“You think that’s what I do all day?”
“I don’t care what you do, but I do care how you treat your sister. She loves you and she’s sorry about what happened. Y’all need to talk.”
Talia rolled her eyes and smacked her lips.
“I know that y’all are still in the honeymoon stage, but trust me, Nina knew exactly what she was doing. She can play them mind games with you, not me.”
He sighed. “She feels horrible. Straight up. I’ve never seen her act like this before.”
Talia snapped her fingers. “You hit the head on the nail. ACT. Cus that’s exactly what the hell she doing.”
She couldn’t be swayed that Nina was genuinely concerned about her well being. None of her family cared.
For a moment, neither of them said anything until Talia laughed in a weak attempt to shake her emotions off.
“But don’t you worry. She’ll be aight. Nina been dramatic her whole life.”
He moved so damn fast that she didn’t have time to react.
His hand wrapped around her throat, not tight enough to choke the life out of her, but firm enough to remind her exactly who she was dealing with.
Talia gasped, her hands instinctively grabbing at his wrist.
“What the—”
“Listen to me.”
His voice dropped low to a calm and deadly tone. Time was money and he didn’t have much more to waste on this situation. He needed his baby back in good spirits, and if he had to be the bad guy, then that’s what it was.
“You’re going to forgive her.”
Talia’s breathing quickened, her eyes widened, not just from fear, but from the intensity of him being that close.
“Do you understand?”
She nodded quickly, her voice barely there. “Yeah.”
Jio tightened his grip just a lil’ bit.
“Your sister is gonna call you,” he continued. “And when she does, you’re going to answer and try to make plans with her.”
Talia swallowed hard. “Whatever.”
Jio studied her for a second longer before releasing her causing her to stumble. Talia struggled to catch her breath as she rubbed her aching neck.
“When it comes to my baby? Yes I am.”
Talia wasn’t Talia if she didn’t push just a little further.
“You love her… for real?”
Jio didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I do.”
His confession, which was laced with pride, surprised her more than anything else. Talia tilted her head, studying him.
“Damn,” she murmured. “I would’ve never expected Nina to go that route. Me? Yeah. Charis, hell no. But my baby sister… definitely not. I know it killed my mama to hear your name in her house,” Talia tittered.
“Thanks for the reminder, cus if you ever embarrass her again,” he said quietly. “I will kill you.” Jio was raw and emotionless.
