Page 215 of The Ninth

I took his hand, standing and walking away. Not before throwing Devyn a worried glance. She just smiled before resuming her conversation with Piper.

Kenzo’s hand gripped mine tightly as we walked down the long hallway, heading towards the back west corner of the villa. It was one of the most romantic rooms, pointing towards the water and the rising and setting sun.

Both of us remained silent as we freshened up. I felt so much better after stripping out of my airport fit and sliding on a strapless and flowy, pink sundress. The last thing I wanted was something tight on my body.

“I’ll be right back. Take your time,” K3 said before turning away and leaving. His fine ass had on a white t-shirt and orange linen shorts with sandals.

Even though I’ve been weary and feeling crowded by Kenzo, I was still grateful to have him on me. Because when I was alone? All I could think about was the moment that van pulled in behind us. Shooting in the direction of the shooters. Being pulled from beneath the truck. If Kenzo was still locked up....I would be dead, G. That’s not something I can easily accept.

Looking up at myself in the mirror, I realized K3 had returned. There were moments now that I got so caught up thinking about last night that I completely zoned out. He turned the light off, took my hand, and walked me to the back deck.

It was even more romantic than I remembered. A single Bayahibe rose sat on the table with our food and drinks plus a candle. The sun halfway in the sky and halfway in the ocean. I smiled, gladly sitting in the seat Kenzo pulled out for me. My feet kicked off my sandals, folding into the wicker chair like always. If this is where we have to have the hard talk, then I’m fine with that.

K2 got us my favorite meal which was La Bandera Dominica. Simple white rice, red beans, stewed beef and fried plantains. I could feel myself gaining more energy while eating. Kenzo barely picked up his fork, but I was too hungry to even fake be a lady in front of this man. We about to get married. He know how I get down!

I sat back, actually breathing instead of inhaling the food. The waves crashed loudly. Kids yelled somewhere down the way. Picking up my white to-go cup, I nearly swallowed the entire passion fruit drink he also knew I loved. If I wasn’t already proposed to, I’d think this was it.

“You mean so much to me, Cassandra. I feel so lucky to have met you. To be with you. It’s truly a privilege. I’ll never be able to put into words the amount of emotion, sadness, anger, and hurt I felt last night. I can’t close my eyes because I remember still being minutes away, hearing you beg your parents to not let you die. I don’t know how to bounce back from that. I get in the field with niggas ready to die. I just never thought I would be rushing into battle to save you. Never, Crybaby. And I mean NEVER do I want you to be in that position again, do you hear me?”

“Yes. I have no argument. No explanation. Everything from the moment we set Kenan up until last night was stupid and reckless. I was wrong to put myself, Devyn, and the girls in danger. I can only assure you that I will never do it again, Papa. I’m sorry.”

“Your parents being gone, me locked up, you moved away from Kelisha...A piece of me feels you were acting out. Seeking some type of freedom from the club, that nigga, the set up. A chance to make your own decisions and fuck ups, dealing with them how you saw fit. You sacrificed your late teens and early twenties trying to make something of yourself. I don’t understand, but I see and hear your point, folks. Even without you saying it. But the choices you’ve made and the actions you have taken are genuinely stupid, G. We’re beyond that. We’re engaged, in our house, you have the salon. Stop putting your life in danger, Cassie. Stop being stubborn. Stop lying and keeping shit to yourself. Let that be the end of it. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“I picked up that camcorder. MacKenzie told me the password after I bent her arm like a chicken wing.”

I’m finna take off running into the ocean.

“I believe all the raunchy shit you told me y’all did on there. And I also know, not believe, that you won’t do that shit again. So I destroyed it.”

“FUCKKKKKK!” I yelled out, relieved.

“Mhm. Be coo, Cassie. You still got me bent and I can’t believe you did that, regardless of what happened. But I am sorry to learn what happened to Devyn.”

“I believe she’s okay. Just some wild hoes, trying to take control of a situation.”

Both of us stared out into the distance. Guilt ate me up for everything I did for the sake of a set-up. And honestly? The true reason he isn’t mad is because those niggas died that night. If not? He would be seething, hunting them down to erase their memories permanently.

“I’m going to end the lease on the apartment, so we have to get the rest of our things.”

“Wait, what?!”

“What? You want your little bachelorette pad still?”

I laughed, “No! Of course not. It’s just...what about Devyn?”

“SHE GOT A HOUSE!”

“THAT’S DUKE’S HOUSE!”

“On granny, y’all both kill me with that. You know they going to the end.”

“I know...and it’s so sweet to see, huh?”

I looked over at him, smiling as he smiled towards the sunset, “It is.”

“I know my cousin now more than ever. If she’s the woman I think she’s grown into, she’s not going to want to move in with Duke just yet. It’s nothing against Duke and their relationship...just a personal thing. A girl thing. I don’t want to intrude on their relationship by asking. I just wanna have the apartment there for her just in case.”