Stormi was blood and with that I knew, this was mine to handle. Seth couldn’t touch her. She was the mother of his child. Stormi couldn’t do it either. Her heart was too soft. So, this one fell on me.
“You’re so quiet,” Imani said, cutting her eyes at me. “You always this mysterious?”
I leaned back, forcing a smile. “I could listen to you talk all night.”
The bartender slid another drink in front of her. Imani didn’t hesitate. She downed it in one gulp, wiped her mouth, and grinned like she was proud of herself.
I caught Barbie shaking her head behind the bar, just slightly. I smiled back because I knew exactly what she was thinking and I knew exactly how this would end.
“So,” Imani said, leaning closer now, voice slick. “What kind of work you do?”
“I invest in stocks.”
She raised a brow. “You look so young though,” she said, her words beginning to slur.
“Age don’t mean you can’t make real money,” I replied calmly. “Just means people underestimate you.”
She laughed, touching my arm. “I like that.”
I stood up slowly, extending my hand, knowing by the change in her body it was time to head out. “Let’s get out of here.”
She didn’t hesitate. Not for a second. Her fingers slid into mine, as she stood and smoothed down her short pink leather dress. Head high and hips swaying. Already counting money that wasn’t hers. She walked straight toward the exit like she’d just hit the jackpot, thinking she found a simp. She had no idea she was walking out with the worst mistake of her life. And I followed right behind her, calm as ever, ready to collect what was owed.
The valet pulled my car around, and the moment Imani saw the McLaren Speed tail, her whole face changed. Eyes wide and smile greedy as always.
“This is your car?” she asked, stepping closer like it might disappear if she blinked.
“One of them,” I said casually, sliding a tip into the valet’s hand before opening her door.
She slipped inside like she belonged there. I walked around to the driver’s side, pausing just long enough to catch Barbie in my peripheral as she headed toward the parking lot. Our eyes met for half a second.
The engine roared to the night breeze, and the second I pulled out, Imani leaned back in the seat, already comfortable.
“So how about we go back to your place?” she asked.
I smirked. “You read my mind.”
I turned the music up, bass rattling the windows, and hit the gas. The city blurred as I pushed the car down the highway, lights streaking past us. She laughed, gripping the seat, loving every second of it.
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into one of my rental properties quiet street, lights low exactly how I liked it. I parked and stepped out first, walking around to open her door. She hopped out, smoothing her dress, still smiling like the night was about to end in her favor.
I glanced down the road. Barbie’s car sat exactly where it was supposed to be. She was on point like always. I shut the door behind us, the sound echoing just a little too loud in the silence.
“Your house just as nice as my baby daddy’s,” she said the moment she stepped inside, heels clicking against the floor as she looked around like she was already rearranging furniture in her head.
“Oh yeah?” I asked casually. “Who’s your baby daddy?”
She laughed. “Playboy Seth. Don’t let that scare you off, though.”
I turned to her slowly. “No man will ever put fear in my heart.”
She liked that answer. I could see it all over her face.
“Good,” she said, stepping closer, pressing her body against mine. “’Cause I need a man like you in my life. He moving on with his bitch ass wife, so I’m about to do the same.”
Her hand slid up my chest. And that’s when everything inside me snapped tight. Bitch ass wife hearing that spill so easily from Imani’s mouth made heat flood my vision. My smile stayed in place though, but my hands curled into fists at my sides. If she only knew how close she was to dying right, there on my living room floor. I forced myself to breathe and stay in control. This wasn’t the moment. I caught her wrist gently, just enough to stop her hand and looked down at her with a calm she didn’t deserve.
“Careful,” I warned. “You talk reckless.”
