Page 34 of All In

Jackie smiled faintly through the ache in her chest. “That’s real sweet.”

“I wish I could tell him happy birthday,” he yawned, eyes fluttering closed. “Maybe next year.” He sounded so hopeful it nearly broke her. “Maybe,” she whispered, biting her lip as the tears threatened to spill. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to his temple. “I love you,” she whispered against his hair. Max mumbled something soft in reply, already slipping back into dreams.

Jackie lingered there, her hand on his back, tracing small circles as she whispered a prayer. One she didn’t have the words for, but a plea, nonetheless.A travel mercy. Asking God to keep her safe and bring her back home. Jackie turned off the light, kissed Max again, and went to wake Kormia.

Her bare feet were soundless against the floor as she moved down the stairs. The street outside was pitch black, so quiet she hear the sound of the breeze pressing against the windows. She headed straight for the couch. “Mia,” she whispered, shaking her cousin’s shoulder. “Wake up.”

Kormia stirred, mumbling, half-asleep. “Jackie? What the hell—”

“I need you to stay with Max,” Jackie said quickly, pulling on her sneakers. That woke Kormia all the way up. She sat upright, bonnet askew, blinking through the dark. “Why? Where you goin’? It’s damn near four in the morning.” Jackie hesitated just long enough for Kormia’s expression to change.

“Jackie,” she said, voice rising. “No. Please don’t tell me you—”

“He called,” Jackie said quietly. The air shifted. Kormia’s face fell, anger and fear fighting for space. “You can’t be serious.” Jackie didn’t answer. She was already zipping her hoodie up, slipping her phone into her pocket, movements damn near mechanical. “Jackie!” Kormia stood now, voice cracking.

“No. You can’t go meet that nigga by yourself. What if it’s a setup? What if he—”

“I don’t have a choice,” Jackie cut in, steady but soft. “He sent a location. You know what that means.” Kormia’s eyes glassed over. “And what if you don’t come back?”

Jackie’s throat worked around a tight swallow. “I will.”

“You don’t know that,” Kormia snapped, stepping in front of her.

“I’m comin’ with you.”

“No.” Jackie shook her head hard.

“You stay here with Max. Please. He can’t wake up to an empty house.”

Tears welled in Kormia’s eyes.

“You asking me to sit here while you walk into something blind?”

“I’m asking you to protect my baby in case I don’t—”

The words hit them both at once, heavy and real.

The silence stretched. Then Kormia exhaled, shaking her head.

“Nah. I don’t like this.”

“Neither do I,” Jackie whispered. “But MJ’s out there, and if this is the only way to see him again, I’m going.” Kormia bit her lip, pacing for a second before stopping. Then she dug into her purse, pulled out her keys, and pressed them into Jackie’s hand. “Take my car.”

“Mia—”

“No,” Kormia said firmly.

“Take it. If something go down, mine’s newer. The GPS works. It’s faster.”

“Kormia, I can’t—”

“You will.” Her voice trembled now, but her stare didn’t.

“You want me to stay here with Max, fine. I’ll do that. But you takin’ my damn car.”

Jackie looked at her, really looked at her and for the first time she saw it. The fear. The love. The loyalty that had been there since childhood, through every ugly chapter. Standing in front of her scared and still choosing to help her go anyway. Finally, she nodded, slipping Kormia’s keys into her hoodie pocket. Then she reached into her bag and pulled out her own.“Here,” she said, handing them over. “In case.” Kormia took them, her hands shaking.“You better call me when you get there. And when you leave. You hear me?” Jackie nodded. “I hear you. She turned for the door.

“Jackie.” She paused. Kormia’s voice broke.