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As Elite considered her words, his phone vibrated on top of the table. Typically, he didn’t have his phone off Do Not Disturb when he was engaging in one-on-one activities, but he was waiting to hear back from Smoke about taking on the rest of his employees and remaining clients so Elite could shut his business down completely. Picking up the phone, his heart squeezed at the sight of Jacintha’s name. She hadn’t tried to reach out to him, thankfully, and he figured she was calling because he had her served.
Scratching his nose, Elite accepted the call.
“Yeah?”
“Can you come over so we can talk? It’s not about the divorce. I won’t fight that.”
“Then what is it about?”
“Can you come over, Elite? Please.”
Licking the corner of his mouth, Elite considered her request. “Aight.”
Quickly disconnecting the call, Elite sighed, regretting seeing her already. But he couldn’t deny that he missed his wife and wanted to make sure she was okay.
“Was that her?” Nicole checked.
“Yeah. I’ma stop by after we leave here.”
“You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Nicole asked with a devious smirk that made Elite chuckle.
“Yes, I’m sure, with your crazy ass. I don’t get the vibe that she’s about to be on some bullshit, but if she is… you know I’ll call you.”
??????
Elite put his key in the lock of the front door, but he couldn’t open it. Ever since he learned about his wife’s infidelity, he couldn’t consider this his home. All he could think about was his father coming home early and catching his mother in bed with another man. His father was so upset he beat the man nearly to death. When his mother tried to stop him, he pushed her so hard she fell back onto her high-heeled shoe… sending it right into her skull and killing her instantly.
Every time he thought about that night and how he choked and pushed Jacintha in a fit of rage, he thought about his father. As a child, it was unfathomable for Elite to empathize with his father. No matter how upset he was, Elite refused to show his father mercy. He’d believed, up until now, that no amount of hurt or anger could warrant such an angry response. And still, Elite believed that was true.
He had, however, felt something else in that moment. Hurt. Betrayal. A deep, gut-wrenching pain that felt like it would literally stop his heart’s beating. That was what he felt when he wrapped his hands around his wife’s neck, and he was sure his father felt the same way too. No matter how Elite tried to justify his reaction, what he’d done was wrong, and he would need to make amends.
It hurt him worse that Jacintha was throwing him under the bus and allowing a man who beat her and killed their baby to get away with it, but if that was his punishment for doing one of the two things he promised his mother in death that he would never do… so be it. Elite was more than prepared to serve his time… just like his father had done.
His father—the man he’d hated since he killed his mother.
Accident or not, Elite swore he’d never forgive or see his father again. He didn’t want to even think about Greg Benson. But now… his parents’ and that dreadful day was all he could ever think about.
Taking his key to the home he once shared with Jacintha off its ring, Elite palmed it and rang the doorbell.
It took her a few seconds to answer, but eventually, she did. Her natural hair was out for a change, and Elite couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her curls. She looked more like her normal self on this visit, and Elite was happy about that. As much as she’d hurt him, the days of him wanting her to suffer were over. At this point, he just wanted his wife to be happy and have peace.
“Hey,” she almost whispered, twirling the hem of the oversized sweatshirt she was wearing.
Extending his hand, Elite offered the key. Her soft smile dropped at the sight of it, but she took it.
“You can stay here until the divorce is finalized. If you want the house…”
Her head shook adamantly. “No. Um… no. The girls are still with their dad, so I’ll be moving in with my parents until I find something for us.”
“Will you… be able to afford that?”
“I don’t deserve your concern.”
“Still. If we need to discuss a timeframe for spousal support…”
“No,” she declined quickly before chuckling softly. “Please don’t make me feel even worse than I already do by trying to help me.” Opening the door wider, Jacintha told him, “Come in.”
Inhaling a deep breath, Elite headed inside. Instead of stopping in the hallway like last time, he went into the living room. To his surprise, Jacintha had already started packing a few things up. Elite was glad. The last thing he needed was for her to try to draw the divorce or leaving the house out.
