This Calmness is dangerous

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The next day

I already knew the second I opened my mouth, they was gon’ let me have it. Not a doubt in my mind. You don’t drop news like this around your day ones without catchin’ at least three jokes and a side-eye. But still, I ain’t expect it to hit as hard as it did.

We was chillin’ in the back of Dice’s crib — his basement set up like some damn underworld headquarters. Fan spinnin’ slow overhead, Casamigos sweatin’ on the table, LED lights castin’ that red glow like we was plottin’ a heist. Nico had his feet kicked up on a busted milk crate, twistin’ up a blunt with that little devil grin he always get when he smell drama comin’.

Dice was cross-legged on the rug, calm as ever, hoodie off one shoulder, pistol probably tucked under the floorboard right beneath him. Mason was leaned back on the futon, hoodie on, arms folded, lookin’ like a disappointed uncle who already knew I was about to say some dumb shit.

I dragged my hand down my face, sighed once, and just let it out. “Aight… so… Ghenesis pregnant.”

The room got real still. For like two seconds.

Then Dice was the first to react, his voice laced with that fake wisdom tone he pull out when he tryna sound mature. “Well damn… I know you in love and all, and I support it — , I'm God daddy by the way,” he said, lookin’ at Nico and Mason with a raised brow.

They both rolled they eyes, but Dice leaned in more serious now. “But you playin’ a dangerous ass game, bruh. Y’all still livin’ in Charles house. That man don’t even blink normal, and you over there plantin’ seeds like it’s harvest season.”

I didn’t even flinch. “Man, fuck Charles,” I said, voice flat like concrete. “I’ll have Ghenesis screamin’ in that bitch while he sittin’ in the next room. Let that nigga twitch wrong — I’ll show him what loyalty really sound like. I don’t give a fuck no more.”

Mason raised a brow, sippin’ from a Coke like this was a Netflix special. “Something ain’t clickin’. You ain’t just raw doggin’ for fun. So what’s the real story?”

I licked my lips, sat back on the edge of the table, and exhaled slow. “Bruh… somehow, Kendra’s crazy ass got her hands on my DNA and took it to a clinic. Like, for real — she been tryna get pregnant off me without me even touchin’ her. IVF. Like some Lifetime movie type shit.”

That’s when Nico straight-up barked laughin’. Damn near dropped the blunt. “Yoooo! I ain’t laughin’ at you, bruh — I swear I’m not. But that shit wild.” He wiped tears from his eyes. “Anisha made sense, at least. That was grown shit. But Kendra?! The girl who still post thirst traps with quotes from Summer Walker?! How the fuck you let her damn near finesse you?!”

I threw my hands up, feelin’ the irritation build. “Yo, I ain’t let nothin’ happen! I ain’t touched her in three years. Swear on everything. She probably fished an old-ass condom out the trash, froze it, and took it to the clinic like it was a damn power move. I ain’t know a thing ‘til Ghen went for her checkup and ended up getting the IVF. Whole time, I’m sittin’ there lookin’ stupid.”

Dice sat back and gave that slow southern shake of his head. “That’s why I stay blessed, man. I like dick. Dick ain’t never tried to trap me with a baby or file paperwork behind my back.”

“Facts,” Nico said, still gigglin’. “She out here tryna do federal shit with your nut, bro. Like FBI: Free Baby Insurance. That’s top-tier scammin’. She don’t need a therapist, she need a damn arrest record.”

Mason finally looked up from his can of Coke, sighin’ like a tired principal. “And you the one we trust to make the smart plays. Our strategist. Our calm. Now you sittin’ here bein’ outsmarted by a chick who spell ‘legacy’ with two Z’s and a prayer.”

I dropped my head and laughed, just once, dry as hell. “Man, y’all actin’ like I wanted this shit. I’m just tryna clean it up without messin’ up the one thing in my life that’s pure. Ghen? She my peace. I told her I wouldn’t go near Kendra no more, and I meant that. That’s my word. And if I break my word to her? I don’t deserve her, period.”

And then it hit me again — that warmth in my chest, that pressure that wasn’t anxiety this time. I smiled without even thinkin’ about it.

“But yo… Ghenesis carryin’ my seed,” I said, lookin’ down at my palms like I could see the baby already restin’ in ‘em. “She holdin’ my legacy. That’s bigger than pride, bigger than drama. It made all the bullshit make sense. Every scar, every drop of pain I ever swallowed — it’s worth it if I get to watch her smile holdin’ our baby.”

Dice leaned in, dead serious now. “So what’s the move, papa bear?”

I straightened up, eyes locked in. “We end all this before Christmas,” I said. “Bishop first. Quiet. Efficient. I want him gone like he never existed. And Charles? He next. No conversations. No warnings. We turn his name into dust and salt.”

Nico leaned back, crackin’ his knuckles. “So we settin’ the whole city on fire before Santa even clock in?”

“Damn right,” I said. “I’m not bringin’ my child into a world where they gotta look over their shoulder. I want Ghen sleepin’ in peace. I want Artemis runnin’ outside free. I want to wake up somewhere that don’t smell like death or betrayal. Overseas, ocean breeze, no more sirens. Just us. My crew. My family. Clean, whole, and untouchable.”

Mason finally nodded, tappin’ his fingers on the table. “Then let’s get to it. Ain’t no more stallin’.”

And that was that.

No extra words. No ceremony. Just that solid understanding between four wolves who’ve seen hell and was ready to build heaven. I wasn’t just protectin’ myself no more.

I was protectin’ my name.

My blood.

My fuckin’ empire.

And this time?

Ain’t nobody steppin’ in to take what’s mine.

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