Once her hand was in mine, we made our way downstairs. Right when my hand hit the knob, there was a sinister chuckle behind us. I pushed Lo behind me as we turned to see Emir leaning against the wall, waiting for us.
“You almost got away home free, but you triggered one of my silent alarms. I saw your goons out front and snuck in through the back. Perks of being the homeowner you know.” His eyes drifted to Harlo, making my blood boil. “I didn’t think you would be brave enough to step foot back in here, but I had to come check it out for myself. Come here, Harlo. This has gone on long enough.”
Lo tightened her grip on my hand, which only made me stand a little taller in front of her. “Stop talking to her like you own her. We’re walking the fuck out of here.”
I took a step back to get Lo to open the door, but his words stopped me. “No the fuck you’re not.” He pulled a gun from behind his back, and I only had enough time to push Lo to the ground out of harm’s way.
He fired off a shot at me that I felt pierce through my shoulder, but I ignored the burning sensation as I tackled him to the floor. The gun scattered somewhere behind us as I used all my might to deliver punch after punch. His face was a bloody mess, when he got one good hit to my injured shoulder, causing me to wince in pain.
While I was distracted, he reached for his gun, but Lo beat him to it. She lifted the gun shakily in her hands, eyes bloodshot red and more crazed than I’d ever seen them. “I fucking hate you. You tried to ruin me. You tried to make me feel like I was nothing.”
He chuckled sinisterly. “Because you are nothing. You’re never going to shoot me, Harlo. Put the gun down, and I’ll forgive you for putting your good pussy on him.”
He tried to take a step toward her, and she pulled the trigger.Pow, pow, pow!The sound of the shots ricocheted off the walls seconds before the hard thud of Emir’s dead body hit the floor. Lo was still shaking by the time I made it over to her. I was in pain, but I pushed it aside to take the gun from her hands.
She was crying hysterically, so I tried to console her. “Shh, shh, calm down. It’s over now, mama. It’s over,” I reassured her with a kiss to the forehead. “I’ll call someone to clean this up for us.”
Suddenly, she stopped crying to turn her dazed eyes to me. She wiped away her tears, then sniffled one last time before talking clearly. “No, we call the police. I want this to be completely over with. Never coming back to haunt us in any way. We do this the right way. With the phone, we have more than enough proof that this was self-defense.”
While I hated the idea of getting the police involved, I understood where she was coming from. What was done was done, and there was no point in covering it up. It was time for the world to see what kind of a man Emir Akeem really was.
I opened my mouth to agree when I got lightheaded. Before I knew what was happening, I was on the floor looking up at the glass chandelier dangling above me. Lo’s beautiful amber eyes were the last thing I saw before the world faded to darkness.
Three months later . . .
The soft piano chords of John Legend’s “So High” were stroked, making this moment very real. My breath was shaky as I took slow steps down the aisle. The red rose petals fit the black and red theme perfectly. The fishtail dress I wore ensured that I had no choice but to take my time. When I passed by Quadior sitting in the crowd, he winked while sporting the sexiest smirk. I smiled at him before continuing into position.
Hileevee came down the aisle after me, looking just as beautiful. Then it was time for everyone to stand, as our baby sister finally made her presence known. I’d already seen her and shed tears, yet here I was, once again, stumped like it was the first time. When I glanced over at Angel’s soon-to-be husband,Roland, all I could see was pride in his eyes. He was just as ready to be her husband as she was to be his wife.
You would think I’d feel some sadness or nostalgia, watching my sister get married, but it was so easy to celebrate her with Emir’s death. It was like I knew I could finally put the past behind me. While the world was still being thoroughly entertained by the truth of who Emir really was, I finally found freedom. There were no charges brought against me, because my case was strong. I had physical proof; plus, Quadior was a witness to the whole thing. As far as I was concerned, Emir got what he deserved. With that thought in mind, all I could do was wish my sister the very best.
During the entire ceremony, all I could do was watch Dior, and he had the same idea. The smile tugging at the corners of his mouth was my anchor. He’d been my strength through everything. Between invasive media, who lacked empathy, and law enforcement that still wanted to pretend that I wasn’t the victim in this, I needed him in my corner real bad. No matter what was said, he remained by my side, even willing to take the brunt of it all so I could have a peace of mind.
When I left home that night to go to Angel’s bachelorette party, I never would’ve guessed the many things that would happen after that. But it was the best choice I made for myself. Well, other than deciding to open my heart for Dior. He was a blessing in more ways than one.
After the ceremony, we filed out one by one behind the bride and groom. We took a million pictures before it was time to head next door to the reception area. I couldn’t wait to get to my man, knowing he was waiting for me.
I danced my way down the aisle to my seat, happy for the chance to rest my feet because they were throbbing. The reception was set up beautifully, and everyone was enjoying themselves. After the siblings’ toasts, I finally excused myself toanswer the call of the man across the room. Dior was already waiting for me when I walked up on him.
“You are the most beautiful woman in the room,” he complimented the second I was in his space.
My heart fluttered when I returned his grin. “Thank you, baby. You are looking mighty dapper yourself.”
He centered his tie and expanded his chest. “Even cutthroat niggas know how to clean up, mama.” He extended a hand that I happily accepted. “Could I have this dance?”
“Of course, you can.”
He led us on the dance floor as Faith Evan’s “I Love You” began to play. Dior’s arms went around my waist while mine went around his neck. Two-stepping to the beat, we got lost in a world of our own as we sang the lyrics to each other. Without a doubt in my mind, I knew we both meant it. Maybe even a little more than the other could imagine.
“I love you,” I sang proudly with every part of me.
“I want you,” Dior followed up, and I melted into his arms. His lips brushed against mine, and the world around us continued to melt away into a portrait of colors I wished I could recreate. The only reason we separated was because Lee and Laprada walked up to us.
“Um, y’all need to get a room instead of dry humping in the middle of the dance floor,” Laprada said with a shake of her head like she was disappointed. “It’s kids in here.”
“And they can mind their business. Come on, Sister. It’s time for the bouquet toss,” Lee said, taking a hold of my hand and pulling me away before I could say anything to my man.
I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see Dior snatching his sister into a headlock. Only God knew what she’d said to him, but since I was being carted off, my mind was left to wonder. Lee pulled us all the way to the front as Angel got in place with her beautiful bouquet of red roses.
