Page 67 of Addicted

“A few thousand, I think,” I said with a shrug. “Stone gave it to me and told me to get whatever I need. But I don’t need shit. He already bought me a whole wardrobe. So, I want to spend it on you.”

Aurora looked at the money, then at me, then back at the money.

“Say less!” she said, jumping up from the couch. “Let me go get ready! We about to tear Rodeo Drive up!”

I laughed as she ran to her bedroom, already talking about all the shit she wanted to buy.

I finally felt like myself again. Like Indie. Not Stone’s captive. Not some kept woman. Just me. And it felt good.

***

Twenty minutes later, Aurora emerged from her bedroom looking absolutely stunning.

She wore a tight black dress that hugged her slimthick frame, paired with strappy heels and cute jewelry. Her hair was laid in long, sleek waves, and her makeup was beat to perfection.

“Okay, bitch, I’m ready,” she said, grabbing the Chanel bag I’d given her. “Let’s go spend this nigga money.”

We walked out of her apartment and when she saw Troy standing there, her eyebrows rose. “Who the fuck is this?” she asked.

“This is one of Stone’s men, he’s my bodyguard for the day,” I explained.

Aurora looked at me and said, “Bodyguard? Bitch, is you Whitney Houston?”

I cracked up, and we headed downstairs to the Escalade where Javion was waiting.

Aurora’s eyes went wide when she saw the blacked-out SUV and the man standing beside it. Javion opened the back door for us, and we slid into the backseat together.

As soon as the door closed, Aurora leaned over and whispered, “Girl, your guards are fine as hell! Especially the one with the fade!”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re a mess.”

“I’m just saying!” she whispered back. “If this is what being a kingpin’s girl looks like, sign me up!”

Javion got into the driver’s seat and glanced at us in the rearview mirror.

“Where to, ladies?” he asked.

“Somewhere expensive for lunch,” I said. “Then Rodeo Drive.”

“Yes ma’am,” Javion said, pulling out into traffic.

Aurora and I spent the drive catching up, talking about everything and nothing. She told me about whathad been going on at the club, about the drama between some of the dancers, about Roman asking about me.

“I told him you had a family emergency,” Aurora said. “He seemed worried, but I think he bought it.”

“Good,” I said. “I don’t know if I’m ever going back to Velvet anyway. Stone owns the club, and he basically fired me.”

“He fired you?” Aurora asked, her eyebrows shooting up.

“Yeah,” I said. “Told me I don’t need to work anymore because he’s taking care of me and Ish.”

Aurora was quiet for a moment, processing that.

“So... what does that make you?” she asked carefully. “Like, are y’all together? Is he your man?”

“I don’t know what we are,” I admitted. “He says I belong to him. That I’m his. But we’ve never talked about being in a relationship or anything like that. It’s complicated.”

“Complicated is an understatement,” Aurora said. “But girl, if he’s taking care of you and Ish, buying you all this designer shit, and dicking you down right... I mean, that sounds like a man to me.”