Page 16

Chapter Fourteen

Kilo

I sat on the edge of the bed, jaw locked, heart thudding like I’d just walked out of a war zone.

Mel’s words were still ringing in my ears.

Her voice full of hurt. Full of fire. She didn’t scream to scream.

She screamed because she was drowning in silence, and I’d been the one holding her under.

I didn’t chase her this time. I couldn’t. Not with everything crashing down.

My phone was buzzing on the nightstand. Buck’s name lit up the screen. I ignored it only for him to call right back.

“What?” I answered.

His voice shot through the speaker, loud and venomous. “Nigga, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

I didn’t answer.

“Thugga done got yo’ ass, ain’t it? I told you to handle that shit. But nah, you had-headed as fuck. Benny listens better than you. Not only did you get caught in yo’ fuckin’ lie, but my wife mad as fuck, like I’m the one moving reckless.

“Buck—”

“Nah, fuck that. Don’t call my fuckin’ name. You had weeks to tell Mel. Weeks to figure out what the hell Shayna really wanted. Instead, you sitting around looking constipated while everybody else cleaning up the mess.”

I gritted my teeth. “You think I wanted this shit?”

“You ain’t act like you didn’t. You let it fester. You act like ignoring the shit was gone make it go away. See how that shit worked out for yo’ dumb ass.”

My head dropped into my hands. I couldn’t say shit.

Buck’s voice dropped a little, but it was still sharp with intent. “You love her, right?”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “You know I do.”

“Then act like it. Right now, she’s feeling alone in her own house, and you got me looking like a goddamn liar in mine all because I was being my brother’s muthafuckin’ keeper.”

“I didn’t ask you to lie.”

“But you didn’t stop me either. But the crazy shit is, I’d do it all over again if I had to, just make me have to.” I couldn’t do shit but respect that. I’d be pissed too if his bullshit spilled over into my home.

Before I could respond, my phone vibrated again. Another alert flashed across the screen.

ALERT: MOTION DETECTED

“Fuck,” I muttered. “Somebody just tripped the alarm at the shop.”

“I’m on my way. Call Stacks.”

“You call him,” I said, already moving to grab my hoodie. “I’m out the door.”

“Kilo,” Buck said before I hung up.

“What.”

“You better start fixing this shit. You think Mel gone keep waiting ’round for you to get yo’ shit together? She won’t.”

Click.

I stared at the screen for a second before tossing the phone back on the bed.

I stood up, chest tight, mind wired. Anger, guilt, and frustration all felt like it was eating me alive.

But for now, I had something to focus on.

And whoever the fuck thought they could break into my dispensary?

They clearly hadn’t done their research on who they just fucked with.

***

I pulled up first, engine still humming as I parked right out front.

Lights from inside were dim, but the back alert on my phone said motion had been triggered in the storage area.

I killed the engine, stepped out, and scanned the building.

Everything looked untouched. But that meant nothing.

A minute later, headlights swept across the lot and Buck was pulling up.

He parked half up on the curb like he owned the block.

Stacks wasn’t far behind on his bike, engine growling low before he cut it off.

Buck stepped out with a sharp expression and headed toward me.

“This better be worth getting out my damn bed for,” he muttered. “Goldie already think I’m on some bullshit because of yo’ secret keeping ass.”

Stacks followed behind, eyes cutting through the shadows.

“What’s the situation?” he asked.

I nodded toward the building. “Back door alert. Motion triggered. Could be nothing, but I’m still gone check it out.”

Stacks nodded. “Let’s roll.”

We moved together, eyes scanning every angle. I unlocked the front and pushed the door open slow. Everything looked untouched until we reached the storage hallway. One of the crates had been cracked open.

“Let me go check the footage,” I said, heading to the back office.

We stepped in, and I brought up the security camera and rewound the footage from earlier. As the tape played, we all leaned in to get a good look. A figure slid through the back entrance. Skinny frame. Hoodie. But the camera caught just enough of his face when he glanced toward the side wall.

I froze. Buck leaned closer.

“Ain’t this some shit?” I muttered.

Stacks stared hard. “You know him?”

I nodded, voice low. “That’s Shayna’s brother.”

Buck let out a staggered laugh. “Nigga, you gotta be kidding me, right?”

“So this muthafucka runs up in your shit like we won’t recognize his bitch ass?” Buck barked. “Nigga, I knew that bitch brought destructive energy. She might be ’bout to gain a baby daddy, but she ’bout to lose a brother.”

I clenched my jaw. “I don’t know if she knew or not.”

Buck turned to me. “You better hope she didn’t, or yo’ ass gone be running a daddy daycare.”

Stacks stepped forward. “You sure it’s him?”

“I’d bet my life it is,” I said.

Buck started pacing. “Man, I been waiting to fuck somebody up. I’m past due. This nigga picked the wrong week.”

Stacks ran a hand over his beard. “This ain’t no random hit. This was a message.”

“And he sent it to the wrong muthafuckas,” Buck growled. “He’on know who he fuckin’ wit’, but he ’bout to.”

I watched them both, pressure building behind my eyes.

Then Buck added, “Oh, nigga. I should beat yo’ muthafuckin’ ass. Because of yo’ stupid ass, Goldie holding out on a nigga.”

Stacks laughed. “Damn, that’s fucked up. I been straight. Kash ain’t skipped a beat.”

Buck shoved him. “Nigga, I hope you lose feeling in yo’ dick.”

I shook my head but didn’t smile. “This ain’t just about Shayna’s brother robbing my place. This is about him thinking I won’t do shit.”

Stacks looked at me seriously. “So what’s the play?”

I stared at the screen, already plotting.

“We show that muthafucka who he’s dealing with.”

After making sure everything was intact and secure, I locked up and left with my brothers in tow.

I told them I would get with them later to go over the shit before we parted ways.

I guess Shayna didn’t warn her brother what kinda nigga I was, or he was just that stupid.

Either way, I was gone have fun showing his ass.

***

When I made it back home, the house was dark outside of the light over the stove and the light coming from the TV.

I walked further inside and found Mel curled up on the couch with a blanket half-draped over her belly.

One arm tucked under her head, the other resting across her stomach.

That tank top she wore earlier had ridden up just enough for her bump to show. Even in sleep, she looked mad.

I exhaled slow and stepped over to her, careful with my movements. I didn’t want to wake her, but I wasn’t leaving her out here either. Sliding an arm under her knees and the other around her back, I lifted her gently. Soon as her body left the couch, her eyes opened.

“What the fuck are you doing?” she snapped, voice hoarse.

“Taking you to bed,” I said calmly, ignoring the bite in her tone.

“Put me down, Kilo.”

I didn’t.

She huffed but didn’t fight, just clenched her jaw as I carried her upstairs. I kicked open the bedroom door with my foot and laid her down on the bed like she weighed nothing. Once she was settled, she turned her head away from me and pulled the covers up to her neck.

I walked over to the dresser, pulled open the second drawer, and grabbed a pair of boxers and some black basketball shorts.

“Where were you?” she finally asked.

I looked over my shoulder. “Dispensary. Got an alert. Someone broke in.”

She just stared, like she was tryna to figure out if I was lying or not. I stepped over to her and leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“I’ll crash in the guest room tonight,” I said low. “Give you some space.”

It took everything in me not to stay in there with her, but I knew she needed her space. I shut the door behind me, leaned back against it, and let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

This wasn’t how the night was supposed to end. Wasn’t how any of this was supposed to go.

Mel was hurting. And I knew I was the reason. But how the fuck was I supposed to fix it when I wasn’t even sure what I was dealing with yet? When all I had was a maybe?

Liberty.

That little girl’s name was starting to haunt me.

And Mel. Shit, the way she looked at me now… like I was a stranger she couldn’t trust? That cut deeper than any blade ever could. I ran a hand down my face and sat on the edge of the bed. Elbows on my knees. Head low.

Mel hated me. My brothers were on edge. And I had a possible daughter out there that I missed out on for nine years.

This shit was spiraling, and if I didn’t figure it out soon… I was gonna lose everything.