“This is my girlfriend, Jameela.”
Vargas greeted me with a quick bob of his head before he and Nicholas continued with the formalities. The bartender handed me my drink, prompting Nicholas to halt his exchange to turn to me.
“Habibti, wait for me on the couch. I’ll be right over to get you, then we can get out of here.”
“OK.” I nodded, almost grateful that Nicholas instructed me to move out of earshot.
Over on the couch, I sipped my drink as I strained my ears to pick up bits and pieces of the conversation. He’d said something about a shipment coming in two weeks and something about doing good, clean business. They were negotiating because I could hear Vargas change his offer of a 15 percent cut to saying I can go as high as 20 percent.
There was no more defending Nicholas. He was negotiating with someone with known ties to the Vargas Cartel right in front of me. My stomach felt like it would come up through my esophagus. I placed my drink on the table, unable to force myself to drink it. I needed to get out of here. My hands trembled as I removed my earrings and tossed them into my drink. I needed to find a bathroom or something. Just when I was about to spring to my feet, Nicholas showed up in front of me.
“Ready?” he asked, extending his hand to help me get up.
“Sure.” I took his hand, although everything in me was telling me to cut and run.
As we rode back to his place, Nicholas broke the tension-filled silence when he reached across the armrest and covered my hand with his.
“You trust me?”
“Of course.” I lied again. At this point, I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t feel like this was the appropriate time to say that though.
“Just know that whenever you’re ready to address whatever’s going on with you, I’m here.”
Both the girls and Nicholas’s mom were knocked out when we made it back to his house. I headed straight to the shower, needing a second to breathe and clear my head without being under his constant scrutiny.
When I was done with my shower, I padded down the hallway to check on the girls. They were both asleep. They looked so sweet and innocent while they slept. No one would know the havoc the two of them could wreak on the nerves if they watched them sleep.
After kissing each of them good night, I headed back down the hall to Nicholas’s room. My phone buzzed in my hand, causing me to look down at it. I figured the unknown call in the middle of the night was classified, so I answered.
“The audio was gold until it cut out. The devices are faulty. Activate a second device,” Tremaine ordered.
“I’m not doing that tonight,” I whispered.
“That was not a request, Jameela. I already have the paperwork on my desk to start the process of challenging custody. Bella needs safety and stability, not a mother who’s slutting herself to a cartel money launderer. Don’t test me.”
The line went dead. It didn’t matter, because I was speechless anyway. I stood motionless on the wall, with the phone in my hand, listening to the sound of the girls’ soft snores. Nicholas appeared in front of me.
His lips were moving, but my mind raced so fast that I wasn’t sure what to say first.Tell him, Jameela.Tell him and risk everything you’ve worked so hard for, most importantly your daughter.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, cupping my face to hold my eye contact.
I shook my head, but he wasn’t buying it.
“Talk to me, baby. Please.”
15
Nicholas
I felt helpless watching Jameela stop in her tracks with the phone still clutched in her hand. Her shoulders were tight like she was bracing for impact, but it would never come, not on my watch. Her eyes were downcast, only making me more concerned. Jameela was bold. She handled things head on. Even when I wanted to help, she wouldn’t allow me.
“Jameela,” I called to her carefully.
I wasn’t sure if I should move closer or stand down. She lifted her eyes to me. Either she had been crying or she was fighting back tears; either scenario made my chest hurt. I wanted to move closer, but I didn’t want her to pull away. I couldn’t handle her pulling away from me right now. I extended a hand, beckoning her to come to me.
The knot in my chest loosened a little when she took a step in my direction. Jameela moved slowly down the hall until her hand was in mine. Not wanting to push her too far, I guided her down as we both sat on the floor in the hallway. Leaning againstthe wall, I pulled her head onto my chest and kissed her temple before finally speaking again.
“Talk to me, habibti. I’m right here, baby.”
