I stood still for a second, just looking at her. Then I gulped down the rest of my drink, the burn trailing down my throat like it was trying to calm the heat building in my chest. I didn’t speak right away as I walked slowly from the bar toward her. Princess’ breath hitched as I got close enough for her knees to buckle. I leaned in low, eyes right on hers, voice calm but sharp enough to slice through the tension.
“If you wanna go, Princess… then go,” I murmured, inches from her mouth. She didn’t move. “Go ‘head,” I kept on, voice like a dare now. “Run back to daddy and all his bullshit. Let him pull your strings like he’s been doing your whole fucking life. Let him use you up again.”
Her jaw clenched.
“Go let that fake ass nigga Don hold you up like a trophy he bought at an auction,” I said, venom in my tone now. “And watch me blow both of their fucking heads off.”
She flinched, eyes glistening.
“Go ‘head, preacher’s daughter. Leave this house. Leave me.”
She stared up at me like she wanted to fight me with tears pooling in her eyes and her lip trembling. And fuck, I kissed her. I snatched the back of her head like I needed it, mouth crashing into hers like I was starving for some shit I had no business wanting.
Princess’s lips were warm, soft as she moaned into my mouth. That shit sent a jolt down my spine, but I caught myself. I pulled back fast, breathing heavy, eyes wide as hell. I pushed her back into the chair, and before I could get a word out, she slapped the fire out of me. Then the gunshots rang out.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
The rounds slammed into the bulletproof windows, cracking them with violent spiderwebs instead of shattering. Princess screamed, ducking. I was already in go mode, adrenaline shooting through me.
Crook came running. “Shooters outside! Four, maybe five!”
“Light their asses up.” He headed straight for the gun closet, and I grabbed Princess’s wrist. “Let’s go.”
She stumbled, panicked. “What the hell is happening?!” It sounded like warfare outside as we moved fast. I shoved open a hidden panel behind the bookshelf in the living room to reveal stairs. She yanked away. “I’m not going down there!”
“Princess…”
“No!” Fuck that arguing shit. I just scooped her little ass up and threw her over my shoulder. “Put me down!”
“Shut up and let me do what the fuck I do!” She kicked and fought, but I didn’t slow down. I kept running down the stairs and through the tunnel as she kept fighting me while screaming her head off. I stopped, pressed her back against the wall, and had my hand on her chin. “If you say another fucking word…” She froze, breathing heavy with her eyes wide and locked on mine. I let her go. “We’re almost there.”
I took her hand, and we kept moving as gunfire still echoed above. Whatever was happening up there, somebody wanted me dead or wanted Princess gone. Either way, I’d find out. And when I did, somebody would pay in blood.
