Page 52 of The Prettiest Outlaw

“That. That right there.” He gestured around. “I know you didn’t grow up around my people and their kids, but you should’ve asked me before you started claiming somebody who’s damaged goods.”

“Damaged goods?” I repeated in confusion.

“Your little friend, theOutlawgirl, the youngest one, the one that you’re sponsoring pop-up shops for and shit, she has a reputation…as a pass around. Every one of my friends’ boys has had a turn with her, and after nobody would look at her seriously anymore, she started dating chicks.”

My face had to show my utter disbelief. “Nigga, you’re the biggest pass around in this damn city! How many women have had your community dick? Shit, I feel like I’m meeting new siblings every time I attend an event.”

“That’s different. I’m a man. She’s a woman. She was a young teenager who was hot in the ass, and let everybody who wanted to hit it, hit.”

Of all the Hill brothers, I wasn’t known as the violent one. It was probably a shock to people when I two-pieced my biological father in his shit. I had to admit that my dad wasn’t a slouch. It wasn’t a one and done. He punched back at me, and a full-fledged fight broke out.

I wasn’t sure where Dominic came from, but he separated us, grabbing Coe. Both Dolton and Dorien stood between us, while Donovan appeared at my side.

“Stop spreading rumors about my girl, nigga!” I told Coe. “She was a kid who was lied on by a kid. Adults took the story and ran with it.”

“Wait.” Dorien spoke up. “Is this that bullshit story about Julianna again? How many times do I have to say that shit never happened. None of those dudes ever had sex with her. Her clothes were on when I got to the room. I wasinthe fucking room. If anybody knows what happened, I know. Santana’s ass was out of it, and I don’t think the rest of those dudes even knew she was in the room. That shit never happened, and Julianna is still dealing with a lie from fifteen years ago?”

“That was a rumor?” Dolton probed.

Dorien sighed in exhaustion. “Yeah, bro. It never happened. Do you think if those dudes ran a train on Julianna that Gianni would’ve let them live? Make it make sense. That was his baby princess. You think he would’ve let that ride?”

Coe ignored everything Dorien said and turned his ire on me. “Don’t you ever put your fucking hands on me again, you little bastard.”

“Fuck you. Eat a dick, you bitch ass trick.”

I turned to walk away, but the voice caused me to stop.

“I can’t believe you.” She sucked her teeth. “Waiting in the corner to spit venom to your son about his choice in women when you’ve…Well, you know what you’ve done. You fathered children in every corner of this city and beyond and done nothing for any of them but use them for your own gain. You low-life motherfucker, you’re lucky Nico isn’t my son because I’d slap you across your stupid face on his behalf.” Natalya Hill’s head shook back and forth with her disgust for her former husband. “Keep your mouth off of Gianni’s daughter. He was more of a man than you’re immature, infantile ass could ever be. When I saw him go down that day, when I saw him clutch his chest, all I could think was,Lord, they say you don’t make mistakes, but why are you not taking this no-good motherfucker?”

A silence fell over all of us.

“Amen!” My mother’s voice broke it.

I had no idea when she arrived.

“And if you ever put your hands on my son again in life, I promise to put your ass under the dirt.” She mugged him. “Son, let’s go find my daughter and make sure she’s all right.”

As I began to walk away, my mother reached back, took her cane, and popped Coe in the head with it.

My brothers and I were clearly immature because all five of us were like, “Ooh! Dayum!”

* * *

We looked all over the parking lot and even in the shop, but we couldn’t find Julianna. I wondered if she’d gone home, even though I knew we rode together. I figured she’d taken a rideshare, and I wanted to punch Coe’s ass again for running her off.

I helped my mother into the passenger’s seat of Donovan’s truck and thanked them for coming. Then I lumbered into my office. I was caught off guard when I found Julianna sitting at my desk. The security camera feeds were pulled up on my screen.

“You rocked his shit,” she told me with a straight face. She was able to hold it for all of five seconds before she broke out into giggles. “You rocked his shit, babes. I don’t think I’ve ever dated a man who was willing to fight his dad for me.”

“Fuck his dumb ass,” I said through chuckles. “You all right?”

“I’m all right. Those rumors don’t hurt my feelings anymore. I mean, I know the stories are fabricated. It just caught me off guard. When I was young and going through it, I knew to prepare. If we were going to an event, I could steel myself, put on my armor, and be ready to face the bullshit. All these years later, I don’t get ready for it anymore. I don’t expect it. So, to have him say that…in front of my sisters and on my big day…that was fucked up of him.”

“He’s fucked up, lil bit.”

“He is,” she agreed. “And for a moment there, I really wished my dad was alive because there is no way he would’ve said that shit if Gianni Outlaw was here on earth.”

“Agreed.”

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