20
Chapter Twenty
Kilo
Liberty was talking my ear off from the second I picked her up. She had her little bag clutched to her chest, her legs swinging from the backseat like she couldn’t sit still if her life depended on it. Mel sat up front, turned sideways with her arm draped over the seat, smiling like she couldn’t help herself. I’ain say much, just taking it all in. The sound of Liberty’s voice, the way she laughed, the way she looked at Mel like she already trusted her. That shit hit somewhere I wasn’t ready for.
“Do you think my mommy will let me come again next weekend?” Liberty asked, eyes wide as she looked between the two of us.
Mel glanced back at her. “That’s up to your daddy, baby.”
Liberty beamed, kicking her feet again. “I like being with y’all.”
I tightened my grip on the wheel. That shit wasn’t supposed to feel like a punch to the chest, but it did. All that time lost… because somebody decided I wasn’t supposed to know she existed. Mel reached over and squeezed my hand once before letting go. Just enough to ground me.
“Your grandma is gone love you,” Mel told her. “Your cousin, too. They’re a lot, though. Loud and bad.”
“Like Uncle Buck?” Liberty grinned. “He’s funny.”
I huffed out a breath. “Don’t hype him up.”
“Uncle Buck said he’s gonna teach me how to keep the fuck niggas away,” she added proudly.
Mel raised a brow. “Did he now?”
“Yeah. He said we didn’t hang around those kind.”
Mel laughed. “That sounds exactly like him.”
“I’m gone fuck that nigga up. I’ain know he told her that shit.”
We pulled up to my parents’ house, and before I even cut the engine, Liberty was unbuckling herself. Mel gave her a look, then reached back to help her get her things.
“You ready?” I asked, opening the door.
Liberty giggled and grabbed my hand the second she hit the ground. Her little fingers curled tight around mine, and for the first time in a long time, I felt… settled.
My mama opened the door before we even knocked.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” she breathed, hand going to her chest. “You must be Liberty.”
Liberty nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
My mama smiled so wide I thought she was gone cry.
Inside, it was loud, like always when everybody got together. Laughter, voices overlapping, and something frying in the kitchen. The entire crew was there. Pops was sitting on the couch with Jet climbing all over him. Jace and Keenan posted up by the game console. Sophi in the corner with Kasha’s parents, holdingcourt like usual. Everybody paused when they saw us come in. In a manner of seconds, Liberty was swept up in hugs and hellos. She met everybody, one by one, and didn’t miss a beat. She was polite, curious, and bold in that sweet way little girls could be when they felt safe.
“Where the girls at?” she asked after a while, hands on her hips.
Buck leaned down next to her. “Ain’t none, shorty. Just a bunch of bad ass lil’ niggas. Get used to it and learn how to fight if you already don’t.”
Liberty just laughed.
Stacks came over and gave me a look. “She’s already fitting in.”
“I know, right,” I muttered, eyes never leaving her.
“She likes Buck,” Mel said, coming up next to me. “Lord help us.”
