Page 38 of Certified Pressure 4
I stepped out back, pulled the half-smoked blunt from behind my ear, and lit it. The flame hit the end, and I took a slow drag. The smoke filled my lungs and gave me a second to think. The sky was dark as hell but quiet, and all I could hear was the faint sound of cars somewhere in the distance. I reached in my pocket, pulled out my phone, and hit Pressure’s line.
He picked up after a few rings, and before I could even say a word, I heard Prestyn cryin’ in the background. The lil’ nigga was loud too.
Pressure sighed heavy and said, “Man, I’m tryna talk and this lil’ boy actin’ like he been neglected all his life.”
I started laughin’. “Aye, boy, that’s that daddy life. You wanted it.”
“Shut yo’ ass up,” Pressure said, and I could hear him tryna bounce the baby or somethin’. “Nigga don’t never wanna sleep.”
“You sound tired as hell, fam,” I said, chucklin’ while blowin’ smoke toward the pool. “Where yo’ girl at?”
“She right here, takin’ forever to get the bottle.”
“Mm,” I said with a smirk. “You in daddy boot camp. Pluto got yo’ ass trained to go.”
He scoffed. “Nigga, I’ll hang up on you.”
That made me laugh harder. “A’ight, a’ight, I’m playin’.” I took another drag before lettin’ the smile fade. “But real talk, fam, some shit just went down today.”
Pressure got quiet for a second, then asked, “What happened?”
I told him about the park, about Toni’s uncle Darnell and that disrespectful ass son he had with him. “Nigga gon’ lift his shirt up, and show me his gun like he the only one that got it on him.”
Pressure didn’t even hesitate. “And you ain’t blow his shit off?”
I chuckled low, but it wasn’t outta humor, it was frustration. “Nigga, I ain’t have the chance to.”
“Man, fuck that. If it was me, I woulda let that bitch off.”
“Yeah, I know you woulda.”
He laughed, that deep, careless laugh he got. “You want me to fly out?”
“Nah,” I said quickly. “You got your hands full. Yo’ ass done already got shot up. I ain’t tryna put you in no shit while you out here changin’ diapers.”
“Bitch, I’ll still pop a nigga with one hand if I need to.”
I grinned, flickin’ ash off the blunt. “A’ight, Super Dad. Keep that energy.”
Pressure laughed again, and I could hear Prestyn still whinin’ in the background. “Aye, I’mma hit Kay and Blaq. They need to slide out there and stay close. Matter fact, hold up, I’mma put Renza on three-way.”
Before I could say anything, I heard the line click and Renza’s voice come in loud. “Man, why the baby sound like he beefin’ with you?”
Pressure snapped, “Shut yo’ dumb ass up.”
I was laughin’ now, and Renza joined in. “Boy, that nigga sound stressed. Prestyn got yo’ ass in a chokehold.”
Pressure said, “Fuck both of y’all. I’m dead ass.”
I was still laughin’ when he passed the baby off to Pluto, tellin’ her he’d be back. Then his tone changed. “A’ight, now for real. You shoot Renza that address. I want him out there tonight.You tell Blaqson to load up the jet and make sure he pack it up right. If a nigga act like he want it, give it to him.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Bet. Say less.”
Pressure paused before addin’, “You family, nigga. We don’t fold. You did what you was supposed to do, but we ain’t lettin’ that shit slide.”
That right there hit deep. I felt that same bloodline heat that always came when we talked like this. No matter where we was or what we had goin’ on, we always had each other.
We finally ended the call, and I tucked my phone back in my pocket. The blunt was almost out, so I flicked what was left into the grass. I felt better and even calmer, but I was still lit inside. I knew Pressure and them would move if shit went left, and that alone gave me peace.
