Chapter 6 Mythic Grey
MYTHIC GREY
FINALLY, AVIANA WAS able to find words “Y–Yeah.” She nodded slowly, blinking owlishly at the flames. “I–I’m okay.”
But I wasn’t. As I watched the flames swallow up Aviana’s car, a fear hit me so deep I could barely breathe.
My heart was pounding like I had never felt before.
In that split second, knowing her life was in danger, it was like my whole world flipped upside down.
The idea of losing her shook me to my core.
I couldn’t even wrap my mind around living in a world without her.
Just the thought alone had me spiraling, damn near panicking.
Suddenly, she erupted into horrific coughs as she stared at the flames with a bewildered expression.
Taking her hand, I led her several feet away from the flames.
“Oh my God!” Her mother’s shrieks tore our awed gawks away from the flames toward Avi’s parents’ home. Her parents were storming down the porch. Their terrified stares darted between Avi and what was transforming into the corpse of her Jeep.
The fire on the Jeep raged. Flames shot up, licking at the sky like they were trying to swallow it. Thick and dark smoke was everywhere.
“Avi!” her father called out as he approached her with open arms. “Jesus! Are you okay?”
Even her father taking her into his arms caused jealousy to erupt in my gut. I wanted to be the one to protect her.
“I’m okay, Daddy,” she breathed into his chest, as her mother wrapped her arms around her as well.
“This is ridiculous! Who did this?” her mother shrieked.
Still in her father’s arms, Avi looked over her shoulder at me with conflict in her eyes.
“Some neighborhood kids playing around too much. I’ll take care of it,” I told them.
I knew that Aviana’s hesitation was in putting Mia in more trouble than she was already in. That’s how loving and humble Avi was.
Her parents watched me silently. There was some appreciation in their eyes, but behind it was the same judgment they’d had toward me as Avi and I were growing up. They knew that I was the same type of gangster that they despised.
Her father gave me a sharp nod and then continued to embrace his daughter. Her mother replied with a short, “Thank you,” before giving Avi back her attention.
“I called the fire department,” I heard from a window nearby. Looking around, I saw Miss Bernadine, the neighbor to the left, with her head sticking out the window.
“Thank you,” I told her with a nod.
As her parents continued to comfort Aviana, I watched her with more intensity than I ever had.
Physically, I could see that she was unharmed, but I was still in shambles.
Aviana wasn’t just a part of my life; she was my entire world.
She was my everything, the very essence of my existence, and the idea of anyone or anything harming her shook me.
That realization hit me hard—like a freight train slamming into my chest—knocking the wind right out of me.
From the moment we were children, she had been a constant presence that I had taken for granted.
But now, having faced the possibility of losing her, I couldn’t imagine a future without her in it.
I knew in that moment that I would do anything to protect her, to keep her safe.
But as Damar’s Bronco sped chaotically toward the scene, I was reminded that that wasn’t my job. She didn’t want me to be her protector; she hadn’t since I’d broken her heart.
As she watched him park with curiosity, her mother answered her questioning stare. “I called him as soon as it happened.”
Aviana only nodded as she peeled herself out of her father’s embrace. Damar jumped out of his SUV. The smoke made his broad, towering frame a shadowy approach. He stared at the fire in disbelief as he hurried toward Avi.
Watching him throw his arms around her lit a jealous rage in me that consumed me with a fire so intense, it felt like it was roasting me from the inside out.
I despised the way the sight made me feel like I was being torn apart.
I felt out of control, which was a feeling I rarely experienced and one that I was determined to quash before it consumed me entirely.
I hated leaving Avi at her parents’ house, but I couldn’t take watching Damar fail at protecting her anymore.
The fire department had arrived to put out the blaze a few minutes later.
Watching them douse the flames, I knew I had to let Damar handle Avi now.
As much as I wanted to be there for her, he was her husband.
It was his job to take care of her, not mine.
As I drove through the neighborhood toward the expressway, I noticed Jeremy standing on a street corner with a group of 111 Boyz.
They were huddled together, their faces hidden by masks and hoodies, looking ridiculous in the summer heat.
I pulled over, the engine rumbling to a stop as I parked by the curb.
I got out of the car and walked up to them. My presence instantly commanded respect. My reputation in this part of town preceded me, and these kids knew better than to fuck with me.
I grabbed Jeremy by the arm and pulled him a few paces away from the group. The others fell silent. Their eyes shifted nervously as they watched us.
“What’s up, Mythic? I do something?” Jeremy asked, acting shifty.
“Did you?” I urged, raising a brow.
“N–Nah.”
“Then why you hanging with niggas that be on bullshit?”
“I…uh…I—”
“Shut the fuck up and listen to me: You gotta make better decisions. Hanging out with these young niggas and running the streets is not gonna get you anywhere good.”
He glanced at me, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his hoodie pulled low over his face. “Yeah, Mythic, I hear you,” he muttered, but his gaze kept darting away, not really meeting mine.
“You think this is a game, man?” I continued.
“Being in the wrong crowd, doing the wrong shit—it’s not just about you.
It’s about everyone around you. You think you’re invincible, but being in the wrong place at the wrong time can get you locked up or worse.
Innocent people get hurt or killed every day because they’re caught up in stuff they had no business being a part of. ”
Jeremy shuffled his feet, his attention clearly wandering. “Yeah, I know. That’s why I don’t be on shit. I just be hanging out.”
I scoffed, stepping closer to him, making sure he felt every word I said.
“You just be hanging out, huh? You’re young, and you’re still figuring things out, but listen to me: You can’t afford to mess around with the wrong people.
It’s not just about street cred or whatever.
It’s about your future, your life. You need to make smarter choices and hang with the right crowd. ”
He nodded slowly, but his expression was distant. “I get it, Mythic.”
Yet, I continued to scowl at him.
He chuckled nervously. “I do.”
I could see he was hardly taking it in, probably too wrapped up in his own world to fully grasp what I was saying.
But I had to try, for Avi’s sake if nothing else.
“Just think about what I’m telling you,” I said, giving his shoulder a final, firm squeeze.
“This isn’t just about you now. It’s about how you want your life to turn out.
Don’t end up being another young nigga dead or in jail because you was hanging with the wrong people. ”
With that, I turned and walked back to my car. I had only done that for Avi. She loved Jeremy like he was her own son. If it had been up to me, I would have let Damar check his own fucking kid.
I’d been on the second floor of Enchant for a few hours, nursing my drink and staring down at the first floor. It was early, and there was just a few people scattered across the bar. I knew it wouldn’t stay this way for long. Tonight was one of Damar’s nights, so the crowd would be packed soon.
As I watched the scene below, my mind was a million miles away, stuck on thoughts of Avi.
The image of her being held by Damar kept replaying in my head over and over.
It was like a damn loop that I couldn’t escape.
Almost losing her had done more than shake me up; it had doused the fire I felt for her with gasoline.
I was obsessed, and I hated it.
Everything in my life was under my control—my business, my empire, my reputation. I dictated the pace, set the rules, and made the calls. But when it came to Avi, I was powerless. I hated how vulnerable she made me. The thought of her, especially in Damar’s arms, was constant torment.
I tried to push it aside and focus on the club. But no matter how hard I tried, my mind kept drifting back to her, to the way she looked at me, to the way I felt whenever I was near her. I was a man used to control, and yet, here I was, completely at the mercy of my own feelings for her.
“Fuuuuck.” A low, regretful growl escaped my throat as I eyed Aviana following Damar into the spot.
I stiffened. It was like my muscles had a mind of their own, reacting to her presence in a way I couldn’t control. I hated how my whole being unraveled at the sight of her. The way she could unsettle me so effortlessly was unnerving.
When she spotted me and flashed that smile, it infuriated me how oblivious she was to the intensity of my feelings for her.
I watched her approach the VIP section. She had changed out of the casual leggings, t-shirt, and gym shoes she’d worn earlier that day.
Now, she wore what was supposed to be a basic t-shirt dress, but on her, it was anything but ordinary.
The fabric clung to her curves in a way that left little to the imagination, accentuating her voluptuous figure with every move she made.
The way the dress hugged her curves, the generous swell of her hips, the gentle roundness of her stomach, and the confident way she carried herself made it look like a high-fashion piece from a runway show in New York.
My dick rocked up as hard as the steel of the railing that I was leaning against.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying not to let my irritation show. At that moment, it was a blessing and a curse to see her. “You should be resting after the day you had.”
She glanced up at me, and I could see that her eyes were soft but tired. “Damar didn’t want to leave me alone, so he made me come with him.”
She stood close enough that I could smell her sweet fragrance. It made it even harder to focus. Her presence was so close, it was almost unbearable. I found myself staring at her, my gaze fixed on her face, drinking in every detail.
Avi shifted slightly, as if sensing my intense scrutiny. Her voice broke the silence with a nervous edge to it. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Her question cut through my haze.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to put an end to this. “Avi, you can’t come to the club anymore.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “What? Why not?”
I took her hand and pulled her into the stairwell.
I paced a few steps before turning to face her.
“Because of how I feel about you.” Her eyes ballooned more, and I saw her breath hitch as I went on.
“I can’t think straight when you’re around.
You drive me insane, and I need space. I need you to stay away because nothing can happen between us.
You’re happily married, and I have to respect that. ”
Her face was a picture of disbelief. Her mouth was slightly open as she processed what I’d just said.
I was naively waiting for her to deny her marriage and tell me that she felt the same, but she didn’t. Instead, she looked at me with sadness. “Please don’t push me away.” Her voice trembled slightly. “I’ve already lost my friendship with Mia. I don’t want to lose you too.”
I could feel the pull between us. The tension in the air grew thicker. I wanted to argue more, to convince her to leave, but something else was happening. Our eyes locked, and I could see the same desire reflected in her gaze that I felt in mine.
I towered over her. “You don’t want me to push you away?”
She blinked up at me. “Please don’t.”
“Then tell me that you feel the same about me,” I said, making her breath hitch.
Before I knew it, we were inches apart, our breaths mingling.
I could feel the heat from her body. I leaned in, desperate to close the gap between us, to finally taste those lips I had been craving.
But just as our lips were about to touch, she pulled back, her eyes wide and filled with nervous uncertainty.
“I–I have to go,” she stammered.
She turned and hurried away. As I watched Avi scramble down the stairs, I was about to call after her—to try to make her stay, to complete that kiss—when I saw Lelani standing at the bottom of the stairwell.
I had no idea how long she’d been there.
Lelani was always popping up at the club whenever she wanted to.
Avi was so engrossed in her quick exit that she nearly crashed into Lelani. As soon as she recognized Lelani, her eyes grew wide with shock. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” She fumbled with her words, trying to regain her composure, but Lelani’s expression remained unreadable. “Hi–Hi, Lelani.”
Lelani’s lips were pressed tightly together as she nodded a curt greeting.
I could see the way Lelani’s gaze followed Avi. Once Avi was out of sight, I moved down the stairs. Lelani climbed the stairs and met me in the middle.
“What was that about, Mythic? What’s going on with you and Avi?”
I tried to play it cool. “Nothing. I was asking her what she was doing here after everything that happened earlier. She needs to be at home. I was just looking out for her.”
Lelani didn’t look convinced. “Mm-humph. It didn’t look like you were just looking out.”
I met her gaze and forced a shrug, trying to deflect. “You’re being silly. Stop trippin’. Anyway, what are you doing here? How was your doctor’s appointment?”
“He ordered an MRI and blood tests since there was no obvious cause for the persistent headaches. He told me he’d review the results and contact me within a few days.
I was driving past the club and just wanted to pop in and say hi. I’m not staying. I’m not feeling well.”
“Another headache?”
“Yeah.”
I grabbed the back of her head and kissed her forehead. “Go home and get some rest. I’ve got to holler at Tyiesha about something. Let me walk you to the door.”
She nodded and took my hand. As we walked down the steps, I discreetly took a deep breath, relieved of that close call. I wasn’t in love with Lelani, but I was a gentleman. I didn’t want to purposely hurt her, especially over a woman who belonged to someone else.
I needed to get my head right and put some distance between me and Aviana.