Chapter 28
A Week Later
Savion was out of town for a job, but he had people sitting at the house with me. I didn’t know why he felt the need to tell me that I needed protection while he was gone, as if I couldn’t handle myself, but whatever.
Things between Savion and I were heating up. I’d started sleeping in his bedroom since we were having sex now. His room was huge and dark. Everything was black, including the walls. I wasn’t sure what his obsession with black was, but he needed a bit of color in his life.
Tonight, my family was having a birthday party for Grim at Obsidian.
This was gon’ be the first time that I’d been in the room with my entire family at the same time since I told them that I wasn’t leaving Savion.
Surprisingly, nobody bothered me about it.
I wasn’t saying that they agreed with my decision, but it was nice that they were giving me the space to make my own decisions.
Imani was coming out with me tonight. She was still upset that I’d ditched her at the party when Savion kidnapped me. He tossed her some money to forget about it. She took it, but that still didn’t stop her from complaining about it.
I found this cute-ass red midi dress. My hair was freshly pressed, and I placed some rods in it while I showered. I couldn’t wait to get to the club with my family. A night out with them was much needed and deserved.
Once out of the shower, I lotioned my body down and then got dressed. I did my makeup and removed the rods from my hair. Stepping in front of the mirror, I took in my appearance, and I looked damn good.
“Sexy,” could be heard coming out of the camera. I should’ve known his creepy ass was watching me.
Turning, I blew him a kiss and grabbed my clutch and then left out of the bedroom. Entering the garage, I hopped into my McLaren and pulled off.
When I pulled up to Imani’s house, I called her. “I’m outside,” I said when she answered.
“Okay. I’m on my way out the door.” The call disconnected, and not long after, I saw her exit the house. Her husband stood in the doorway as she strutted in my direction. It was like he needed to make sure she was going out with me like she said she was.
“Hey, girl,” I spoke when she opened the door and climbed into the car.
Imani was frowning. I knew something had been said between them before she came out the door.
“Just get me out of here,” she said as she grabbed the seat belt.
We headed to Obsidian. The parking lot was packed, and the line was even deeper.
Luckily for us, we didn’t have to stand in that line to get inside.
I stopped at the entrance of the club and climbed out the car.
Valet grabbed it for me. Imani and I tread up to the entrance, and the bouncer immediately opened the door for us.
The music was booming. Everyone looked like they were having a good time. I spotted my family on the second floor in the VIP section. Taking Imani by the hand, I led her through the crowd to the staircase.
We got to the top, and the bouncer let us inside.
Grim sat on the couch in front of this happy birthday banner on the wall.
He had a bottle of D’USSé in his hand. Wren and Aria sat on the couch together while Wicked and Grim stood at the railing, taking in the club.
Knowing them, they were watching to ensure that nothing popped off.
“Happy birthday, baby brother,” I told Grim when I leaned down and pecked him on the cheek.
“Thanks.”
“Where’s Luxe?”
He shrugged and replied, “She said something about not feeling good.”
Imani tossed herself on the couch next to him and snatched his bottle. He cut his eyes at her but didn’t speak a word.
“Happy birthday, goofy,” she said and turned the bottle up.
“Hey, y’all.” I spoke to Wren and Aria before going over there with my brothers. Stepping behind them, I rested my hands against their backs, gaining both of their attention. “Y’all do know that it’s a party. You can relax.”
“Y’all can relax ’cause we’re always ten steps ahead,” Wicked replied. His lips pressed against my temple, and then he turned his attention back to the crowded club.
“Where that bitch-ass husband of yours?” Maniac questioned me.
“Working,” was the only response he got. I wasn’t trying to turn a good time into a hard one.
Stepping away from them, I went over and mixed a cup of liquor. I was on my third cup by the time my bladder was full.
“I’m going to the bathroom!” I yelled at Imani, and she nodded, not removing her eyes from her phone. She’d been sitting there, typing away at her screen for the last fifteen minutes. I just know she was arguing with that bum, but I was gon’ mind my business for now.
Getting up from my seat, I left the section in search of the restroom. Finally, I found it toward the back. There was a line outside the door.
“Shit,” I mumbled under my breath.
This was one of the things that I hated about going out. There was no telling how long you’d have to wait to go to the bathroom. My bladder felt as if it was gon’ explode. If they didn’t hurry up, I was certain that I’d piss myself.
I stood there at the back of the line, waiting, bouncing. There were at least six women in front of me. I leaned around to see if the line was moving, and it wasn’t.
“Screw this.” I ran around the line into the bathroom.
“Hey!” I heard someone yell behind me. Fuck them. I was about to pee myself.
“Sorry,” I tossed over my shoulder as I ran smooth into a stall that I saw someone come out of. It was a bit funky in there. She definitely needed to wash herself properly or take a trip to the doctor. Holding my breath, I lifted my dress, pushed my panties down, and squatted over the toilet.
Once I was done, I left the stall and washed my hands. Everyone standing outside the bathroom was frowning with their arms folded. I wasn’t worried about them, though, because neither one of them could whup my ass.
“Bitch.” One of the women stepped behind me. She had to be close for me to hear exactly what she said over the loud music.
I turned, and she stood there with her arms crossed over her chest, wearing a scowl.
“Watch your fucking mouth,” I warned. One thing I didn’t play about was disrespect.
“You cut the line.”
“And? I was about to pee myself. You really worried about a line? If you had to use the bathroom so bad, you’d be in there instead of trying to confront me.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are? You gotta wait in line just like everybody else. You walking around here with that fake-ass jewelry on and think you’re special.
” The women standing behind her snickered, and I guessed they were fueling her delusion because she kept going.
“Where you got that dress from? Rainbow?”
“Saks Fifth, actually,” I said, folding my arms.
The chick erupted in laughter as if I’d said something funny. She was standing here in stripper attire. Of course, she wouldn’t know what Saks Fifth looked like.
“Girl, please.” She waved me off.
The bottle girl passed, and I grabbed the Remy bottle off the tray. A guy walked up and draped his arm around her neck.
“What’s taking so long, bae?” His eyes drifted to me, and he licked his lips. He was lucky Savion wasn’t standing here with me or else he would’ve ripped them bitches off.
“This ho right here thought she was bigger than the program.”
I smirked. This bitch had a lot of audacity.
“Getcha service animal,” I warned and turned to walk off but was caught by the wrist.
Snatching away, I swung the bottle back, cracking her jaw. “I’on argue with bitches. I make examples out of them,” I told her.
“Ho, is you cool!” The guy’s eyes bucked. He knew he was gon’ have to make a trip to the hospital with her ass tonight. They’d better get going, or else they’d be in there all night.
“Watch your mouth,” I softly spoke with the bottle still hanging in my hand. He charged toward me, and I swung on his ass too. Nigga’s nose and mouth gushed blood.
More people began to approach me. Knowing that it was just me and a bottle, I took off running to my family.
I didn’t even have to make it far. Wicked, Grim, Maniac, and, surprisingly, Savion were all lined up by the time I bent the corner.
I slipped in between Wicked and Grim, and they formed a barrier in front of me.
All I heard in my head was, “You like getting people killed for me?” just as I saw my brothers swinging.
* * *
The club shut down after the fight I started in there. Someone had sliced Grim’s arm with a knife, and he just started letting off shots. People were running and screaming. Savion grabbed me and Imani and got us out of there.
He drove Imani home, and then we headed home. Told me that he’d send someone to get my car from the club for me. I didn’t even know that he’d come back home. I assumed that he thought he was gon’ surprise me at the club and walked in on a surprise himself.
I sat there in silence on the ride home. Savion turned onto our street. I felt his eyes kept shifting to me, but he didn’t speak a word. Headlights shone on the garage entrance, and there was a box sitting out there with a bow on it. The car halted.
“What’s that? You got me a gift?” I asked him. My mouth spread wide as I opened the door and hopped out.
“Solei, no!” he shouted behind me, but I’d already picked up the box. I pulled the bow apart and took the lid off. The box dropped to my feet when I saw a bloody heart resting inside it.