Chapter 14
Indie
The next morning, I woke up with a sense of purpose I hadn’t felt in weeks. Today, I was getting out of this estate. Today, I was seeing Aurora.
Stone had already left by the time I opened my eyes, probably handling business like he always was. But true to his word, there was a brand-new iPhone sitting on the nightstand with a note that just said: Call your friend.
I grabbed the phone and saw it was already set up. Stone had thought of everything.
But I didn’t call Aurora.
I wanted to surprise her. Show up at her door and see the look on her face when she realized I was alive and okay.
Well, alive at least. The okay part was debatable.
I spent the morning getting ready, taking my time in the bathroom. I showered, did my hair and makeup, making sure everything was just right. I hadn’t felt this excited about anything in weeks.
Then I went to my closet and started going through the racks of designer clothes Stone had bought for me.
I wanted to look good. Wanted Aurora to see that despite everything, I was still me. Still that bitch.
I went with something that didn’t just look good, it looked like money.
A cream Balenciaga bodysuit hugging every curve, tucked into light-wash denim that sat high on my hips with gold buttons running down the sides.
I slipped on a pair of nude Louboutins. They made my legs look endless, red bottoms flashing with every step I took.
I opened the jewelry case and found some pieces to elevate my look. Cartier on one wrist, a Rolex on the other, hoops in my ears that shifted subtly with every move. A delicate chain rested against my collarbone, the diamond pendant sitting just right.
My hair was laid, curls falling past my shoulders like they had somewhere to be. I’d decided to do soft glam for my make-up. Flawless with nothing overdone, but everything intentional.
I stared at myself in the mirror for a second longer than I meant to. I looked like I existed in a whole new world now.
Like the kind of woman men like Stone kept close.
The thought made something pull tight inside me, but I pushed it away. Today wasn’t about Stone or my complicated feelings about him. Today was about Aurora.
I grabbed one of the Chanel bags from the closet. It was a classic black quilted flap bag with a gold chain strap. It was beautiful, and I knew Aurora would lose her mind over it.
This was her gift. Her peace offering for me disappearing on her without a word.
Before heading downstairs, I checked on Ish. He was getting ready for school, looking fresh in the new clothes Stone had bought him.
“You look nice,” he said, glancing up from tying his shoes. “Where you going?”
“To see Aurora,” I said, leaning against his doorframe. “Stone’s letting me out for the day.”
Ish’s eyebrows shot up. “For real? That’s what’s up. Tell her I said what’s good.”
“I will,” I said, smiling. “You good?”
“Yeah, I’m straight,” he said. “School’s cool. The food here is crazy. Brady made me French toast this morning with some fancy ass syrup.”
I laughed. “Alright, I’ll see you later. Be good.”
“Always,” he said with a grin that told me he was adjusting to this new life way better than I was.
I headed downstairs and found one of Stone’s men waiting by the front door. He was tall, dark-skinned, with a serious expression and a gun visible at his hip.
“Miss Indie,” he said with a nod. “I’m Javion. I’ll be driving you today. There’s another guard in the truck, his name is Troy. We’ll be with you the entire time.”
“Cool,” I said, trying not to feel weird about having armed escorts.
Javion opened the front door and led me outside to a blacked-out Escalade idling in the driveway. Troy was already in the front passenger seat. He was lighter-skinned with a fade and a neat beard.
Javion opened the back door for me, and I slid into the plush leather seat. The interior was immaculate, smelling like new car and expensive cologne.
He got into the driver’s seat and glanced at me in the rearview mirror.
“Where to?” he asked.
I gave him Aurora’s address and he nodded, pulling out of the estate gates.
As we drove, I stared out the window watching the scenery change from the secluded, tree-lined roads near Stone’s estate to the more familiar streets of the city. It felt surreal to be out in the world again after being confined for so long.
I pulled out the thick bands of cash Stone had left for me. It was easily several thousand dollars rubber-banded together. He’d left them on the dresser with another note: Get whatever you need.
I didn’t need shit. But Aurora did. And I was about to spoil my best friend the way she deserved.
The drive took about an hour. When we finally pulled up outside Aurora’s apartment building, my heart started racing.
I was nervous and I didn’t know why.
This was Aurora, my best friend since high school, the one person who always had my back no matter what.
“I’ll wait here. Troy gon’ follow you up,” Javion said, putting the SUV in park. “Take your time.”
I nodded and grabbed the Chanel bag, clutching it in my hands as I stepped out of the vehicle.
My heels clicked against the pavement as I walked up to Aurora’s building with Troy trailing behind me. I climbed the stairs to the second floor, my heart pounding harder with each step.
When I reached her door, I took a deep breath. Then I knocked as Troy stood off to the side.
For a moment, there was nothing, until I heard footsteps approaching, and the door swung open.
Aurora stood there in a tank top and shorts, her hair wrapped in a silk scarf, her face bare of makeup.
She looked at me. Blinked. Then her eyes went wide as saucers.
“BITCH!” she screamed, her voice so loud I was sure the whole building heard her. “WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN?!”
Before I could answer, she grabbed my arm and yanked me inside, slamming the door shut behind us.
She looked me up and down, taking in the designer clothes, the jewelry, the expensive bag in my hands.
“Indie, what the hell is going on?” she demanded, her hands on her hips. “You just went missing! No calls, no texts, nothing! And now you popping up in head-to-toe designer and dripped in diamonds? Girl, I thought you were dead!”
“I know, I know,” I said quickly, holding up my hands. “I’m sorry, Rora. I’m so sorry. Can we sit down? I need to explain everything.”
Aurora stared at me for another long moment, her eyes searching my face like she was trying to figure out if I was real. Then she nodded and led me to the couch.
We sat down, and I turned to face her, the Chanel bag still in my lap.
“First,” I said, “I brought you a gift. As a peace offering for disappearing on you.”
I held out the bag.
Aurora’s eyes went wide again as she took it from me, running her hands over the quilted leather.
“Indie... is this real?” she whispered.
“Yeah,” I said. “It’s yours.”
“Oh my God,” she breathed, clutching the bag to her chest like it was a newborn baby. “Thank you, bestie! I love it! This is beautiful!”
She set the bag carefully on the coffee table, then turned back to me with a serious expression.
“But you still ain’t off the hook,” she said. “What the fuck is going on? Where have you been?”
I took a deep breath, then I told her everything.
I started with the night she came to Velvet and told me she saw Ish on the corner with the dope boys. How I left work immediately and drove to find him. How I found him in an altercation with one of Stone’s soldiers and hit the man with my gun.
Aurora’s mouth fell open, but she didn’t interrupt.
I told her about me and Ish getting kidnapped and taken to a warehouse. About meeting Stone that first night. About how fine he was but how terrifying, how cold and emotionless.
I told her about Ish violating Stone’s territory by trying to sell drugs without permission. About how Stone was going to kill him.
And then I told her about the deal I made.
“I offered myself to him,” I said quietly. “In exchange for Ish’s life. I told Stone he could keep me and fuck me however he wanted, for however long he wanted, as long as he let my brother go.”
Aurora’s hand flew to her mouth.
“Indie...” she whispered.
“Stone agreed,” I continued. “He let Ish go and kept me. I’ve been with him ever since. At first, he kept me at this safe house, this crash pad he has. I was basically his prisoner. He’d come and go, fuck me, then leave. I couldn’t contact anyone, couldn’t leave, couldn’t do shit.”
“Oh my God,” Aurora said, her eyes wide with shock. “Did he hurt you?”
“Bitch, not at all! He was giving me the best dick I ever had in my life,” I admitted.
We both laughed, then I paused, trying to find the right words to explain how things had evolved.
“Anyway, tell me why this nigga moved me and Ish into his estate. He got a big ass mansion with guards and staff and everything. Ish is going to a new school. And Stone and me... we’re still fucking. But it’s different now. It’s more than just sex. I don’t know what we are, but...”
I trailed off, not sure how to explain the complicated mess of emotions I felt about Stone.
Aurora stared at me for a long moment.
Then she said, “Girl, this is some movie shit! What the fuck! You’re being held against your will by a fine ass drug kingpin? And getting the best dick you ever had? Plus draped in designer?”
She paused, then added with a completely serious expression: “Does he have a brother?”
I burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it. Leave it to Aurora to find the humor in my completely fucked up situation.
“No,” I said, still laughing. “He doesn’t have a family, unfortunately. His parents died when he was young.”
“Damn,” Aurora said, shaking her head. “That’s sad. But also, bitch, your life is insane right now. Like, I don’t even know what to say.”
“I know,” I said, my laughter fading. “It’s a lot. And I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you sooner. Stone just gave me a phone today.”