Chapter 19
JASMINE MILLER
“I think you can give me one more, Jas,” Cash growled.
I clawed at the sheets, back arching as he drove into me. He was stroking me so deep, my thighs burned as he pushed my knees closer to my chest.
“Fuck, baby!” I cried out as my body shuddered, pussy spasmed around as my climax crashed over me.
Cash cursed low under his breath, thrusts growing erratic before he stilled, pressing into me as he finished with a deep groan.
I melted into the mattress, breathless and a little dizzy. He pulled out and disappeared into the bathroom, returning a moment later with a warm washcloth. I reached for it, but he ignored me, gently parting my thighs and wiping between them himself.
The small gesture—how careful he was, how soft—made something twist in my chest. An aching kind of tenderness I didn't want to acknowledge.
“I’m so happy you’re snipped down there,” I said, sliding back against the pillows. “Because I’m pretty sure I’d be pregnant by now.”
He gave me a look as he slid into his briefs. “Just say the word, and I’ll get it reversed.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not serious.”
“Why would I joke about that?”
I studied his face, searching for some hint that he was playing. But he wasn’t. He never was when it came to us. It threw me off. I never knew what to do with that kind of certainty. Lately, I’d been catching myself wondering what it might feel like to say yes.
“Stop staring at me like I’m running game on you, shorty,” he said, climbing back into bed and kissing my neck. “I’m already Big Daddy, I can be baby daddy too.”
I laughed and nudged him off playfully just as his phone chimed on the nightstand. He leaned over me to get it.
“Yo,” he answered, tucking the phone between his shoulder and ear, as he pulled on his basketball shorts and disappeared into the closet to take the call.
I headed into the bathroom to wash up, still feeling the afterglow buzzing in my body. I tossed the washcloth into his hamper, climbed back into bed, and grabbed my phone.
I scrolled through social media, trying to enjoy how good I felt, but my mind drifted to the larger problem at hand—I hadn’t told Cash about the video.
I barely even processed it myself before Marcus’s psycho-ass sent me another one this morning.
This time, the video was zoomed in at a tighter angle and focused on my face, so you saw every expression I made while he fucked me.
I felt sick all over again just thinking about it. I didn’t respond and deleted it immediately. Same way I ignored the first one. I wanted to block him, but couldn’t. That would probably really set him off, and he’d send it to Cash off principle.
It was cruel and calculated. The Marcus I’d known would’ve never done something like this. I didn’t even know what his angle was. Surely he didn’t think this would get me to go back to him.
Cash came back in the room and sat at the edge of the bed, his brows pinched together deep in thought.
“Everything ok?” I asked, glancing up from my screen.
“Work shit,” he muttered.
I pursed my lips. “That sounds like code for shady shit you can’t tell me about.”
He laughed dryly. “Actually… I can. Has to do with your boy Marcus.”
I set my phone down, feeling my heart start to pound. “Should I be worried?”
Cash shook his head. “Nah, I’m not worried about you and him. But that nigga and I got beef.”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with me, does it?” I asked, sitting up and wrapping the blanket around me tighter.
“Not really,” he said, inching closer. “But your sexy ass being in the mix doesn’t help,” he added. “What do you know about him being down here?”
“I didn’t ask him,” I admitted. “But judging by his car, I figured he was still in the game—just leveled up.”
”Well, he leveled up and brought dirty product with him.” Cash’s face hardened. “His shit is behind all the ODs.”
My stomach dropped. “Are you serious?”
It’d been bad for months, so bad the mayor was calling it a public health crisis. The ER barely made it through a shift without at least two overdose cases—and most of them didn’t make it.
“Yeah.” He dragged a hand over his head. “Long story short, I’ve been trying to figure out for months where that shit was coming from. We finally traced it to him. I didn’t know who he was until he said who he was at Marlene’s.”
I didn’t know what to say. It was one thing to be in this world, but to knowingly sell something that was hurting so many people?
What kind of man had Marcus really become?
“When I went out with him…” I paused, trying to figure out a way to tell him without saying too much. “He knew who you were.”
Cash’s eyes darkened. “What exactly did he say?”
I took a deep breath. “He asked if I thought what happened to my car had anything to do with you. I asked him what he meant by that, and he said he knew all about the infamous Money Banks.”
Cash sat up, expression cold. “What else?”
I swallowed hard, my mind flashing to the video again.
“Nothing,” I said flatly. “Just that he knew who you were. That’s it.”
Cash tilted his head, studying me like he could tell something was off.
I looked away. “So… what happens now?”
“That first time we went out, you told me you weren’t trying to get wrapped up in this lifestyle. I’m still trying to honor that,” he said. “I’m handling it.”
“But?”
“That nigga is grimy. I don’t like the way he moves. And now that he knows we’re together, I wouldn’t put it past him to use you to get to me.”
I stiffened. “What are you saying?”
“I just want to take some precautions,” he reached for my hand. “I’d tell you to stay here, but I already know your stubborn ass gon’ tell me no. So, I’m putting a detail on your building.”
“To do what? Watch the damn parking lot?” I scoffed. “He’s not gonna snatch me up, Cash.”
“This shit not funny, Jasmine,” he said, giving me a hard look. “It’s my job to protect what’s mine,” he said.
“You don’t think you’re overreacting? How long you plan to keep this up?”
“‘Til I put that nigga down,” he said with a shrug.
“Cash…”
“The game is the game, love. He knows just like I do. I’m sure he’s thinking the same about me.”
* * *
Monica and I trudged through the parking garage after finishing a grueling twelve-hour shift. Another wave of OD cases came in today, and Cash’s warning about Marcus kept replaying in my mind.
“What’s up with you and Jelani?” I asked, tossing her a look. She’d told me she’d gone on a few dates and was even being friendly to Dr. Matthews. I didn’t know if she was trying to get Jelani out of her system or if she truly moved on.
Monica shrugged, twirling her keys in her hand with a tired smile. “Other than him not leaving me alone? Nothing.”
“So you’re over him for real?” I asked, digging out my own keys from my purse.
She hesitated. “I mean… I’m not completely over him. But I know he’s definitely not good for me.”
“So you blocked him?”
“No…” she shook her head. “I can’t deny that I like him, but trust? Yeah, not so sure about that, you know,” she sighed as she unlocked her door. “Maybe he needs a few years, and he’ll calm down like Cash.”
I snorted. “Cash? Calm? You got jokes, Mo’.”
“You know what I mean,” she smacked my arm. “Cash knew he wanted you. There were no mind games. You saw how quick he shut that shit with Princess down. Now, baby brother? That one be talking ‘bout being done with other bitches, but can I trust him after he was being messy in my crib?”
I thought back to Jelani’s face at the club when he realized how badly he fucked things up with Monica.
“I don’t know, sis. He was looking like a kicked puppy when you kept blowing him off at Mansion.”
She rolled her eyes. “Please. He’s just mad ‘cause he can’t get what he wants. And don’t be defending him just because you’re in good with the family now.”
“Girl, bye!” I laughed, heading toward my car. “See you Wednesday.”
Monica paused. “You sure you don’t want a ride to your car?”
“I’m good. It’s just down there.” I waved her off and pulled out my phone to call Cash.
“‘Sup, beautiful.” His voice had me cheesing immediately.
“Hey,” I said softly. “I just got off and heading to my car.” Ever since he told me about Marcus, Cash wanted me to call and check in with him after I got off. I thought it was overkill, but I humored him. I walked down the steps to the lower level, where I was parked.
“You coming over?”
I sighed. “No, I’m exhausted. I don’t have the energy for the drive, babe.”
Cash’s house was almost thirty minutes from the hospital, while my apartment was only ten.
“That’s why I keep telling you to let Hassan pick you up and drop you off,” he scolded.
I rolled my eyes. “Having my building watched isn’t enough? I don’t need a driver too. I’ll be over tomorrow… unless you want to come to my place.”
He sucked his teeth. “And sleep in that small ass bed? Tuh.
I let out a tired laugh, but it faded when I saw a figure leaning against my car.
“Cash,” I whispered, walking slower. “There’s someone by my car.”
“What? Jas, go back inside the hospital. Where’s Monica?”
“She left already.” My voice was barely above a whisper. My heart began hammering as I squinted and froze.
Marcus.
“Baby, let me call you back.” I ended the call and slid my phone into my pocket.
He was leaning against the new BMW X4 that Cash bought me.
He’d gotten rid of the gaudy Benz Marcus bought me, saying there was no way I was driving around in something another man gave me.
That much we agreed on—I didn’t even like it.
He sold it and dropped the money in my account.
I still felt like a BMW was a bit much, but at least this felt more like me.
“What’s good, Juicy?” he drawled with a smug smile that made my stomach turn as he pushed off the car’s hood.
I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and took a cautious step back.
“What are you doing here, Marcus?”
He lifted his hands. “You been ignoring my texts. Figured it’d be better to come speak in person—without your nigga interrupting us.”
“I’ve been working,” I scoffed, trying to keep my voice even despite the growing sinking feeling in my stomach. “It’s late, Marcus. I’m tired. Whatever this is, it can wait.”
He continued moving closer to me until I was backed up against the car next to mine.
“See you got a new whip,” he said and nodded toward the BMW. “My shit wasn’t good enough for you?”
The air around us felt thick. I swallowed hard and glanced around the empty garage. “Marcus, please. Just let me go home. We can talk some other time.”
“You know,” he said as he rubbed his jaw, “ I thought we had a nice time together. Then, just like that—” he snapped his fingers, “—you ghost me and get back with that nigga? Explain to me how that works, ma?”
Was this nigga out his rabid-ass mind? What the actual fuck was happening right now?
“It wasn’t like I planned any of this. It just happened,” I mumbled. I felt hot, sweat rolled down my back—every nerve in my body screamed at me to run, but it felt like my legs were bolted to the floor.
“So, that’s it?” he sneered, his gaze narrowed, and his eyes darkened. “I waited ten years for a second chance with you, and you just toss me aside like what we had was nothing?”
He reached out and grabbed me. His fingers dug into my arm.
“Marcus, you’re hurting me,” I whispered, tears stinging my eyes.
“You hurt me first.” There was an unhinged quality to his voice now.
My phone started vibrating in my pocket.
A slow smile curved on Marcus’s face. “I bet that’s him.”
“Don’t—” I started, but he’d already snatched the phone from my pocket.
“Yerrr!” he answered, putting the phone on speaker. “What’s good, my guy?” His eyes never left mine.
“Who the fuck is this?” Cash asked angrily.
“Come on now,” Marcus grinned. “You know who this is.”
“Put Jas on the phone, Marcus,” Cash growled.
“Sorry, my wife can’t talk to you right now.”
“Wife?!” Cash and I exclaimed at the same time.
Marcus disconnected the call and slid the phone into his pocket. “Time to go home, Jas.”
“Marcus wha—”
He pulled me into him, his breath hot against my ear. “I waited a decade for a second chance with you. I’m gon’ make you see that we belong together, baby. Believe that.”
Before I could pull away, he pulled a dirty white cloth from his pocket and clamped it over my face. A sickly sweet smell flooded my nostrils and burned my throat.
“Wha—” I tried to speak as the world around me blurred.
“Shh…” he murmured, catching me as my legs gave out. “I’m gonna fix this.”