𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐘 | 𝐦. 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

35

Marlon's POV

The house felt different now. Not bad different just... weird. Like, we were home but not really home, you know? The sun was low, casting those late afternoon colors across the walls, making everything glow golden. Tonya was still holding my hand, and I wasn't about to let go. After Joseph earlier, I needed someone in my corner. Her, not him.

My brothers were all over the place. Jackie was fiddling with the stereo, Michael was eating a snack in the kitchen, Tito was teasing Randy about some dumb joke, and Jermaine... well, he was in one of his "thinking about everything" moods, staring at the carpet like it owed him money.

I leaned back in the doorway, letting my shoulders relax a little. "Man... it's weird being home. Like the world's still spinning but we ain't on tour no more."

Tito looked up and grinned. "Yeah, it's nice, though. No buses, no hotel rooms, no alarms goin' off every five minutes."

I snorted. "Speak for yourself. I almost had a heart attack like... three times yesterday."

Tonya nudged me with her elbow, laughing. "Don't remind me."

I shot her a smile, feeling that little spark again. "Hey, Ton', for real... I ain't playin'. About us. You feel me?"

She leaned closer, that smirk on her face. "I got you, Mar. Don't sweat it."

I was about to say more when Joseph appeared in the hallway. My chest tightened immediately. He didn't need to raise his voice for me to feel it. But I think this time, I was ready. Tonya's hand in mine gave me some guts.

Joseph stopped a few feet away, arms crossed, eyes flicking between me and her. "So... I see you two still bein' all friendly," he said, voice calm but edged with that cold undertone he gets when he's pissed.

I tried to keep my expression neutral. "Yeah, we're close. She's cool, Joe."

He studied us like he was measuring how much trouble we were about to cause him. "Marlon... you remember what I said the other day, right? About priorities, distractions, all that?"

I nodded slowly, not letting him see my nerves. "I remember. I ain't forget. But Tonya ain't a distraction, Joe. She ain't like that."

His gaze sharpened. "You think I don't know what I'm lookin' at?" He stepped a little closer. "You need to remember your place, boy. Don't forget who's runnin' things here."

I didn't flinch. "I ain't forget, Joe. But you also ain't gonna talk bad 'bout her. She means something to me, and I ain't lettin' that slide."

There was a tense beat, and I could feel the weight of his stare. Joseph let out a slow sigh, that warning-anger mixed with... something I couldn't read. "Fine. Just... don't let it get messy. That's all I'm sayin'. I got eyes on you, Marlon. And Tonya, don't get any ideas about stirrin' him up."

Tonya squeezed my hand under the table, giving me a small grin that said she knew I could handle this.

Joseph finally turned and walked away, muttering something about getting a drink or checking on Jackie. Whatever it was, I didn't care. He ended up saying something about going somewhere. Grabbed his keys and left. I exhaled, feeling the tension drain out. "Damn," I muttered. "He still scares the hell outta me."

Tonya laughed softly. "You handled it, Mar. He knows you ain't backin' down."

I smirked, rubbing my neck. "Yeah... but still. Scary as hell. I need another soda."

She nudged me again. "Come on, Mar. Let's chill. We deserve it after today."

I looked around at my brothers laughing, Tonya smiling at me, and for a second, I let myself forget Joseph and all that tension. Home was messy. Home was loud. But maybe... just maybe, home could feel like mine too.