Unknown: You should be careful with things that matter.
Immediately, Kong dialed Ayla’s cell. When she didn’t pick up, that only sent him into further panic. He called her back, and she answered solemnly.
“Hello.”
“You good?”
“I’m fine. Is something wrong?” she replied.
“Where are the kids?”
“Upstairs in their rooms. We’re at the house now,” she answered with a sigh as low R&B music played in the background.
“Okay. Stay put. I don’t want you or them leaving the house,” Kong warned.
“I’ve been drinking, so I hadn’t planned on it,” Ayla volunteered. “Is there anything else?”
Clearly she was still in her feelings about their conversation from earlier. As long as she was safe, that was all that mattered to him until he saw her again for himself.
“Nah, that’s it. Tell the kids I’ll be home soon.”
“With your new houseguest?” Ayla posed. “Your father mentioned it.”
“We’re not doing this over the phone.”
“We’re not doing this at all. Goodbye, Kong.”
He heard the beep and looked at his device.
She’d hung up. Yeah, she was damn sure mad. He’d rather her be that than harmed, so he had to eat it. Being with Aylawas easy, but it also put her at risk, and that wasn’t something he wanted for her. He couldn’t pull her into his world when she had no real idea what that meant. This particular threat was delivered quietly, but the message was clear. Anyone close to him could become collateral. Nay was already a part of his world and had been hurt. He couldn’t allow that to happen to Ayla. Being with her publicly was a mistake, one someone had obviously picked up on somehow. It painted a target on her. If he chose to thug this shit out with Nayelli, it would take the focus off Ayla.
Pinching the sleep from his eyes, Mozzi yawned and peeled them open one by one. His room was dark, but that was normal. Reaching out to his night table, he caught the illumination of the time on his iPhone. It was almost six pm. He had numerous notifications and slept through every one of them. He turned, making out Coast’s form curled up beside him as she slept. When they got there, she didn’t want to talk to him. She changed into some of his boxers and a t-shirt and crawled into bed.
Sitting up, he rested on his elbows and studied her. He didn’t want her to ever resent him or doubt what he felt for her. He realized he could be a lot to handle, but Coast was the type of challenging, take no shit woman he needed. She had no problem telling him how it was, even if the shit sounded like it might hurt, and she expected the same. She didn’t want him sugar coating anything.
“I need clothes,” Coast grumbled, sensing he was awake but not bothering to face him. “How long are we staying here?”
“You don’t like it here?” Mozzi scooted toward her so they could spoon.
“I have a job and other things to do. Your place or Bee’s is closer to everything. This place is a nice escape, though.”
She didn’t reject his muscular arms sliding around her waist as he nuzzled her neck and took a whiff of her body mist.
“This place is safe. Guarded like a damn fortress. Once shit cools off, we can go back to the house. I can take you to grab some things if you want, maybe get some ice cream or something. I been thinking about a banana split.”
“Ohhh, that sounds so good.” Coast moaned, and Mozzi simpered.
This girl and food was always a win. He wondered if she was like that before she was pregnant or if this was some new occurrence.
“Tonight, there’s a meeting I have to go to. I also need to take care of some other shit, so I won’t be reachable for at least two to three hours.”
Coast went rigid in his embrace. She took a minute, pulling away from him and turning so that they were face to face. The room was dark, but there was illumination from the fish tank built into the wall in his seating area.
“Is this about what happened to us?” she asked, searching his eyes.
“You want full disclosure or you want to be in the dark, Trouble?”
“I want full disclosure,” she responded, brows knitting as he reached down and thumbed her bottom lip.
