”You did your shit with this party. Each year gets better and better,” he said closely to my ear so I could hear him over the music.
I taunted him with a smirk. “Thank you, baby. You still wish you were a silent partner?”
A few years ago, I bought him out of our partnership when I decided to franchise. I survived the murky waters of the nightlifeindustry long enough and was ready to run it on my own without tapping in with anyone. He didn’t give me any issues and gave over his part of the business with ease. He understood that I wanted to stand on my own two, and he supported it.
He threw his head back a bit while laughing. “You wild. But you’re doing exactly what I knew you could. I’m fucking proud of you, Lovey.”
In my heels, I still had to lean up to kiss him. He’d had my back since the very beginning and never once doubted me, even when I really didn’t have my shit together. He took his role of being my husband very serious and never made me feel like I was doing anything alone.
Jersey came bopping his way over to us and tossed his arm around both of our shoulders. “Sis, you brought the whole fucking city out! You gotta plan my birthday next year!”
“Just say the word and write the check.”
He laughed. “You know I will.”
I chopped it up with everyone in the section and was even polite to Amina.
“This is a nice event. Ahk didn’t tell me you were a party planner.”
I looked around the section wondering if anyone was going to bring her up to speed before I did. Diamond simply threw back another shot while shaking her head. I peeped that she let her sister do her own thing. She really wanted no parts.
“Well,Ahkeemshouldn’t have. I’m not a party planner. I own this club and the two other ones in Miami and Atlanta.”
“My bad, girl.”
“Yeah, your bad. Enjoy your night, Amina, girl.” I threw on a fake smile before sashaying back over to my husband.
Soon as I made it within his reach, he wrapped his arm back around me. The speakers thumped within the club with the infamous beat of Nas’ song “You Can Hate Me Now.”
“Yo, bro, turn the fuck up! They playing yo shit!” Priest stood up on the couch in his section with a bottle in hand, hyping Ahk up.
I made sure the song was in rotation for the night ‘cause I knew how much it got Ahk, Priest, J’Ru, and Kaymen activated. There had been so many nights during Sunday dinner where they went bar for bar rapping the song, so it was only right I had that shit bumping through Reign while they were in the building.
Ahk hopped up on the couch, popping a bottle of Casamigos right alongside my brother. It started with just them, and then everyone joined. Both sections had everyone on their feet, going crazy. Shit had me feeling like a proud-ass mother watching her kids have a good time. This was the shit I lived for when it came to owning a club.
Ahkeem kissed me, slipping his tongue into my mouth, and I could taste the liquor he had just downed. Based off how he was acting, I knew we wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight and he was going to be determined to put me through the mattress.
The song came to an end, and the guys all dapped each other up with happy-ass smiles on their faces. As I was enjoying finally getting a moment to enjoy the party myself, I was interrupted by my earpiece that was connected to my radio going off.
“Yo, Jazzy, I got three cars circling the block. They ain’t no undercovers either,” Cyro warned me on the private channel set up so he could reach me while he managed the security of the club.
Ahk immediately noticed the shift in my energy. He dropped down from the couch before lifting me up to set me back on the floor with him. “Cy, peep the scene. If something feels off, bust at them before they start shooting at my fucking club,” I ordered through the radio.
I didn’t even have to say two words to Ahkeem. He set the bottle down and pulled his gun from his pocket.
“What we on?” Priest made his way to Ahk’s section. He noticed Ahk had gun out, so naturally, he pulled his too.
They both looked at me, ready for me to say the word. “Cy peeped some cars circle the block a few times. He’s positive they’re not undercovers. I would love to handle this shit discreetly so none of my guest are alarmed.”
“Lovey, if Cyro’s right, ain’t no keeping this shit discreet.”
“Real shit. We gotta push up on them outside before they try to bust they way inside.”
I could see the darkness that crowded Priest’s eyes. It had been so long since his eyes went dark. Life had been peaceful for him, but he was never gonna let shit slide, especially when it came to protecting and defending his family.
Kaymen, J’Ru, Javi, Moe, and Diamond noticed we were huddled up and joined. They peeped what type time we were on based off the way Ahk and Priest were clutching their guns.
“You strapped?” Kaymen asked me as he cocked his gun back.
