"Yeah, Marco," he said. "Give us some privacy. This is between me and my ex-wife."
I wanted to throw this fucker out and demand to know what the hell was going on. But Imani was asking me to leave. And I'd promised to respect her choices. Even when I didn't understand them.
"Fine," I said, setting the bag of clothes on the chair by the door. "I'll be outside. Text me when you're ready."
I left. Closed the door.
And immediately signaled Louis over.
"Do not let that man leave without me knowing," I said quietly. "And if you hear anything that sounds like she's in distress, you come get me. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
I positioned myself where I could see Imani's door and pulled out my phone to text Dez.
But before I could, the door opened and Eugene walked out.
He saw me and smiled. "She'll be with you in a minute. Just needed to have a conversation about some family matters."
"What kind of family matters?"
"The kind that don't concern you." He walked past me, still smiling. "Take care of her, Marco."
He left. And something about the way he said it made my skin crawl. I waited exactly thirty seconds before heading back to Imani's room. She was sitting up in bed, staring at her phone, tears streaming silently down her face.
"Imani." I was across the room in two strides. "What did he say to you? What's wrong?"
"I need you to leave." Her voice was flat. Empty.
"What?"
"I need you to go. Please."
"Imani, talk to me. What happened?"
"It doesn't matter." She finally looked at me, and the devastation in her eyes broke something in my chest. "This—us—it was a mistake. I can't do this. I can't be with you."
"Bullshit. Before he showed up, you were all about taking a chance."
"I was stupid." She wiped at her tears angrily. "I let myself get caught up in something that was never going to work. You should go back to your life and I should focus on my business. We should end this before anyone gets hurt."
"Someone already got hurt. You. Whatever Eugene said to you is eating you alive."
"It has nothing to do with you!" She was shouting now, her control finally cracking. "This is my life, Marco. My mess. And I'm begging you to just leave me alone."
I stared at her, trying to understand what the fuck was happening.
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
"Look me in the eye and tell me you don't want me here. That you don't want us and you don’t feel anything for me." I moved closer.
She opened her mouth. Closed it. More tears fell.
"I can't," she whispered.
"Then don't push me away. Whatever he said…"
