Chapter 15 #3
My hands shook in my lap as my back slammed into the seat. My heart beat so hard that my breath came in labored. I didn’t understand what was going on, but I knew enough that answering questions was the last thing Vic was worried about.
Jax’s truck followed us, engines roaring down the street. Before we got off the block, something told me to turn around, and when I did, the loudest boom I’d ever heard rattled the whole truck.
I covered my head with my arms as I watched my studio explode in flames. Who would do this and why? Princesses it was Sevyn’s memory etched in every corner, and someone took that from me.
Something told me that my studio would be the least of my worries. As I stared at Vic through the rearview mirror, he glanced at me. I knew things were about to change, and I didn’t know if it would be for the better.
I’d been sitting in my condo for an hour. Azani texted me twenty minutes ago, telling me he was on his way. I sat on my couch, watching all eight of my security detail pace the floor. Hands clutching their guns, looking out the windows, unable to stand still.
Azani had to give me more about who he was and who our families were. He couldn’t keep me in the dark and call it protection anymore. Eight armed men were in my condo, unable to relax. That was enough to let me know that something else was going on.
Vic walked toward my door, and when it opened, Azani barged in, coming straight for me.
He scooped me off the couch and went straight to my bedroom, closing the door behind him.
He sat on the couch in my room and held me so tight.
His heart was racing, arms shaking around me.
I knew whatever happened at my studio wasn’t a coincidence.
While he held me, I took his hair down, and my fingers started moving through his scalp. After a while, his heart slowed, his arms stopped shaking, and the grip he had on my waist loosened.
“Baby,” I whispered, still rubbing his scalp. “I’m right here.”
“I know. I need a second, Dev. Let me hold you,” he said quietly.
We sat in that same position for at least twenty minutes in complete silence.
His face was right against my neck, my arms over his shoulders, still rubbing his head because I knew it would relax him.
I didn’t know what we were dealing with or why, but I knew Azani had better start telling me the truth.
When he finally raised his head, I pushed his locs from his face. He leaned in and kissed me so softly that I melted right into him. He pulled back, rubbing up and down my back in steady, slow strokes.
“Dev, you need to pack some of your things. I can’t leave you here, baby. You gotta come with me.”
“Where are you taking me? What’s going on, Azani?” I asked, trying to get up from his lap.
He held me down, grip tightening on my waist. “Our house. I can’t protect you from here.
Please cooperate with me. I don’t want to fight about it.
All I care about is keeping you safe. If you want space, you can have it.
I have a room already set up for you—everything you want and need.
But I can’t lose you to this shit, baby.
It would kill me,” he muttered, leaning his forehead onto mine.
“Okay, but you have to tell me why. Whatever this is, I can’t be in the dark anymore. I need to know what’s going on.”
“Okay,” he said, brushing his lips against mine.
He finally let me up from his lap and watched me move around my room. His hands were visibly shaking as he stood, grabbing things he knew I’d want. There was a tap at the door, and Azani went to open it.
Vic stuck his head in and whispered something to Azani, then popped back out.
“Come on, baby. We need to be gone in ten minutes. When we get to the house, I promise to tell you what’s going on,” he said, walking closer.
He took the suitcase from my hand and started packing the things I wanted.
Before I forgot, I went back into my closet and grabbed the small chest that held my memories of Syncere and Sevyn.
No matter what went on, I’d never leave them.
I felt Azani’s eyes on me as I walked out of my closet, and he was sitting on the side of my bed.
“Come here,” he said quietly.
When I stood between his legs, he grabbed me around my waist and just hugged me. Whatever this situation was, it had him shook. I rubbed his head, and he looked up at me, eyes full of fear that I’d never seen in them.
“I don’t want my life to be the reason I lose you, Dev. I know I broke your trust before, but I need you to trust me right now. Until I get a handle on this shit, please listen to me. Stay close to Vic when I’m not around. Please…”
“Okay, I understand,” I said softly.
Once I got dressed, Azani and all my security moved around me as we made our way out of the building. Azani ushered me into his truck, and we were on our way to our house. I didn’t know how things would go with us under the same roof, but it seemed my choices were limited.
I wasn’t sure if being this close would make us stronger or break us. Either way, it was happening, and if I wanted to keep my life, this was what it had to be.