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Texas air hit different. Quiet, peaceful, and wide open—the exact kind of calm Onika needed.
I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows inside the house, staring out onto the back patio where she was moving carefully, step by step.
Today was her first day of rehab.
I watched her closely as the physical therapist guided her, steady hands out just in case she lost her footing.
I pulled from my hookah, the smoke drifting around me as I leaned my weight against the counter, not taking my eyes off her. She didn't know I was watching.
Didn't know how proud of her I was in that moment.
Out in the yard, I caught sight of the kids—JJ, Omari, and Ava—running around near the small barn. Ava had her arms out chasing after a chicken, while Omari and JJ were laughing loud enough for me to hear through the glass.
Sophie had flown down with Ava to drop her off earlier.
My phone buzzed on the counter beside me.
Baka: Landed. I got him. We on our way to the spot.
My jaw tensed slightly.
Good.
Once night hit, and the kids were knocked out, and Onika was resting... I was going to deal with that man. Everything in me wanted to take care of it sooner, but Texas was always the plan.
Safer. Discreet.
"She's doing good for her first day," Chubbs said, his voice calm as he came to stand beside me, eyes on her too.
I nodded slowly. "Yeah... she is."
She'd been quiet since we got here. Not shut down—just trying to feel human again.
But this place... it was already working on her.
Chubbs reached into his pocket and handed me his phone. "Look at this."
I looked down at the screen. A message from Charlemagne.
Charlemagne: Tell Aubrey I want to be the first to get that interview. Let's make it happen.
I scoffed under my breath, my lips tightening as I handed the phone right back to him.
"Fuck no," I muttered, shaking my head. "I'm not doing no interviews or no work-related shit until Onika gets better. And that bald-headed nigga knows I don't fuck with him."
Chubbs smirked. "Yeah, I figured you'd say that. Just thought I'd show you so you know what they on."
"They could be on Mars for all I care," I said. "My focus right now is her. Period."
