“You do whatever the fuck you need to do!”
“You sure that’s what you want? What about Dane and Ayla?” A wicked smirk tilted the corner of his mouth.
He was taking far too much pleasure in this. He considered the last few months his get back for her leaving him high and dry when he got locked up. Making her uncomfortable and forcing her into this situation out of obligation to the only two people she really gave a damn about was something he reveled in. Fucking her and making money was a bonus. He couldn’t help but be resentful, though, because she made it clear he was not what she wanted.
Danilo was under the delusion that if he tried hard enough, he could force her into feeling something for him again. He’d tried taking her out, buying her gifts, and doing little shit like giving her bread for her hair and nail maintenance, but Inari wasn’t budging. She purposely kept him at a distance, and Danilo felt he didn’t deserve it. The least she could do was try and give them another chance. It was clear that nigga Moose had invaded her heart.
“I fucking hate you,” Inari whispered, tears flaring in her eyes.
“Ma! Is that you?” Dane called from the top of the stairs.
She lowered her gun, making sure to remove the bullet from the chamber and put the safety back on. Before Dane could reach the bottom of the stairs, she swiftly stuffed it back into her bag. Sniffling, Inari peered up at her son curiously looking down at his father who was starting to sit up on the second to the last step.
“Y’all good?” Dane queried, eyes volleying from Inari to Danilo, who leaned against the wooden railing.
“I don’t know. Danilo, are we?” Inari asked, hiking a brow.
Scowling, his nostrils flared before nodding calmly.
“That’s great to hear,” she drawled.
“Where you coming from looking like that?” Dane asked, looking her over in her hot girl attire.
“That new club,Avalon. I went out briefly with your auntie and Coast. Things got a little hot in there, though, so we ended up cutting the night short. I’m tired, and I have plenty to do before this party tomorrow night. Dane, did you find something to wear?”
“Yeah. Me and Pops went shopping.”
Against her wishes, Danilo had invited himself to the Blackmoor Christmas party. Inari didn’t want to argue, but her gut told her this was a bad fucking idea. She didn’t want Moose and Danilo anywhere near each other. Grabbing her bag from the table, she started toward the stairs.
“Oh, and after the party, I’ll be taking a trip. Coast and Mozzi are getting married. They’re eloping to Hawaii. It should only be a day trip, though, so I’ll be back Monday afternoon.”
“Yo, I can’t go to Hawaii?” Dane posed.
“No. You’re going to stay here and work on getting that extra credit work done so you can get those grades up next semester. I’ll bring you a souvenir.” Inari kissed his cheek, and Dane sucked his teeth.
“That is not the same, Ma. It’s cold as hell here. I want to get flew out!” he argued. “I promise, y’all won’t even know I’m there.”
“Son, chill. When your mama gets back, we can plan a family vacation. Ain’t that right, Nari?” Danilo stood, although his balls were still inflamed when he faced her now beside Dane on the stairs.
“Cut the shit, Danilo. I’m giving you some grace because it’s the holidays. It’s supposed to be a time of family, forgiveness, and learning how to let things go. How about you take notes? Tell your son what’s really going on and why you’re putting on this act like we’re some happy fucking family.”
“What she talking about?” Dane’s head snapped in his father’s direction.
“Nothing.” Danilo growled, eyes darkening and fixating on Inari.
“Right. Nothing.” Inari muttered, shaking her head and starting up the steps.
The minute she was inside her room, she snatched out of her dress and went to run a shower. After tying her silk Vera Wang robe around her, she removed her makeup in the mirror, brushed her teeth, and did her facial routine before getting into the steam filled glass encasing. Something told her Danilo would be on some bullshit. The cold gust of air up her spine let her know he was near and had opened the shower door. Gripping her pistol on the shower shelf, she faced him, menace clouding her usually warm cinnamon brown eyes.
“The fuck you think this is?”
“This shit is done when I say so, Inari. You can pull that gun on me all you want, but we both know you ain’t pulling that trigger. Not if you don’t want your sister in the crosshairs of Tulla and her department. Or how about Dane?” He sneered, swiping his tongue across his lips. “You think our son will be understanding if he knew the truth?”
“The truth? Like the fact that I was protecting my sister? Or the fact that his father and twisted ass auntie are holding it over my head!” she snapped, watching his confidence fizzle when he came to terms with her reasoning.
Inari wasn’t stupid. She was simply playing the long game until she figured her shit out. There was no way she was spending the rest of her life under Danilo and Mira’s thumb. She refused to live like that. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and she was tired of people having power over her.
“I told you to stay the fuck away from that nigga Moose. Keep being defiant, and you and him gon’ fuck around and find out.”
