Chapter 18 #2
I leaned my head against the window and watched the scenery pass by—trees, houses, other cars on the freeway. The hum of the engine and the smooth ride made me drowsy. Before I knew it, I was dozing off, my eyes drifting closed.
I woke up when the SUV came to a stop. Blinking, I sat up and looked around.
We were at the crash pad. Stone’s safe house where he’d kept me for those first two weeks. The place where everything between us had started.
“We’re here,” Stone said, his hand on my thigh.
I nodded, still a little groggy.
Stone got out first, then turned and offered me his hand. I took it and let him help me out of the SUV.
We stood in the driveway for a moment, and I could see one of Stone’s cars parked near the garage—a matte black Lamborghini that he kept here. He was going to drive that while I took the SUV with Javion and Troy.
Stone turned to face me, his hands going to my waist.
“Be good today,” he said, his voice serious.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m always good.”
“Indigo.” His tone was a warning.
I sighed. “I’ll be good, Stone. I promise.”
He stared at me for a long moment, like he was trying to decide if he believed me.
Then he leaned down and kissed me. This kiss wasn’t like the one in our bedroom.
It was slower, deeper. More possessive. Like he was reminding me who I belonged to before he let me go.
When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine.
“Call me if you need anything,” he said quietly.
“I will.”
Stone kissed me one more time, quick and hard, then stepped back.
“I’ll see you later, baby.”
“Okay.”
I watched as he walked over to the Lambo, got in, and started the engine.
The car roared to life, and he pulled out of the driveway, speeding off down the street.
I stood there for a moment, watching until he disappeared from view, then I turned and got back into the SUV.
“Where to, Miss Indie?” Javion asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.
“Aurora’s apartment,” I said, giving him the address.
Javion nodded and pulled out.
The drive to Aurora’s place took about twenty minutes. When we pulled up to her building, she was already outside waiting.
She was dressed in a tight red bodycon dress that hugged every curve, black heels, and oversized sunglasses. Her hair was slicked back into a high ponytail, and she had a black Prada bag on her shoulder.
My bestie didn’t miss. Ever.
Troy got out and opened the back door for her.
“Thank you,” Aurora said, flashing him a smile as she slid into the backseat next to me.
As soon as the door closed, we both squealed and hugged each other.
“Bitch, you look so good!” Aurora said, pulling back to look at my outfit.
“So do you!” I said, grinning. “That dress is everything.”
Aurora laughed. “Girl, I had to look cute. You know I can’t be out here looking regular when I’m rolling with you.”
I shook my head, still smiling.
It felt so good to see her. To be around someone who knew the real me, before all this shit with Stone.
“So, where we going?” Aurora asked.
“The Grove,” I said. “We can eat at one of the restaurants there, then do some shopping.”
“Say less.” Aurora grinned. “You know I’m always down for food and shopping.”
Javion pulled away from the curb and headed toward The Grove.
“So,” Aurora said, lowering her voice and leaning closer to me. “I gotta tell you something.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What?”
She bit her lip, trying to hold back a smile. “I’ve seen Kenzo twice since the barbecue.”
My eyes widened. “Twice? Girl, what?”
Aurora nodded, grinning. “Yeah. He came through the first time two days after the barbecue. Then again three days ago.”
“And?” I prompted.
“And...” Aurora’s grin widened. “That dick is A1, Indie. Like, I’m talking Hall of Fame level dick.”
I burst out laughing. “Oh my God, Aurora!”
“I’m serious!” she said, laughing too. “And he’s so into me. I got that nigga hooked.”
I shook my head, still laughing. “You’re crazy.”
“Crazy in love,” Aurora said, then paused. “Well, not love. Not yet. But he’s definitely feeling me.”
“Good,” I said. “You deserve a good man.”
Aurora looked at me, her expression softening. “So do you, babe.”
I didn’t know what to say to that.
Was Stone a good man?
He was a drug kingpin. A killer. Someone who’d kidnapped me and held me captive.
But he was also someone who took care of me and Ish. Someone who made me feel safe. Someone who looked at me like I was the most important thing in his world. So... maybe? I wasn’t sure.
“Yeah,” I said finally. “Maybe.”
Aurora squeezed my hand, and we rode the rest of the way in comfortable silence.
***
The Grove was packed. People were everywhere, shopping, eating, taking pictures by the fountain.
Javion found parking, and Troy walked with us while Javion stayed with the SUV.
We headed to one of the outdoor restaurants with patio seating. The hostess seated us at a table near the edge of the patio, and Troy took a seat at a nearby table where he could keep an eye on us.
Aurora and I ordered mojitos and started looking at the menu.
“I’m getting the shrimp pasta,” Aurora said. “What about you?”
“The salmon salad,” I said.
When the waiter came back, we ordered our food and settled in. The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and I felt... happy. Actually happy.
“So,” Aurora said, sipping her mojito. “How’s life at the estate? You adjusting okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. It’s nice. Ish is doing good at his new school. Stone’s been... good.”
Aurora raised an eyebrow. “Good how?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s just... changing. Like, he’s still possessive and crazy, but he’s also sweet sometimes. He takes care of me. Makes sure I have everything I need.”
“And the dick?” Aurora asked, grinning.
I felt my face heat up. “Still amazing.”
Aurora laughed. “Girl, I’m happy for you. For real.”
“Thanks, babe.”
We kept talking, laughing, catching up on everything. It felt so normal. So good. Like I was just a regular girl having lunch with her best friend. Not someone living with a drug kingpin. Not someone who’d been kidnapped and held captive.
But then everything went to shit.
“Indie?”
I froze. That voice. I knew that voice. I turned slowly, and my stomach dropped.
Ryan.
He was standing next to our table, looking at me with a confused expression.
Ryan was fine with light brown skin, standing about six feet tall, with a nice build and a clean fade. We’d been fucking casually before everything went down with Stone. Nothing serious. Just sex when we both needed it. But I hadn’t seen or talked to him in months.
“Ryan,” I said, my voice tight. “Hey.”
“Hey?” He frowned. “That’s all you got to say? Where the fuck you been, baby? I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks.”
I could feel Aurora tense beside me. Could feel Troy’s eyes on us from his table. This was bad. Really bad.
“I’ve been... busy,” I said vaguely. “Just dealing with some family stuff.”
Ryan’s frown deepened. “Family stuff? For months? You couldn’t call or text?”
“I lost my phone,” I lied.
“So, get a new one and hit me up,” Ryan said, stepping closer. “I miss you, ma. When you coming through?”
“I’m not,” I said quickly. “I’m... I’m seeing someone now.”
Ryan’s eyebrows shot up. “Seeing someone? Since when?”
“Since a while ago,” I said. “Look, Ryan, it was good seeing you, but I’m having lunch with my friend right now, so—”
“Who is he?” Ryan interrupted. “Do I know him?”
“No,” I said firmly. “And it doesn’t matter. I’m with him now, so we can’t do this anymore.”
Ryan stared at me for a long moment. Then he sighed. “Aight. I respect that.”
Relief flooded through me.
“Thanks,” I said.
Ryan leaned down and kissed me on the cheek before I could stop him.
“Take care of yourself, Indie,” he said. Then he walked away.
I sat there, frozen, my heart pounding.
Aurora leaned over. “Girl, Stone is gonna tear your ass up when he finds out about that.”
I closed my eyes. “I know.”
Because Troy had definitely seen the whole thing, and I knew he was gonna report it back to Stone.
I was fucked.
I tried to push the Ryan encounter out of my mind and enjoy the rest of the day with Aurora.
We finished lunch, then did some light shopping. Hit up a few stores, bought some cute clothes and accessories. Stone had given me thick bands of cash before we left, and I made sure to spoil Aurora.
By the time we were done, it was late afternoon. Javion and Troy drove us back to Aurora’s apartment, and I walked her up to her door.
“Thanks for today,” Aurora said, hugging me tight. “I needed this.”
“Me too,” I said. “I’ll call you soon, okay?”
“You better.”
We hugged one more time, and then I headed back down to the SUV.
Javion drove me back to the crash pad, and I tried not to think about what was waiting for me. Tried not to think about Stone finding out about Ryan, but I knew it was coming.
Javion stayed in the SUV while Troy walked me to the door.
“We’ll be outside if you need anything, Miss Indie,” Troy said.
“Thanks,” I said.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The house was quiet and empty. Stone wasn’t here yet.
I locked the door behind me and headed to the living room. Might as well watch some Netflix while I waited. I turned on the TV and scrolled through until I found a random movie, then I settled onto the couch and tried to relax.
But I couldn’t.
My mind kept drifting back to Ryan. To the way he’d kissed my cheek with Troy watching. Stone was gonna lose his shit. I knew it.
And there was nothing I could do but wait.
***
About three hours later, I heard the front door open. My heart jumped into my throat.
Stone was here.
I stood up from the couch, already knowing he was about to press me.
When he walked into the living room, his face was cold and calculating. Emotionless. The way he used to look at me when I first met him, before things changed between us.
He just stood there, staring at me in silence, and it made me uneasy because he rarely did that anymore.
Finally, after what felt like forever, he spoke.
“Who was that fuck nigga in yo’ face today, Indigo?”
His voice was low and deadly calm.