Page 37

Instead, I smirked at him. “I told you Saturday,” I said calmly.

He scowled up at me. “So, what? You think she yours now?”

I grabbed the front of his shirt and shook him. “I think she told you to leave her the fuck alone. I remember hearing that clearly.”

He swung again, wide and way off target. I chuckled before I slammed his head into one of the concrete steps.

“Saadiq!” Topaz gasped.

Kiana laughed. “Girl, let him cook.”

“KiKi!”

“What? Adam shouldn't have been beating on your damn door.”

I smiled at their debate. My distraction meant Milhouse was able to shove me hard enough to make me take a step back. Tilting my head to the side, I stared at him. He froze, finally recognizing something. The CEO title had him fooled. He didn’t know the Saadiq that had been before, that still lurked inside.

“You don’t listen real good, do you?” I asked.

“Fuck you,” he hissed.

I nodded slowly. “A’ight.”

My hand reached behind me. The moment I pulled my pistol from the holster at my back, Topaz let out a soft scream.

“You really ain’t got a lick of hood in you, do you?” Kiana teased her.

His face changed, anger sliding into fear. I didn’t point it at his dumb ass, though. I wasn’t going backward for a bitch like Milhouse. Instead, I stepped closer to him and rocked him hard across the side of the face with my trusty little Glock. He swayed. I caught him again before he could recover.

“Oh, my God,” Topaz whispered loudly.

Milhouse fell face forward, his head clipping the step with a satisfying crack. I crouched and rolled him over slightly, looking directly into his eyes.

“Now, I’m only gon’ say this one more time.”

His breathing was ragged as blood trickled from a split near his eyebrow.

“Stay away from her.”

His eyes shifted toward her. I tapped his jaw hard, turning his attention back to me.

“Ay! Look at me.” He did. “You don’t come near her at all. Anywhere.” I watched as he swallowed hard and stared at me. “You understand me?”

He didn't answer at first. I lifted my hand.

“Y-yes! Fuck, yes! I understand.”

I nodded once. “Good.”

I stepped back and slid my pistol into the holster. Milhouse stayed down another second before slowly getting to his feet. He stumbled, then looked back and forth from me to Topaz. I finally glanced at her. She stood in the doorway wearing a tank top and a pair of little shorts, hair pulled into a messy bun. Some kind of ridiculous ass fuzzy socks were on her feet. Even like this, she was so fucking beautiful to me. Her eyes were big as hell as she watched me. Part of me was glad that she didn’t look scared, though. It was like she was trying to see what I would do next. Behind her, Kiana stood with her arms crossed, looking real entertained by the situation.

Milhouse wiped his mouth. He looked like he wanted to say something but thought better of it. He just staggered his way to his car. His shoulders slumped, and he looked defeated. I didn’t give a fuck as long as he left. He climbed into his car and sat for a long minute, no doubt getting himself together. I stood in the yard and watched until the engine started, the car backed away from the curb, and his taillights disappeared down the street.

Only then did I look at Topaz again. She still had that thoughtful look, but she seemed okay. She bit down on her bottom lip, her clear gaze studying me.

“Saadiq,” she finally said softly.

But I was satisfied that she was fine, and I didn’t want to do this right now. I walked toward my truck.