“But you all got rid of them,” I replied.
“We got rid of the head,” Icon told me, “But there are probably some members still around who are mad their king is dead and feel like Kai is to blame.”
Saint shrugged. “Shit, that’s the game he chose to play when he got in business with the streets.”
It was wild to me how unbothered these men could be about death, but then I reminded myself how unbothered I was when it came to defending what I felt like was mine.
Just then, one of Rhythm’s favorite Lucky Daye songs came on. I started searching for her as I left the group. I went straight to where the women were gathered. Rhythm stood in a circle with Aria, Tempo, Livia, and Zahra. She was smiling, listening, and rubbing Aria’s big belly like she was already family. I watched her hand move over Aria’s stomach and pictured that being her. I pictured my baby in her body, her looking up at me with that soft pride women get when they feel life growing inside them.
The thought didn’t scare me. It didn’t make me hesitate.
It made me want it.
When I felt that anticipation, I understood even more that she was it. Rhythm was going to be my forever.
I walked up behind her and slipped my hand into hers. She turned and her face lit up when she saw me. “Hey.”
“Come here,” I said.
Livia made a face. “Don’t be coming over here interrupting us. Damn.”
Rhythm smiled, but she didn’t let go. She stepped away with me, still holding my hand.
Once we made it to open space in the room, I pulled her closer and started slow dancing with her right there.
She looked up. “I know I’ve already told you many times, but congratulations.”
I kissed her forehead. “Thank you. This is just the beginning, but at least we got the green light.” I exhaled and let my eyes close for a second. “Now we gotta move fast. We still gotta keep motherfuckas from trying to throw rocks at it from the outside. Just because the vote passed don’t mean the pressure gone.”
Rhythm’s hand slid up my arm. “Sincere.”
I opened my eyes.
“Not tonight,” she told me with a smile. “I know your mind never stops, but you did what you needed to do today. You gotthe win. You got the green light. Right now, relax and enjoy what you just pulled off. Let your people celebrate you. Let me celebrate you.”
I stared down at her and lost myself in her eyes. We held eye contact too long for it to be comfortable for anyone else in the room.
Finally, she blushed. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because I’m thinking,” I admitted.
“About what?”
I slid my hand down her back and kept her close. “About you being my wife one day.”
Her eyes widened just slightly, and I saw her swallow.
“Despite my past relationship, I trust you. I trust what we got. I trust thatyou’rethe one.”
Rhythm’s lips parted like she wanted to say something, but she didn’t have the words yet.
“I found what I needed,” I told her. “I found what I prayed for, and I’m not letting it go.”
She blinked, and her eyes grew glassy.
Then she nodded once, slow, like she was letting herself believe it too. “Okay,” she whispered.
I kissed her forehead and kept dancing, holding her in the middle of that room like it was already done, like everybody watching could get used to her being around, because I refused to let her go.
