Chapter 10 #3
She really didn’t care whether or not he did. One thing she vowed to never do was change herself for a man or mold her image to fit anyone’s expectations.
“Yeah, I’m feeling it.” Asao smirked before adding, “But I don’t think you would give a damn whether I liked it or not.”
He was already learning Samari and confidence was at the top of the list for characteristics he loved about her. She knew who she was and leaned into that shit full force.
“I would care enough to acknowledge your opinion but not do a damn thing about it.”
Asao chuckled, believing exactly that. “When I asked what you were willing to sacrifice to gain control again and you said everything, did you mean that?”
He lowered his eyes and waited. It took a minute for Samari to respond but she lifted her head and nodded. “Yes, because I’m pretty much nothing without my music. So I don’t have much to sacrifice.”
His expression became volatile while his trigger finger tensed with need to be a problem for Cobra giving her a reason to throw them words around.
It took more effort than it should have to keep his voice level.
“I get what you mean, but hear me this one time, because it’s the only time I’m ever gonna say this shit.
Speak life into yourself, Mari. Your dreams, your worth, your potential to be bigger than even I can imagine.
Nothing doesn’t belong in the same breath as your existence. ”
“I’m not…”
She was simply emphasizing the weight music held in her life and in her world but words had power.
To say she was nothing would put energy behind it.
She also didn’t have to worry about that shit because he was officially her dream catcher.
If she wished for, hell, if she even fucking thought about it, he was going to make it her reality.
“I know.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “But I don’t even want you playing with them words metaphorically.”
“Are you just gonna bully me into affirmations and happiness?”
“Shit yeah, ’cause I told you already. I’m risking it all for that smile.”
She playfully rolled her eyes, but again, she felt the truth in his words and chose to keep that locked away for the time being. “Why’d you ask?”
“I’m working on something and need you to trust the good is gonna outweigh the bad.”
“Which means?”
“I’m gonna get you out of your contract but the only way I might be able to work that means your songs stay with Cobra.”
Samari remained quiet and Asao shifted then nudged her side. “What’re you thinking?”
Before the words could flow, he lifted and placed a hand on the side of her hip. “Come up here so I can see your face when you answer. I wanna know if you’re running game or speaking from the heart.”
Samari grinned and arched a brow. “You won’t know the difference.”
He smiled confidently and nudged her again. “Yeah I will, come on.”
She pushed off the lounge and moved one leg over his waist. Once she was situated, Asao lifted them both, moving over enough to take back the space he’d allowed when she was beside him.
“Aight, run that shit.”
She pulled the corner of her lip between her teeth and considered her options. Stay tied to Cobra and keep songs she would never get paid from or accept Asao’s help and walk away, leaving everything behind.
“Those songs are my babies…”
He nodded. “I’m gonna fight that shit then and we’ll figure out how to take back what belongs to you. Might take some time but I’ll get it done.”
She smiled at the ease and confidence with which he made the promise. “You cut me off before I could finish,” Samari said softly, delivering a smile that had one ghosting at the corner of his lips.
“That’s ’cause you got me ready for war behind your ass already. I told you how lethal that smile is, Mari.”
When the warmth of his palms made contact with her hips, she had to fight hard to keep her smile from expanding.
“Those songs are my babies but they’re also a reminder of how I fucked up.”
“Nah, man, you didn’t fuck up. You got fucked. You thought you were handling business. You wanted to sing and he took advantage of your passion. Nobody can say shit to you about how that muthafucker played you, and if they do, trust that I have something for them.”
“So what are you now, my personal bodyguard and protector?”
Asao smiled and moved his hands down her thighs, back up her hips, then cuffed her ass. She had no idea what he was willing to be on her behalf. No idea how far he was willing to go. “What I tell you?”
She frowned and he added clarity, “What I tell you I’m trying to be in your life?”
“Everything I need.”
“Aight then, stop fucking sonning me by acting like I’m not more than capable. I’m the devil with no conscience when it comes to those I deem worthy, Mari. Like it or not, you’re under my care.”
She huffed, trying to deviate from the heaviness of the conversation and the promises delivered.
In the past couple of years the only guarantee Samari had or chose to believe in was that she could depend on herself and herself only.
Men lied. Their purposes were self-serving, and as long as women remained useful to their goals by satisfying their needs, women were held up and revered.
When that need was no longer served, they kicked the woman to the curb.
“I want to sing. Having the freedom and ability to create makes me whole.”
Asao’s expression turned cold. He understood but didn’t like the idea of being on the outside of necessities to make Samari feel complete.
He barely knew her but he would put it all on the line, every penny he had along with every ounce of confidence he held onto, just to see her come out to the good.
“You’re gonna sing and the peace I put in your life is gonna be your inspiration behind the lyrics. Them shits gonna have every woman in the city trying to lock down a hitta.”
She smiled, rolling her eyes. “That ego is hella big.”
“Big promises come from big egos, Mari. Nobody is gonna tell me no.”
“Nobody?” She arched a brow and he smiled sexily.
“Nah, nobody. Not even your pretty ass but I’m cool with that ’cause I’m damn sure about to be your yes man. You ask, you got it.”
His words were inked in diamonds and could cut through any doubt that existed in her life, whether she believed them or not. Asao was also willing to put actions behind his words until she was confident in trusting he was gonna hold her down.
“We’ll see,” she said with a smile in her voice. Asao dug his phone from his pocket and glanced at the screen.
B-Syde: Pull up. Got a situation.
The text had his brows pinched before he schooled his expression to respond to Samari.
“Yeah you will, but let’s go. I have some shit I need to handle tonight.”
“We have to leave?”
“You gonna cry if I say yes?” He smirked at the way she rolled her shoulders back but still pouted and nodded. Amused by how quickly she’d fallen in love with his spot, Asao made a promise.
“I’ll bring you back and we’ll stay for a weekend.
You can chill and do whatever you want. We’ve got business to handle first, then you can play.
” He lifted a hand and gently nudged the side of her chin with his fist before she lifted from the chair.
Asao could have easily chilled with Samari for the rest of the night, but until he had her onboard with all his life plans, the grind was his priority.
Regardless, his goal was to make sure she reaped the benefits so all that pouting she was currently doing would not be in vain.