Kianna mixed around the contents of her chipotle bowl after pouring hot queso blanco over everything, feeling her stomach growl from the smell of her newest pregnancy craving. She was forcing herself to eat because she knew Judah would be pissed if he found out that she hadn't been doing so.

She still had yet to hear anything from him, Shelly, or even Judah's attorney. According to Traydon, the attorney was flying in from Dubai and didn't land until today, so hopefully, they got an update on his well-being and the details of the case against him.

Along with Judah's parents, Traydon and Rico had been over everyday for the last three days, bringing her food-breakfast, lunch, and dinner-and attempting to make sure that she was doing ok.

The two of them took over temporary leadership at the warehouse, which didn't mean much because business wasn't booming like it was months back, so really they were just watching the corner boys and the men who bagged up the drugs, like they usually did.

Amina hadn't left her side since the day that Judah and Shelly were arrested. She was actually on the side of her right now, still asleep on Kianna's side of the bed, while Kianna laid on Judah's side. His pillows smelled just like him and had been her main comfort since he left.

She was trying hard not to be so down in the dumps because she knew he wouldn't like that, but she couldn't help it. It was now September 5th, 2023, and Kianna hadn't spent more than an hour away from him since October 16th, 2022; so, just one month short of an entire year of spending every second of every day with him.

This was quite literally killing her. She missed her man so much. She couldn't wait to have him back home with her.

"I need some chips." She mumbled to herself, climbing out of the bed with her Chipotle bowl in her hand. She walked to the kitchen, heading for the pantry where four 42 packs of chips were.

She grabbed a bag of the cool ranch flamin' hot Doritos, and then walked out to the patio after deciding to eat out there. It was raining, but the patio had a glass top over it and heated floor panels, so she'd be fine.

Just as she finished setting her meal up, her phone started ringing, and her face lit up as Anna M. Kross Center appeared as the contact; the Rikers Island facility that Judah was being held at.

"You have a collect call from, 'Judah East'. To accept this call, please press one, or p-," The automated voice didn't even get to finished before Kianna pressed one on her dial pad.

"Wassup mama? I miss you. I love you." Judah said as soon as the call connected, causing a big smile to grow on her face.

"I miss you sooo much and I love you even more stinky. How are you? Are you okay? I was literally just thinking about you."

"You know I'm always good. I just miss you, that's all. Besides that, I'm aight. You feeling okay? You taking yo' vitamins?" He returned more questions, making her smile spread further. They were obviously excited to talk to each other.

"Yeah baby. I just took them a few minutes ago 'cause I skipped breakfast today. Rico just brought me and Mina chipotle but she's still sleeping. I'm eating now." She told him.

"That's good. Tell Rico or Tray to send a chef over to cook you some real food if you don't feel like cooking, or go to Ma house. I don't want you eating out everyday mama. Don't get used to that." He said, and she playfully rolled her eyes, lifting a bite of her food to her mouth.

"You come home and cook for me. I want some noodles." She chuckled, and he did as well since they both knew that was literally about the only thing he could cook correctly.

"I wish I could. Shit, I want some myself. They in this bitch feeding niggas like we Rottweilers or somethin'. Shit look like straight up dog food; raw meat and all."

"Well I'm glad you called then, I can put money on your books now? So that you can get stuff from-what's it called? Commissions?" Kianna questioned confusedly.

"Commissary, baby. Commissary." He smiled, and Kianna laughed at her own mistake. Hell, she was close enough.

"I'm just a girl. I don't know nothing 'bout that, chile... Have you talked to your attorney? Can she send me your information so that I can send some money?"

"Yeah, she here now, that's how I got to call you. These niggas playing dirty games; wouldn't give me my phone call 'til she came. She talkin' with the detectives and shit; I'ma have her call Traydon, he'll take care of it 'cause he gotta put some money on there for Shelly too." Judah explained, and she nodded her head even though he couldn't see her.

"Ok baby. Can I come to court with you?" She asked.

"It's through Zoom. I'll see if Andre can send you the link or something, but I ain't sure if it's open to the public, feel me? So i'ma let you know."

"Ok. Are you okay? Are you sad?" She used her fork to push her food around, softening her voice.

"A lil' bit. I miss you. I wanna kiss you." He blew a kiss into the phone, and she smiled again, feeling her cheeks warm with blush.

"Ugh, is the jail talk starting already? Is this what it's like?" She dramatically sighed, and her smile grew after hearing him laugh.

"Naw baby real jail talk is some crazy shit, yo. Niggas be having phone sex in front of everybody and all. I ain't on that."

"You be sucking your own nut out of my asshole but draw the line at phone sex? That's crazy but ok."

"Yoooo, Kianna, what the fuck man? You know they listen to this shit? You just gone put my shit on blast like that?!" He laughed again, making her do the same.

"Oops. I actually didn't know that. Hopefully they aren't listening at this exact moment 'cause I just gave myself second hand embarrassment." She face palmed herself, listening to him chuckle from the other head.

"For real though, I do miss you. Shit killing me. I ain't never been away from you this long, man."

"I was just thinking about that earlier. I didn't even realize how much we be together until you left. I be 'bouta call your name and be like, damn... I'm so sad stinky. I know I'm laughing with you right now but I'm trying so hard not to cry 'cause I don't wanna make you sad too." She sighed quietly.

"I know baby. I'm sorry.. I'm hoping they give me a bond but I really don't know what's gon' happen and that's what's fucking me up. I don't wanna put you through this, especially while you pregnant. I wish I could make it better for you beloved." The sincerity in his voice caused the tears she was holding back to slip out of her eyes.

"Can I come and visit you yet?"

"I don't want you up here. I'ma be home soon. Ain't no need for visitation mama."

"You don't know that for sure, Judah.." She sniffed.

"Well let me figure out everything that's going on, and I'll let you know when it's good to come, ok?"

"Ok..they haven't told you anything yet? Do you know why you're there?" She asked.

"They got pictures of me meeting with niggas and got my bank transaction statements of niggas paying me, and four witnesses willing to testify against me. That's it. Nothing that can hold me, really. I'm just waiting to see who the witnesses are 'cause this shit random as hell." He told her.

"It really is 'cause I thought it was over when they didn't even question you the first time, and that was, what, four months ago?"

"Exactly. They pulling shit out the ass. I feel like I'ma be able to come home, but then again, I ain't really sure 'cause these niggas know me. Like, the judges and shit, they all know me. They can hold me just off what they assume I be involved in. But I ain't even been doing nothing the last few months so this shit for real blowing me."

"You sound so frustrated.. I'm sorry this is happening to you baby. I wish I could help. Can I testify or something? Damn." She said, earning another laugh from him.

"You really just don't have a clue how this shit go and I love that. Talkin' 'bout can you testify." He chuckled, running his hand over his braided plaits.

"I really don't, that's why I'm so stressed. I need to take a jail class or something. I'm losing my mindddd. I miss you so much." She dragged out in slight annoyance, letting go of her fork.

"This call will end in less than one minute." The same automated voice from before spoke, and Kianna immediately picked her head up.

"Wait, this is timed? Can you call back??" She furrowed her eyebrows together in a deep frown.

"Not 'til tomorrow mama; and even then, I ain't sure if they gon' let me use the phone unless Andre come back up here. I'm sorry." He genuinely apologized because he knew how difficult this was for her; for the both of them.

"Oh my god." She reached up to wipe her face as soon as her tears started to fall again. "It's okay baby. It's not your fault. Can you give Andre my number please? I want to stay updated with what's going on with you, and I wanna make sure you get money on your books too."

"I got you. I love you so much. Take care of yourself and stay home, aight? Don't worry 'bout me. I'm good. Kiss Princess Kiyanna for me too. Tell her daddy love her."

"We love y-," The call ended before Kianna could even respond, and Judah sighed to himself, hesitantly putting the phone back on the hook.

He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his gray jumpsuit, walking towards where Andre, his attorney, sat on a bench that was just a few feet away, and the man that he was talking to headed to a door across the hall as Judah approached them.

"So I'm getting a bond or what? What they saying?" Judah asked, getting straight to the point. He was ready to get home to Kianna; he honestly couldn't care less about anything else.

"Not today. They got some pretty firm evidence against you. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it's more than enough to sway a jury. And the witnesses they have, man," Andre spoke quietly to him, leading him over to a private conference room.

"Did they tell you who the witnesses are? I can get this shit wrapped up tonight." He frowned.

"Nah, man.. they got them under 24/7 surveillance at a maximum security precinct. We gotta take it to trial this time." Andre told him, watching as Judah irritably dragged his hands down his face.

"Trial gon' take months, yo. My baby pregnant. I can't be gone this long man, what the fuck.. it ain't nothing we can do? No money we can pay? I'm deadass stuck?"

"Yeah.. I'm doing everything I can, but they not fucking around. They already talked to Judge Kelly and she was pissed when she signed over the warrants; said somethin' 'bout how she was tired of seeing you in her court and she gon' make sure this your last time being there. They gon' do everything they can to keep you, E."

"Shit so fuckin' aggravating. I'm finally letting this shit go just for it to come back and bite me in the ass. Can't make this shit up." Judah shook his head, slouching down in the seat he sat in.

"I know. I was surprised when I got the call 'cause I know you was leaving and shit.. look, the only thing we can do is wait it out. I'ma talk to Tray and Rico, have 'em dot the i's and cross the t's, you know? Then we just gotta see how it'll play out in court."

"Who are the witnesses?" Judah disregarded everything that he said, refocusing to his main question.

"Kara Flynn, Asia Norm, Renee Jones, A-,"

"Renee Jones? You fucking around or somethin' 'cause I'm not in the fuckin' mood if you couldn't tell." Judah's mug hardened even more than usual.

"What? I said something wrong? You recognize a name?" Andre asked, genuinely confused.

"Renee been dead for four months. How the fuck is she a witness if I personally sent her parents two hundred bands for a funeral and emotional support?" He sat up in his seat, and Andre's eyes damn near popped out of his head.

Shelly is literally a main character and I didn't even give him a face claim smh