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Chapter Fifteen

Shayna

“You sound stupid as hell, Sean.”

I slammed the dishwasher shut, spinning on my heel as my brother lounged at the kitchen table like he wasn’t talking about robbing Kilo.

“I’m talking strategy,” he said, calm as ever. “Ain’t nobody gone get hurt. We in, we out, and we get what we need.”

I crossed my arms. “You mean steal from Kilo.”

“I mean, get what’s owed. You were the one taking care his seed all them years. You were the one who held it down solo while he sat up in a cell. He owes you.”

“You don’t know shit about what he owes me and taking it won’t make the situation better.”

He pushed back in the chair, arms folded behind his head, looking like a devil in sweatpants. “I know he got cash, properties, a whole damn empire. And you sitting here waiting on him to figure out if he wanna claim his kid.”

“He just found out,” I snapped.

“It’s been long enough.” Sean said smugly.

“You gone let him take his sweet time while we sit around hoping he’ll step up?” he said. “That’s wild, Shay. You better than that.”

My nails dug into my arms. “You don’t get to push me into this mess just because you’re broke and lazy.”

He stood slow, posture sharp. “You forget who was buying diapers when Liberty was a baby? You forget who was there, taking her back and forth and picking her up from school and shit?”

I glared. “Don’t act like you saved me. She’s your niece. You should want to do those things for her. Everything you did me had a string attached.”

“And it still does,” he snapped. “I need this. We need this. If Kilo won’t step up, then we snatch what we can and move.”

“You rob him, Sean, and it’s over. There won’t be any chance at nothing. He’ll come for you. He ain’t the type to let shit slide.”

Sean took a step closer, lowering his voice. “You think I’m scared of that nigga or his brothers? Fuck them niggas.”

“You should be,” I said coldly. “You don’t know what you’re walking into.”

He paused for a second, just long enough for the tension to stretch.

“Too late now,” he muttered. “I already talked to my people. We’re doing this shit soon.”

“Sean—”

He grabbed his keys. “You either with me or you in the way, Shay.”

The door slammed behind him before I could even say another word.

***

The next morning…

I stood at the edge of the hallway, arms folded, eyes locked on Sean as he stalked the living room. Hoodie up, voice low, phone pressed to his ear like he was calling in a pizza instead of planning a gah damn heist.

“Nah, we slide through the back. No cameras. I already scoped it,” he muttered. “Hit the stash, bounce. We good.”

My stomach flipped. I stepped into the room, heat rising under my skin. “You serious right now?”

He held a finger up, eyes still on the floor. “I’ll call you back.” He hung up like my voice was irritating him.

“You really planning to rob Kilo?” I said, stepping in front of him.

He grabbed a water bottle from the kitchen counter and cracked the cap like this was just another Tuesday. “I told you what it was. I’m done talking about it.”

I couldn’t believe this shit. “You know what kinda death wish you’re signing up for?”

He leaned on the counter and scoffed. “That nigga ain’t invincible, Shay. I don’t give a fuck who he is. He acting real casual about a kid that might be his? Like he ain’t got no responsibility? Nah. He gone feel something. One way or another.”

I walked up on him, ready to knock his head off his shoulders. “And what happens when he finds out it was you? You think he ain’t gone come for your ass?”

“I hope he do.” He smirked. “Shit, at least then we’ll have his attention.”

“You sound insane,” I snapped. “You gone blow up everything. Me, Liberty—”

“―Nah, don’t do that,” he cut in. “You been hiding that girl for nine years. Don’t put that on me. I’m doing what needs to be done.”

“You’re doing what benefits you . Ain’t shit about this for Liberty.”

He stepped forward, right in my face. “I fed that little girl. I had her back when nobody else did. So yeah, now I need that energy back. Kilo’s rich. He got properties, cars, all that.”

“You acting like some small-time corner boy,” I said, disgust in my voice. “Like this ain’t gone bring heat you can’t handle.”

“I been in heat, Shay,” he growled. “Ain’t nothing new.”

He started pacing again, more agitated. “I’m in and out before he even know it happened. You ain’t gotta do shit but shut the fuck up.”

“Wow,” I muttered. “So that’s what I am now? A fuckin’ accomplice?”

He turned on me, furious. “You act like I owe Kilo something. That man ain’t lifted a finger for Liberty. Ain’t paid a dime. I’m the one who stepped up.”

“And you think robbing him is the answer?”

He shrugged. “If he don’t respect his kid, he gone respect loss.”

I stared at him, heart thundering, hands shaking. “You gone get us all killed. That man don’t play games.”

“He better not. ’Cause if he start one, I’ma finish it.”

I stepped back like his words slapped me. I didn’t recognize the man in front of me. My big brother, the one who used to teach me how to ride bikes and walk me home from school? Gone. This version of Sean was twisted by resentment, greed… and fear.

“When’s it happening?” I asked, dreading the answer.

He grabbed his phone off the couch and walked to the door like it was nothing. “Tomorrow night. Stay out the way, Shay.”

He paused, hand on the knob, then looked back at me with a smirk that made my skin crawl.

“You better figure out what side you on,” he said. “Use that nigga before he toss you like trash.”

Liberty was excited about finally meeting her father and now her dumb ass uncle was about to make damn sure their reunion ended in blood.