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I did as Dante told me and relaxed. He was also right about something else; I was his now. Damn.
“I’m a DeLuca. Forced marriage or not, I only do shit top tier.”
My brows pulled together as I looked down, only to find Aurmoni completely tangled around me, knocked the hell out. Her arm was draped over my chest, her thigh slotted between mine, and her face was tucked into my neck like she belonged there. And my goofy ass just holding her.
“Y’all rich men don’t know nothin’ about no damn seasoning. Always tryna play my people with that bland-ass food. Talking ’bout some ‘organic, all-natural flavor.’ The fuck is that?!”
I wasn’t about to sit here and tell this man I spent the whole night drowning in Lena Ford, getting lost in that crazy-ass woman, and damn near making dumb decisions behind her.
“But what I want don’t matter. The Black Flame Mafia comes first. Always.” That? That was the realest shit he ever said. And no matter how much he wanted Aurmoni, at the end of the day, he’d always choose power over everything.
Aurmoni was gonna be a problem. Especially when that baby got involved. Because if I knew one thing? Bankston might think he’s running this shit, but the second she pushes out his heir? She’s gonna realize she has more power than she ever thought. And that? That was when shit was gonna get real.
The woman looked at me, then back at Lena with a smirk, before hitting her with the classic line. “This is a good man, Savannah.”
“Nah, I want you to make love to me on the hood of your G-Wagon.” I almost swerved off the damn road.
“You heard me. My lil’ fine shit can’t be riding around in anything other than the best.”
I barely had time to react before she damn near leaped over the bar, charging toward me like I just got released from a five-year bid.
“You wanna act up in front of me? In front of everybody?” His tone was lethal, quiet, laced with possession. “Let me make something real fucking clear to you.” He pulled back just enough for our eyes to lock. “No one touches what’s mine.”
“And since your ass can’t keep niggas out your face, Dante will be driving you around today.”
I took a step back, folding my arms as Lena handled her business. This was bound to happen at some point. Might as well let my girl get her lick in first.
“You did good, baby. Now let’s go show these motherfuckers who really run shit.”
Lena whistled low beside me, shaking her head. “That girl done fucked around and became Houston’s most wanted.” She wasn’t lying. But the way Bankston was looking at her? He’d kill a motherfucker before he let them try.
“There aren’t words that exist to explain how far I’d take it if someone ever hurt my fiancée.”
“Lena, you ever seen a group of rich people be so damn messy? That was a high-class Jerry Springer episode.”
I let out a low whistle, spinning slowly as I took everything in. “Damn, Moni. If this the cage, I see why the bird stays put.”
But Emeric? That nigga was really ready to die tonight. He took a step forward, staring Moni dead in her face. “I have no problem dying as long as you’re free.” Oh. Oh, he lost his fucking mind.
His eyes flicked to Emeric, slow and deliberate, calculating. “I spent the whole night dealing with niggas eye-fucking my woman.” His voice was low, smooth, but deadly. “And then I come home… to the thirstiest one of them all.”
I stepped closer. “I’m just another piece in your chess game—your queen when it suits you, your pawn when it doesn’t.”
“Get on yo’ knees.” I don’t know what the fuck he said that for. I locked eyes with his ass and watched his eyes roll into the back of that big ass head of his. “Aht. Aht. Keep yo’ eyes on me. I want you to see the exact moment I take yo’ soul.”
“You gon’ love it here. I promise.”
The doctor smiled like he had just told me the best news ever. “You’re already pregnant, Ms. Sinclair.”
“Ain’t this some shit?” He clapped his hands together, still chuckling. “Look at God.”
His laughter only got louder. “Hell yeah, I’m serious. You know how much money my sperm just saved me?” He shook his head, still grinning like an idiot. “I should’ve bet on myself. Would’ve been the easiest win of my damn life.”
Angel tapped his glass against the table. “Lena still feeding you information about her girl?” I smirked. “Yeah. I’m paying her ass enough.” Angel chuckled, shaking his head. “Messy-ass females.”
“Ain’t about what she got, ma. It’s about timing. And sometimes? Niggas only act right when they scared of losing what they think they can’t replace.”
own you because when you’re pissed, you come to me. When you’re scared, you run to me. And when you hate me the most? You still crave me.”
“The wife. The kid. That shit is just for aesthetic purposes. A way to solidify power. To make us look untouchable.” He took another drag, eyes narrowing slightly. “That’s all she is. That’s all they ever are.”
“Whatever you want, baby.” She smiled. And just like that, I knew—I was in way too deep.
“You really wanna go down that rabbit hole, Lena?” I didn’t hesitate. “Nigga, I live for rabbit holes.”
“I love him, Lena. I tried not to. I fought it. But I do.”
Oh, and since we being real tonight—Lena’s been telling me all your fuckin’ business.”
“C’mon, Moni. You smart, ain’t you? You had to know this messy-ass bitch was feeding me intel.”
“You grimy-ass, fake-ass, backstabbing-ass BITCH!”
“HELP ME?!” she shouted, eyes shining with betrayal. “By telling this snake my every fuckin’ move?! By selling me out like I was some dumb-ass pawn?!”
We done, bitch. Don’t call me. Don’t text me. Matter fact, stay the fuck away from me.”
“And fuck you, nigga. I shoulda known your snake-ass was up to something.”
“Stop playing in my fiancée’s face.”
The planner’s eyes widened. “I wasn’t—” “Yeah, you were. And I don’t play them types of games. Ain’t no hoe got shit on her or will ever have me like she does. So, either do your fuckin’ job, or we’ll find someone else to give this big ass check to.”
“No, bitch. Because if Bankston finds out, he’ll see this as betrayal. And if Giovanni finds out, he’ll have both of us killed.”
If Bankston found out about what she did, he would make me pull the trigger myself just to prove a point. I couldn’t let that shit happen to Lena. I think I loved her ass on some real shit.
“Lena is gonna be your downfall. Mark my words.”
“Man, she must be special if you’re dropping two mil on her dreams.”
“I love you, and not because of the money or the shit you do for me.” Her voice was shaking, but she stood firm. “I love you because you see me. You see past all my bullshit, past the attitude, past the walls I put up. You make me feel safe. You make me feel like I got something to lose. And I ain’t never had that before.”
You never know when we’ll be in a bind. When shit will hit the fan, and you won’t be able to do this shit alone. So, you might as well start training me now. Because one thing’s for sure, I ain’t going nowhere.”
I guess it’s true what they say. There is someone for everybody because Lena sure was cut from my rib. I may just marry her crazy ass one day. I never thought about doing some dumb ass shit like that before her.
“Our deal? It’s off. Effective immediately. Your dumbass just signed the death certificate on that partnership.”
