What the fuck just happened? I had to get the fuck out of there as fast as I could. My dick was like hold up, nigga. Where you going? Why you running away?

I learned this lesson years ago. Never shit where you eat. Once we started fucking, the business would suffer. Don’t get me wrong, Sev was mad hot but hell nah. All I could see were problems.

ANGEL

“Bae, you okay? Are you all right?” Kaylin sounded more upset about me and if I was harmed than the actual shooting.

“I think I am.”

He disappeared and came back with two burners. My heart was beating a million miles a minute, but I took deep breaths. “Yeah, I’m fine.” I touched all over my body and felt nothing. I buttoned my blouse back up and pulled my skirt down over my hips. Everything happened so fast. As soon as the gunfire had started, the shooting had stopped. Then we heard a couple of cars as they sped away. The smell of gun powder and smoke burned my nose.

Police sirens wailed in the background remaining in the distance as if they were chasing the shooters. That probably was all in my mind. Our house is in the suburbs, so I’m sure one of the neighbors called the police the minute they heard shots.

Kaylin came back over to where I was lying on the floor. He touched me all over. “You sure you’re all right? Is the baby okay?”

“I’m fine . . . I guess. The baby is fine. But what the hell was that? What if our children were here?”

Kaylin didn’t answer. He handed me one of the pistols.

“You know how to use this. I need to check around the house. Stay here. Red, shoot first, ask questions later,” he barked. “You understand? Angel? Shoot first, don’t ask questions.” I guess I was responding too slow.

Before he went outside, Kay pulled out his cell. “Trae, get over here. They just shot up the crib. No, we’re okay. I’m getting ready to check around the house. I think they’re gone, but I don’t know.”

I wasn’t sure what caused the shooters to stop firing, but they did. And I knew it was serious when Kay called Trae, instead of the police. I sat by the door, both hands on the pistol, ready to kill anyone who invaded our space.

Finally, Kaylin stepped back into the house.

“C’mon, I gotta get you to safety.” He snatched me up by the arm. “Get the keys to your ride. I’ll follow behind you. I need you to stay with Tasha for now.”

“But—”

“Red. But nothing! Damn, just do what I say. Please. Let’s go.”

KAYLIN

I dropped Angel off and picked up Trae. When we made it back to my house, Bo and Faheem appeared out of nowhere.

“Everybody okay?” Faheem asked. I nodded.