AMAI #3
“But either way,” I continued, my tone hardening, “Kaisen was gon’ get fucked up today for coming here. That wasn’t negotiable.”
Truth closed her eyes and exhaled, her body sagging against the sink.
“I’ll stay with you,” I said. “Until the crew outside clears out. I’m not leaving you alone.”
She didn’t argue.
I reached forward and turned off the water. Then I pulled her hands away from the sink, gently but firmly.
Her hands were raw. Red. Clean.
I wrapped my arms around her from behind, pulling her back against my chest, and rested my chin on top of her head.
She was stiff at first. Resistant.
But then she exhaled, and her body softened, leaning into me.
“It won’t always be like this,” I murmured into her hair. “I promise you that.”
Truth was quiet for a long moment.
Then, so softly I almost didn’t hear it, she whispered, “I hope so.”
I held her tighter.
Because hope was all we had right now.
Hope that she could live with what I was.
Hope that I could become something better.
Hope that the war raging around us wouldn’t destroy what we were trying to build.
Outside, the sirens faded.
I could hear Kaisen’s security team loading him into the ambulance and driving away.
And inside, in the small downstairs bathroom of a brick house on Mimosa Ct, I held the woman I loved and prayed she wouldn’t leave me.
After Truth dozed off, I eased my body from under her, covered her with a blanket, and kissed her forehead. I pulled out my phone and texted her to call me when she woke up.
I smiled when her phone lit up, and I saw my contact saved as My Love.
Truth was locked in with me, and that shit energized the savage in me.
Destroying every threat before Truth had the twins was my only priority.
She was right. There was no way she could endure this pregnancy in a war zone, and it was time I made that right. For both of us.
I walked out, stepped over the puddle of Kaisen’s blood, and instantly texted one of my cleaners in code to come handle the mess. I didn’t want Truth walking outside to a crime scene.
I slid into the driver’s seat and pulled the door shut. My hands rested on the steering wheel. All of this shit was draining me. I didn’t know whether I was coming or going these days.
I reached for the ignition.
My phone rang.
The sound cut through the silence, sharp and immediate, and I glanced at the screen.
Winston.
I answered on the second ring, bringing the phone to my ear.
“Yeah?”
“What the fuck were you thinking?” His voice exploded through the speaker, all rage and disbelief. “You shot Kaisen? In the middle of a goddamn war? We need every body right now, Amai. Every. Single. One.”
I could hear blood rushing to my head. My head flew back against the seat. I was so tired of his shit. They wouldn’t be happy until I laid all their asses to rest. My brother and dad weren’t appreciating my restraint, and I didn’t like that.
“We’re done,” I said flatly.
“Done? We’re not—”
“I’m a grown ass man, Winston.” My voice was ice.
“And I’m done talking to another grown ass man about boundaries.
You don’t get to lecture me about what I do or don’t do.
Not anymore. If that nigga violate, I’m gon’ tap his ass every single time, and I don’t give a fuck how nobody feel about that shit. ”
“Amai, listen to me—”
“Kaisen needed to learn a lesson,” I continued, my tone cutting through his words like a blade. “Words weren’t teaching him shit. Maybe bullets will. Maybe now he’ll understand that Truth is off-limits.”
“You’re being irrational—”
“I’m being clear.” I pulled away from the curb, my movements deliberate and controlled. “Once I secure Truth, then I’ll get what you need. Not before. Not during. After.”
“You can’t just—”
“I don’t care if it’s just me and Priest who have to end this war. Victor, Rahsaan, whoever else is coming—it’s going to end. And it’s going to end real soon. But it ends on my terms, not yours.”
The line went silent for a moment. I could hear him breathing, could feel the weight of his fury pressing through the phone.
“You’re making a mistake,” Winston said finally, his voice deadly quiet.
“Maybe.” I didn’t slow down. Didn’t hesitate. “But it’s my mistake to make.”
I hung up before he could respond.
The phone buzzed almost immediately—Winston calling back. I declined it and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat.
He could call all he wanted.
I wasn’t answering.
Not today.
Not until Truth was safe, and I’d made sure she understood exactly what kind of man she was dealing with.
The kind who would burn the world down to keep her.
The kind who didn’t ask permission.
The kind who didn’t negotiate with anyone—not even his own father.
I pressed my foot on the accelerator and headed back toward the Sanctum. The only thing keeping me from crashing out was my ability to compartmentalize. Truth was safe, at least for now, and Kaisen was neutralized.
Now it was time to get some answers from Yaya. I would have my peace or leave everything around me in pieces. I honestly didn’t give a fuck no more.