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“Who else you getting rid of? I’ve got a few slots.”
“Everybody.”
“Everybody? Damn, what the hell kind of voodoo Wilderness done put on you?”
Standing to my feet, I cocked back, ready to send a blow straight to Makai’s abdomen. However, Mercer’s grip on my fist stopped me.
“Call her by her name, Makai. All them games you playing, chill, my nigga. The joke is over.”
“Damn, who pissed in your Cheerios? I’ve been messing around with Nature since I met her. It’s never been an issue. Why your panties in a bunch?”
Realizing my level of sensitivity had increased tremendously after the night and morning I’d had, I settled a bit, taking a seat on the couch next to Makai. I rubbed my hand up and down my face, trying to make sense of everything happening between Nature and I.
“Lay off on the jokes, Makai. From this day forward,” Malachi told our brother. “Milo, is there anything you need to share with us?”
“Besides the fact that I’m getting my shit together so I can live my happily ever after with Nature and our son, nah.”
There was no need to explain everything going on in my head or my heart. It was understood.
“Then, let’s make tonight a night to remember because it sounds like it’s the last night we’ll see you in the streets. Forward them contacts before you delete them all.”
“You hitting behind your brother?” Mercer asked, face knotted.
“Have you not seen Reesh? I’d hit that shit behind my pops if it came down to it.”
The humor offered at that moment was much needed.
“Just awful,” Pops grunted.
He’d rocked Mason right to sleep. My son laid peacefully in his arms without a care in the world, soaking in the love that surrounded him. I rested my back against the couch with every intention of making myself comfortable. I had nothing to do and nowhere to be anytime soon. With my phone in my possession again, I continued clearing my contact list without sending Makai a single digit.
TWELVE
The wind tickledthe tip of my nose. With my eyes closed, I enjoyed the breeze that the retracted panoramic roof allowed inside. It felt amazing outside. The sun had gone into hiding leaving the Berkeley City lights in charge. The tiny dollop of a moon that we were given for the night hardly made a difference.
Zane handled the wheel, effortlessly, traveling seventy-five miles per hour on the expressway, heading for our destination. It was near midnight. While I should’ve been deep underneath my covers, I was just getting out of bed and out of the house. Our plans to visit a bar prior to our final stop failed because I simply couldn’t pull myself out of bed any sooner than the eleven o’clock hour.
As we neared our exit, Zane’s car slowed to a creep. Red lights for what seemed like a half of a mile lined the exit, everyone headed in the same direction. Suddenly, I was happy I hadn’t driven. Meeting Zane at my parents’ house was the best decision I could’ve made. By the end of the night, I would be sound asleep in my bedroom, waking up to breakfast that my mother prepared.
I wasn’t sure what was playing on the stereo but it had a nice tune to it. I bobbed my head, unable to repeat a single word but refusing to look so out of the loop. The engine of the Corvette revved as Zane tapped the gas, stirring up a bunch of commotion from the people that had already parked and were walking toward the club.
Lust. The large sign that could be read from afar said. From the silhouette next to the bright, neon sign, I concluded we would be entering a strip club. I wasn’t a night crawler, so I didn’t frequent clubs, but I’d been to a handful. Strip clubs, however, I’d only heard about them and never visited one personally. Tonight would be my very first time and I wasn’t sure if it was excitement or nervousness bubbling in my belly.
The black miniskirt and black top I wore, along with thigh-high silver boots seemed fitting for the occasion. According to Zane, his friend and old business partner was celebrating his fortieth birthday and he needed to be in attendance, even if it meant stopping by for a few minutes. I’d learned over the last few weeks that Zane was an entrepreneur with investments in the transportation business.
Finally, through the line of cars waiting to enter the parking lot, we pulled up to the front of Lust where I was instructed to exit. Hand in hand, Zane led me up the walkway and toward the long line of people waiting. I’d quickly gathered that this was a spot that people loved to visit for a good time. There was one line after another, making me wonder if we’d ever get inside.
To my surprise, we brushed past the line to another line, one that was much shorter and moving much faster. Within seconds, we were being wanded for weapons and gaining access to the loud, dark space filled with fully clothed guests and the naked bodies of women who worked at the club.
Stunning. Each and every one of them were incredibly beautiful with bodies that would make an insecure woman cower. With my head held high, I strutted as if I belonged, hanging onto Zane as he led us to the booth where a few of his friends welcomed him. The universal awkwardness ensued as I stood beside Zane, who dabbed up everyone in the booth before introducing me as his friend and offering me a seat next to him.
“You good?” he asked once the introductions were out of the way and I settled in.
He, on the other hand, never took the seat beside me. He chose to stand near his friends instead.
Nodding, I assured him I was fine.
“What do you want to drink?”
