Throughout the night, plenty of other people came up to Kai. I noticed all of them wore black bandanas like Kai and his brothers, whether tied around their heads, necks, or hanging out of their pockets. He always introduced me as his wife but gave nothing more than that. Not even my name. I respected and trusted Kai, so if he wanted to keep my identity a secret, I knew it was for a reason.
There were a few women who gave me dirty looks throughout the night, but I paid them no mind. How could I when the man they were mad about wouldn’t let me out of his sight? He made me feel so secure and seen. He never left my side for a moment, constantly checking in on me to see how I was feeling. Virgos were grounding like that. If any of them thought they had a chance with my husband, he made it very clear that they didn’t. Not even sparing a breath on anyone other than to speak, and sometimes he didn’t even do that, only offering the deuces or a nod instead.
By the time we were walking back toward the big house, I couldn’t stop hearing “Ready for Love” in my head. This marriage to Kai was starting to become something a little more than convenient. I wasn’t sure what to do with that either.
Kai pushed me against the side of his car. “Did I tell you how beautiful you looked today?”
I shook my head and pouted. “Nope.”
He chuckled. “My bad, baby. You look so fucking good that letting you out of my sight wasn’t an option. These niggas are like vultures, but ain’t nothing for them to eat over here. This is all me.”
I could smell the liquor on Kai’s breath, but he wasn’t sloppy drunk. Just a little more open with his feelings. I decided to use it to my advantage. “Oh, really? That’s how you feel, Sekai?”
He buried his nose in the crook of my neck. “Damn right. You’re my wife, Nuri Symone.”
My breath was coming out in shaky spurts. Was this the liquor or Kai? I wasn’t sure, so I pressed for a little more insight into his mind. “Your fake wife...”
Kai took my hand and placed it on the hardened muscle resting between his legs. I nibbled on my bottom lip, instantly falling in love with it. “Ain’t shit fake about what you do to me, Nuri. But, fake or not, ain’t no other niggas going to be up in your face. Not while I’m around. I’ll pistol-whip a nigga for even breathing on you, so don’t test me.”
His voice dipped lower the more he spoke. A chill raced down my spine because I could tell he was serious. There was nothing but violence laced in his words. I would be a fool to test him as he suggested. For some reason, that enticed me. His possessiveness made me want to sink into his skin instead of running far away.
“Maybe I just might,” I teased. “I need to see how far my husband is willing to go for his fake wife.”
Kai snorted. “Yeah, aight.” He released an animalistic growl that made me smile. “Test me if you want, Nuri Symone. You gon’ be the reason for a fish fry flyer, and you better not cry after I off the nigga either with your emotional ass.”
I didn’t mean to, but I laughed before slapping a hand over my mouth. Kai shook his head.
“You think shit’s a joke. Bring your ass on.”
He pulled me up behind him toward the big house. We spent the rest of the night hanging out with his siblings. Of course, I gave Azani the massage she was asking for, but I didn’t mind because I felt right at home around all of them.
I knocked lightlyon Kai’s open bedroom door. He was pacing around the small room, not even aware of my presence. His phone was pressed to his ear. “Yo, call everybody up there. I’m on the way too.”
He ended the call seconds later and tossed the phone onto the bed. “Hey, is everything okay?”
It wasn’t until I spoke that he saw me. He opened his mouth to respond but then stopped himself. I exhaled in frustration. Kai was always allowed to be in my corner, but he never allowed me to be in his. I was fed up with it, so I marched over to his closet and stood in the doorway with my arms folded over my chest. I was sure he felt the heat from the fire in my eyes.
“Tell me what’s going on, Kai. It’s not fair that you’re allowed to have my back but won’t allow me to do the same for you.”
He ran a hand down his face. “I don’t want to get you involved. You have enough shit on your plate with your brother.”
“Rylas hasn’t bothered me in weeks. Besides, I’m already involved.” I held my left hand where my ring sparkled all on its own. “We’re married, or did you forget?”
He slid his long legs into a pair of gray sweatpants. The white wife beater came next, hugging his solid frame. I gulped in appreciation, loving the way he looked so good with or without a shirt. He could be served to me either way, and I would devour him all up.
Kai closed the distance between us and lifted my head with my chin. “I could never forget,” he softly replied. He stared into my eyes for a second longer before sighing. “Zero has been trying to strong-arm my aunt out of her business. Today, he has some of the niggas he runs with posted up outside of her restaurant. He’s got another thing coming if he thinks I’m going to allow him to take anyone else from me.”
I could see the malice in his eyes as he spoke. I palmed his cheek, which seemed to bring him back into the present. I didn’t miss his use of the word ‘else,’ meaning he’d lost someone to this Zyro man. There was so much I didn’t know about Kai, but I was patient with him. One day, he would have to let me in because we weren’t meant to go through life alone. Everyone needed someone to lean on. I would be that person for Kai whenever he was ready.
I watched Kai open a safe I hadn’t noticed until the very moment he touched it. He pulled out a Glock and tucked it into the waistband of his sweats. I had never seen this side of him, and I was feeling both intrigued and terrified. I felt more intrigue than fear though. Kai was the type of man you knew was from the streets because of that look in his eyes, but he didn’tnecessarily lead with that. When he pulled down a pair of black block walkers, I knew he meant business.
“I’m coming with you,” I declared, even though guns made me nervous. “And before you disagree, just know I will literally follow you in my own car if I have to.”
Kai shook his head with a chuckle. “Aight, hurry and get ready.”
I raced to my room and threw on a pair of leggings and a t-shirt. My panda Dunks were by the door, so after I grabbed my phone off my dresser and my purse from my desk, I slipped them on. I pulled my hair into a messy bun and then spritzed my favorite daytime perfume. Kai was leaning against the wall, waiting for me.
He shook his head as he inspected me. “You love wearing my clothes.”
