Page 46 of The Prettiest Outlaw

“What’s up with you?” I asked him, taking a sip from the iced water in front of me.

“Business is the same. It’s always the same. Acquiring product. Moving product.”

I nodded. Langston had taken over for Gianni upon his death. The Hill family was in security. The Outlaw family was in weapons.

“Now that the niceties are out of the way, I’ll tell you why I asked you to holler at me.”

“Cool. Speak your mind.”

“I’ve been hanging out with Julianna for a minute. We started off as homies, I guess you could say. Things have…transitioned. And I want you to hear it from me before you hear it from Jia or Jianna…or hell, anybody that’s not me. Julianna is mine. I know you’ve looked out for her since she was a little girl, since you got together with Jia. And I know that since Gianni passed, she’s been your responsibility. I wanna let you know that you can relax. I’ve got her now. She’s my responsibility.”

Langston looked genuinely caught off guard. “Wow. I did not see this shit coming. You and my Short Cake? Wow.”

I stayed silent and let him work it out in his mind.

“Short Cake, that’s my baby. She has a special place in my heart. She’s been hurting like a motherfucker since Gianni passed. She’s been floating in the wind, and none of us have known how to pull her back in…how to bring her back to us.”

I nodded.

“You love her?”

“It’s a little soon for that.” I was honest with him.

“She’s fragile. I don’t want to see her end up hurt. That would fuck me up then I would have to fuck you up. I don’t know if it’s worth it for a fling. I?—"

“Come on, bro. I wouldn’t even have brought this to you for a fling. You know me better than that.”

“I know you haven’t been serious about a chick since Emerald.”

“And now, I’m serious.”

“You’re for real about Short Cake?”

“She’s mine.”

We locked eyes, both of us unwilling to back down.

He conceded first. “I appreciate the way you handled this, Nico. I’m not her father. I get that you didn’t have to run this through me, but I appreciate that you did. I’ve known you as a real one since we were shorties. You’ve always been solid, and I wouldn’t expect anything less of you in your dealings with my baby sis. Take care of her.”

“That’s my word.”

* * *

The smile on Julianna’s face as she walked out of her townhome and toward my truck made me smile. She was so fucking pretty, but it was more than that. It was probably the fact that she looked genuinely joyful, and I knew for certain that her joy was hard-won.

I jumped out and met her at the bottom of her stairs with a hug and a kiss to the most sensitive point on her neck.

“Damn, look at you. You’re gorgeous.”

“Thank you.” She managed before a giggle stole her voice. “You’re handsome yourself. And I’m so proud of you. Look at you, securing contracts and making an even bigger name forEmerald City Auto & Body.Congratulations.”

I pulled her closer before letting my hands drift down to her juicy ass. I squeezed tightly.

“Thank you. You gonna show me exactly how proud of me you are later on?”

“You better know it.” She broke our embrace. “Now, put my bag in the trunk, and let’s go celebrate you.”

I took the familiar overnight bag from her hand then held the passenger door open so she could settle herself inside. After dropping the bag in the trunk, I climbed into the driver’s seat.

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