Her chest tightened.
“I’m asking a question and I think it’s only fair that you tell me the truth.”
“The fuck wrong with you, baby?” he asked calmly. Too calmly.
“You think I’m out here breaking kneecaps?”
She rubbed her forehead.
“My cousins said—”
“I don’t give a fuck what they said.”
Jio’s voice lowered. He hated talking to her in this way but she was trying him.
“You know me better than that.”
He knew how to make her feel guilty. But did she know him for real? She wasn’t sure anymore. Nina felt like her common sense went to hide behind a tree whenever Jio Gotti walked in the forest, better known as her troubled mind.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered.
Jio leaned back in his chair. “Nah, I deserve more than that.” He sounded irritated.
“I said sorry,” she whined, hoping he would let it go.
He exhaled slowly. “You worried about him for what?”
Nina hesitated. “It’s his career. He has a family to feed Jio-
The line clicked, signifying that he’d hung up in her face. Shorty was tripping and he didn’t want to say some shit to her that he would later regret.
Kadeer said, “Let me holler at you bro.”
They got up from the table and went over to the bar, where he poured up some shots.
“Man, she got me fucked up,” he confessed to his best friend.
“She called asking if you put a hit out on that nigga knee?”
Jio threw the shot back. “Po’ me up again.” He ignored his question.
Kadeer shook his head. “So, who you pay?”
Jio smirked faintly. “What makes you think I did it?”
His best friend gave him a look that let him know that he KNEW he did it.
“… Lil’ Peter cousin’s baby daddy owed me a favor and he knew a nigga that knew a nigga…ya mean?”
“You covered your tracks?” Kadeer wanted to make sure.
Jio scoffed. “Did I? The fuck nigga charged me a hundred K.”
Kadeer nearly choked laughing.
“You love her for real bro.”
Jio shrugged carelessly. He didn’t deny it because the truth was plain and simple.
