Chapter 4 Carmen Royal #4
My phone started vibrating on the counter beside the tub and I almost ignored it because I didn’t feel like talking to nobody, but it kept going so I reached over, picked it up, and looked at the screen.
I stared at it for a second before answering although I didn’t know the number.
It could’ve been a client and of course because my mind was always on go, my curiosity made me answer this time.
“Hello? Carmen Royal speaking.”
“Carmen,” he said quickly, and he actually sounded nervous. “I’m sorry, I know this probably ain’t the best time to call, but I saw the news.”
I leaned my head back again and closed my eyes knowing that voice. “Dru…”
“Nah, seriously. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine.” I said in a dry tone.
He paused before he said something again. “You don’t sound fine.”
“I’m just tired.” I told him looking over my shoulder to make sure Dom’s crazy ass wasn’t around.
There was a pause on the other end again. “I saw your name everywhere,” he said. “They said you got shot at.”
“I didn’t get shot.”
“It don’t matter, that’s still crazy. They had your picture all over the news.”
I didn’t say nothing for a second because honestly I didn’t know what to say. Dru seemed to always have bad timing in the short time that I’d known him. It was like no matter how many times I tried to make it clear that there was no space for him in my life, he always found his way back around.
“You really shouldn’t be calling me,” I said finally said hissing low through my teeth.
It’s not that I disliked him because he hadn’t done anything to me, but unless he wanted to get kidnapped again, he needed to leave me alone because we could never be friends.
Next time, he might not make it out alive.
“What?”
“You heard what happened and you still thought calling me was smart? Especially after what happened to you.”
“I was checking on you.”
“I know, but it’s dangerous for you to even be attached to me in any kind of way.”
He let out a deep breath on the other end and chuckled. “Carmen, I’m not scared of no cartel.”
“It don’t know what cartel you’re talking about right now.” I told him with my eyebrows furrowed.
He laughed softly, but it sounded forced. “You really think he’d kill me for calling to see if you was okay?”
“I think you should stop playing with your life.” I rubbed my forehead and looked up at the ceiling. “Dru, I’m married, I’m pregnant, and I just got shot at yesterday. Please stop calling me.”
“I’m not trying to disrespect your marriage.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No I’m not.”
“Yes, you are,” I repeated. “Because every time you call me, you already know what it is. Unless you want to end up in a body bag, leave me alone.”
He got quiet again. Then finally he sighed. “I’m glad you okay.”
I closed my eyes again. “Thank you.”
When I hung up, I just sat there in the tub staring at the ceiling because that man would not let it go.
A minute later the bathroom door opened and Dom walked in.
He had changed clothes now wearing those gray sweats that had his dick print showing.
He was shirtless showing that ripped chest and tattoos with a glass Hennessy glass in his hand.
He looked so good it almost irritated me.
He sat down on the closed toilet seat and looked over at me in the tub.
“You look better,” he said he told me taking a sip. It smelled so potent I was mad I couldn’t take my own swig.
“I feel better.”
“You still tired though huh.”
“A little.” I shrugged.
He took a sip another from the glass, then looked at me for another few seconds. “I want you to chill for a little while.”
I already knew where this was going. “I am chilling Dom and I already know where this is going.”
“You know what I mean then.”
I leaned my head back against the tub. “Dom…”
He shook his head. “Nah, I’m serious. You can work, I already know you not gon’ stop working, but work from here for a little bit.”
“I have a firm to run as well Dom.”
“You got a whole office in this house too. That’s what you pay your assistance top dollar for. They can handle it.”
“That’s not the same thing.” I argued.
“It is for right now.”
I looked at him again and the look in his eyes told me he didn’t give a damn about what I was saying. “You can’t lock me in the house.”
“I can do what I want.” He winked.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“And you almost got killed. I hate to keep reminding you. Until the score is even, you stay here. If you have to leave, you already know the shadows coming, but you need to stay away from that firm from now. I can’t risk another breach.”
That shut me up again because every conversation somehow kept coming back to that. He looked down into the glass for a second before speaking again. “I just need you close to me for a few days.”
The way he said it made something soften inside of me and I didn’t want to keep going against him although he knew I never would.
I softened up because right now he wasn’t being weak in front of me, but because he sounded honest. I looked at him sitting there with that drink in his hand, still carrying everything from yesterday all over his face, and I knew this wasn’t really about him trying to control me.
This was about fear… this was about him almost losing me and our child.
The very reason he didn’t want to love me or have any kids was unfolding right in front of his eyes, but I knew he wouldn’t say it.
“I’ll think about it,” I said softly just teasing to break the tension.
His eyes landed on mine. “What that mean?”
“It means I’ll think about it.”
He smirked a little. “Hardheaded.”
“You love it.”
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I do, but you know I laid down the law and that’s what it is. Come out when you ready, I locked the rest of my day in here, cause tomorrow…” he stopped and caught himself. “Let’s just enjoy this day.”
That was all he said before he walked out leaving me to myself again. God I love that man, I thought to myself resting my head back on the tub staring at the ceiling again.