Page 57 of Riot

“Thanks,” I said to her.

“Yo,” I spoke to my brother.

“Took your sweet ass time,” Creed’s voice hit my ear.

“You know my house bigger than yours,” I laughed.

“Oh you got jokes. You callin’ me broke?” He laughed.

“Nah, but what’s up?” I asked.

“What happened last night? Rollo hit me up and said that you kidnapped some girl.”

“Nah, that is not what happened at all. So, at the party last night…” I told him the story of Boaz, Allure and how I got her out of there.

I leaned against the marble counter in the hallway as I explained everything to him.

“So Boaz and his son are under arrest right now…” I continued.

“You snitched?”

I scoffed. “C’mon, nigga. You know me better than that.”

“Just had to ask. I know I told you to grow up but I ain’t know how you were gonna take it.”

“She actually made the call before I could stop her,” I said. “But I had Von cover her trail. Ain’t nobody know where she is or that it was her.”

Creed sighed on the other end. “Boaz will make bail. Probably by the end of the week. You know how these muhfuckas move. He got enough money to grease a thousand palms.”

“I know,” I muttered. “That’s why we gotta get to him before he gets to her. ‘Cause if he finds her first? He ain’t takin’ her back. He’s killin’ her.”

There was a heavy pause. Then Creed said, “We’ll handle it. We’ll be ready. And Riot—real talk? I’m proud of you. You’re steppin’ up. You growin’ the fuck up, finally.”

I smirked. “About damn time, huh?”

“Yeah. Just don’t let your dick get you killed.”

“Never that.”

“I’ll be in touch. Talk to you later.”

“Aight.”

I lowered the phone, still half-smiling, then looked up to find Madeira standing at the end of the hallway. Arms crossed. Head tilted.

“What?” I asked.

She didn’t say anything at first. Just stared me down with that same squinted look she always gave me when I was doing some shit she didn’t expect.

“What?” I repeated.

“I haven’t seen you do something for a woman since Malia,” she said, voice soft but pointed.

My chest went still.

“She needed help,” I replied.

“Plenty of people need help. You don’t usually stick your hand out unless it’s for family.”

---