“Nah, he might have love for her, but that shit is dead.” Ledge shook his head. “I don’t know what he’s said to you, but the nigga been in a mood since you moved out. He’s short tempered and pessimistic.” Ledge shifted in his seat. “There will always be some leftover feelings because of Ivy, but what I see and what I’ve been able to perceive for a long time, you the one he wants in his world.”
“Well, he’s got to come to that conclusion himself,” I declared as Frequency appeared at the door to the terrace.
He walked up on us slowly, eyes drifting back and forth from me to Ledge.
“Everything good?”
“Yeah.” I brought myself to my feet as Ivana waltzed in.
Free’s phone rang, and he immediately went to answer it as she sailed in past him. His eyes never left mine as he hit the speaker on his phone.
“D, what’s good?”
“Somebody just arrived at the gate, claims he’s ya BM’s husband. I haven’t let him in. What you want to do?”
Finally, his attention averted from me to Ivana as she stopped at the counter to make herself a small plate of finger food. Like a rat caught in a trap, her beady ass eyes were struck with surprise. Slowly, she brought a chicken roll up to her lips and took a bite.
“Let him up,” Frequency surprisingly disclosed.
“Okay,” Deviance agreed.
Free tucked his phone back into his pocket and shot knives with his eyes across the room at Ivana.
“The fuck is he doing here?” he commanded, and she simpered.
“I thought this was a family affair, and I want him to meet Ivy,” she answered simply.
“Today wasn’t about that,” Free argued.
“Why? Because Harbor said so?” she questioned, rolling her eyes.
The conversation came to a standstill when the man she was with from the restaurant emerged from the hallway. Ivana perked up as he approached her from behind.
“Hey, baby,” she greeted him with a kiss on the lips.
His hand fell on the small of her back, and he smiled down at her before taking in the rest of us in the room.
“Why are you here?” Frequency couldn’t hold back his contempt.
“I got a gift for the birthday girl. Is this… Harbor?” One brow lifted as he took me in, his eyes filling with appreciation. “Mistro, nice to meet you.”
“Hmm, a pleasure I’m sure,” I mumbled, which only seemed to please him as his lips curled up into a smile.
“We have a stepdaughter in common. We’re family, right?” he remarked playfully.
The front door closed again, and I wasn’t sure who was arriving now. I was pretty sure most of the guests were already here. Kara strut inside, ripped jeans hugging her hips, a midriff top hanging off her shoulder, and a pair of wedge sandals gracing her feet. With her hair in one braid off her shoulder, she beamed from ear to ear. With a large box in her arms, she sailed into the room with Slice not far behind her.
“Hello, beautiful people—” she sang, right as she lowered the gift and came face-to-face with Mistro and Ivana.
The large display fell from her hands and onto the floor, making a loud thud as a gasp escaped her mouth.
“What is he doing here!”
A crease of confusion wrinkled Frequency’s forehead as he looked from his sister to Mistro.
“What are you talking about?”
“Him!” She aimed a finger at Mistro. “Why the fuck is he here, Free?”
