“So, how about I pay you for the time she’s been here, and for the rest of the month to give her time to get the place back to its original condition? I’llpay you two times the rental rate in the area, which should be about $5000 per month. I’m in real estate, I should be accurate, but you can verify if you’d like. That’s $10,000; plus, a cleaning fee of $2500, so you can have it professionally assessed after the end of the month. It’s much easier for us to take care of with money, than to send these officers out of here with hours of paperwork over a misunderstanding. Don’t you agree?”
The woman wanted to be stubborn, but the $12,500 was sounding like quick cash for her.“I want her out of here by the 31st.”
“You have my word, and I’llleave my contact information so you can get in touch if there are any issues,” Loyal stated as he opened the banking app on his phone. He handed it to the woman.“Enter your account info here,” he instructed. Within sixty seconds, the wire was sent.“Sorry for the inconvenience, gentlemen.” Loyal stated to the officers. He waited for the officers and the woman to walk out of the door before he deadpanned on Shy.“You’re welcome.” The words sent a chill down her spine because she could tell he was not pleased to have to get involved at all. He walked out, and she watched as he went back to his chauffeured car.
Everyone exited and walked back toward the house.
“We’re going to stay here with you tonight,” Ellie announced.
“I’llsend the car back for you in the morning,” Loyal said, pulling Ellie into him.
“Thank you… for everything,” she replied.
“Stop thanking me. Come home to me in the a.m., a’ight?” he proposed.
Ellie nodded, and he kissed her neck.“I’m serious,” he whispered.
Ellie melted, and Shy stood there in awe. Courtney, too, because Ellie didn’t even show this much affection to her husband. Now, their friend was standing in the doorway, unabashedly loving on this king of a man, allowing him to whisper sweet nothings in her ear in front of her kids.
Ellie curled up close to him and whispered,“I know you’re serious, sir. That’s all you know how to be is serious.” It was a joke, but it carried a tone of truth beneath the laughter.
Loyal licked his lips as a humble smirk revealed a bit of embarrassment. Ellie was hypnotized by his every move, giggling as Loyal gave her a chin-up with his finger before making his exit. He didn’t even acknowledge anyone else. It was like all he saw was Ellie.
Loyal turned Ellie into a mushy girl. He allowed Ellie to be the girl who sighed and placed her hands on her heart as she looked to the skies in amazement when he left the room. That turned Ellie into the happy girl who blushed at the scent of masculinity he left behind.
“Oh, I freaking love that for you,” Courtney snickered.“Bitch, his nose is wide open. Rough-ass, rich-ass man just eating like a dog out the palm of your hand.”
“He’s just different,” Ellie said, but when she focused on Shy, her smile disappeared.
Shy braced herself as Ellie put the happy girl away.“Bitch, now back to you. What the fuck is going on?”
“Wait,” Courtney intervened.“Let me feed him and get all the kids put down. Then, we’llhave a come-to-Jesus meeting.”
“Girlllll,” Shy groaned.
“Courttt, man, ain’t nobody trying to pray and calm down and all that,” Ellie added, joining the protest.
“Your mama taught us how to come to Jesus about this girl tribe when we were in 9th grade. When everybody is…”
“…Misaligned, let Jesus do the straightening,” Shy and Ellie echoed her word for word because it was a lesson they had heard many times from Ellie’s mom before she died. They hadn’t brought their arguments to Jesus many times, but today, it was needed.”
“Fine; we better bring it to the Lord because after my kids were put at risk,ain’t no telling what might fly out my mouth,” Ellie said.
“And sheain’t the only one on bullshit tonight,” Courtney added.“Don’t climb too high up on that horse. Your ass needs to be told about yourself too.”
“Me?” Ellie feigned innocence as she scrunched her face in confusion.
“Yeah, ho, you,” Courtney stated.“PJs in the living room in thirty.”
Chapter 19
Nice place,” Lola complimented as she walked around Cassidy’s townhome. It wasn’t much. A little three-bedroom spot he was renting. It had taken a full year to get on his feet. His father had saved his portion of his mother’s life insurance, and Cassidy had met freedom with fire under his feet. He had built a million-dollar business in a year’s time, and he was so busy building that he hadn’t had time to spend the fruits of his labor. The partnership he and Loyal had established would only expand his business further and build his wealth. Getting money had never been a problem. When he was young and dumb, he had risked his freedom to acquire it; now, he knew better. Nothing was worth his freedom, but some men just attracted paper. His mentality wouldn’t allow him to stay down long. He established something legal, and it was flourishing. Still, he remained modest to avoid attention. Modest but modern crib in a middle-class neighborhood. No new car. No flashy jewels, besides his Rolex, and even that he kept classic, no bust downs, no added faces. Cassidy wanted to move smart so he could have longevity. He had no desire to attract the wolves because then he would have to tap into a side of himself that had sent him away for 23 years just to defend his kingdom. He was low-key by choice. He was a 42-year-old man who knew exactly how to move. Wealth was silent. Cassidy wasn’t trying to make too much noise.
“It’s just a place to rest my head,” he answered.“Can I get you a drink or something?”
“Or something,” Lola answered seductively.
She was a beautiful girl. Body for days. Pretty face. Beautiful smile. And she was willing. Oh, was she willing. She played sweet, and that baby face portrayed good girl, but he knew her type. She was trying to secure a position. She fit the aesthetic well enough, and he was certain she would try her very best to please him, but his mind was miles away. He hated the way Sloan controlled his emotions. He had missed a lot. He had just been getting started when he was locked up, so the ups and downs a woman could take him through were foreign to him. Sloan made him physically sick. He hadn’t slept right since their fight, and focusing on anything except her was a joke. Having sex with Sloan had been a mistake because, ever since, he had felt her all over him. He was losing his mind without her. Even now, as Lola stood in front of him, waiting for him to make a move, he hesitated off the strength of Sloan. Lola put her hands on his chest and looked up at him with pure lust in her eyes.
