Icon and Reek spoke at the exact same time. “Oh, she hoodas fuck.” They both said it so flat and sure the room went quiet for half a second before everybody burst out laughing.
Aria rolled her eyes. “Oh my God.”
Saint nodded like that proved his point. “Shit. Mothers from the hood the real killers. They don’t even need guns. They can kill you with one look.”
Legend barked out a laugh. “That’s true.”
Aria glared at Legend. “Do not encourage him.”
Legend held up both hands. “I’m just saying.”
Aria’s mouth tightened. “Legend…”
This entire time, I had been watching Sincere. He was always composed. But the second Rhythm’s name was mentioned, his demeanor changed. He smiled a smile I had only ever seen on him back when he was with Tempo.
It looked like his soul was smiling. And for the first time since I had known Sincere Bellamy, he looked… relaxed.
RHYTHM BROOKS
“Fuck,” I muttered, turning the key again.
The engine clicked. The dashboard lit up. But the car stayed dead.
KJ leaned forward from the backseat. “Why it won’t start?”
“I don’t know, baby,” I said, trying again.
Kinsley was strapped in her car seat with her tablet propped up and her cartoons playing loudly.
“You should call Daddy. He can fix it.”
I groaned inwardly. “There is no need to call Kodi.”
I refused to call him. I had not spoken to him since he walked out of my house after ruining my painting, acting like an asshole. He had not reached out either. Not even today. It was the holiday, and he hadn’t even called the kids.
I grabbed my phone and opened the Uber app. After ordering a ride to the address Aria had given me, the price popped up, and I cursed again.
It was so expensive, but I hit confirm before I could overthink it.
I had already been nervous all day. It took me forever to get me and the kids dressed because I wanted us all to look nice.I’d met Aria and saw her lifestyle online. I knew she was rich. I could guess what dinner with her family would be like, so I had been stressed to make sure we did not show up looking out of place.
After about ten minutes of waiting, the Uber pulled up. I collected Kinsley and her car seat from the car, and we all climbed into the waiting ride.
The drive took about thirty minutes. The closer we got to the address Aria sent, the nicer everything looked. These were much bigger houses, cleaner streets, and less noise than my side of town.
Then the Uber stopped at a gate. A guard approached the window.
The driver rolled his window down, and the guard asked, “What’s your name?”
I leaned forward. “Hi. I’m Rhythm Brooks. I’m here for dinner.”
He checked his phone and nodded. Then the gates opened.
We drove in, and my nerves got worse. This was not a house. This was a mansion. The driveway kept going and going. The property was huge.
The Uber driver stopped at the top of the circular driveway, closest to the front door.
I got my kids out with shaky legs. On my way to the front door, I nervously played with my locs. I wore a long-sleeved bodycon maxi dress that stopped at my ankles. It was cream and fitted. I carried my knockoff Louie bag and wore brown heeled boots.
