Smirking, I exited the article as I climbed into the back seat of the Rolls. Belvin asked, “Everything good?
“More than good.”
Belvin drove off, nodding, and I reached for the bottle of tequila in the built-in minibar. Pouring up a drink, I gulped it down, then leaned back against the seat with my eyes closed. “That man asked about Princess?” I nodded once. “And you snapped.”
“Don’t,” I warned.
He sighed. “Just saying. It’s a dangerous thing when you start moving off feelings instead of rules.”
“I follow my own fucking rules. You should know this about me by now, Belvin. You’ve been my driver since I was a young nigga.”
He chuckled. “You still a young nigga. Thirty-four ain’t old.” Pulling up to a red light, he glanced back. “I’m just saying… feels like you’re… tipping a little too close to the edge with her.”
I didn’t say shit right away. I just stared out at the tree line, listening to the warm breeze move through the pines. “I ain’t tipping anything,” I finally said. “She’s a piece on the board. That’s it.”
Belvin huffed, driving off. “But the game has ended, so what’s the next play here?” He raised an eyebrow. “Are you protecting her or claiming her?”
Our eyes met for a moment in their rearview mirror. “Why the fuck you keep pressing me about Princess? I said what it is already. I’m done talking about this shit.”
He shrugged, calm as ever. “You know I’d never disrespect you, Nyles. I’ve watched you grow up and become a man in this thing called life, but because I’ve been with you for a long time, I see everything. You don’t get caught up… ever. That’s not you. But right now? You’reinit. Deep.”
I looked out the window, jaw tight as he kept going. “She means something to you,” he said simply. “And you can’t run both an empire and your heart. One of ‘em always gotta bleed.”
I didn’t respond, but in the back of my mind, I knew he might be right. The question was, which one was I willing to let bleed first?
