“Oh my God. That’s insane.”
“I got her stuff moved out of my crib today and took it to her mother’s house.”
I stepped away from the doorway and made my way into the kitchen. As I approached Aviana at the stove, she held me in a tight embrace.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured.
I chuckled, pulling back slightly to look down in her eyes. “For what?”
“I feel responsible for what Lelani did to you,” she said as her gaze dropped to the floor.
I shook my head as I smiled. “Nah. Don’t do that. I’m actually happy it happened. It feels like God made a way for us to be together. We both loved each other but respected our significant others. Now we can be together without feeling guilty.”
She hesitated, biting her lip with her brows furrowed in thought. “I don’t know if I’m in the right headspace to be in another relationship. Damar and Mia have left some scars, and I’m scared that I will bleed on you.”
“I know,” I gently told her.
“But I need you,” she admitted, her eyes searching mine for understanding.
Relieved, I told her, “I know that too. That’s why I’m going to take it slow with you.”
Her expression softened, and I could see the glimmer of hope, longing, and love in her eyes. I reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, causing my thumb to graze her cheek.
As I pulled Aviana closer, the moment was suddenly interrupted by the shrill ring of her phone. She glanced at the island where it sat, and I caught a glimpse of Carol’s name flashing on the screen.
“Answer it,” I told her, but I felt a spasm of disappointment as she stepped away from me. The warmth of her body was gone, and I couldn’t help but laugh at myself for feeling so possessive.
As she lifted the phone to her ear, I turned my attention to the stove. I grabbed the stirring spoon and dipped it into the bubbling pot of alfredo sauce. The spicy kick hit me, and I realized she was making rasta pasta.
Suddenly, I heard Aviana inhaling sharply, and my heart dropped. I turned just in time to see her collapse onto a stool with her hands gripping her head.
I rushed over, asking, “Avi, what’s wrong?”
She held the phone to her ear as her expression shifted from surprise to devastation. “They found Mia.” Her voice trembled as she struggled to process the news.
My pulse quickened. “Where is she?”
Her gaze lowered when she saw the hope in my eyes. Her eyes were wide with shock as she covered the speaker of her phone. “She’s dead. She was found stuffed in a suitcase in the lake.”
A MONTH LATER
CHAPTER 18
AVIANA SCOTT
SINCE LEARNING OFDamar and Mia’s deception and Mia’s death, I reverted to my roots and started to lean on God more than ever. I couldn’t wrap my mind around how two of the people that I loved the most in the world could betray me so savagely. I had been attending church with my parents every Sunday and praying more than I ever had before.
This Sunday had been no different. After church, I followed my parents back to their house for dinner, which my mother had prepared that morning.
I sat at my parents’ dining table with the appetizing aroma of pot roast wafting through the air.
“So, when are you going to move out of Mythic’s place?”
I sighed heavily as my mother waited for an answer. During the silence, I could see my parents stealing concerned, worried glances at each other. They hadn’t wanted to let me out of their sight since the truth came out about Damar’s involvement in Jeremy and Mia’s murders. Their trust in my judgment was shattered, and I could sense their disapproval, especially when Mythic’s name came up.
I sighed, knowing where this was heading. “I don’t know. After everything that happened, I feel safest there, and he’s been really supportive. I don’t see a reason to leave.”
Mom furrowed her brow as her fork paused mid-air. “Avi, you know how we feel about him. He’s a gangster, and we remember what he was like in high school. You really should be careful spending so much time with him.”
