by B. Love
As she made her way through the crowd, Eiryx was even more ready to go home. Going out was a bad idea. She should have gotten drunk with Diem like she originally planned to, but she wanted to go out with Sienna knowing this was a hard moment for her as well. They were different in that way, and it made Eiryx wonder what her brother saw in her. Sienna was a good woman… just nothing like any of the women in his family – maybe that’s why he clung to her.
Grumbling under her breath, Eiryx pushed past two women and looked back at them with a mug, daring either one of them to say something slick. One of them had her chest poked out, but when she looked into Eiryx’s face and realized who she was she backed down. With a smug grin, Eiryx continued towards the bathroom, but before she could make it, she was grabbed by the waist and pulled into the bar.
“Nigga, if you don’t get the fuck off of me…” she started, but the feel of the gun in her back silenced her.
Eiryx’s eyes closed at the feel of his nose trailing up her neck.
“I been watching you all night. Actin’ like a bitch and shit. You need some dick to act right?”
Her eyes opened and squinted as she gritted her teeth. Looking around the club, she cursed under her breath at the sight of Sienna smiling in some man’s face. Her brother hadn’t even been gone for a week and she was already on to the next.
“Get the fuck off me,” she repeated, scanning the club for someone else she knew.
“Nah. I’m about to get in you. Maybe that’ll wipe that mug off your face. By the way… tell your brother not to disrespect me again.”
Recognizing his voice, Eiryx tried to turn to face him, but his free hand went to the back of her neck and he kept her from turning. “Gray?” She chuckled. “He’s going to kill your ass when I tell him about this.”
“Shut up bitch. You ain’t gon tell him shit.” Gray’s hand went to her dress, and as he lifted it, Eiryx squirmed against him. Her eyes landed on Xi as Gray told her, “Stop moving before I shoot you. You know I’ll do it.”
Her nostrils flared because she knew he would. That’s what he was known for. He never fought. Like the weak ass trick he was… he always pulled the trigger. As Eiryx watched Xi walk in their direction, she considered her options because surely he wasn’t coming over to her. For as long as she’d been in the family business, Xi had been competition. Friendly, but competition, nonetheless.
Eiryx’s pistol was in her purse next to Sienna at the bar. Her knife was on the side of her hip, but she’d need to subtly retrieve it.
“You’re going to rape me in this packed club on the side of the bar, Gray?” she asked, leaning forward.
“I am, and if you move again, I’m going to kill you in this packed club on the side of the bar. You got me?”
When Xi was a couple of feet away, he lifted his head, chin poking out as he looked from her to Gray. “You good?” he mouthed.
“No,” she returned, afraid if she moved her head Gray would notice.
Her eyes lowered to Xi’s hand. She closed her them and inhaled a deep breath when she saw him reach behind his back. Eiryx opened her eyes in time enough to see Xi pulling a gun and aiming it in their direction.
“Move,” he mouthed, and as soon as she did, he shot.
Giving her no time to think, Xi grabbed Eiryx by the wrist and led her towards the area behind the bar as people yelled and ran. She stepped over Gray’s lifeless body, not even bothering to look down at him.
“My sis is on the opposite end of the bar. She’ll worry if she doesn’t see me.”
Xi pulled his phone out of his pocket and handed it to her as he said, “Call her and let her know you straight.”
The combination of knowing and being familiar with him combined with the fact that he’d literally just bodied a creep for her had Eiryx comfortable enough to do just about whatever he asked at that point. With a trembling hand, she accepted Xi’s phone. Eiryx couldn’t say that her nerves were rattled because Gray had tried to violate her – thank God he hadn’t been able to – but it was more so the vulnerability that had her so on edge.
She hated lacking control.
Had she not been a little tipsy and unaware fully of her surroundings, this wouldn’t have happened.
“You gotta put your password in.”
Xi rattled off six numbers as he led her down the hall and out of a back exit. Eiryx shot Sienna a text letting her know that she’d be calling before sending her a FaceTime request. Sienna answered, and Eiryx let her know that she was okay and that she could leave without her. At first, Sienna declined hesitantly, but when she saw that Eiryx was with Xi she agreed. She may have known that he was an enemy to the family, but at least it was someone they knew.
And she made it clear that if anything happened to Eiryx she’d be sending them brothers after him.
Eiryx handed him his phone back, and they walked to the car in silence. That silence remained while Xi pulled out of the parking lot. Thankfully, he was parked right behind the back exit, so there wasn’t much traffic that they had to get through.
He drove a couple of miles before pulling into a Walgreens parking lot. Xi cut the car off and turned his head in her direction.
“You good?”
Eiryx looked over at him and forced a soft smile.
“Yea, thanks.”
“Wasn’t that your brother’s boy?” Eiryx nodded. “And he tried you like that?” She nodded again and looked away.
“I never thought a nigga would try to violate me like that. Especially one I know.” Eiryx inhaled a deep breath and released it slowly. “I’m good, though. Thanks to you.”
Xi nodded as he started his car back up. He told her to put her address into the GPS but she told him she couldn’t do that. Instead, she called Sienna back and told her to meet her at the Walgreens at the corner. Now that her nerves were settling, there was no way in hell she’d let Xi or anyone else know where James and Estella lived.
After Sienna agreed, Eiryx gave Xi his phone back. What little influence the liquor had her under was gone. That ordeal had caused her to sober up quickly. At this point, all she wanted to do was go home, shower until her skin turned red, and crawl into the middle of her bed. Instead of focusing on what could have been, Eiryx kept telling herself to be grateful for Xi. Shifting her perspective from a negative to a positive one was the only thing calming her down in that moment.
“My condolences about Trevor. I’m sure that makes what happened tonight even worse.”
Eiryx smiled as her eyes watered. Clenching her jaw, she tried her hardest not to cry for what felt like the millionth time that day.
“You have no idea,” she whispered before inhaling a shaky breath.
Not expecting to feel it, Eiryx jumped when his hand covered hers. He pulled it back as if he’d touched fire.
“My fault. That was inconsiderate as hell of me considering…”
“No.” Eiryx chuckled and shook her head as she reached across the center console and grabbed his hand. “It wasn’t that. I dare not give him that kind of power over me. I just wasn’t expecting it and was deep in my thoughts. That’s all.”
“Well, I know you probably got a lot of options and shit, but if you need anything…”
Both of them looked straightforward as a car pulled directly in front of his. It was Sienna, and Eiryx couldn’t help the irritation that filled her at Sienna ruining the moment. While she’d always thought Xi was handsome, she felt there would never be anything between them. This was the first time she’d ever been alone with him, and just that quickly, it was over.
Still holding his tattoo covered hand, Eiryx lifted it and kissed it gently.
“Thanks… again.”
Flipping their hands over, Xi kissed hers as well. “You’re welcome.”
“If um… the police try to come for you or something…”
Xi chuckled as he released her hand. “They won’t.”
Xi opened the door and walked over to her side of the car. He
opened her door, then led her over to Sienna’s car. After opening the door, Xi helped Eiryx get inside. He stared at her for a few seconds before closing the door, stuffing his hands into his pockets, and walking away.
For as long as she could, Eiryx watched his every movement. When Sienna reversed to turn and he was no longer in her sight, Eiryx closed her eyes and tried to implant that vision of him inside her memory.
“You know what happened? Who got shot?”
Eiryx looked over at Sienna briefly before grabbing her purse off the floor in search of her phone.
“I have no idea.”
Chapter 7
Ai’s fate was sealed – she would only help the family as their lawyer once she finished school. Her ties to the mafia would only be legal. As the baby of the family, it was the family’s job to protect her, keep her safe, and make sure her hands remained clean. Until she graduated college, though, she served as the family’s connect. It was her job to communicate between James, Trevor, and their suppliers.
Well… now James and Cassius.
Set to meet with a new, potential supplier, Ai shared the news with Cassius and Diem instead of James. Before Trevor died, he asked her to meet with Duke Byrd and get a feel for his integrity. That was Ai’s superpower – being able to get an immediate and genuine vibe from a person after speaking with them for at least five minutes straight. Because Trevor stressed that he wanted to keep this between them, Ai didn’t feel comfortable telling James, but she also didn’t want to go to the meeting by herself.
It had been Trevor’s desire to grow and make the drugs they sold on their own without the use of an outside supplier, knowing that it would lower their chances of getting caught and increase their income. He did, however, consider Duke to be a good supplier for them to have in Memphis so that they could cut off their out of state and country suppliers altogether. Trevor had made it clear that he didn’t trust their current Memphis supplier – Enrique. And now, Eira was in jail after meeting him for an early delivery.
A part of Ai felt responsible for Eira’s current state because if she would have shared with Cassius the conversation she had with Trevor the day before he died, maybe they would have canceled the shipment with Enrique and Eira would be a free man. But there was no point in dwelling on that now, and Ai was trying her very hardest to release that weight.
When the door opened directly across from Ai’s chair, she looked up and into the eyes of the most beautiful, brown skinned man she’d ever seen. Dressed in all black, he captivated Ai with his wide smile. She wasn’t sure who he was talking to as he disconnected the call, but his deep dimples and the wrinkles on the sides of his eyes made her glad they were able to get a laugh out of him. As soon as his eyes zeroed in on her, his smile fell, and he licked his lips as she stood.
Cassius and Diem did too, but his eyes remained locked on her as he said, “I only want her.”
Ai looked from her brother to her sister, and when Cassius nodded and sat back down, she slowly made her way in the direction of his office. When she was standing directly in front of him, Duke extended his hand for hers. Instead of taking it immediately, she looked down at it, nipples hardening at the sight of how his veins bulged from his hand and arm.
She didn’t know why… but a man with large veins on his hands, arms, and shaft always turned her on.
Placing her hand inside of his, Ai inhaled a deep breath. His grip was firm but… a safe firm. As she released her breath, Duke caressed her hand with his thumb as his smile returned.
“Duke Byrd.”
“Ai Bruce.”
“I know, your father has told me all about you and shown me several pictures of you. Come in.”
Ai looked behind her between Cassius and Diem. While Cassius wore a mug, Diem was cheesing like Jerry. The sight was enough to make her laugh as she removed her hand from Duke’s and followed him inside of his office. To the untrained eye, he was a well-off lawyer and that was it… but to the streets… he was the connect and supplier who could also get his clients out of trouble if need be.
When Duke closed the door behind him, Ai looked back in time enough to watch as he unbuttoned his blazer. She wasn’t worried about him trying to do anything to jeopardize her safety physically… it was the safety of her heart that she was worried about. Her attraction to him was unable to be hidden… and by the way he looked at her… Ai could say the same about him.
“I’m sorry about what happened to Trevor as well. He was a standup guy. One that brought me a lot of respect in the streets.”
Duke extended his hand towards the seat he wanted her to sit in as she said, “That’s funny. Beyond yesterday, he never mentioned you.”
Duke nodded as he sat back down. “Has he ever mentioned Michael or Kensington?”
With recollection brewing within her, Ai nodded with a smile. “Yea. Both. He said Michael was an old friend and Kensington was his son that he mentored.”
“That’s me and my father. Kensington is my first name.” His hand pointed towards the law diploma behind his desk with his full name on it – Kensington Duke Byrd. “I stopped using Kensington while practicing law after my father got locked up because I didn’t want prosecutors to hold that against me or my clients… but that’s me.”
Duke’s confession gave her more comfort. It felt like being in the presence of someone that was close to her father. Losing Trevor was a loss that Ai would never really get over. At this point, she was on a numb autopilot. She hadn’t even cried yet. But Ai knew when the dam broke… it would drown anyone in its path.
Ai listened intently as Duke shared with her her father’s plans. That he wanted to bring him on as a local supplier. And while she wanted to stall to buy more time with him, she couldn’t help but be honest with him and tell him that James wouldn’t want to have anything to do with another local supplier after what happened with Enrique.
Whatever the case, there was nothing she or Cassius could do to bring Duke in.
Understanding of their position, Duke stood to see Ai out. When they made it to the door he asked, “So what do you think?”
Leaning against the door with a smile, Ai looked up at him innocently. “About?”
“Me. He told me that you have a way of reading people. What vibe did you get from me?”
Her head dropped briefly, but it lifted when his arm rested on the side of her on the door. Duke took a step closer, almost closing the space between them altogether.
“I think you’re genuine. You would have been worthy of our trust. Unfortunately, my father died before he had the opportunity to convince James. And even if me and my siblings go to him on your behalf, he will still say no.”
Duke stared at her silently before saying, “I think I have a way of convincing James, so I look forward to doing business with you.”
Ai chuckled as she turned. Following her lead, Duke pushed his body off the door and opened it.
“I highly doubt that.”
“Then I look forward to experiencing pleasure with you.”
She blushed as she stepped out of his office. “You don’t even have my number, Duke.”
“Leave all that basic shit to me.”
As she turned to face him one last time, the door was closing. For a second, all she could do was stand there and stare. Ai had no idea what her father was thinking bringing Duke into her life… but she also couldn’t help but wonder if this was his subtle was of putting him into her heart.
After the funeral…
Chapter 8
As Pamela wiped the tears from her cheeks, she clenched the letter in a death grip. The last time Trevor left their home, he’d given it to her. It was after a fight, and Pamela was sure it was an apology. Wanting to remain in her feelings, Pamela hadn’t bothered to open it. When she heard of his murder, she couldn’t pull herself to open it.
It was stupid – wanting to stay mad at him – knowing life wasn’t promised to any of them.
And love wasn’t promised for
her and Trevor.
Hell, it never had been.
Trevor was the perfect husband, only lacking love. Romantic love at least. He took care of Pamela, provided for her and protected her. Did everything he could to make her feel secure. Treated her to weekly date nights and monthly trips out of town. Every day, Pamela received a bouquet of roses – yellow roses. Every day, they were a reminder that Trevor saw her as one of his best friends. And that no matter how good he was to her, he would never be in love with her.
It wasn’t his intention. He’d never tried to torture her in this manner. Any desire she had he gave. There was only one thing Trevor had never been able to give her, and that was his heart. Unfortunately, that had always belonged to Estella.
Estella and Pamela had always been best friends, just like Trevor and James. When they met the men, their lives changed forever. It was Pamela who first noticed Trevor, but after getting to know them with time, she began to desire James. But it was too late at that point, their partners had been chosen, and they had to deal with the consequences.
Except, James had an idea. One that Pamela thought she would never entertain. But she learned that night why it was important to never say never. When he expressed his desire to get to know her intimately in all ways, Pamela was insulted. Turned on, yes, but also insulted. She couldn’t believe that he would think she would cheat on Trevor or anyone else. He expressed to her how Trevor didn’t mind, that they shared women all the time.
After discussing it with Trevor and finding out that he was cool with it, Pamela decided to give it a try. It was like having the perfect man all in one. Each one brought different things to the table, and they made up for the things the other lacked. While James was more rough and exciting, Trevor was sweeter and more thoughtful.
