Page 212 of The Ninth

A second later, we heard a noise up front. I grasped Devyn tightly in my arms as we listened to see what it was. When the front door came open, we both hopped up. She sped out of the room, tying the robe tightly on her small waist. I started to regret allowing her to leave the room first, until Cassie’s lil garden gnome ass came rushing around the corner. They bumped into each other, both becoming slightly disoriented before grabbing onto the other.

Just for a moment, the two of them looked like two girls, and not the grown women they were. A relieving hug after escaping some shit they know they would’ve gotten in more trouble had it gone left. My brother rounded the corner looking distraught. I knew he wanted to speak privately, so for now I focused on these two.

“Are you okay?” Devyn whispered.

“Yeah. I’m okay.”

K3 approached Devyn, taking her into him with one arm. He didn’t say anything, but the slight shake of his head when they met eyes let her and I know he hadn’t told Cassie about the baby.

I walked to my little sister...my only sister, who was more than likely carrying another niece or a nephew of mine. Tear streaks, leaves, and scratches were all over her. I pushed the anger down inside of me knowing it’s better to know she’s safe now. The other shit will come to a head.

“Baby, take Cassandra and get her ready for a shower. We’re staying together tonight.”

“Come on, Cassie...” she nodded, taking her cousin into our room.

I looked up at K3 who was already looking at me. There were no scratches, marks, or sweat on him. He looked the same as when he left, but his face told a different story. Once his head jutted towards the backdoor, we started walking in that direction.

My feet couldn’t even make it fully on the back deck before my baby brotha embraced me. This isn’t a nigga that gets shaken up easily. The only other times he held me like this was when our brother died and when he got out. We slapped the fuck outta each other’s back before walking to the stairs, leaning on them. The air was colder out than I remembered.

“Tell me what happened, gang.”

He lifted his hand to show me how bad he was shaking, “Foe, shorty called me right before they started shredding Poncho’s shit. I heard my wife screaming for her fucking life while I was still driving. Still useless. Got my baby in a fucking closed in drive thru. Even when I laid them niggas out, I kept the phone to my ear just to make sure she was okay. I heard her ask her parents to not let her die, broski. That shit will haunt me for the rest of my life. Pulling her body from under that truck, not knowing if she was hurt or dead. I’m never going to be able to live with that. I keep her away from this shit because I’ve never wanted her to experience that moment. You know that moment.”

“Hell yeah. When you don’t know if it’s going to be you or them, but it’s going to be somebody.”

“It just wasn’t the time to tell her what Devyn said about the tests. We took Kenzie to Liv’s and she’s going home to her family in the morning until shit pipe down. Poncho dipped with Tati. Cassie poured all that shit out in the truck on our way here. I didn’t respond. I can’t right now. She may be carrying my seed and she just did the shit for Devyn. We’ll talk later.”

“I wish I didn’t respond. My dumb ass tweaked, nigga.”

“As you should’ve, bitch. She told me what Devyn told her. I’m sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. I don’t care if Kenan dead, all them niggas is finna die and that bitch.”

“On my soul. There’s something else she told me. She asked me something. Something I never thought she would.”

We looked at each other.

“Not right now, though. Tati going to Detroit with her brother, Kelisha, and Doodas. We getting out of the city ourselves. Gotta get them away until order is returned.”

“How soon?”

“Soon. I won’t even sleep tonight. I may never sleep again after hearing that shit.”

“Say less,” I nodded. “I’m with you forever, twin. Till I’m in the dirt.”

“Some shit I’ll never let happen.”

Chapter 42: DR

Cassie’s POV

“Are you okay?” Kenzo helped me out of my seat.

He helped me as if I was an eighty-year-old woman who couldn’t stand. I looked up at his handsome face that has shown nothing but sadness and worry since last night.

“I’m okay, Papa.”

“Watch your step. Come on.”