Silence settled between them as they held each other’s gaze. Her fingers moved slowly through his beard. “How bad is your other world? I’ve seen how ugly it can get, but what all does it consist of?”
“Rest first, then we’ll talk. Remember?” Crown reminded her for his own sake more than hers. The last thing he needed was to overwhelm her with details about his bike life. She was already carrying enough.
With heavy eyes, Nivéa nodded, turning away and letting the back of her head rest against his chest as he washed her with the natural sea sponge lathered in amber and bergamot body wash. The warm, citrus-spiced scent drifted through the steam while water traced slow paths down her shoulders. Crown moved with care, as if he could ease the fear still clinging to her. When he set the sponge aside and chose his hands instead, Nivéa released a shaky breath. Her body finally surrendered the fight it had been holding onto for hours.
After the bath, her eyes were barely open. Crown lifted her from the water and settled her onto the built-in marble bench beside the tub, the stone warm beneath her from the heated floors.
“I saw you had tampons in the bag. Your period on?” he asked, drying her gently with the thick bath sheet.
Lazily, Nivéa shook her head. “You think I’d take a bath with you or sit here naked if my period was on, Ahmad?” she snickered.
“I wouldn’t give a fuck. It’s you. That shit wouldn’t bother me.”
Nivéa studied him for a second, loving how much he adored her. “Nah. I just bought that, hoping it would keep him from trying anything with me.” She kept it real, chewing on the corner of her lip.
Crown’s jaw tightened at the thought.
Seeing it, she reached up and rubbed the side of his face with her thumb, grounding him before his anger could take shape. Without another word, he slipped the gown over her shoulders and guided the panties up her legs, pausing to kiss her ankles. He dressed her with the same patience he’d shown all morning. And only after she was settled, did he take care of himself. He had to push what she said out of his mind before he fucked around and left her side to go dead the issue. He was trying to be patient and put her needs first before he hit the streets.
“I’m so sleepy.” Nivéa whispered as he carried her like she weighed nothing at all.
“I know,” Crown kissed her neck, then placed her on the bed.
“Come hold me, please. I don’t wanna be alone right now.” She begged as her head touched the pillow.
“I planned to. I ain’t going nowhere, ma.”
Crown climbed in behind her and pulled her close, anchoring her against his chest. In no time, sleep claimed them both, and they didn’t wake again until Nyla’s cries shattered the quiet just before noon.
Nivéa jolted upright, yawning as she stretched and shifted into mama mode. While she went to tend to the baby, Crown grabbed his phone from the nightstand and ordered her favorite through the DoorDash app. He then checked his messages, and a text from Kerri awaited him. He texted her back, letting her know everything was good. But she insisted on stopping by laterto see for herself. He didn’t argue; that was his mama. Respect would always be there, no matter how old he got.
When he looked up, Nivéa stood in the doorway with Nyla tucked against her chest. Her hair was still damp, and her face was marked by exhaustion, yet to him she’d never looked more beautiful. Crown hated that fear and chaos were the reasons she was standing there, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t happy she was under his roof, and that she’d agreed to stay, even if only for a little while.
“We’ll be in your game room. I love the sunlight coming through that big-ass window.” She smiled, shifting Nyla slightly. “I need to use your phone in there, too. I gotta call my bank. He stole my debit card. And then, I don’t know… when you have time, maybe you can bring me to a station to report my car stolen.”
Crown sat up, disbelief flashing across his face. “The fuck you mean he stole your debit card?” The words came out sharp; that was the only detail he locked onto.
“Yep,” Nivéa sighed, embarrassment creeping into her voice at the thought of ever being involved with a scumbag like Boe.
“Long story. But he already withdrew the daily maximum earlier. I gotta catch it before he tries again. I have bills to pay soon, and I’m not sure how long the dispute process will take. They’d have to investigate.”
“Nah, don’t file a dispute, and don’t worry about your car. Just make the call to block the card, so they can issue you a new one. I’mma handle the rest. I got you on whatever you need.”
“But… I can’t just let him get away with this shit.”
“You think I’mma let a nigga force his way into your crib, touch you, and get away with it? That’s not what I said, ma. What I said was don’t open an investigation, and damn sho don’t file a police report. I don’t need those muthafuckas snoopin’ around while I’m handling my business.”
Chills slid down Nivéa’s spine as she stared at him, the real him. The look in his dark eyes told her everything she needed to know. He didn’t want the cops involved because he planned to harm Boe.
“I ordered seafood for lunch. You hungry?” Crown changed the subject, shifting.
Nivéa licked her lips, swallowing hard. “I guess I could eat. I ain’t turning down seafood.”
He smirked, watching her walk away. But when she was out of sight, the corner of his lips dropped, and he kissed his teeth in frustration. Crown was livid. He was going to track down her car once more, find Boe, and slaughter his pitiful ass.
Chapter Five
Over four hours away from Satin Hills, Boe sat on his cousin’s porch with a hoodie pulled low over his head. He sighed as he stared at the issued phone the detective had given him. It hadn’t stopped vibrating since he arrived at his destination.
