CHAPTER ELEVEN
Zurie
I stood at the bar in the VIP section overlooking the whole club, clipboard in hand, watching everything like a hawk.
The bass from the DJ booth was hitting so hard I could feel it in my chest, and the whole spot was packed wall to wall with niggas from GMB celebrating Mook coming home from his bid.
Welcome home parties always brought out the energy and the drama, so I had to make sure shit stayed tight around this muthafucka.
Ever since that shooting at the grand opening with that bitch ass nigga Zach, I wasn't taking no chances.
My little brother Sosa was tryna build something when it came to this club shit, and I'd be damned if I let anybody fuck it up on my watch.
Security was doubled, cameras watching every corner, and I had my best bartenders working tonight.
I scanned the crowd again, making mental notes. Bottle service was running smooth. No fights breaking out yet. The energy was high but controlled. And for me that meant this shit was gon be a good night.
My mind drifted for a second, to Jamie, and that one brutal night that I had been trying not to think about. Jamie's drunk ass putting his hands on me, me running to McDonald's bruised and busted up.
And the man who became my savior that night.
Yatta.
That man knew he was fine as hell with his caramel skin, strong jawline, tapered curly fade, and them black-rimmed glasses that made him look like some sexy ass professor or some shit.
He saw me fucked up and didn't ask a million questions, didn't make me explain, he just helped me without thinking.
Jamie had been on his best behavior since that night, walking on eggshells, trying to make up for what he did.
But I knew it wasn't real. He was still drinking too much, still grieving his brother.
I was just biding my time, figuring out my exit strategy.
JJ was my priority. Everything else could wait.
But I thought about Yatta almost every day since then. I wondered who he was, what he did, and if I would ever see him again.
"Zurie!" one of the bartenders called out, snapping me back to reality. "We need more Patrón at the main bar!"
"Aight, I got it!" I called back, making a note on my clipboard.
I started heading down from VIP when I saw him.
It was none other than Yatta, he was walking through the entrance with a girl next to him.
She was Caramel-skinned, pretty as hell, thick with long knotless braids down her back.
My stomach dropped, and some weird ass jealousy flared up even though I had no right to feel that way.
I was still technically with Jamie, still trying to figure my shit out. But seeing him with her hit different.
I watched them move through the crowd. He wasn't touching her like that though. no hand on her waist, no protective arm around her. Just walking beside her casual, his usual stone-faced expression locked in place.
They headed toward VIP and I made my way over, needing to check credentials anyway. When I got closer, I heard her talking.
"I really didn’t need you here with me Yatta. You do know I’m grown right," she said, laughing.
"Yeah, well, you wasn't about to come by yourself meeting up with that nigga Rah, he should’ve came and got you since he wanted you here.” His voice was the same, it was deep, calm, and controlled.
"I wanted to drive my own car Big brother, if you must know, that’s why he aint come and get me.”
I stepped into their line of sight and Yatta's eyes locked on mine immediately. Something flashed across his face, and I didn’t know
"Zurie," he said, nodding at me. Hearing him say my name made my heart skip.
"Yatta," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "How you been?” I asked him.
"I’m good, this my lil’ sister Mya." He gestured to the girl beside him. "Mya, this is Zurie." When he said sister relief flooded through me so fast I almost smiled. “ Hey!" She said brightly, extending her hand.
"How you doing beautiful." I shook her hand, then looked back at Yatta. Those eyes behind his glasses was doing something to me.
"Y'all here for Mook's party?" I asked.
"Nah, I’m not but she is tho. I'm just making sure she straight." His eyes was on me.
"Oh, you here to see Rah? I heard y’all say his name." I asked Mya, connecting the dots.
"Yea," She grinned.
"He in VIP. I can take you up." I gestured toward the stairs, then looked at Yatta.
"You coming?"
"Yeah."
We walked through the crowd, me leading the way. I could feel Yatta behind me, his presence solid and calm. When we got to VIP, I pointed Mya toward where Rah was sitting with some of the GMB guys.
"Thank you," she said, then looked at her brother. "You good?"
"Yeah, go ahead. I'll be around." Yatta told her.
She bounced off toward Rah, and it was just me and Yatta standing there. The music was loud, people everywhere, but somehow it felt like we was in our own little bubble.
"How you been?" he asked once again, his voice lower now.
"Good. I’ve been good." I met his eyes. "I never got the chance to really thank you for that night."
"You ain't have to." He said it simple, like it wasn't even a question.
There was a pause, both of us just looking at each other, so much unsaid hanging in the air. I wanted to ask him why he helped me. I wanted to ask if he thought about that night too. I wanted to ask for his number. But before I could say anything, my earpiece crackled.
"Zurie, we got a situation at the back entrance. Some niggas trying to push through without paying."
Fuck.
I sighed, frustrated as hell that this moment was getting cut short.
"I gotta go handle something."
"Handle your business, Ma." Yatta said, still watching me.
"Yeah, let me handle this shit" I started to walk off, then stopped and looked back. "But It's good seeing you again, Yatta."
"You too, Zurie."
I walked away, feeling his eyes on me the whole time, my heart racing faster than it should.
* * *
An hour later, I finally made it to the bar and allowed myself to breathe. The overnight manager, Tristan, had just clocked in and was doing his walkthrough. The club was still packed but shit was running smooth. No fights, no drama, no bullshit. A successful night.
I leaned against the bar and signaled to Macy, one of my best bartenders. "Let me get a shot of Casamigos."
"You got it, boss lady." she poured me a shot and slid it across the bar.
I threw it back, feeling the tequila burn down my throat in the best way. The tension in my shoulders started to ease up just a little.
"Damn, ma. Why you over here drinking alone?”
I looked up to see a light-skinned dude with waves and a nice smile posted up next to me. He was handsome, I'd give him that. He was dressed clean in all black, smelling good, and his confidence was on ten.
"I’m just unwinding after work," I said, giving him a small smile.
"Let me buy you another one. I’m Cassius." He leaned on the bar, getting comfortable.
"I work here Cassius, so that means I drink for free." I smirked.
"Aight, well let me keep you company then. That's free too, right?" He grinned.
I laughed a little. He was smooth, And after the night I'd had, hell, after the last few weeks I'd had, a little harmless flirting wasn't the worst thing in the world.
"I guess it is," I said.
"So what's a beautiful woman like you doing managing a club? You should be on somebody's island somewhere getting pampered."
"Boy, please." I shook my head, but I was still smiling. "I like my job. And my little brother owns this spot, so it's family business."
"Oh, you Sosa's sister? I should've known. Y'all got the same eyes." He was really laying it on thick now, leaning in closer. "But yours prettier though,"
"Aye, my boy. Move around."
Yatta's deep voice cut through the conversation. I looked up and there he was, standing there stone-faced as ever, those dark eyes behind his glasses locked on Cassius with an expression that said he wasn't playing.
Dude straightened up real quick, recognition flashing across his face. "Oh shit, Yatta. My bad, bro. I ain't know—"
"Now you know. Move around."
"Yeah, yeah. No problem." Cassius backed up with his hands raised slightly, he gave me an apologetic look, then disappeared into the crowd like he was never there.
"Really?" I looked at Yatta, somewhere between amused and annoyed. He moved into the space Cassius had just vacated, leaning against the bar casual as hell.
"What?"
"You can't just run off a nigga that talks to me."
"I can when it's a clown." He looked at me with the slightest hint of a smirk. "You keep you a clown around you, huh?"
"I don't even know that nigga. He just walked up."
"Exactly. Clown behavior." He signaled to Macy. "Let me get a Hennessy straight."
Macy poured his drink and Yatta took a sip with his eyes still on me. There was something about the way he looked at me that made my stomach flip. It was intense but calm, confident but not cocky, and sexy as hell all at the same damn time.
"So you just gon' stand here and police who I talk to now?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nah. I'm standing here 'cause I wanna talk to you." My heart did that stupid flutter thing again. \
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah." He took another sip of his drink. "Where Sosa at? I ain't seen him all night."
"He left early. He claim he had some shit to handle." I picked up my empty shot glass and set it back down. "My shift just ended anyway. The overnight manager bout to take over."
"How you getting home?"
"Uber."
He shook his head. "Nah. I'll take you."
"You don't have to do that—"
"I know I don't have to. I'm offering." He finished his drink and set the glass down. "Let me tell my sister I'm leaving."
Before I could protest, he walked off toward VIP. I stood there for a second, trying to process what was happening.
I grabbed my purse from behind the bar and told Macy I was heading out. By the time I made it to the entrance, Yatta was walking back with his keys in his hand.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Yeah."
* * *
I settled into the passenger seat of Yatta’s truck and gave him my address as he pulled out the parking lot.
For a minute, we just rode in silence. The city lights flashing by, the hum of the engine, some R&B playing low on the radio. It wasn't awkward though. It was comfortable.
"So Sosa's your little brother?" Yatta asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah. It's just me and him. Been that way since we was kids." I looked over at him.
"What about you? Ya'mya your only sister?"
"Nah, I got another sister, Yah-Yah. But Mya the youngest so she get away with the most shit." He smirked a little. "That's why I had to come tonight. Make sure she was straight." I smiled.
"Awww, that's sweet."
"That's necessary." He glanced at me. "You got kids?"
"Yeah. A son. JJ. He's four."
"Four? That's a good age. They got personality by then."
"Personality aint even the word. He talks my ear off all day." I laughed, thinking about JJ's endless questions and wild imagination.
"You got kids?"
"Nah. Not yet."
There was a pause, and I could feel the weight of the unspoken question hanging in the air. I knew it was coming.
"What about the nigga who put his hands on you?" Yatta's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "That's your son's father?"
I hesitated, my throat tightening. "Yeah. Jamie. It's... complicated."
"It always is."
"He wasn't always like that," I said, not knowing why I felt the need to explain.
"He's been going through shit since his brother died. Gizmo got killed a few weeks ago and he’s been drinking heavy ever since.
That night he was drunk and I—" I stopped myself, because I didn’t wanna make any excuses for him, “I don't know why I'm telling you all this. "
"'Cause you need to talk about it. And I asked." He kept his eyes on the road. "You still with him?"
"I'm still in the house for my son, but I'm also tryna figure out my exit plan."
My phone started ringing in my purse. I pulled it out and saw Jamie's name flashing across the screen.
My stomach dropped. He had been calling me all night, texting asking where I was, when I was coming home.
I declined the call and put my phone on silent.
I can tell Yatta noticed but he didn't say anything he just kept driving.
When we pulled up to my house, he put the truck in park and turned to look at me.
"Thank you," I said. "For the ride. And for... everything else."
He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and handed it to me. "Put your number in."
I took his phone and typed in my number, saving it under my name. When I handed it back, he called it so my phone would have his number.
"You need anything and I mean anything, you call me. Aight?"
"Alright." I looked at him, and those intense eyes behind his glasses, at the way his jaw was set firm.
"Why you wanna help me, Yatta?" I asked him because I really wanted to know what his angle was with me.
He was quiet for a second, then said, "Because you deserve better than what you settling for."
My breath caught in my throat. I wanted to say something else, but the words wouldn't come. So, I just nodded, grabbed my purse, and opened the door.
"Goodnight, Yatta."
"Goodnight, Zurie Maddox."
I got out the truck and walked toward my house, feeling his eyes on me until I got inside. When I looked back, he was still there, making sure I got in safe.
I pulled out my phone and looked at his number saved in my contacts. A smile spread across my face, and it was the first real smile I had in weeks.