Fire was in the background with their son in a lot of the photos. The nigga was trying to hide or keep his head down, never looking directly into her camera while she smiled like a dummy for their audience. Judging from their background, he peeped that they were in the GAP store. Mozzi studied his laptop screen. He already knew where every camera was positioned thanks to a lick or two from back in the day. Fire emerged from the GAP store, head down in his phone with his baby mama and son talking his ear off on either side of him. He typed something on his screen and picked his head up to peep the scene.
“I swear, you pay more attention to that phone than you do anything,” Mozzi heard Trenae complain on the feed he watched.
“Daddy, can I have some ice cream?” his son asked.
“No,” his mama snapped. “It’s going to ruin your dinner. Do you still plan on taking us out to eat, or let me guess, something came up,” she surmised, angrily sarcastic.
“All that nagging ain’t making a nigga want to be around you, Trenae. Why the fuck you can’t just shut up and be cool?” Fire sucked his teeth as they strolled toward the nearest exit.
Lining Fire up in his scope, Mozzi took a breath and squeezed the trigger. The last sound he heard before straightening up was Trenae’s high-pitched scream erupting when the bullet struck Fire’s skull less than a foot from where their son stood. His body hit the ground, and Trenae dropped the bags in her hands and fell at his side.
“I just want you to know that I heard y’all.” Inari stood beside Ayla’s bed where she was still turned on her side, bonnet around her head, curled up to her fluffy ass pillows.
Rich people had the good shit when it came to basics. She’d never slept as good as she did in that Queen bed. The sheets were at least a thousand thread count, and not everyone could appreciate that or a pillow made with real feathers.
“What time is it?” Ayla rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
“Almost eight.” Inari told her, reaching for her cell phone on the bedside table and tapping the screen to view her notifications.
“Shit!” Ayla shot up, throwing the covers off her legs and swinging them over the edge of the bed. “I have to get breakfast in the oven!”
“Girl, calm down. Audiemar already stopped in to check on me. For a grumpy looking ass man, he seems cool. That must bewhere Kong gets it from,” Inari muttered. “I think you need to leave here and stay away from him, though.”
“What are you talking about?” Ayla’s face scrunched up in disapproval.
“I’m talking about you fucking this man in your room, Ayla. In his home, where you work!” Inari called her out. “You can’t be doing this. Not to mention the fact that you are obviously falling for him, despite knowing it’s not good for you.”
“I’m fine,” Ayla lied, shaking her head and padding toward her bathroom a few steps away.
“Yeah, live in denial, baby sis, that’s not good for you.” Inari scoffed and shook her head. “I’m telling you now, this ain’t gon’ end well for you.”
“I really don’t need this right now, Inari.” Ayla paused in the bathroom doorway.
“No, I think you do need a reality check before you sink even deeper into this. Kong has a lot going on. I’m not even saying he’s a bad man, but he’s not the right one. Not for you, and not for right now.”
“And how can you even say something like that? You think because you’re the oldest?—”
“You’re damn right I do.” Inari’s brows pinched together in a frown. “Either work here and keep your legs closed or find another damn job.”
“Weren’t you leaving?” Rolling her eyes, she stepped into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.
“You know I’m right!” Inari yelled at the door. “But I am leaving!”
Shaking her head, she snatched her keys off the dresser near the door and let herself into the hall. She had to bypass the kitchen to leave, where she spotted Kong seated at the counter with Nay, sharing coffee. He was mighty comfortable in his sweats and t-shirt as she sat beside him in her soft pinksatin pajamas. He wasn’t smiling or being over affectionate with her just… attentive. Something she took note of. It was like a checklist for him. Obligation.
Eyes drifting past Nay, he spotted Inari at the door and sat up. After excusing himself from her, Kong joined Inari in the hall.
“Hey. You good?”
“Well-rested,” she replied, a tight smile on her face. “Thanks for letting me sleep it off here.”
“Is Ayla awake?”
“She is. Scrambling to get dressed. I guess she didn’t set her alarm. I’m heading home. Make sure my son hasn’t thrown a party in my damn house.” She inched away from him.
“I’m not trying to hurt her.” Kong disclosed, voice low and tinged with what she perceived as pain.
“Then leave her alone.” Inari voiced. “Do that for her. You clearly have other duties. She doesn’t deserve that. But she likes working here. She adores your kids, and I kind of feel like they need her too.”
