Page 21 of Certified Pressure 3
I leaned in, close enough to his ass to feel the heat rollin’ between us, my voice droppin’ low but sharp enough to cut glass. “I wish you would want it, nigga!”
The space was steamin’ with tension. Kay’Lo squared up, and for a second I thought we was gon’ really see who wanted it more, but before fists could fly, Renza came rushin’ in. He damn near slid across the floor tryna get between us.
“Aye, the fuck y’all got goin’ on?” Renza barked, throwin’ his arms out to keep us apart. “Cuz, y’all supposed to be better than this.”
Me and Kay’Lo kept starin’ at each other, both breathin’ hard, neither one backin’ down. Toni stepped in quick, her voice raisin’. “Stop! This ain’t worth it. I’m not comin’ between y’all, I swear I’m not. Just stop!”
But I ain’t look at her. My focus stayed locked on Kay’Lo. “You wild as hell for this,” I said. “Of all the women out here, you go for her?”
“She ain’t just some woman,” Kay’Lo shot back. “She mean somethin’ to me, Pressure, and I ain’t backin’ off her. It is what the fuck it is, my nigga.”
That hit me hard but I couldn’t let it show. My chest was burnin’ and my pride was twisted up in knots, but I stood tall. “You could’ve had the fuckin’ decency to step to me like a man and tell me what it was.
Renza pushed us further apart, frustration clear in his face. “Man, y’all gon’ tear this family apart over a female? Y’all cousins. Remember who the fuck y’all niggas is before y’all do somethin’ y’all can’t take back.”
Before I could respond, Toni snatched her phone back off the counter and dialed quick. She put it to her ear and her voice shook. “Kashmere, you need to come get yo’ nigga... Right now.”
I glared at her. “You really callin’ my girl into this?”
“Pressure, you need to chill.”
Minutes later, Kashmere came stormin’ into the kitchen, her robe tied loose, her hair a mess from me fuckin’ her a few minutes ago. “Pressure, what the hell?” she asked, walkin’ right up to me and touchin’ my chest. “Calm down, it ain’t that serious.”
I looked at her, then back at Kay’Lo, then at Toni standin’ behind him. My fists clenched, and all I wanted to do was kick both they asses out my mansion right then. But… Kay’Lo was my blood, and no matter how twisted this shit was, I knew I couldn’t erase that.
Renza’s voice came low but strong. “Y’all gotta remember what it mean to be family. This ain’t the way to go. Pressure you got Kash and Kay’Lo got Toni. Woopty Doo niggas.”
I shook my head, my voice rough. “I ain’t lettin’ this slide like it don’t matter.”
Kay’Lo didn’t flinch. He just wrapped an arm round Toni’s shoulders, pullin’ her close, lettin’ me know where he stood.
Kashmere rubbed my arm soft, whisperin’, “Baby, please, leave them alone.”
I stepped back finally, my chest still heavin’ and my head spinnin’ from the betrayal. I knew right then it was gon’ take me a minute to process this shit. Kay’Lo, my own blood, done crossed that line, and Toni Roc—one of my old Diamonds—stood right there lettin’ it be known she was his now.
No matter what they said, and no matter how they tried to explain this shit, that sting wasn’t leavin’ me no time soon.
Trill-Land, Jungle Estate
Icouldn’t believe this nigga was really trippin’ about a woman he ain’t even want.
That shit was still burnin’ in my mind as I took Toni by the hand and led her down the hall. Her palm was small against mine. It was soft but strong at the same time, and I could feel she was nervous. She ain’t say much, but just let me guide her until we got to the other side of the crib where my suite was. I opened the door, let her in first, then followed behind and shut it like I was closin’ the world out.
She set her cup and snacks on the dresser, and folded across her chest, her eyes dartin’ everywhere but on me. “Maybe Ishould leave,” she mumbled. “Ain’t no point in makin’ shit worse than it already is.”
I shook my head before she could talk herself into it. “Nah, you ain’t goin’ nowhere,” I told her, pullin’ her close by the waist. “Pressure might be the main nigga when it come to that arranged marriage bullshit, but when it come to me and you, he ain’t bigger than the program. I ain’t fall in love with you for no reason. I brought you back to Trill-Land to meet my mama and pops, not to get Pressure’s approval. Fuck all that.”
Her eyes softened like she wanted to believe me, but she still hesitated. “Lo… I feel you, I do, but I just don’t want shit to be awkward. Me and Kash cool now, and I don’t want shit to be awkward with me bein’ here. You and Pressure goin’ at it over me and that’s the last thing I ever wanted.”
I kissed her forehead and held her tighter. “Ain’t nothin’ awkward about love. Kashmere gon’ be straight, and my cousin gon’ get over himself. He’ll pull his head out his ass eventually. What matter right now is us, and us only.”
She let out a light laugh, like she wanted to fight me on it but knew I meant what I said. She shook her head, grabbed her bag of chips, and flopped back on the bed like the conversation was over. “Boy, you lucky I fuck with you,” she said with a smirk.
I watched her tear into the bag like she hadn’t just had me ready to go to war in the kitchen ten minutes ago, and I swear my chest warmed up. That’s what it always came down to with Toni. She could flip a vibe quick, and make me forget everything else just by bein’ around her.
I kicked off my slides, climbed in beside her, and pulled her against me while she crunched on the chips and flipped through channels like she owned the remote. My hand rested on her thigh, then slid down slow, and when I leaned in to kiss her neck she swatted me away playfully.
“Uh-uh, let me eat my snacks first,” she said.
