“Says the man who tried to kill my best friend because he showed up at my door.”
Beans stepped closer toward her. He looked down at a short Paige, and to me it was as if he wanted to fuck her, but I could have been wrong. “I didn’t try,” he grumbled.
Chevy let out a loud sigh. “Now that we’ve got a taste of Finding Love in Lake Hill, let’s ride out.”
A woman gracefully descended the steps, her big hair and shea butter-brown skin shining beautifully, as she stepped into the circle with confidence. “You can’t race, but I also know you need to be there. You know the rules, come home to me,” she said to Chev as she gently touched his face.
He leaned down and kissed her with so much love it made me wonder what love like that felt like. Chevy looked at everyone. “Streets, you ride with me. Let’s get this shit done because I got some other shit to handle. Samara—”
She shook her head. “I’m going. I know you think you’re protecting me, but I need to see with my own eyes,” she said to him.
Chevy looked at Dio, “Don’t ride stupid with her on the back of that fucking bike. Zu, nigga, get Sasha, her ass racing today.”
They all started walking out the door. “Wait!” I yelled. “What about me!”
Beans turned toward me, Paige, and Kareem. “I’m going to stop by the crib and grab my bike. Piggy will drive and lead the way.”
The way they were showing up for each other was the one thing that Papi and his crew were missing. For them to be a crew of siblings, they were missing the biggest part they would need to take on the Zoo: the connection of family.
PAIGE
My mind had been racing since leaving Covana. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about Braylen beating up Tyrek, then to come to the city to find out not only that Morgan dated Papi, but that Braylen had dealings with his sister, and that I had never gotten the chance to find out what Papi had to say about Braylen.
I was trying to process it all, but I couldn’t because since the moment Braylen and I made it official, everything has been moving fast. We had pulled up to his place when he quickly put the car in park and hopped out. I needed some fucking answers, so I jumped out along with him. When he realized I was behind him, he stopped, turned, and stared at me. “Go get in the driver’s seat,” he instructed me.
“We need to talk,” I told him.
He dropped his head, “This is not the time or place. We will once it’s over.”
“No! I want to talk now!” I shouted.
He came closer to me. “I said when we’re done, fuck! Like, do you trust me or not? Or you trust that nigga Papi? Huh, because he’s been texting your fucking phone!” he gritted.
My head flew back as his face came closer to mine. “Yeah, let’s talk about it.”
I bit my bottom lip as I turned and stormed back toward his car. I got in, put the bitch in reverse, and backed out, almost hitting one of the guy’s bikes. I put it in drive and took off. Morgan and Scooter’s bodies flew back. “Damn girl, slow down,” Morgan said.
“Give me the address,” I told her.
“What about—”
“Just give me the fucking address!” I shouted.
I was fed up, irritated, and wanted answers. I could see the guys following behind me. My phone started to ring with a call from Braylen, but I didn’t answer. I sped on the highway like a mad person. Deep down, I felt like Braylen was hiding something and wouldn’t tell me. I had given this man my body, mind, and heart. I was tired of the push-and-pull between him and me. If he thought that whatever he was hiding was worth it, our few hours of being a couple were going to end abruptly.
A drive that was supposed to take me two hours took only a little over an hour. Morgan began giving me specific directions that led to an industrial-looking building. I put the car in park as the lights from the Zoo’s bikes began to line up one after the next, except Chevy, who drove. I let out a deep breath. Scooter leaned forward, “He has a lot going on. Chill.”
My eyes cut at him in the mirror. “Morgan, get your—”
The driver’s door opened to Braylen standing there. He gripped my sweater and pulled me out of the car, “Don’t you ever do that shit again. Then you’re speeding in my car!” Braylensnapped. “We don’t argue. We talk shit out. You’re not even giving me time to fucking explain.”
Dio and Xavier pulled him back, “Ease up. Not here.”
Morgan came up to me, “Girl, what the hell? I’m not mad at it. That make up sex is going to be good.”
The last thing I was thinking about was sex, rather Braylen seeing a side of me that he would regret if he played with me. Chevy slowly walked up toward everyone as he looked at Morgan, “What’s this place?” he asked.
“This is their spot. You see that side light right there, it means they’re here. The bikes are inside with them.”
