Chapter 23
SIENNA
It was a long night and by morning, nothing had changed.
I was drained and afraid for the man I was in love with.
Synder had never been in this mood. His silence broke my heart.
However, I did what any good woman would do if her man was in Synder’s shoes.
I quietly tended to him, made sure he was fed, and stayed out of his way otherwise.
When he was ready to talk, he would talk.
Overhearing his conversation with his agent and the Jets’ upper management broke my heart the most. Because of his actions, not only was Synder arrested, but he faced repercussions from the team and a hefty fine. He’d been quietly brooding since arriving home from the county jail.
Yakira’s boyfriend was in the hospital with a gunshot wound to his thigh.
He was expected to make a full recovery, but the damage was already done.
Yakira had been blowing up Synder’s phone.
However, since I had it in my possession, none of his calls were being answered except the ones that wouldn’t bring him further frustration.
Like Legend, I loved the bond he and Synder had.
He came so quickly to bail Synder out that the rest of Synder’s true tribe were left in the dust.
Things were so bad, though, that I had to get my family involved. Synder has his own legal team, but I knew my family and the things that they were able to make disappear. I needed them to handle Synder’s situation not just for Synder, but for Whimsy, too.
Synder did his best to remain upbeat around Whimsy, but her little smart self felt the shift.
She was clinging more to her dad more than she had the entire time I’d been there.
After dinner, I bathed her, then read her a bedtime story before she fell asleep.
Next, I showered, moisturized, and wrapped my hair before making Synder a bath.
Hopefully, a good soak helped ease some of his frustration.
While he relaxed in the tub, I went downstairs to fix him a drink.
Just then, the gate bell rang. Going to the security monitor, I peered at it to see if it was Legend and Ginger returning.
Seeing Yakira’s face on the security camera, I inwardly growled.
Sliding my feet into a pair of slippers, I threw on a coat, then bounded out of the front door.
I stormed all the way down the down the long driveway.
“Open the damn gate!” Yakira demanded. Her face was bruised and for a second, I pitied her.
“No, I won’t,” I spat back. “The fuck you think this is coming to Synder’s house after you got him arrested.”
“Girl, shut the fuck up and let me in!”
“No!” I hissed. “Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve and you’re literally trying to fuck up Synder’s entire holiday. He’s suspended from the game on Sunday because of you and your boyfriend.”
Unfazed, Yakira smacked her teeth. Now, I wanted to put my hands and feet on her. “You didn’t say shit when he put his hands on Aaron,” she argued.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I stopped talking to Synder for two days because of that shit. Even though he was defending me, he put himself in harm’s way. Aaron is a nobody who wanted some attention and wasn’t worth Synder beating his ass.”
“Girl, you sound stupid. You want my brother to be some soft-ass nigga. He is not that. You’re living in a fairy tale if you think my brother won’t ever put his hands on somebody for playing with him.” She was so proud that her brother had that type of reputation.
Disgusted, I shook my head. “Reckless behavior is not to be celebrated. It’s one thing to defend me or you if the situation calls for it.
However, neither of these situations called for it.
Aaron was poking a bear, and Synder should’ve ignored him.
You should’ve called the police instead of calling Synder, knowing this was exactly how he was going to handle it. ”
She rolled her eyes and neck, then waved me off. This girl was insufferable.
“Synder gives you everything you could ever want. Yet all you do is get yourself into crazy situations just to call your brother to rescue you. Have you ever stopped to think about Synder and everything he could lose dealing with your bullshit?”
“He’s my brother. He’s supposed to have my back,” she defended while rolling her neck even harder.
“At what expense, Yakira? You sound immature and delusional. You’re requiring more of him than the man you so freely give your body to. Where’s his responsibility to you, huh? When is he going to learn not to put his hands on you? After he seriously injures you? Then what, huh?”
She glanced away.
“It’s all fun and games until Synder loses everything fuckin’ with you.
And guess what? Where the hell will you be to help him pick up the pieces of the mess you made?
” She didn’t reply. “You’re willing to ruin his and Whimsy’s lives just to further fuck up your own.
You have two children who need their mother.
They need a mature mother who isn’t looking for the next round of trouble to stir up.
You have a duty to them, yet you’re finding every way you possibly can to destroy your own brother’s life. ”
Some of the wind in her sails dissipated.
“Synder is not your man. He’s mine. And unlike you, I’m willing to do everything in my power to protect not only his livelihood, but his life. Now… Until you and your entire family can treat my man with some common courtesy and respect, respectfully leave him alone.”
Walking away from Yakira, I shed a few tears for Synder. I hated being that woman to create a bridge between him and his family. However, since he was slow to create the necessary boundaries, I was okay with being the villain. I would be anything to protect him.
I straddled Synder’s lap and brought the glass to his lips. He sipped the strong concoction, then I chased it, too. My fingers brushed along his eyebrows, over his cheeks, then I tugged his beard.
“Your silence is killing me, Baby,” I whispered. “I wish I knew how to help you.”
“You’re here with me,” he softly replied, then kissed my lips.
When he flipped us over, my eyes darkened.
Instantly, I was ready for whatever he was ready for.
He took the drink from my hands, downed it, then ferociously kissed me.
In the next second, he was buried inside me.
There was nothing gentle about this, which I was fine with.
He was so deep, I almost couldn’t take it.
I was his soldier, though, and let him have his way with me.
“I love you, Sienna,” he professed as I broke apart. “I love you so fuckin’ much, Baby.” He kissed my neck, shoulder, then the space between my breasts. He did all this while stroking me and while I fought to breathe.
An hour later, after showering and donning a fresh set of clothing, I sat between Synder’s thighs as we watched The Santa Clause. This was a movie I could watch on repeat every holiday season.
Synder kissed my cheek. “Know what I thought while I was on my way to the county?” he questioned.
I shook my head, not really wanting to think about it.
“The first thing I thought about was, damn, my girl is gon’ ignore me for a whole fuckin’ week this time.
” We both laughed. I was so happy to see him find humor in this, that tears welled in my eyes.
I hated to see him down. “You know I can’t take it when you mad at me,” he sobered and said. “You forgive me?”
Nodding, I smiled and replied, “This time, it’s not on you. And when Yakira calls to gripe about me, yes, I told her to leave you alone. She’s to relay the message to the rest of your family, too.”
He chuckled. “You did right, lil’ mama. Ya way of protecting me makes me weak in the fuckin’ knees for you.”
Giggling, I snuggled deeper into his skin. That was where I wanted to be anyway.
“I love you, Synder.”
“I know,” he replied. “It’s no question.”
He felt my love, and I felt his. If I had to put everyone on notice about my loyalty to Synder Sneaux, I would.