10. Daylin
TEN
daylin
“I wanna make sure you get my nails in the photo,” I told the photographer Tyler.
“Okay. I got it for the next few,” he replied, nodding.
Going back into place, I held the phone case in front of the background as Tyler snapped several photos at different angles and some close-ups.
This was how I always did the photography for my phone cases whenever there was a new drop. I liked for my nails and the backgrounds to match the aesthetic of the artist and their design.
For the next hour, Tyler and I worked, as well as my new assistant, Petra. So far, the latter was sweet, hardworking, and I enjoyed the fact that she acted more like my assistant than a friend. Morgin was that way, too, at first, but as my business grew, so did our relationship, naturally.
I didn’t mind becoming cool with Petra, but I would be sure to keep it surface level and not allow it to bleed into my personal life like with Morgin. And speaking of Morgin’s ass, she’d been harassing me through email, apologizing and attempting to get her job back, but that wasn’t gonna happen.
“Wow, still on yo’ shit I see.” Shaun’s voice pulled my head up from looking at the images on Tyler’s computer.
“Get out.” My detail, Spencer, hopped right in front of Shaun, blocking his path.
“Man, get out my fucking way.” Shaun sized Spencer up, not caring how much bigger the latter was.
“Spence, give me a second,” I told him, and he kept his glare trained on Shaun before nodding slowly and stepping only about an inch or two to the side. I wouldn’t ask for more knowing Rakim probably threatened his life if anything happened to me.
“I’m only gonna tell you this one time, Shaun. Do not bring your ass back by here or anywhere else you think I am, or I am not gonna hold him back.” I jutted my thumb over my shoulder to point at Spencer.
Shaun looked at him, sucking his teeth as if he weren’t shit to be afraid of.
“You barely let me talk last time we saw one another, Day.” Shaun’s shoulders fell as if he’d been working diligently for my forgiveness.
Sure, he’d been sending messages and DMs but very infrequently.
“I love you, for real. I’m sorry, because fucking yo’ assistant was messed up, baby, but she wouldn’t stop,” he pleaded, making me laugh.
“She wouldn’t stop,” I parroted, arms folded.
“Nope. She’d been trying to get fucked for the longest, and if you only knew how many fucking times I turned her ass down, you’d be thankful and see shit differently.”
“Nigga, you are really delusional and stupid if that’s what you came all the way down here to say. It’s my fault because I actually thought something compelling would’ve come out of your stupid ass mouth, but I should’ve known better.” I shook my head.
“Don’t act like you innocent though, Day. You ran off with a whole nigga—”
“I did not run off!” I spat, making him jump slightly.
“You don’t know what the fuck you are talking about!
And at least I asked for a break before I did anything!
Still, I can admit me going there with another man was wrong before cutting you off all the way.
However, you know damn well you fucking Morgin for the past two years is not the same fucking thing!
Whether I messed with Rah or not, you would’ve still been fucking that girl.
Had I not come to my warehouse to catch up on work, you would’ve still been messing with her under my nose! ”
“Of course! You wouldn’t fuck me but fucked everybody before and after me!” He roared, and I slapped the shit out of him, making him cup his cheek like a battered housewife.
“Thank God I didn’t!” Pointing, I hollered, “Get the fuck out!”
Backing away, he asked, “Would you have fucked him had I not been messing with her?” He eyed me before saying, “Exactly.”
“No point in asking what ifs. Let’s stick to the facts, Shaun. But tell yourself whatever is necessary to feel better. Now go.”
“She said go, nigga.” Spencer stepped up, making Shaun shove him like a fool.
From there, they started to tussle, but due to Spencer’s strength and size, Shaun was no match, getting put in a headlock with one of his arms pinned behind his back embarrassingly as Spencer walked him out while talking shit.
“I can tell he been to prison.” Tyler looked over his shoulder at Spencer, lust floating in his eyes.
“Tyler, please stop, because none of us can pull the man off you if he catches you eyeing him,” Petra said, making us all laugh as Spencer slammed the door once Shaun had been tossed on his ass.
We finished up the shoot, and thankfully upon leaving, Shaun was gone. I would’ve hated to see him and Spencer get into a full-on fight and then Rakim get wind of it, because that would be a whole nother issue.
I drove straight to Rakim’s home in Bel Air because I preferred it over mine and I had my own bathroom within his master bedroom since it was equipped with two en suites.
In the middle of my bubble bath, Rakim came and stood in the door, smirking at the sight of me before licking his full lips and tugging on his beard.
“See something you like?” I lifted my knee, allowing it to peek through the bubbles.
“Nah.” He shook his head, coming in to sit on the chair I’d asked to be put in this big ass bathroom outfitted with a beautiful vanity which I loved. “I see something I love.”
Among everything else I admired about Rakim, I appreciated how on top of shit he was.
I never had to ask for something twice, and though small, that was one of my favorite attributes of his.
I mentioned how a vanity in this bathroom would be nice, and by the next week, there was one installed.
That was a far cry from my ex who couldn’t even remember what I told him I wanted for lunch only fifteen minutes ago.
“Oooh.” I purred, blushing.
“Old boy showed up today, huh?”
“Ugh. He told you?” I scoffed, referencing Spencer’s big mouth.
“He better had. Nigga has to give me a report every day.”
“So you always know my moves, but I don’t know yours? Should I be asking Mylo for a rundown of your day?”
Rakim tugged on his beard, then said, “Nah, he only gives me a report if some shit happened or anything weird. You got ya freedom, baby, but I’m not gon’ let shit happen to you, whether you like it or not.”
“Shaun is not even like that.”
“Any nigga can be like that, especially a man with a bruised ego and broken heart. Nothing will make a bitch nigga stand up quicker than losing his woman or pride.”
I looked down into the hot bubble bath, thinking on if Shaun would ever actually try anything. I never thought he would cheat, and yet here we were, so I guessed I could never be too sure.
“You know better than I do.” I leaned back, inhaling the warm sweet scent of my candle burning.
“I’m probably gon’ have to murk that nigga, Day.
I try to make murder my last resort since most niggas accept a threat and possibly a punch, then go on ’bout their fucking business, but I don’t know if that’s gon’ be him.
Gave that nigga a permanent lisp, and he still lurking. ” Rakim stared off pensively.
I knew I’d recognized something going on with Shaun’s speech, but I’d been so irate every time I saw him that my anger blinded me from addressing anything else.
“I understand.”
“Talk to me, baby. Be honest on how that shit make you feel. You ain’t gotta pretend for me.” He laced his fingers, eyeing me.
“Stop looking at me like that. I can’t think straight.” I put my hand up, making him let out a chuckle in that sexy deep voice of his. “I’m serious, Rah.”
“Aight.” He smirked, a glint in his eyes in effort to give off a different look.
“I don’t know how to feel. I’ve never been with someone who . . . took lives. Shaun was just a local hustler, but I’m pretty adamant that he’s never killed a person. I think I would be sad, but not because I miss or love him, more so because somebody lost their life.”
Rakim nodded, seemingly processing my words.
“I’ll hold off as long as I can, and maybe the muthafucka will wisen up.” Scratching his beard, he added, “I don’t want you thinking I just go out murking niggas for fun, but I do want you to understand I have no qualms about it. I’m gon’ always kill a nigga before he kill me or someone I love.”
“I get you. I learned a while ago that everything you do is for people you love, and I love that. It was why I couldn’t even be as mad at you for kidnapping me,” I spoke truthfully.
“Does what I do bother you?”
“Just makes me scared for you. I don’t want you losing your life or going back to prison.”
“Unlikely, baby. I’m far removed from a lot of that shit.
Majority of the niggas out here selling my shit don’t even know my face or name in relation to the game.
They may know me from my boxing days or what I did to end that shit.
As for being caught, it could happen, but it’s implausible.
A nigga close to me like Jojo or Mylo would have to run their mouth.
Ayan nor my pops know enough or really anything at all to be able to snitch.
Not that they would, but I can’t truly trust them muthafuckas, so I don’t keep ’em in the loop. ”
I just listened as he talked, in awe of how intelligent he was.
When people said they were thankful for their current partner’s ex, I now knew what they meant.
I have never been so happy for someone to have hurt a person I loved than I was right now.
Had LaMia stayed down for Rakim, he’d probably be her husband right now, and I’d be stuck with Shaun or single.
Anything but having this love and this man, I couldn’t and didn’t want to fathom it.
“That’s wise. I don’t trust them either.” I frowned.
“I won’t be in this shit much longer though. The baking company and the boxing gym do well enough for me to leave this shit, and I plan to within a year.”
“Good. I need you safe and here with me forever.” I smiled at him lustfully, causing him to lick his lips. “Did you have any lovers in jail?”