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.
