Page 81 of 4 Corinthians

I sighed, then followed him across the street to the bar. We walked in, and I looked around. Wednesday’s restaurant had a more relaxed vibe, with dark hardwood floors, large circular windows, and blue walls, where large, overgrown potted plants meshed perfectly with blue-mesh booths, gold tables, and large chandeliers. Even though it was busy, the chatter wasn’t overwhelming or deafening. And the food smelled so good that my mouth watered.

“I’m going to the bathroom to wash my hands,” I told Nine. Even though I’d wiped them with a napkin, I still wanted to clean them.

“The bathrooms are towards the back; walk past the bar, and you’ll see them in the back. I’ll be over there,” he said, pointing to a booth near the window.

I nodded, then made my way to the bar and eventually found the bathroom. I washed my hands a few times, then dried them and walked out of the bathroom.

My phone rang, and I stopped walking to take it out of my pocket. I had a notification that someone had searched for my name. Chuckling, I flagged it and forwarded it to Nine so he could monitor it. Something told me it was Robert. I shook my head then swiped the screen to clear the notification.

Corinthians

Iwashed my hands, grabbed a napkin from the dispenser to dry them, then left the bathroom. A man blocked the hallway leading from the women’s bathroom to the main hall. I tried to sidestep him, but his back was to me.

“Excuse me,” I said. Moving to the left. He smelled so damn good. My interest was piqued by a smell that made me laugh softly. When he moved, I couldn’t help but look at him. I hardly paid attention to men, but this one held my interest.

“Oh, sorry,” he said, moving, then looking up from his phone.

His voice was hypnotic, washing over me and making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. But it was his eyes that kept me standing still. I knew those eyes; no matter how much time passed, I knew them because they were my saving grace for so long.

How was this possible? He wasn’t supposed to be here, not standing in front of me in this restaurant on this day. Yet he was. Dressed in all black, with a short beard, full lips, a crooked nose, and hazel eyes that looked the same after all these years. His hair was cut short, neat, his line damn near perfect. He licked his plump lips, then reached for me but quickly dropped his arms and put his hands in his pockets. Years of memories washed over me. The lonely nights and cold nights. The countless hours of sitting in a cage, fighting in a ring, the tears that never fell. But also, the times we sat together, him holding my hand through those same gates. Watching him go without eating so I would have enough. Learning to watch for signs that he wasn’t okay because he never knew. The sound of his voice, the way he would sing to me.

“Uri?” My voice cracked.

Uri started to say something, then something started to beep. I didn’t know where it came from, but the rate increased with every passing second.

“Cori.” The sound of his voice was so soothing yet turbulent to my system. I let my gaze roam over him, starting at his feet until it met his gaze again. He was a grown man, one who looked so dangerous, yet standing next to him I felt the same peace that I always did. He probably scared other people because of his height and weight, but not me. For the first time in a long time, I felt safe. My heart slammed against my chest so hard that I had to rub my chest. This couldn’t be real; he couldn’t be here.

I slammed my eyes shut, then stepped back until my back touched the wall. I would need the support when I opened my eyes and realized that I was hallucinating, and my heart broke into a million pieces. I slowly opened my eyes to see him staring at me. This was real; he was real; he was here.

A slow smile tugged at my lips. He was here! I moved from the wall but stopped walking. He was here. My eyes filled with tears, and I stepped back again. If Uri was here, then so was Robert.

His eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flared. “What’s wrong?” he asked, staring at me.

“You’re here,” I said, and he nodded. “Why?” My hand went to my bracelet on my wrist, pulled the small blade that was hidden in it out, and clutched it in my fist.

“For you,” he answered.

“Man, I swear I gotta look at that sensor,” Nine said from behind him. He approached us, patted Uri on his shoulder, then smiled at me as he stepped around Uri. “I didn’t expect to see you here, though. What’s good, Corinthians?”

“Nothing,” I said, shaking my head. My eyes went to Uri then back to Nine. “What are you doing here?”

“Stopped to get some food after a business meeting,” he answered. Uri hadn’t said anything else; his eyes stayed focused on me. Every so often he would lick his lips, but that was it. The beeping started again, and I looked around. Nine sighed, shook his head, then took his phone from his pocket. “Four, let me see your monitor.” He put his hand out without looking up from the phone. “Four.” When he didn’t answer, Nine looked up and patted his chest. “Yo monitor man, take it off. This muthafucka been malfunctioning too much for my liking.”

Uri took his hands out of his pockets, then removed the bracelet on his left wrist and handed it to Nine.

“Y’all know each other?” I asked, looking between the two men. Nine nodded. “H-h-h-h-how?”

“He’s my younger cousin,” Nine answered, then looked up at me. “I told you it was a few of us. One, the fashion designer who knows Ex’s homeboy Focus. Six owns the consultation company and is a PA to December. Zero does a little bit of everything and then Four-“

“The accountant,” I finished. He’d told us about his cousins plenty of times. The pride and happiness in his voice were evident. Nine adored his family. I don’t know why I never asked what their real names were. In Black families, we just rolled with whatever someone introduced themselves as and never asked for their government.

“Yeah,” Nine said, nodding.

“Is that it?”

“Yeah,” Nine quickly answered. “That’s who I fuck with.”

I looked back at Uri, confused. I knew there were at least two more. His brother Kenbral and a cousin named Gentle that I’d only seen in passing when he was with Logan.