6. Chapter 6 #3
"He won't mess with the traditional succession laws or the elder board," Jade interjected, shaking her head as her braids swayed against her shoulders. "That’s political suicide on Okoye. The laws are staying the same... Wait, who’s your King anyway?"
I rolled my eyes, intentionally remaining silent as I slowly chewed on a handful of popcorn.
Nana didn't let the silence last two seconds. She blurted it right out: "The one she almost castrated."
The entire room went silent. The girls stared at Nana, collectively waiting for her to clarify the body count.
Jade smirked. "Can you narrow that down a little bit, Nana?"
Nana cracked up laughing. "Damn, I forgot how many men you've carved up, Danni! But let me think... uhh… Shit.. Hold on. It’s a B, no a D! Dame. Damini! Yeah, that’s the boy’s name."
Nyah and Kandi’s jaws dropped simultaneously. Jade’s smirk widened into a full grin.
"Don’t trip," I warned.
Jade started laughing out loud, while Nyah looked at me with deep, protective worry.
"Whatever you say, Boss," Kandi muttered, though her eyes were dancing.
Nyah leaned forward. "Are you okay, Danni?"
"Not in the least," I said, hiding the memory of Damini’s body crowding me in the corridor. "But I have to handle my business as Queen. I’ll do this stupid, transactional shit and move forward."
Jade leaned in, her eyes gleaming with pure mischief. "Is he still fine, though?"
Kandi chimed in, "Wait, is this the same Damini who takes those high-end executive trips to Atlanta and Miami?"
Jade nodded quickly.
"Oh, that son of a bitch is as fine as they come," Kandi admitted, shaking her head. "Got those thick eyebrows and those deep eyes. He's your exact type, Boss."
"I don’t have a type."
Jade scoffed loudly. "Girl, please."
"Ladies, I do not care to discuss this any further," I snapped, the finality in my voice cutting off their laughter. Then they all looked at each other, and started giggling among themselves.
I was surrounded by a bunch of dumb ho’s, and it better stay that way.
As they tried to pivot the conversation back to the movie, a repetitive electronic beep echoed from Jade’s security console for the front door. The alarm system was signaling a guest at the perimeter, but Jade didn't move to open it. Instead, she stood by the console as her eyes avoided mine.
"Uh, I forgot to tell y'all something," Jade muttered. "Before I answer the door... can everyone put their weapons in the black lockbox?"
We all answered in immediate unison: "Hell no."
Jade rolled her eyes, holding up a security box. "Please? Just do it."
The alarm continued to beep wildly, the red light flashing against the wall.
I leaned back. "Why would I do that? Who the fuck is at the door, Jade?"
"I can’t open it until y'all cough up the iron."
Kandi smacked her lips, unholstering her piece and slamming it into the box. Nyah gently unclipped hers, placing it inside. Nana reached into the folds of her kaftan, pulled out a silver pistol, and tossed it toward the container.
"Nana!" Jade yelled, catching it before it hit the floor.
"Girl, hush, the safety was on. It didn't go off," Nana barked, settling back into her weed smoke.
The three of them turned their heads, eying me. I matched their stare without moving.
"Danni," Jade pleaded, her voice tight.
"Just let their asses in. You're starting to deeply piss me off."
She held the open box directly in front of me. I forced myself to control the sudden spike in my breathing as I pulled out my hip gun and dropped it in. They all sighed as the electronic beeping kept going off.
"Open the damn door!" I growled.
"She would if you gave her the other fucking guns, damn! You're about to blow my high, girl," Nana snapped, taking a massive hit from the bong as the crew waited expectantly.
My jaw was clenched hard. I hiked up the leg of my pants, unstrapping the two backup pieces hidden against my ankles and dropping them into the steel.
Jade smacked her teeth, shaking her head. "You are always doing the absolute most. I promise I'll give them right back."
I inhaled an angry breath, reaching down to slide the thin blade from my inner thigh holster. Jade finally locked the box and set it aside.
The moment she breached the lock and swung the heavy front door open, the entire crew turned their eyes toward the entrance.
"Danni, wait!" Jade yelled.
But I was already off the couch.
My hand blurred to the small pocket of my pants.
I whipped a throwing knife straight at the woman's face.
She ducked so the steel embedded itself into the wall.
Before she could even raise her hands, I crossed the distance like a demon.
I tackled her body into the floor, and slammed my hands around her throat, cutting off her oxygen completely before anyone in the room could react.
I banged her skull hard against the floor, and my fingers dug deep into her windpipe.
"Boss, stop!" Nyah screamed, rushing over and grabbing my shoulders.
Kandi desperately tried to pry my locked fingers away from the woman’s throat.
Nana leaped out of her recliner as she cheered from the sidelines. "Choke her black, trifling ass out! Kill her dead!"
"Nana, you are not fucking helping!" Jade shouted, straining to pull me back by my waist.
Nana yelled right back, "Fuck that! You should have told that bitch to stay gone!"
The woman beneath me fought desperately for air as her fingernails clawed uselessly against my wrists. I watched her fight for her breath as the three woman tried to pull me off her. She was incredibly lucky I didn't snap her neck right there on Jade’s floor.
It was my former best friend, a creature far more vile and manipulative than myself.
Brooklyn knew better than to come back.