I said the one thing that had been burning in my chest.
“Zay threw me into this. He didn’t say no to them like he has always done for me.”
Ares’ hand stilled.
He gently grabbed my chin so I had to look at him.
“Don’t do that.”
My eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“Don’t turn on Zay.”
I raised my eyebrow.
“He would never put you in harm’s way,” Ares said firmly. “The only reason he agreed to this arrangement is because it was me.”
That made me pause.
“Zay trusts me,” he continued. “So you should too.”
I looked away.
“I’m tired of trusting people.”
His voice dropped slightly.
“I get that.”
He added something that made my stomach flip.
“You can’t turn on me either.”
My eyes snapped back to his.
“Why?”
“Because me and Zay are about to make changes,” he said quietly.
His expression hardened slightly.
“And we need you clean.”
I frowned.
His thumb brushed my cheek.
“You’re about to be my first lady,” he said.
The words hit like a brick.
“So act like it.”
My mouth opened, but he kept going.
“When it’s time for you to step out with me, be ready to point guns at niggas’ heads.”
