COBY
Inever imagined the sun would be shining the day I learned that heartbreak was the most deafening sound I’d never heard. It arrived silently like the wind until you were ready for it to pass through you.
But it’s been hours since my epiphany.
It was nighttime now.
I stared up at the full moon peeking out from behind gray clouds, wondering how I got here. I thought I’d felt the worst of this pain when I became an orphan at fifteen, but as bad as losing my parents was, somehow this woe felt worse. Walking away from someone you loved, someone who was still alive for you to touch and hold and see, was unbearable. Time heals all wounds, but what about the ones that were free to keep tearing themselves open? Even now, far from the source, my anguish echoed through me as I bypassed the long line outside the Diamond Lounge.
The upscale club straddled the boundary line between the high-end and low-rent district, sitting on the corner of the busy street where it attracted patrons of all types—young professionals, grad students, influencers, scammers, singles, couples, and friend groups. Business was booming for my older brother’s club, but the pride I normally felt was dulled by the agony that sent me running to him for comfort in the first place. As if to rub salt in the wound, a fresh wave of tears fell just as I reached the door where two bouncers were checking IDs.
“Hey, Dre,” I said to the friendly bouncer as I cut the line wrapped around the corner, pissing off all the people who were waiting. I ignored the sound of their mad asses kissing their teeth and grumbling and focused on sounding like I wasn’t two seconds from falling apart. “Is Shaun here?” I hadn’t even tried to call him because Hunter’s relentlessness forced me to turn off my phone after I stormed out in the middle of our fight.
“Nah, you just missed him,” Dre answered. “He left for the night about ten minutes ago.”
“Already?” I asked, feeling dumfounded as I looked around. The club was busy even on a Thursday night, so it made no sense for Roshaun to leave this early in the night I’m sure they needed all hands on deck this for crowd. “Why?”
Dre glanced up from the ID he was checking with a flashlight before shrugging and waving the group of girls inside. They were still talking shit, but I paid those bitches with their beauty store bundles and ashy heels no mind. “I don’t keep that man’s business in my back pocket, but you know your brother, Coby.”
Meaning, Roshaun found someone to screw and ditched work early to play rather than get this money. Why my brother started his own business when he had no work ethic was beyond me. The new manager he hired to run his club was probably ready to quit, just like the last two. Roshaun always piled too much on them because his priorities were fucking, spending money, making money, his car, and then me in that order.
“Okay, then,” I said with a sniffle as I turned to go. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
I didn’t make it more than a step before Dre laid a gentle hand on my arm. “I don’t know about that, girl. You seem like you’re going through it. I don’t know if I feel right about letting you leave.”
I had trouble meeting his gaze as I lied. “I’ll be all right.”
Dre made a frustrated sound. “Just…just go inside and wait while I try to get a hold of your brother.”
It was unlikely that Roshaun would have answered for me anyway since our relationship was rocky at best, but if Dre called, there was a chance my brother would answer. It was sad but true. I thought about it for a moment longer before also realizing I had nowhere else to go. I could go home, but Hunter was there, and she was the last person I wanted to see right now. Exhaling heavily, I accepted Dre’s invitation with a faint nod.
He muttered something to the other bouncer before escorting me inside.
The club had two floors, each with a bar. There were mirrors along the walls and chandeliers in the ceiling. The white flowers, which appeared purple under the LED lights decorated the fluted pillars around the club. The sparse crowd in the lounge section upstairs was surprising for such a busy night. The stairs were even blocked off by a red velvet rope, and at the top stood a stone-faced guard who definitely didn’t belong to the club.
Someone high-profile was in the building.
Dre didn’t seem to care as he bypassed the downstairs bar and led me over to the glowing spiral stairs. I watched him unhook the rope before placing a hand on my lower back when I hesitated. While he led me upstairs, I tried once again to convince Dre that I was fine, but the gentle giant wasn’t convinced. Before I could insist, the bodyguard placed a hand out to stop us from going any further once we reached the top.
“Let us through,” Dre ordered through gritted teeth.
“No more girls.”
“She’s not here for your boss. She’s another VIP guest.”
“No more girls,” the bodyguard barked as if Dre hadn’t spoken.
Dre’s massive chest puffed out, and I almost palmed my forehead. “Look, you can let us through, or I can call Mr. Perry and let him know how hisguestsare treating his little sister.”
Another guard walked over at that moment to investigate, and I felt my cheeks warm as the commotion drew more gazes and the whispering started. The guards spoke low to one another before the nosy one walked away again. I tracked his path with my gaze as he made a beeline for the bar that was also being guarded by a wall of bodyguards. They parted to let him through, and I barely got a glimpse of a lone man sitting at the end of the bar before the gap quickly closed again.
It made me wonder who their employer could be that his men were out-ranking my brother’s bouncers. Dre was practically seething, which means whoever the VIP was has been a problem all night.
Ohhhh booooy.
Forgetting my aching heart, I rolled my eyes at the dick measuring.
A moment later, the guard was already returning. I was prepared to be turned away when he waved his hand instead. “Boss said to let her through.”
