Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
I could feel the bodyguard staring at my profile for a long while, and I thought maybe the question was too personal before he surprised me. “Abel.”
“Abel,” I said, testing his name. It was nice. “Please tell your boss that I don’t take orders from him and that I don’t appreciate being toyed with. I thought…” I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply before letting it all go. “I thought he was interested in me,” I confessed honestly and pathetically. “Clearly, I was wrong. You can also tell him that I’m not coming back. I’m done with this charade.” The man searched my gaze for a moment, probably trying to assess my seriousness, before dipping his head in a polite nod. “Thanks. Goodbye.”
Abel didn’t return the farewell as he shut my car door for me. As I drove off, I glanced in the rearview mirror to see a phone plastered to his ear, already relaying my message to his Boss as he watched me drive off.
It didn’t matter.
I meant what I said.
COBY
A week later, I found myself back at the Diamond Lounge. It was a Friday night, so the club was packed, but for the first time, I prayed that Ocean wouldn’t show his face.
I wasn’t here for him anyway.
Roshaun texted me an hour ago, saying he needed to talk to me and had asked—damn near begged—me to come here. Hunter and I had already been getting ready to go out, so I agreed even though Hunter had plenty to say about my dropping everything for my brother.
She wasn’t wrong, but I could never turn my back on Roshaun—no matter how much he secretly resented me or how many times he pushed me away. Besides, I had my own reasons for coming.
“Look at those bitches,” Hunter grumbled beside me. “You’d think that man’s dick was covered in bread crumbs the way the birds are flocking.”
My heart thumped inside my chest, and I followed her gaze in a panic toward the sections above us. It was packed to capacity, but a moment later, I was sighing my relief when the DJ shouted out Fat Pack. He was a local rapper who had recently signed a huge deal with Making Waves music group, and it seemed as if the whole city came out to celebrate with him. It was rumored that the record label was owned by the Fola, but no one’s ever been brave enough to point the finger and confirm it.
Hunter loved Fat Pack’s music, so once she learned he’d be here, it was much easier to convince her to come with me, even though she had good reason not to. According to her, Roshaun, who sacrificed everything to raise me after our parents died, was a snake in the grass. Nothing I said in his defense would change her mind.
And their beef wasn’t one-sided either.
Roshaun thought Hunter was bad news, and while not even Hunter would disagree, my brother failed to realize that I was just as bad.
Hunter and I were two parts of a whole.
We shared everything, including our penchant for trouble.
Roshaun had only been a few years older than I was now when he tragically went from being my big brother to sole guardian. He never got to properly grieve our parents because of his determination to be strong for me. Hunter said I didn’t owe him shit, but I couldn’t see it any other way.
I caught her eyeing the VIP again and was about to ask if she wanted to go up there when my phone vibrated in my hand. When I glanced at the screen, I saw that it was a text from my brother.
Shaun: Where r u?
I sighed as I unlocked my phone and texted back.
Coby: Downstairs w/ Hunter.
Shaun: Meet me outside. Use the private entrance and come alone.
I wrinkled my nose at his request and sent another text, pressing my brother for more details to distract myself from Hunter dancing with our neighbor, Gary. After five minutes passed with no response, I rolled my eyes and decided to get this over with. I had my reasons for accepting Roshaun’s olive branch, since the last time we’d spoken ended with us not speaking for months.
Despite our age gap, we actually used to be close before our parents died, but I wasn’t so sure we could ever go back because of how much he hated my other half.
“My brother wants to talk,” I shouted over the music to Hunter.
She immediately straightened and dismissed Gary without a word. “I’ll come with you.”
Overhearing, Gary sucked his teeth and stormed off.
He’d been trying to get with Hunter for years, and a half-hearted dance was the closest he’d ever gotten.
I’d laugh if I weren’t terrified of what her rejection might lead to. Hunter had more restraining orders than bodies. Her presence was a siren call to any man who ventured too close, and sometimes they didn’t handle her refusal to grant them access very well.