Noble wouldn’t dare reveal that part of his affair with him. There were details he wanted to keep inside his vault. Revealing that he had fallen in love with Irish was one of them.
“You ain't gotta answer that. I already know what it is, but you can’t be bringing drama to the organization, nigga. That’s why I asked you to step in because I knew you’d keep this bitch running. Don’t burn down our shit over a bitch, Noble.”
If this was months before, Noble would’ve taken that advice and applied it. Still, Tuck didn’t know what his relationship with Irish entailed. He didn’t know how her smile soothed the resentful parts of him or how talking to her was like attending a therapy session since she was a great listener.Irish made him feel like he could conquer anything. Her cool demeanor was like his medicine. She soothed him in ways that no other woman had. Noble could walk away but it would feel equivalent to his heart being cut out of his chest.
“I don’t plan to.”
“What the fuck that mean?”
“That means I’ma always handle business.”
“Yeah, but what if that nigga Jovanis come at you crazy, then what?”
Noble gave him a dumbfounded expression. “Then, I’ma handle business. Did you not hear me the first time?”
Tuck scraped his bottom lip with his teeth. “I believe in you, Noble. You taught me so much over the years and yeah, I should’ve applied most of it, but I let the money and status get to my head. Even though I’m a year older than you, I still looked up to you. I know you wouldn’t sabotage what we’ve built, but I know you, nigga. You caught feelings for ol’ girl and I get it. She’s bad as fuck but I don’t know if you should make that move. Not because I know you ain’t capable, but it will bring some bullshit your way, and I ain’t trying to see you lose.”
“I hear you.” That was all that Noble could say because the optics looked bad.
“It’s so much riding on you and I know that shit is all pressure. You want who you want but remember the cost, cuz. She don’t belong to you. She’s with Jovanis.”
Noble snorted a chuckle. “Man.” He drawled, wanting to say more. “I hear you.”
“Don’t fuck this up, Noble.”
He smirked. “Nigga, who you think you checking?”
“You. Don’t forget I’ll always be big cuz.”
“Tuck, you ain’t shit now.”
They laughed and Noble changed the subject since conversing about his love brought forth too many emotions.
The sun sizzled against Cali’s skin as she leaned against the trunk of her car. She looked around the park, watching people go about their lives without a care in the world. Suddenly, she envied those people. Their minds were probably clear, wondering what they would eat for dinner that night. On the other hand, Cali’s mind had been on a treadmill. It hadn’t slowed down and displayed no signs of doing so. She wanted some relief, but her sins had caught up to her after running from them for months.
Against her better judgment, Cali drove to the suburb of Emerald Village, awaiting Braye’s presence. The voices of her sisters kept replaying inside her mind on a loop. Their warning blasted loudly but Cali knew how to handle Braye. Well, at least she thought she did. Being transparent with him would get the job done. He would see her regret for leading him on and hopefully go his way. At least that’s what Cali hoped for.
She watched a black Camaro pull into the parking lot and park. Seconds passed before Braye jumped out the car. There was a smirk on his face that instantly caused Cali to snort. The sight of him used to make her melt. He used to kickstart the butterflies in her belly and prompt her mouth to stretch into the biggest grin. Now, there was nothing but remorse because she’d fallen in love with the devil’s son. He approached, eyeing her up and down while she maintained an impassive expression.
“I ain't expect you to request to see me.” He smirked. “What do I owe the pleasure of this shit?”
Cali inhaled deeply then released. This talk would require a lot of patience on her part.
“I needed us to have a real conversation. Without all the emotions we’ve had toward each other.”
He nodded, rolling his tongue across his top teeth. “A’ight, you wanna talk about how you led me on then switched up on me?”
“Actually, I do.”
His thick brows rose a bit in shock. Cali didn’t give him a chance to respond as she continued.
“I was wrong. Dead wrong for how I handled you. I should’ve let you go and focused on my marriage. It was wrong of me to participate in a relationship with you when I belong to another man. My feelings for you were real, despite you thinking that they weren’t but… I have to stick with my husband. I hurt you but you hurt me as well.”
Braye’s head jerked back. “How the fuck I hurt you?”
“You tried to kill my fucking husband. That shit hurt knowing he was in the hospital all that time, fighting for his life because you wanted his wife. Yeah, you hurt me, Braye!”
Braye’s jaw flexed as his gaze descended to the concrete. There was confliction unveiled on his face. He had walked right into the trap Cali had set up and now she beamed on the inside.
