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.”
