5. The Distraction #2
Truitt nodded slowly, like he was processing that.
"I did some security consulting on the side for a minute.
Worked with a few club owners downtown. The hours are brutal, but the money's good if you know what you doing.
" He paused. "After Dark got good security?
I know some of these spots be having issues—fights, people getting robbed in the parking lot, all that. "
"I guess? I don't really go there that much anymore."
"Why not?"
Soreya hesitated. "I just... I don't know. It's his space, you know? I don't wanna be all up in his business like that."
"That's fair." Truitt's eyes stayed on her, steady and assessing. "You ever notice anything weird when you do go? Like unusual clientele, or people coming and going at odd hours?"
"Weird how?"
"I don't know. Just... some of these clubs, they got a whole other operation running after hours. VIP stuff, private parties. Sometimes people go missing from spots like that and nobody asks questions."
Soreya's stomach tightened. "Missing?"
"Yeah. Like, you hear about girls disappearing from clubs sometimes. Especially late night spots." He said it casually, like he was just making conversation, but his eyes were watching her reaction carefully.
"I—I don't know about all that," Soreya said, her voice quieter now. "Reign runs a legit business."
"I'm sure he does." Truitt smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Just seems like a lot for you to deal with, that's all. Late nights, never knowing where he is, what he's really doing when he say he at the club..."
"He at the club," Soreya said, but even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
"You ever seen his work schedule? Like, you know exactly what happens at After Dark after hours?"
"Why you asking me all this?" The question came out sharper than she intended.
Truitt blinked, and for just a second, something flickered across his face—something cold and calculating, something that didn't match the warm, concerned guy who'd been sitting across from her. Then it was gone, replaced by an easy smile.
"My bad," he said, holding up his hands. "I ain't trying to interrogate you. I just—" He laughed, shaking his head. "I got a bad habit of asking too many questions. Comes with the finance job, I guess. Always analyzing shit."
Soreya forced a smile, but her shoulders were tense. "It's cool."
"Nah, for real, I'm sorry." Truitt leaned forward, his expression softening. "Let's talk about something else. You got a favorite restaurant? I'm trying to find some good spots in Richmond. I been eating the same three places since I moved here."
The shift was so smooth, so natural, that Soreya almost relaxed. Almost.
But something about the last few minutes sat wrong with her. The way he'd asked about Reign's clubs. The way he'd mentioned people disappearing. The way he'd looked at her when she'd gotten defensive.
Like he'd been testing her.
"There's this Thai spot on Cary Street," she said, her answers shorter now. "It's good."
"Thai food? Bet. I'm down." Truitt pulled out his phone. "Let me get your number. Maybe we can check it out sometime."
Soreya hesitated for just a second before rattling off her number. Truitt typed it in, then sent her a text so she'd have his.
Truitt (1:52 PM): this is truitt. good meeting you today
"There you go," he said, smiling. "Now you can't ghost me."
"I wouldn't ghost you," Soreya said, but she was already gathering her purse, ready to leave.
"You sure? You look like you ready to run out of here."
"I just—I really do got some stuff to handle."
"Aight, I feel you." Truitt stood up when she did, ever the gentleman. "Drive safe, Soreya."
"You too."
She walked out of the coffee shop feeling like she'd just escaped something, though she couldn't say what. When she glanced back through the window, Truitt was still standing there, watching her go.
And for just a moment, before he looked away, she saw it again.
That cold, calculating look.
Then he smiled and waved, and it was gone.
"Sometimes ain't good enough."
She looked up at him, and the way he was looking at her—steady, serious, like he actually cared—made her want to cry.
"It's complicated," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It always is." Truitt leaned forward, his elbows on the table. "But you deserve somebody who treat you right all the time, Soreya. Not just when it's convenient."
She didn't know what to say to that. Didn't know how to explain that Reign did treat her right, in his own way. That he loved her, she knew he did. But that love came with chaos, with disappearing acts, with a darkness she couldn't name.
"I should go," she said suddenly, standing up. "I got some stuff I need to handle."
Truitt stood up too, concern flickering across his face. "I'm sorry if I overstepped?—"
"You didn't." She forced a smile. "I just... I need to go."
"Okay." He didn't push. Didn't try to stop her. Just nodded and said, "Text me when you get home safe."
She left the coffee shop feeling like she'd just done something wrong, even though she hadn't. She'd just had coffee with a friend. That was it.
But when she got in her car and checked her phone, she saw a text from Reign.
Reign (5:47 PM): Where you at?
Her stomach dropped.
Soreya (5:50 PM): just left starbucks. why?
Reign (5:51 PM): Come to the house. We need to talk.
That night, Soreya lay in bed at her own apartment—not Reign's house, her apartment—staring at her phone.
She'd gone to see him like he asked, and the conversation had been...
tense. He'd asked her where she'd been, who she'd been with, why she seemed different lately.
She'd told him the truth—that she'd met a friend for coffee—but she could see the suspicion in his eyes.
He didn't believe her.
Or maybe he did, and that was worse.
She texted Vesper.
Soreya (11:23 PM): you up?
Vesper (11:24 PM): yeah what's wrong
Soreya (11:25 PM): i met somebody
Vesper (11:25 PM): WHAT
Soreya (11:26 PM): not like that. just a guy. we had coffee. he nice.
Vesper (11:27 PM): Soreya...
Soreya (11:28 PM): i know
Vesper (11:29 PM): is he fine?
Soreya (11:30 PM): yeah. but it's not about that. he just... he listen. he ask me how i'm doing. he care.
Vesper (11:31 PM): and Reign don't?
Soreya (11:32 PM): Reign do. but it's different. this guy... he stable. he normal. he don't make me feel crazy.
Vesper (11:33 PM): then maybe you need to give him a chance
Soreya (11:34 PM): i got a whole man Vesper
Vesper (11:35 PM): a man who don't come home. a man who make you wait up til 4am. a man who got you questioning your sanity. Soreya you deserve better than that. if this new guy make you feel good then why not?
Soreya (11:37 PM): because i love Reign
Vesper (11:38 PM): love ain't supposed to hurt this much
Soreya stared at the message, her vision blurring with tears. She knew Vesper was right. Knew that what she had with Reign wasn't healthy, wasn't sustainable. But she also knew that walking away from him felt impossible.
Her phone buzzed again. This time it was Truitt.
Truitt (11:42 PM): You good? You seemed off earlier.
She shouldn't respond. Shouldn't keep this going. But her fingers moved before her brain could stop them.
Soreya (11:43 PM): i'm okay. just got a lot on my mind
Truitt (11:44 PM): If you ever need to talk, I'm here. No judgment.
Soreya (11:46 PM): thank you. that mean a lot
Truitt (11:47 PM): Anytime, Soreya. I mean that.
She locked her phone and set it on her nightstand, her heart racing. She wasn't doing anything wrong. She was just talking to somebody. Just having a conversation.
But deep down, she knew the truth.
She was catching feelings.
And Reign—wherever he was, whatever he was doing—could probably sense it.
The thought terrified her.
Because if Reign found out about Truitt, if he even suspected that she was emotionally pulling away, she didn't know what he'd do.
She'd seen the way he looked at her the other night. Seen the hunger in his eyes, the barely controlled violence simmering beneath his skin.
And for the first time, she wondered if loving Reign Saint might actually get her killed.