Page 119 of Ruthless Contract
KELLY:I'm on the way. CODE PETUNIA? I'm nervous. Are you okay, Blossy?
A second later, another message appeared.
DAYANA:On the way. Are you okay, chick? Can you call me?
Then Tracy chimed in.
TRACY:I'm heading that way now. I was already in the area, shopping. Should I come in ready to kill?
Despite everything weighing on my heart, I couldn't help but smile at their responses. I’d chosen CODE PETUNIA to lessen their worries. Yet look at them, worrying anyway. I quickly sent another message.
BLOSSOM:I'm safe. I'm alone. There is no immediate threat. Kelly, don't be nervous. I just want us to prepare for the worst. Nothing has happened yet. Dayana, we'll chat when you get here, chick. I'm okay. I promise. Tracy, nothing is going on, but I love how you stay ready.
After sending the message, I lowered the phone onto my lap and sat there for a moment. Knowing those three were already on their way made me feel a little better, a little less alone.
No matter what happened next, I wouldn't have to face it on my own. My gaze drifted down to the oversized t-shirt I'd thrown on after my shower. I should probably put on somerealclothes before everyone got here.
Setting my phone on the bed, I walked over to my dresser and pulled out a black sports bra and a pair of black leggings. After changing into them, I grabbed an oversized black one-shoulder shirt and slipped it on.
The shirt dropped to mid-thigh on me, making it perfect for lounging around the cottage. Next, I headed into the bathroom. I combed my hair up into a high ponytail, secured it with a hair tie, then slipped my feet into my house shoes before leaving the bedroom.
The ladies were probably going to need a drink after hearing what I had to say. I headed into the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, I grabbed the Coke before reaching into the cabinet for the rum.
I lined up four glasses on the counter, filled them with ice, then poured each of us a drink, going heavy on the Coke since everyone still had to drive home afterward. Once the drinks were ready, I arranged the glasses on a serving tray and carried them into the living room. I set the tray down on the center table before picking up my own glass.
I took a long sip, enjoying the burn it left in its wake. I’d needed that. Glass still in hand, I sat down on the couch and waited. The cottage was quiet. Too quiet. You’d think I’d be used to it by now.
Most days, I loved the peace of living alone. These days, I missed my chats with Rome. Talking to him, even through messages, had relieved a little of the loneliness I hadn’t even realized I’d been experiencing.
Sighing, I took another sip of my drink, trying to take my mind off our past... situationship. No matter how hard I tried to keep him out, that man stayed on my mind. I hated that he'd become this constant presence inside my head.
About ten minutes later, my phone chimed. I leaned forward and picked it up from the center table. It was a security notification. Someone was entering my gate. Opening the camera feed, I zoomed in on the image.
A smile tugged at my lips. Kelly and Tracy had arrived at exactly the same time. I set my glass back onto the table, stood, and walked to the front door. After unlocking it, I pulled it open and remained there, watching the two women make their way up the walkway together.
The moment Kelly saw me in the doorway, her eyes lit up, and she hurried toward me, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug when she reached me.
"I was worried," she admitted. "I know you said you were okay, but I needed to see it for myself."
I hugged her back.
"I'm fine," I told her.
When we pulled apart, my gaze drifted to her hair. She'd pulled it into a ponytail today, and two decorative Asian-style hair chopsticks held it in place.
"I see you're wearing your hair chopsticks," I said.
She only wore those when she was in fighting mode. Kelly smiled and pulled one free, showing it to me. The end of it was sharp as a knife.
"I've been wearing them more often," she admitted. "You know... just in case."
Her mom used to do the exact same thing. Kelly’s mom had been what some calledBlasian. Half Black and half Asian. Her dad had been Caucasian. We’d lost them both years ago while they were out on a mission that went wrong.
Kelly had been a toddler at the time. After their deaths, my mother had wanted to take Kelly in and become her legal guardian since her mother hadn’t had a family. But her father’s parents had wanted to raise her.
Since Kelly’s parents hadn’t left behind a will, the court ruled in what they called thebest interest of the childand gave custody to her grandparents. The court wasn’t always right. And family wasn’t always blood.
Her father’s side of the family had mistreated her in so many damn ways. They'd spent years treating her like she didn't belong in their world. They’d never wanted Kelly's father to marry her mother in the first place and had made sure Kelly knew exactly how they felt about that, too.
