The house was too damn quiet when I walked in. Benny was with his grandma for the night, meaning I didn’t have my usual tornado of energy bouncing off the walls. I kicked my shoes off and dropped onto the couch, and my phone already pressed to my ear.

“She really said they’re siblings?” I asked Mel again, even though I already knew the answer.

“Word for word. And with a straight face,” Mel replied, irritation lacing her voice.

I stretched out on the couch, with my arm propped up on the back cushion. “That shit sounds calculated to me.”

“It was. Ain’t no way she just ran into me.”

“She tryna get under your skin, and probably Kilo’s too.”

Mel sighed. I could hear her frustration clear through the phone. “And he’s been moving funny for weeks. That ain’t no coincidence, Nic.”

“No, it’s not.”

We sat in silence for a moment. I hated this for her. I hated that some back-in-the-day bitch had the nerve to pop up out the blue with some secret baby trope storyline.

“You good though?” I finally asked.

“Not really. But I’m pregnant. I can’t afford to fall apart right now.”

I nodded to myself. “You don’t gotta fall apart. You just gotta let us hold you up until you’re ready.”

“I’m ready about to beat that bitch ass,” I muttered.

Mel let out a soft laugh. “You sound like Buck.”

That made me smile, even though I didn’t want to. “I do, don’t I?”

“Thanks, sis.”

“You ain’t ever gotta thank me for that.”

I hung up and took a breath just as I heard the locks disengage.

Buck walked in like he ain’t have a care in the world—shoulders relaxed, phone in hand, locs hanging low. He shut the door and looked up at me.

“’Sup, Shorty,” he said, coming toward me for a kiss.

I gave him one, but it was tight.

He clocked it immediately. “Wassup?”

“You talk to Kilo today?”

He paused, brow lifting. “Why?”

I crossed my arms. “Because I was with Mel at the mall. And guess what happened?”

“What happened, Goldie?”

“Some ex bitch of Kilo’s popped up tryna be cute, then said that her daughter and my nephew are siblings.”

Buck let out a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. “Fuck.”

“You knew.”

“I told Kilo to handle that shit,” he said, voice rising slightly. “It ain’t my place to drag you in it.”

I stepped closer. “So you just thought it was cool to say nothing? Let her run into Shayna blind?”

“She was never supposed to run into her in the first place,” he snapped, then immediately reeled it back. “Look, I ain’t trying to fight with you, Goldie.”

I stared at him. “So you kept it to yourself. That’s what we’re doing now?”

“I ain’t keep it for shady reasons. I was protecting you.”

“No. You were protecting Kilo.”

Buck sighed again and stepped closer. “You’re my wife. I love you. But I wasn’t about to throw my brother under the bus when he was already spiraling. I told him to talk to Mel from the jump. I told him she deserved to know.”

“And yet here we are. Her finding out in the damn mall.”

“I get it. I do. But it ain’t my secret to tell.”

“You didn’t even give me a heads-up. I’m not asking you to betray him, Lincoln, but damn. That’s my sister.”

His shoulders finally dropped. The defensive wall cracked just enough.

“You right,” he said. “I should’ve said something. I just didn’t wanna light a fire that might’ve been for nothing. That girl might not even be his.”

“And if she is?”

“Then he gotta deal with that. But I told him he got one shot to fix this before it blows up in his face.”

I looked him over. “So you’re not lying to me now?”

“No,” he said.

I didn’t respond right away. Just turned and headed toward the kitchen.

He watched me walk off, then called out, “You still mad?”

“I’m not mad,” I said over my shoulder. “But I damn sure ain’t done.”