“When?”
“Now. We can be wheels up within the hour if that’s what you truly want.”
We’d made it to my car, so Kai leaned up against it before pulling me into him. I smiled as I landed on his soft lips. Westood there kissing like horny teenagers until I remembered his offer. I really wanted that Cuban sandwich.
My arms snaked around his neck as I looked up into his perfectly handsome face. “So, you would charter a private jet just to take me to Little Havana for a Cuban sandwich?”
Kai stroked a finger down the side of my face. There was no denying the look in his eyes. His next words confirmed what I was seeing. “Nuri Symone, I would tow the moon to your front step if that’s what you wanted. There’s nothing I’m not willing to do for you, especially if it’ll reward me with that beautiful smile of yours.”
I opened my mouth to respond but was silenced by someone calling my name. “Oh, Nurrrrrrrrriiiiiiii!”
I turned around as Kai popped up straight as a board. My stomach hardened when I saw my brother hanging out of a beat-up Nissan. He had a devilish grin on his face and that look in his eyes that told me he was spaced out. My heart nearly stopped when he lifted his arms to reveal a big gun.
Everything happened so fast that we had no time to prepare for when he pulled the trigger.
Rat! Tat! Tat!
Kai’s weight suffocated me as he pushed me to the ground, then used his body to shield me from the spray of bullets. Eventually, Ry stopped shooting, and we could hear him laughing.
“I’m going to kill you, Kai, then I’m going to marry your precious little wife off to the highest bidder. I hope they give her hell, too, pussy!” Before the sound of screeching tires came, he yelled out a demand. “Sign the annulment papers, Nuri. Ask your husband about ‘em. That’s the only thing that’s going to save you.”
I began to hyperventilate from the shock of what had just happened. Kai sat me up then palmed my face. I broke into hysterical tears.
“We have to do whatever they want, Sekai. He’s going to kill you.”
A crazed look came to life in his eyes. “He can try.”
I shook my head, unable to accept his words right now. The fear was too fresh as I could still hear the shots echoing through my mind. “No, no. I’m never going to be safe or happy. Why won’t he leave me alone, Sekai? He’s going to ruin my life and take away the best thing that has ever happened to me in the process. We have to sign the papers, Sekai. I can’t live without you.”
He pressed his forehead to mine, trying his best to calm me down. “Shh... shh... Don’t worry about any of that shit because I’m not letting you go, Nuri. I promise I will handle this situation so you can have peace of mind. I promise, baby girl, I’m going to take care of it. I know this marriage started as a convenience, but ain’t shit convenient about my union to you no more, Nuri Symone. This shit isn’t convenient. It’s a necessity. I can’t live without you either.” He kissed my forehead, and then my river of tears. “Stop crying, baby.”
He seemed so sure of everything he’d said, so how could I question him? I was about to respond when I felt a sharp pain in my side, then it was like I couldn’t breathe, no matter how hard I tried to gather my breath.
“Kai...” I struggled even to say his name. “I can’t breathe.”
His eyes widened before he began to look me over. Darkness began clawing at my consciousness despite my trying desperately to keep my eyes open.
“Shit! You got hit, baby.”
I knew what he’d said, but I was not sure it fully registered because of the pain I was in. My stomach felt like it was on fire.
“No, no. Don’t close your eyes. Stay with me, Legacy.”
I tried to reply, but I was sure it came out as gibberish because the last thing I remember hearing was Kai screaming my name and for me to stay with him.
“Please don’t do this to me, Nuri! I need you!”
I need you too...I wanted to tell him, but there was nothing I could do but submit to the darkness.
I turnedover in the bed, feeling Nuri pressed up against me. Her thick leg was tossed over mine, causing my hand to slide up the length of it. She was so soft that I pulled her closer to me. Whenever she was in my arms, I felt whole. I knew Nuri accepted me flaws and all, giving me permission to sink into the goodness I felt when she was around.
When someone grabbed my shoulder, I was snatched from the memory in my mind to the waiting room of the hospital. I was so deep in my thoughts that my body was pacing on autopilot. I only stopped because Jah stood there looking like a raging bull. Behind him, all my family was gathered with facial expressions that matched everything I was feeling. I wanted to fall apart because this shit was killing me, but I couldn’t. I wasalways Nuri’s strength, and I would continue to be even while my heart was fucking breaking.
“What do you need us to do?”Jah asked, somehow already knowing speaking would be too much for me right now.
I dropped my chin to my chest and sniffled. I was so keyed up with anger that my body wouldn’t stop moving. I kept twitching or cracking my neck. Getting ready for what was to come because when I said I was going to fuck the city up, I meant it literally. A black cloud was about to descend on the city, and it wasn’t lifting until all my enemies were left leaking.
Before I could respond, a doctor came through the swinging doors. My head snapped in his direction as I rushed over. “Any news?”
