“No thanks needed. I’ve been wanting to help you for a while now. This is what friends are for; I just never wanted to push you. You’re a good woman, I always admired you, Mira. This Kenric better do right by you. I want to slap his ass for kidnapping you… He’s dangerous but for some odd reason from what all you told me…it sounds like he really cares. Now let’s go.”
Yvette offered me a reassuring smile; I slowly stood to my feet more determined than ever.
“Plus, it’s good to make a man chase you… Wheeewww the make-up sex gonna be intense when?—”
“Let’s go Yvette before I change my mind.” I laughed.
FREEDOM IS AN ILLUSION
Lether think that she’s gotten away…
The words bounced around in my mind over and over as I swallowed down rage and uneasiness that kept rising inside of me. It felt like I was at the edge of a cliff getting ready to fall headfirst.
“I’m sorry, Grand. We were having a good time, I thought everything?—”
“Was cool…” I cut Staress off.
“You thought shit was cool enough to let her walk inside of a strip club during the day after shopping for hours. I thought we agreed for her to meet her friend Yvette in a public place with you right beside her?”
Calm yourself…focus on the board…
“Bro,” Tone stepped in front of Staress just as I started to see double.
“You were supposed to watch her!” I yelled.
“I’m sorry, Grand, I…”
I stood behind my desk, every nerve in my body pulled tight like a thin string getting ready to snap. My fingered hovered mid-air above the black bishop on my chessboard but I didn’t move it. I turned to see my owls behind me, deathly still. They were watching and judging. Josie blinked and tilted her head, her eyes darkened. She was feeding off of my energy, ready to attack at any small sign.
“She said she wanted a moment with her friend and that it wouldn’t take long?—”
“A second is all it takes for a move to lose and mess up my fucking board.” I snapped my gaze to her.
“Breathe, Kenric. You’re getting ready to slip, bro. Please, breathe…” Tone stepped in, hands raised but it was too late. My mind didn’t feel present, it was recalculating and rewinding every possible move on my board that led up to this moment. Every misstep, every overlooked detail. My mind spiraled out of control as I gritted my teeth.
“This can be good; I checked her location on her phone. I know where she is, there’s men discreetly in the shadows keeping a close eye on every move she makes and?—”
I held my hand up to stop Tone from talking. Fuck all of that, and his logic. I didn’t give a fuck about knowing her location, this was not what I envisioned. I blinked my eyes rapidly to clear my vision as a migraine took over the forefront of my brain. My eyes focused on the board; Mira’s pawn was gone.
It probably was taken off the fuckin’ grid while I was too focused on protecting the King due to Dre’s bitch ass…
“Miscalculation.” I mumbled out loud to no one in particular.
“That’s what this is…a miscalculation.” I tried to convince myself, but deep down I knew that was bullshit.
I wanted to storm out, haunt Mira and drag her back here in chains.Maybe that will teach her a lesson about fucking lying and playing games with me!
Heat shot down my spine, my fists clenched tightly as my breaths came in short. The room tilted, my vision suddenly went red around the edges.
Impulse, unchecked…
“Kenric…” Tone’s voice sounded far away.
Before anyone could speak again, I exploded. The heel of my palm hit the edge of the board, and everything went flying. Chess pieces fell off my desk then scattered across the floor. I threw the board against the wall, then watched it split down the center. I slammed both hands down over and over against the table until the sting brought me closer to reality.
“She ran,” I hissed out.
“She left after she promised to not run…” My hands shook.
