Page 72 of A Capo’s Love: Featuring A Don’s Love

I offered him a short laugh and rolled my eyes as hard as they could roll.

“You think I should catch up with a nigga that cheated on your daughter?” I cocked my head to the side.

“Amaris, that was the past… I’m not saying be back with him or nothing… I just think after the desperate move that you made with a nigga that kidnapped you… you wanted some male attention outside of me. If you need attention, Mari, Derrick can give it to you,” he reasoned, further infuriating me.

The fucking nerve!

Derrick sighed dramatically like the little bitch he was before pleading like he was some love sick nigga that all of a sudden missed me.

“It was a mistake… I forgave you for⁠—”

“You forgave me for what?” I cut him off, gripping the edge of my desk tightly, wishing it was his neck.

“You forgave me for going through my phone days too late after I found out you hid a baby… or forgave me for finding out that you had a whole slew of hoes and I was just the one who you felt got lucky to be at the top of your roster because of the benefits of him!” I pointed at my father.

“Why you always exaggerating things?” Derrick asked, frowning.

I just stared at him, jaw clenching tightly then stared at my father. The room started to feel too small for all the anger and irritation locked inside of me.

“I’m sorry, Mari… you right.” My father’s jaw clenched as he grilled the side of Derrick’s face. “Dee, you can dip… I didn’t know you tried to get over on my princess.” My father flicked his eyes at me with an apologetic look. “I just felt like he was more your speed than somebody like Roy.”

There it was again, the real issue. Derrick rocked from foot to foot, still not taking the cue to leave. I leaned back slowly in my chair, crossing my arms across my chest. My father’s face told me everything I needed to know in the moment.

Fear and recognition. He saw himself in Royal. Men like my father always recognized other dangerous men quicker than women did.

“You think I’m stupid.” I shook my head.

“No, of course not… I didn’t raise you to be that way. I know that nigga Roy is dangerous and a little bit too much for you. Whatever happened between y’all that made you go against my wishes by staying with a nigga I consider my enemy, is fake. He doesn’t really like you, Mari. He entertained you to get under my skin.” He rubbed his jaw hard.

“So you think Derrick wasn’t dangerous?” I tittered, getting ready to reveal the raw truth between Royal and I.

“He’s no longer a criminal, Derrick ain’t in the streets. He has a real career. He would be the kind of man I wouldn’t mind sitting at my dinner table if I hadn’t known how hard he tried to play you.” He cut his eyes over at Derrick, who now wiped the cocky smirk off his face and stared back at me nervously.

Yeah… get scared. I smiled inwardly. The only reason why I never told my father about Derrick’s fuck shit was simply because I knew Maniac would kill him and dump him in a lake.

“Royal didn’t like me like that,” I partially lied to my father. “He wanted me gone before the forty-eight hours was up… I just wanted to teach you a lesson by staying longer. The longer I stayed, the more I enjoyed being there with him. He didn’t bother me much, I bothered him…. Days before I decided to leave, we became…” I looked away shamefully. “Intimate… I like him and haven’t been able to get him off my mind,” I confessed tiredly.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. I didn’t care about the judgmental looks plastered on my father and Derrick’s faces. My father took a step away from the door and marched in further like his shock wore off and he was in full rage mode. I felt myself getting emotional because I just wanted to be left the hell alone.

Derrick in my personal space with my father backing his clown ass was pissing me off to the max. I still felt a way about my father, along with all of the bullshit he pulled as of late, and now he was trying to play matchmaker. I didn’t feel like arguing with him, but I knew for a fact I would have to. Jeremiah needed to realize that I was far from the little girl he raised.

“Look Mari—” We all froze the moment the back of my office door hit the wall.

Every thought and emotion running through me disappeared immediately from the sight of Royal. He stepped in smelling as good as he looked. His dark chocolate skin was sin itself. He had on a tailored three-piece suit that hugged his broad shoulders and tall, muscular build to perfection. Underneath the charcoal suit jacket was a navy-blue shirt. His diamond watch flashed subtly near his wrist as my eyes traveled to the yellow bouquet of roses in his hand.

Damn… he looked edible.

But looking edible didn’t take away from the blank controlled expression covering his handsome face. Behind his eyes as I looked deeply into them, I saw sadness. I could feel it radiating off him heavily. My chest tightened, and I felt this overwhelming need to hop up in hug him.

“Damn Breasturant… those words of endearment about me made a nigga feel good about bringing yo spoiled ass some flowers and taking you out on our first date.” Royal’s deep baritone voice instantly caressed me, causing goosebumps to rise up against my arms.

One corner of his mouth lifted slightly. He offered the smallest smirk ever, but it was enough to completely fold my heart in half. Despite the smirk and his calm deep voice, he looked tired like he had a lot of restless nights since I left.

Without thinking twice, feeling completely detached from myself, I stood and crossed the room as if my father and ex weren’t standing in the same room. The second my arms wrapped around him, Royal stiffened briefly like he didn’t expect it at all. I inhaled him deeply and pulled him tighter then felt his arms close around me afterward. He pulled me so close, I felt every hard ridge of his chest pressed against my breasts. The strong feel of his arms wrapped tightly around my thick body as he leaned down and sniffed the crook of my neck like a dog happy to see its owner had tickled the hell out of me.

“I missed the fuck out of you, Breasturant… A nigga need to feel something,” he whispered in my ear.

His tongue then darted across the side of my neck along with his nose pressing deeper into my skin. His breath warmed my skin as I closed my eyes, accepting him. Something told me that Royal needed this hug more than I did so I didn’t let go.