“And the fact you’re still breathing after admitting all this is proof you benefited heavily from history and familiarity. Because had this been anybody else?” I tilted my head slightly. “They wouldn’t even be standing here long enough to explain themselves.”
Zonnique’s lower lip trembled violently.
I stared directly into her terrified face. “So, believe me when I say I’ve shown youwaymore mercy than most men in my position would’ve.”
A broken sound escaped Zonnique before she suddenly dropped to her knees.
“Please don’t kill me, Merge!” she cried hysterically, wiping helplessly at the tears running down her face. “I’m sorry! I know I crossed a line, but I was only looking out for your best interest! I swear that’s all this was! I care about you, Merge! I would never intentionally hurt you!”
I stood there quietly, taking in the sight of her crying on the floor before exhaling heavily.
“Zonnique, if Itrulywanted you dead, we wouldn’t still be having this conversation. You would’ve been gone before your knees even touched my floor.”
Her breathing stayed shaky.
I lowered the gun slightly but didn’t put it away.
“Get up,” I instructed.
She hesitated.
“I said get up!” my voice rose.
Zonnique practically jumped to her feet.
“My floors were just waxed yesterday morning, and now you’re down there crying all over imported marble like a damn grieving widow.”
I turned away from her and walked toward the window, my thoughts spiraling harder the more I replayed everything that happened downstairs.
“Something still feels off about this… her too. Ol’ girl was smiling too damn hard. Ain’t nobody that excited to be around me unless they’re either trying to get something or they’re mentally unstable.”
I faced Zonnique again and she was frowning slightly.
“She wasn’t nervous or intimidated. Hell, if anything, she looked at me like I was her celebrity crush and her financial breakthrough at the same damn time.” I scoffed lightly. “Or worse… like she’d been dreaming about me since middle school and finally manifested me into existence.”
“Maybe both,” Zonnique muttered quietly. “Some women fantasize day in and out of having a baby fororwith a man like you. It’s power to them.”
“You would say that. Are you telling on yourself?”
She rolled her eyes.
“But nah, this seems like adifferentkind of dream… more like a nightmare dressed in a pretty face.”
A humorless laugh escaped me as I ran my tongue across my teeth.
“I mean… yeah, I prayed the other day,” I admitted. “But not for this. I told God if I’m supposed to have a legacy, then show me.” I smirked bitterly. “But with all the dirt I’ve done in life, I was for sure he had me on Do Not Disturb, so I figured my prayer got forwarded straight to voicemail.”
“Somaybehe answered.” Zonnique shrugged.
“Or maybe the devil checked the voicemail first and said, ‘Bet. Watch this.’”
“So what you gon’ do?” Zonnique challenged me softly. “Turn down the blessing? This benefits you more than anybody.”
“If it’s really a blessing, it wouldn’t come wrapped in red flags, gut feelings, and smiles that don’t match the eyes attached to ’em. So nah, I ain’t turning it down; I’m just not stupid enough to unwrap it before I know exactly what’s inside.”
Zonnique stayed quiet.
“And yeah, it does benefit me. Hell, that’s the part that’s making me nervous. Everything about this feels too damn good to be true. And every time life hands me something easy, it comes back later wanting double in return. So, I’m keeping one eye on her… and the other on whatever fine print I ain’t discovered yet.” I whipped my head at Zonnique. “And you need to do the same.”
