“Aye, chill. My bad, big homie. I didn’t know that was your—”
“You saw she was pregnant, and that big ass ring on her finger, right?”
Kilo didn’t wait for a response. He gripped the back of the dude’s neck and slammed his head into the glass display with a force that made Daphne flinch and me move out the way so fast Ifelt my stomach tighten. The glass didn’t shatter, but it cracked. Kilo’s forearm was pressed against the guy’s throat now, pinning him against the display case.
“I’m two seconds from putting you through this glass.” He growled through his teeth.
The guy wheezed, trying to get Kilo to loosen his grip, but his actions only seemed to piss Kilo off more.
“Tell me again what you was gone rub?”
“Kilo,” I said, voice low but sharp. “Baby.” He didn’t budge.
Daphne moved in slow from behind the counter, heading to the front door. The other customers inside didn’t move or say a word. They knew who Kilo was, but it was clear this fool didn’t.
Kilo’s jaw clenched. His nostrils flared. Then he leaned in closer, eyes locked on the guy’s panicked face. “If I ever see you anywhere near her again…matter fact, if I hear your name in a whisper near my woman…I’ma crack yo’ skull so muthafuckin’ bad ya mama will only be able to identify yo’ bitch ass through her memories.” He released him just enough to let the man stumble, coughing hard and red in the face. “You got half a second to get the fuck outta here ’fore I change my mind,” Kilo finished, turning just enough to block me from view.
Daphne had the door wide open now. The man ran out like his soul was chasing him. Kilo didn’t speak at first. Just stood there breathing, hands flexing like he was still itching for contact. Then he turned back to me and walked over slow. Pressed both palms to my stomach like he needed to feel life after almost taking one.
“You okay?” His voice was tight.
“Yeah,” I whispered. “You?” He didn’t answer right away. Just leaned in and kissed my forehead.
Daphne crossed her arms behind the counter, calm like always. “You want me to pull the footage and delete it?”
“Already handled,” Kilo said without looking back.
After things went somewhat back to normal, he offered the people who were still inside their items for free. Once he was finished with everything he came to do, we left.
He drove in silence. One hand gripped my thigh like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.
“I’m gone black out every time when it comes to you. To y’all,” he finally said. “Ain’t no limit to how far I’ll go ’bout mine.”
“I know,” I said, stroking his wrist. “That’s why I don’t question your heart.”
“You got it, mama.”
***
We pulled up to Buck and Nic’s about twenty minutes later. Kilo helped me out the truck and escorted me up the steps with his hand nestled at the small of my back.
Benny answered the door butt ass naked with a Spiderman mask on. “RAHHHH!”
“Benny, didn’t I tell you to wait for me?” Nic fussed. “You see the shit I have to live with?” She fussed.
“He’s definitely his daddy’s son,” I laughed.
“I heard that shit, Thugga.” Buck appeared with that dumb ass smirk on his face. He dapped up his brother and playfully shoved me.
“I wasn’t whispering and keep yo’ nasty ass hands off me.” I popped him upside his head.
“Man, come on ’fore I do her lil’ ass something.”
Kilo laughed at his dumb ass brother before kissing me and following Buck. I followed Nic to the kitchen while the boys went out back. Benny ran through the house like he was being chased by demons. Nic sighed while I thought it was funny.
“I love my baby, but damn. He different.”
“He’s wild, but cute.”
