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“This ain’t a phone call type of conversation, Elle. And do not tell anyone outside of your security that you’re meeting with me. A’ight?”
Exhaling shakily, she agreed. “Okay. Just let me know when to be there, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bet.”
He ended the call, shooting her his address as promised. His father would likely be pissed about him letting Aella know what was going on, but keeping it from her wasn’t an option. Her life was on the line just as much as anyone else’s, and he’d be damned if he let her walk into anything without knowing that.
“What the fuck?” Mars sang, his mouth hanging open when Cassius finished giving him a replay of the conversation he’d had with Armond the night before.
“Yeah,” Cassius murmured, dragging a hand down his face. “Shit is crazy, right?”
“As hell. And there ain’t no way they thought a marriage would be a simple enough fix for all this.”
“Knowing the elders as well as I do, they can be ruthless when necessary, but have all enjoyed the perks of life slowing down. I think they were in denial about what’s happening, hoping that in some way that denial meant they didn’t have to deal with it.”
“It’s not hard to see that,” Mars murmured, rubbing his hands together. “When life gets to a certain point of peace, you never want to go back to the chaos. “So after you tell Shorty what’s going on, then what?”
“Nothing. Hopefully, she’ll chill and let me handle it.”
The laugh Mars released came straight from his gut. “Bruh, are you crazy? Just from the little bit you’ve told me about her, she’s not letting that fly.”
Before Cassius could respond, there was an alert on his phone signaling someone was at the gate. Checking it to ensure it was the person he’d invited and not an unexpected guest, he approved the notification to allow her in. Leaving Mars in the living room, he traveled to the front door, unsurprised to see Aella with the same security guard from the night before.
“Hey,” she murmured, appearing as if she hadn’t slept more than a few minutes.
“What’s up, love?” He stepped back to allow her inside. “Come in.”
Smoke’s arm shot out to block Aella before she could set foot inside, and he pinned Cassius under a steel gaze.
“I’m staying outside to make sure nothing goes left there, so let me be very clear when I say the responsibility for her safety and well-being while she’s inside is solely on you. If anything happens to her, my face will be the last you see.”
“Smoke,” Aella muttered through gritted teeth.
Cassius tittered, shaking his head. “Nah, he’s good, Elle. But let me say, she’s here because there’s nothing I take more seriously than her safety. I don’t play with what’s mine. And if anything goes wrong out here that threatens her safety or well-being, my face will be the last one you see.”
“Alright! Jesus,” Aella exclaimed, pushing Smoke’s arm out of the way to get into the house. “Could the two of you be engaged in a bigger pissing contest?”
“I’m sure we could,” Smoke grinned, nodding at Cassius before jogging down the steps.
Aella noted Cassius’ smile as he closed the door. “Something tells me you two don’t hate each other nearly as much as it seems.”
“I don’t hate bro at all,” he replied, gesturing for her to follow him. “His job is to look out for you, and he does it well. I respect it.” Stopping short, Cassius glared at Aella over his shoulder. “Unless y’all fucking. Then I’ma really kill that nigga.”
“Ew,” she balled up her face, pushing past him. “That’s disgusting. Smoke’s like my brother.”
“That ain’t a good argument, shorty,” Mars said, standing as she entered the living room. “I’ve definitely hit a few women in the past who now refer to me as their brother.”
“All that means is they’re disgusting, and so are you,” Aella shot back, sinking onto the arm of the couch.
Mars delivered an easygoing grin, extending his hand to her. “And ya know that. I’m Mars.”
“Aella,” she replied, taking his hand.
Cassius smacked their hands apart as soon as he was close enough. “And I’m annoyed ‘cause y’all doing too much damn touching.”
“Um,” Aella said, her eyes focused on the corner of the couch cushion. She shot him an annoyed look before gesturing to the panties tucked into the corner of the couch. “You’re entirely too jealous for a man hoarding women’s underwear in your couch.”
Mars burst into laughter, bringing a fist to his mouth. “Damn, nigga. How you let your wife find your mistress’s panties?”
