Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Navy
I was surprised Zander had come out tonight.
Usually during trials, he isolated on the weekends.
Since he’d let me know he was going to the lounge with his crew, I decided to pull up too.
I hadn’t seen him in a whole week, and that felt like forever.
I was having so much fun with them all, especially Twyla and Venus.
Venus was the newest member of our little family, and she fit right in.
She was so good for and with Carson, and I was glad he finally had a woman that could return the energy and love he gave.
“One more round of shots, then I gotta get back home to my wife,” Kaos said. I was surprised he’d shown up at all. Serenity would be giving birth in a few months, and they were coming out less and less. I was so excited about their baby and couldn’t wait for her to give birth.
“I’m good,” I said, shaking my head. “I think I’m at my limit.” I rested my head on Zander’s shoulder, and he wasted no time wrapping his arm around me.
“Did you drive?” he asked.
“Nah, but I’m not tipsy. If I take that shot, I will be though.”
“We came together,” Twyla said. “I can take her home.”
“You sure, Sis?” Zander confirmed.
“Yeah, I’m good.” Twyla tapped my thigh with her pointer finger. “Take this shot, then we can go.”
I covered my face and smiled. She was just like her damn brother.
They refused to let anyone not participate in group shots, even if that meant they had to take care of them after.
I was at that level where I was happy and feeling good, but I knew my body, and that shot would shift me into tipsy territory.
We all handled our spirits well, though, but we didn’t play about drinking and driving—or smoking and driving for that matter.
“Fine,” I agreed. “One more shot and that’s—”
“Damn. You didn’t waste no time replacing me, did you?”
At the sound of a woman’s voice, I lifted my head. The woman was standing over us, looking at Zander with her arms crossed over her chest. He ran through so many women I never bothered to try and keep up. I had no idea who this woman was, but she clearly knew him.
“You weren’t mine to replace, Ebony,” Zander replied, sitting back against the couch.
His arm remained wrapped around my shoulders, causing her to zero in on me.
Usually, if he wanted a woman, he was quick to make it clear we were just friends.
I figured he didn’t want to be bothered with her since he didn’t correct her and remove his arm.
“You destroyed my marriage, and now you think you can just . . . be with someone else?”
“Okay. I’m concerned about your grip on reality,” Zander admitted, sitting up in his seat. “I didn’t destroy your marriage, and who I am or am not with is none of your concern, E. If you can’t understand and accept that, I’ma get a restraining order.”
Everything happened in a blur. One second, Zander was surprisingly calmer than I thought he’d be.
The next, ol’ girl was grabbing a cocktail off the table and tossing it in my face.
She yelled about how I couldn’t replace her.
It took me a few seconds to process what was happening, but when I did, I leaped from my seat.
I didn’t even have to touch her because Venus had the girl on the carpeted floor beating the shit out of her.
She’d told us as we got to know her that she could be very aggressive and protective, but hearing that and seeing it in real time was altogether different.
I didn’t feel like we were close enough for her to want to fight my battles, so the fact that she acted before I could made me respect her more.
Carson reached for her and carried her outside while Zander’s latest conquest shook her head and tried to sit up. The next thing I knew, Twyla was sending a kick to her face that knocked her out.
“Aight, that’s enough,” Tristan said, picking Twyla up and tossing her over his shoulder.
“Lord have mercy,” Taj grumbled, pressing her hand on the back of Twyla’s leg as she wiggled to be free.
Tristan carried her outside while Zander pulled a card out of his wallet to handle the bill.
“You good, sis?” Kaos checked, running a towel over my wet face.
I didn’t realize I was shaking until he gripped my shoulders and hugged me. The warmth of his embrace settled me almost instantly.
“I’m fine. In shock more than anything. And mad that I couldn’t beat her ass myself.”
He chuckled. “You know that ain’t how we do. We look out for each other. Period.”
He held me and made small talk to keep me from detaching until Zander was done paying.
By that time, security had come over and started tending to Ebony.
We all made our way out after Kaos told the security guards to contact the firm directly if Ebony wanted to press charges, though he was sure that wouldn’t be the case when they rolled the cameras back and saw that she had assaulted me first. Zander held my hand, and he was eerily quiet as we made our way outside.
Everyone huddled around to make sure I was okay, and I thanked them before we went our separate ways. Twyla was supposed to take me home because I’d come with her, but when Zander tugged me in the direction of his SUV, I didn’t put up a fight.
The ride to my home was silent. Zander stared out of the window most of the time. When we finally pulled up, he waited until Deno had gotten out to speak. He took my hand into his and looked into my eyes.
“I’m so embarrassed. That was unacceptable. No one from my past should ever cause issues for you. I am so sorry, Navy.”
When I realized why he’d been so quiet, it made my heart ache. I unbuckled my seat belt and cupped his cheek.
“I appreciate the apology, but you can’t control the actions of others, Zander.”
“You’re right, but I still take responsibility for that. It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for me. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Well, it’s not okay, but I’m not mad at you at all, bookie.”
His head shook. “I’ve never put my hands on a woman before, but when she threw that drink on you, I saw red. I damn near lost it. Had it not been for Venus—” His mouth snapped shut, as if just replaying it and talking about it was getting him worked up again.
He tapped the window, and Deno opened his door, then Zander came to open mine. He walked me to the door but stepped in front of it to keep me from going right inside.
“Who was she?” I asked.
“The last woman I was dealing with. Long story short, she and her husband are getting divorced and she’s blaming me. She wants me to fund her lifestyle and I’m not, so she’s been acting up.”
“Zander, . . . you gotta stop this shit.”
“I know, I know,” he replied softly, pulling me into his chest by the back of my neck.
I wrapped my arms around him and kept him close.
“I already made up in my mind not to mess with any more married women. Shit, I’m taking a break from women altogether.
It’s not worth it anymore. I just want to focus on my business and my community. ”
“Forever?” I checked, resting my chin on his chest and looking up at him.
His expression softened as he smiled. The feel of him rubbing his hands up and down my back caused chills to cover my arms.
“You know how I feel about marriage.”
“So what? You’re going to be the rich uncle who spoils everyone for the rest of your life? All of your friends are in serious relationships and will likely start building their families soon. You don’t want that for yourself?”
His head tilted as he sighed and considered my question.
“I don’t worry myself with desiring things that are beyond my control.
Truthfully, yes. I want love and marriage and a family of my own.
That’s not something I can control. I don’t know when or if it will happen for me, so it’s better to not have that desire altogether to avoid being disappointed if I never get it.
If I end up being the rich uncle that spoils everybody else’s kids, I’d be okay with that, but what I won’t be okay with is continuously entertaining women that take and never give or situationships that end up being toxic. ”
“That’s a shame.” His brows wrinkled and mouth parted slightly in confusion. “I think you’d make a great father and husband to the right woman. I also think you deserve healthy, pure love. One day a woman will come along when you least expect it and give you the courage to believe that too.”
I stood on the tips of my toes and pulled him down to kiss his forehead, then I turned and let myself into my home. This night hadn’t gone the way I thought it would, but it was fun until Ebony’s crazy ass ruined it.