Page 12 of A Capo’s Love: Featuring A Don’s Love

“And then…” He smirked faintly, like he’d just uncovered another layer. “You spoiled too.”

I blinked again, caught off guard.

“Spoiled?” I whispered in disbelief.

He nodded his head slowly then ran his huge hand across the top of his waves.

“Not bratty spoiled. You a daddy’s girl spoiled. You grew up protected… that nigga taught you to always know you deserve the above and beyond type of treatment. He taught you to walk away from niggas like him and anything that don’t treat you right. He drilled loyalty into you, which is why you running several of his spots while probably fixing all of his problems… I bet daddy didn’t teach you how to protect yourself from him.” He chuckled dryly.

Royal sat up, fixed his posture, never taking his alluring almond eyes off of me.

“But life…” He exhaled slowly. “Life chipped at all the things daddy taught you… just a little bit because you still see it. You fierce as fuck and need a real nigga to step up and become yo new daddy since biological daddy not protecting you too well from the bad guys like me.” He grinned sinisterly.

My throat tightened because he was right. Too right, and that terrified me. I stared at him, speechless. My emotions were rattled; my thoughts scrambled like papers flying in a storm. I didn’t even know why his words hit so deep or why a total stranger made me feel so exposed and seen in a way that felt almost invasive.

Why did I even care what this man saw?

I looked in his dark brown eyes and saw orbs that were heavy from sleepless nights. His shoulders were broad but relaxed like he was used to carrying the weight nobody else saw. And then…

I saw what one of his tattoos on his chest represented…pain…

I looked deeply into his eyes without blinking and saw the way his pain lingered in a way his eyes didn’t quite settle. The way his posture looked relaxed but guarded at the same time. He had a particular look that most Black men carried on a day-to-day basis. A man who learned how to be calm in chaos, rejection, and pain.

I finally found my voice but decided to slide into the opposite side of the booth across from him before I spoke lowly.

“Well.” I shrugged with a practiced fake smile. “Seems like you know a lot about me,” I said softly, tilting my head.

He didn’t respond, just watched me like he was still peeling back layers of me in his mind.

“I see you too, Royal.”

That caught his attention. His thick bushy brows lifted slightly. I leaned forward, trying my very best to ignore my racing heart.

“You’re handsome… so fucking handsome, I’m talking smooth domineering 90’s kind of fine… but.” I clicked my tongue. “There’s something else.” I raised my brows in amusement.

His eyes narrowed curiously.

Time to knock him off his balanced high horse… I thought, since I had his undivided attention.

“I see pain in you,” I continued, my voice steadier now with confidence in each word I was getting ready to speak. “If I’m correct, your pain don’t just come from one thing… It comes from years of being shaped into someone you probably didn’t choose to be.”

His fingers stopped tapping.

“I think it’s time to get to the point of the visit, Roy, and⁠—”

“Leave us,” he grunted, never taking his eyes off his guard who I now assumed was a friend since he spoke out of term.

I took my eyes off of Royal to glance over at his guard Brutal. Brutal’s eyes remained glued on Roy before he grumbled something incoherently before turning away to walk through the curtains I came through.

“Don’t look at that nigga, focus on me and continue what you think you know.”

“You the type of nigga that need to feel something,” I blurted out randomly, giving him my eyes again.

I watched him suck in a sharp breath of air. He held it in like it was smoke that he was trying to keep trapped in his lungs before releasing it slowly.

I rattled him; the reaction he gave me, lit a fire underneath me. I licked my lips seductively to fuck with his head before continuing.

“I see a little bit of identity struggle… Niggas like you walk around cocky and confident, blurting out ignorant shit like you so sure of yourself while deep down you still trying to figure out just who the fuck you are…versus who you were taught to be.”