Page 43 of Certified Pressure 4
Her voice cracked like she was tryin’ not to cry. “They locked up. It was a shootout at the Airbnb. They took him, Renza, and Blaqson to jail.”
That woke me all the way up. I swung my legs off the bed, my heart beatin’ faster. “What you mean shootout? Is my nigga hit? Any of ‘em shot?”
“No,” she said quickly, snifflin’. “No, they okay. But… my cousin got killed. I can’t believe he’s dead.”
I ran my hand down my face and sighed through my teeth. My patience was gone before she even finished talkin’. “Man, fuck yo’ cousin,” I said low. “That nigga clearly came playin’ with somethin’ he couldn’t handle. ‘Lo ain’t wrong for protectin’ y’all. You can’t pull up on no real niggas and expect to walk away clean.”
Toni ain’t say nothin’. I could hear her breathin’, tryna calm herself. “I just don’t know what to do,” she whispered. “I don’t even know what jail they at. It’s either Ridgegate County Jail or Sable County Holding Unit.”
I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “A’ight,” I said. “Say less. I’mma find out. When I leave the crib, I’mma hit you for more details. They not gon’ sit in no cell while I’m out here free. I’m on that, for real.”
I hung up before she could say anything else and sat there for a second, my phone still in my hand, feelin’ that heat startin’ to rise in my chest. My brothers was in jail in a city that wasn’t theirs, and I was layin’ in bed. That wasn’t gon’ slide.
I turned and looked at Pluto sleepin’ next to me. I leaned down and kissed her cheek. She moved a lil’, her eyes flutterin’ open. “Pressure?” she said softly, her voice still sleepy. “What’s wrong?”
I kept my voice calm, even though everything inside me was boilin’. “Somethin’ came up with Kay’Lo,” I said. “I gotta head out of town for a minute.”
Her eyes opened a lil’ wider as she sat up, the sheet slidin’ off her shoulder. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I lied, watchin’ the worry start to form on her face. “Ain’t nothin’ major. Just some business I gotta handle. I’ll be good.”
She reached over and touched my hand, her fingers soft and warm. “Pressure, you need to be careful,” she said. “I mean it.”
I stared at her, and the way her eyes held mine like she could see straight through me. This woman loved me in a way I didn’t even think I deserved sometimes and for a second, I almost told her what was really goin’ on. But I knew how she’d get. She’d try to talk me out of it, tell me to let the lawyers handle it, tell me not to move the way I move, and I couldn’t do that. Not when it came to family.
I nodded. “I’mma be careful, baby. You got my word.”
She leaned in and pressed her lips against mine. It was soft, slow, and filled with everything she ain’t say out loud. When she pulled back, she whispered, “I love you.”
I smiled. “I love you more, mama.”
I brushed my thumb over her cheek before slidin’ out of bed. The floor felt cold under my feet as I pulled on my black jeans and a plain tee. I grabbed my watch and wallet off the dresser. When I turned around, Pluto was still watchin’ me, her hair wild and her eyes heavy.
“You gon’ come back, right?” she asked, her voice low.
I stopped, lookin’ at her again. “You know I am,” I said. “Ain’t nothin’ keepin’ me from you and my son.”
I walked over to the bassinet and looked down at Prestyn. He was sleepin’ with his lips parted, lookin’ peaceful as hell. I bent down and kissed him right on the forehead. “I love you, lil’ man,” I said under my breath. “I’ll be back.”
When I straightened up, Pluto was sittin’ up with the blanket pulled to her chest, still lookin’ at me like she ain’t want me to go.That look right there did somethin’ to me. I told myself I needed to move, but my feet wouldn’t listen. Instead, I found myself sittin’ back down on the edge of the bed, still fully dressed, starin’ at her.
She reached up and ran her fingers through my beard, her touch light enough to calm a storm. I took her other hand and slid my thumb across her palm while my eyes stayed locked on hers. Then I reached up and pushed her hair back from her face, lettin’ my hand slide to the back of her neck.
“I don’t want you to go,” she whispered.
I exhaled through my nose and shook my head. “I know, baby.” My voice came out lower than I meant it to. “But I gotta.”
She leaned forward, and I met her halfway. The kiss was deep with that ache we both felt. She ran her fingers through my beard again, tuggin’ just enough to pull me closer, and I let my fingers move up through her hair. The world outside didn’t exist for a second. It was just us, and our lips movin’ like we was speakin’ a language only we knew.
When I pulled back, I pressed my forehead against hers. “I love you, Pluto,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Her eyes watered, but she smiled through it. “I love you too, Pressure.”
I kissed her again, one last time, slow and gentle, like I was tryna leave a piece of myself right here with her. Then I stood up, slid my hand down her arm, and let my fingers linger on hers before finally lettin’ go. She watched me the whole time, and that made leavin’ even harder.
As I walked out the room, I could still feel the warmth of her touch, and hear her voice in my head. That was the kind of love that made a nigga move different, even when he was about to walk into war.
The hall was quiet as I made my way through the mansion. By the time I hit the foyer, my driver was already textin’ me,sayin’ the car was out front. I stepped outside into the night air with the smell of the jungle driftin’ behind me.
