Ares sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw.
“Lyric, this breakup is deeper than you think. It ain’t about you, or Bianca, or a damn fight. There’s things happening around me that you can’t see. Things I can’t tell you yet.”
“Bullshit,” I spat. “Then tell me why. Tell me why you push me out after everything we been through.”
“When the time is right, I’ll explain. But for now… I need you to focus. I need you to learn how to live without me.”
The words knocked the air out of my lungs.
Learn how to live without him?
Anger rose like smoke.
“So you don’t wanna fuck me anymore? That’s what this is?” I asked, stepping closer. “Ares, I thought I was your favorite. Ain’t you gon’ miss me calling you Lil Ghost when I’m riding your dick?”
“It’s not about that,” he said, jaw clenching. “This ain’t sex.”
“Oh, but it could be,” I said, voice low, taunting. “Maybe I’ll go fuck one of your enemies then. Let them give me what you trying so hard to throw away.”
In a blink, he grabbed my chin, fingers firm but not painful, eyes blazing into mine.
“Try that shit if you want,” he said slowly. “And you won’t make it past the front gate. When I said walk away, I meant it… unless you want to walk straight to heaven or hell.”
A chill shot down my spine.
He wasn’t threatening me.
He was warning me.
I swallowed hard, then laughed. A broken, demonic little sound.
“You can’t get rid of me, Ares.”
His mouth curved into a smirk. “I know.” He let me go, stepping back. “Leave quietly. And wait for my call.”
I hated how my chest tightened at the wordwait.
Like I’d been doing that my whole life with him.
Still, I turned around, pushing past his guards, and walked to my car with my head high.
But when I got home, the moment the door closed behind me, all the pride drained out of my body.
I slid down the wall.
And I cried.
For him.
For me.
For the fact that even if he pushed me away…
I knew damn well I’d never be done with Ares Delacroix-Jackson.
And the worst part?
He knew it too.
