“Wild first. Cute second.” We laughed.
I told her about what happened at the dispensary, and she laughed.
“I’on know why I’m surprised. I have the worst one in my house and Stacks is running neck and neck. Kilo is just cold with his shit, though,” Nic asserted.
“Coldest I’ve ever seen.”
“He loves your mean ass, though.”
“Y’all gone stop calling me mean.” I rolled my eyes. “That’s why I love his big ass, though.”
Later, the guys came back in. Buck holding Benny upside down like a sack of potatoes while Kilo stood behind me, hand wrapped around my waist. Our love wasn’t loud or over the top, but it was present. We stayed a little longer before I got tired and ready to go home.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, Nic.” I hugged my sister, then my nephew. “Bye, Auntie baby.” I kissed his cheek before he took off running again.
“So, fuck me, huh?” Buck threw his hands up like he was offended.
“Pretty much.” I shrugged before laughing.
“That’s fucked up, Thugga. Get the fuck out my house.” He playfully nudged me until Kilo knocked his hand away.
“The fuck off my woman, Lincoln.”
“Fuck you, Franklin. I hope she suffocates yo’ big bald-headed ass in yo’ sleep.” He laughed. The only thing me and Nic could do was shake our heads because this was our lil’ family, and we loved it. Dysfunction and all.
3
Chapter Three
Kilo
The first thing that hit you walking into Vault was the energy. Thick, loud, charged like the air before a thunderstorm. The bass from the music rumbled under your feet. Money exchanged hands in the shadows. Drinks were being poured, dice were being thrown, and somewhere in the back, you could hear the occasional shout over a busted bet. Vault was Buck’s domain—grimy, dangerous, and thriving.
Tonight was fight night, and the real heat was downstairs in the basement where the fights took place. Me, Stacks, and Buck posted up near the VIP section. Nic and Kasha were seated with in their men’s laps while Mel was posted in mine with my hand rested on her belly.
“You see the way he dropped that hook?” Buck said, watching the ring. “Nigga got hands but no footwork. I’d bet my left nut he don’t make it out the second round.”
Stacks laughed. “That nigga ain’t making it out the first one, you ask me.”
I glanced over at our cousin, Sophi. She was sitting off to the side, fidgeting with the straw in her drink, biting the inside of her cheek like she was holding something in. She hadn’t smiled once since we walked in.
“You good, Soph?” I asked.
She looked up quick, like she didn’t know I was talking to her. “Yeah. I’m straight.”
“You sure? You been quiet as hell.”
She hesitated, then sighed. “It’s just… Malik gets out in a few weeks.”
All of us became alert at the sound of her bitch ass ex’s name rolling off her tongue. Buck responded first. It wouldn’t be right if he didn’t.
“That bitch ass nigga?” Buck leaned forward, voice sharp. “Say the word cuz, and he’ll never breathe free air.”
Sophi gave a weak smile. “I don’t want all that. I just… I don’t know what he’s thinking. He keeps thinking that we’re going to be together when he gets out. Like, why would he even think that’s an option?”
“You scared of that nigga?” I asked, keeping my tone level.
She didn’t answer. That told me everything I needed to know.
