Silence.
“I’ain tellin’ her nothing ’til I know the truth.”
“And you dumb as fuck to think you can keep this shit from Thugga and she not beat the skin off yo’ bald ass head. Yeah, that’ll definitely work.” Buck snapped.
“I’m not bringing chaos into our house on a maybe,” I shot back. “Mel is pregnant. She don’t need this shit unless it’s real.”
“And you think this shit won’t be stressful either way?” Stacks added.
“Look, I told Shayna to come back today. Alone. I’m gone let her know we need to do a DNA test before we move forward.”
Buck scoffed. “Should’ve had a swab in that kid’s mouth as soon as she told you that shit.”
“I didn’t wanna blow up in front of her if she’s tellin’ the truth.”
Stacks leaned forward. “So what’s your move if it is?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “That’s the fucked up part.”
“Mel gone lose her shit,” Buck warned. “You know that, right? Especially if she finds out from someone else.”
“She won’t,” I said.
“Yeah, aight,” Buck snapped. “I’m telling you now, if this shit spills over into my house I’m gone shoot both yo’ fuckin’ nuts off.”
“The fuck?” Stacks laughed. “The kinda shit that is to say? But nah, you need to say something for real, bro.”
“I will when it’s time.”
The intercom buzzed before anyone else could speak. Rachel’s voice came through the speaker, flat and direct.
“Franklin, your visitor is here,” she announced.
“Aight. Send her to my office.”
I stood up to leave, but Buck’s dumb ass stopped me.
“Don’t have your calls and shit directed here, nigga. I’ain gone be harboring yo’ lies and shit.”
I waved his ass off and walked out. I wasn’t about to go back and forth with his ass, or I’d be there all day.
“We’ll be here.” Stacks assured.
As I walked out, my stomach tightened. My whole life had been about control—managing shit, calling shots. But this? This was the one thing I didn’t know how to take control of.
***
When I stepped into my office, Shayna was already seated—hands folded tight in her lap, foot tapping like she was trying to keep her nerves in check. Her eyes met mine and I could see the regret spilling out of them before a word was said. I closed the door behind me, letting it click shut. I didn’t say shit right away. I needed to get my thoughts together. She looked damn near the same, just more grown. Softer around the eyes, hair pulled back, no makeup. Still had that nervous habit—chewing on the inside of her lip.
“Kilo,” she said, barely above a whisper.
I sat down across from her, arms folded.
“Why now, Shayna?”
Her eyes watered. “Because I didn’t know how else to do it. I kept thinking about her and what she’d ask one day. She deserves to know her father.”
I leaned forward, voice low. “You should’ve thought about that nine years ago. Not after you moved away. Not after my whole fuckin’ life changed. You never said a damn word.”
