I stared at him in disbelief. “Do you hear yourself? You sound insane! Give me my shit, Marcus.”
His mouth twisted into a smirk. “So you can call your littleboyfriend?” he scoffed. “Yeah, not happening, mama.”
My hands balled into fists, nails digging into my palms. Every word out of his mouth made me want to spit in his face.
“Your man went and blew up a huge shipment last night,” he continued bitterly. “Probably after he figured out I had you. But I ain’t even trippin’ off that.”
I glared at him; my nerves were shot, and I was hanging on by a thread. “The fuck does y’all beef have to do with me?”
“Everything,” he said, eyes darkening. “Money has a monopoly in Atlanta. Niggas too pussy to check him—why should one man have all that power?”
He scoffed. “That’s why I brought you here. To get you away from all that while I get my shit established down there. Plus, New York’s home. It’s where you belong. With me.”
He started pacing and motioned around the room. “Don’t you see how far I’ve come? I did all of this for you. You just need to be away from that nigga to see it.”
I shot Amber a look, and by the way her face was twisted up, I knew I wasn’t the only one who thought he’d lost it.
“We broke up ten years ago!” I snapped. “We can’t just pick up where we left off. I don’t even know you anymore.”
Marcus tilted his head like I was being unreasonable. “I guess this is a lot to take in, but you’ll see. It was always supposed to be me and you. I’m done waiting. You’remywoman. My wife.”
“I’m not your fucking wife!” I shouted as I jumped up from the bed. My blood was boiling now.
“And those videos you took of us without my consent?” I stepped in closer and mushed his forehead hard. “How could you do that? You’re disgusting.”
Marcus’s mouth twitched, and in an instant, his hand was around my throat, slamming me against the wall so hard my teeth rattled. I gasped and clawed at his wrist, but he only tightened his grip, cutting off air.
“Marcus!” Amber screamed, pounding on his back, and tried to tear him off me.
Finally, he let go and dropped me like nothing happened.
I crumpled to the floor, coughing and blinking through spots in my vision. My throat and lungs burned as I sucked in mouthfuls of air.
“I let that shit slide when you smacked me ‘cause you’re upset,” he said as he shoved his hands into the front of his hoodie. “But don’t ever put your hands on me again.”
He turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him like he was the one who just got choked out.
I dragged myself to my feet, rubbing my neck with shaky hands. My whole body was buzzing with pain and rage and fear that I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.
“Jas—” Amber said as she bent to help me.
“I’m fine,” I croaked, brushing past her and collapsing onto the bed. I didn’t have any tears left—just a hollow ache growing in my chest.
“Jas, give me Monica’s IG,” she whispered. “As soon as I’m out of here, I’ll send her a message.”
“You’re gonna leave me?”
“There’s no way to use my phone here,” she held my gaze. “Trust me. I know he’s on one right now, but I don’t think he’ll touch you again.”
I nodded and told her Monica’s handle. “You better come back. I swear I’m liable to kill him if he comes back in here talking that crazy shit again.”
Amber laughed and hugged me. “I got you,” she promised, holding up her pinky.
“Always,” I finished, hooking mine around hers.
She slipped out, and the silence of her absence weighed on me. I scanned the room, and my eyes landed on a flat screen mounted to the wall. I grabbed the remote off the dress and turned it on, needing some kind of distraction. I could still feel the ghost of Marcus’s hand around my neck.
News 12 prattling on in the background didn’t help.
