The sound of another male voice and the sight of a Desert Eagle aimed at his head made Vega force Nyelle behind him and reach for his piece seconds later, returning the favor. He and Reese both had guns loaded, aimed, and fingers on the trigger. The promise of death radiating from both men as they stared each other down.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Nyelle yelled, stepping between the two men, not caring that either had a gun.
She knew for sure that Vega wouldn’t shoot her, and no matter how pissed Reese was after witnessing her kiss another man, he wouldn’t either.
“I pay the bills here. Why the fuck wouldn’t I be here?” Reese’s tone was clipped as he responded to Nyelle through clenched teeth but kept his eyes on Vega.
“Don’t you dare try to pull that shit. You don’t live here, Reese.”
It wasn’t until then that his eyes made it to Nyelle. “Oh, so I’m not here, and you got muthafuckers up in here with you and my son at two in the morning? You must have lost your damn mind. This is still my house whether I sleep here or not, and that is my son, Ny. I thought you knew better. Who the fuck is he?
Vega chuckled, unbothered. He could see right through the bullshit. “Don’t ask her shit about me when I’m standing right here. You want to know something, go straight to the source.”
Reese gritted his teeth and lifted his eyes to Vega. He was met with a smug grin. His finger was itching to pull back and he likely would have had he not heard that voice.
“Daddy?”
Nyelle’s heart dropped into a panic when she heard her son’s voice. At that point, she didn’t give a fuck about Vega or Reese. All she could think about was Nick and getting him away from both of their crazy asses while praying both were man enough to put him ahead of their egos.
16
The sound of a car door slamming caused Joi to jump involuntarily as she looked around the gas station parking lot. She knew better than to be out so late alone in a city teeming with potential dangers, but there was no way she would have made it home had she not stopped for gas. After a quick sweep, she didn’t notice anything off, so she completed the task of filling her tank then prepared to leave. Joi was currently on a “catch this fuck boy up to no good”type of mission, and every minute counted.
“Ay…”
Joi closed her gas cap and narrowed her eyes, trying to get a better look at the body rushing toward her. Whoever it was had hopped out of their car, leaving the door wide open and moved her way with staggering, aggressive strides, which had Joi’s heart rate increasing at an alarming rate. Until she heard the voice again...
“Joi, we need to talk. I’ve been looking for you.”
Reg?
The slur in his vocals and the staggered path he took gave insight on the fact that he was drunk, high, or both.Both.
“We don’t need to talk. I’ve said everything I need to say. Youneedto leave me the hell alone.” Joi rolled her eyes, annoyed that of all nights and all the people in the world she could have crossed paths with, she ran into Reg.
“Yes, the fuck we do.” He moved with determination into her personal space while she backed away, not trying to get mixed up with anything involving her ex. “You just cut me off like I’m not shit. You’re fucking him, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“You…” Reg paused when he almost fell from taking a wide step in her direction. “…you’re fucking East. How you just leave me like that and hop on his dick like I didn’t mean shit to you?” Reg was drunk, but that didn’t stop him from speaking his mind. He missed Joi, and even if he hadn’t been the best, he didn’t want to lose her, especially not to a man like East.
“What I’m doing or who I’m doing it with is none of your business. Please, just leave me alone.” Joi turned to leave, but before she could round the rear of her car, Reg caught her arm, gripping it hard and yanking her into his chest.
The contact caused her body to go rigid.
“Fuck that shit. It is my business…”
“Reg, how are you out here with another bitch while I’m with you?”
The female’s voice had Joi’s head whipping in the direction it came from in a matter of seconds.
Reg kept his eyes on Joi but addressed Tasha with the understanding that if he didn’t, she would be heading their way soon. It was a distraction he didn’t currently need.
“Get your ass back in the damn car.”
“Nah, you come make me get in the car. Fuck that hoe. Her time expired,” Tasha yelled, fuming that Reg was chasing his ex.
When he noticed Joi’s car and pulled into the gas station, jumping out with little regard for her feelings, Tasha felt disrespected. Now here he was, begging Joi for time.
