Page 21 of Hush Money & Hits
The smooth sounds of Miguel floated from the speakers and filled the car. For a second, I wondered what it would have been like if we had met under normal circumstances. If he saw me out, asked for my number, and we dated like regular people. It seemed far-fetched for me to find a man that was anywhere near perfect. Struggle love was damn near a rite of passage. Why we had to get it wrong so many times before getting it right was some bullshit. Men like Pearce were rare. And I had access to him. I was sleeping in his house. He had parted my thighs. We were headed to the mayor’s gala. But none of it seemed real. When I made it to Florida, I’d probably never see him again.
I wasn’t confident that I’d meet another him in this lifetime.
“What you thinking about over there?” his voice cut into my thoughts.
“Just wondering if what I feel is worth the price tag attached to the bottle,” I lied with a smile. “I do feel good though.”
“I mean the price is a stretch. Like a muhfucka, but it is some good shit. Very smooth, and that feeling is going to last you at least a few hours. That’s not the kind of alcohol that you keep drinking until you get sloppy and incoherent. Just a little will go a long ass way. Have maybe one glass of champagne at the gala, and you’ll be smiling for the rest of the night.”
That statement possibly could have been true if Kalim wasn’t going to be present. Every time I thought about him being there, bile threatened to spill from my throat into my mouth. Pearce reached over and squeezed my thigh. The thump in my heart, and the desire in my loins made me briefly close my eyes before looking at him.
“Vanya.” Even the way he called my name had my nub swelling.
“Let me guess. You got me?” I turned to face him, and he smiled.
“I got you.”
Pearce’s hand lingered on my thigh for a bit before he removed it. The moment he did I wanted it back.What the heck were we doing?
He was right. Sex didn’t have to complicate things but him randomly touching me, placing soft kisses on my lips, promising me that I was safe with him…those were all the perfect ingredients for complication. I was grateful for him, however. Without Pearce’s protection, I was almost certain that my aunt wouldn’t be the only mother grieving her kids.
With each passing day, I contemplated telling her the truth. She couldn’t eat or sleep. It had gotten to the point that she was preparing to speak to the news station. In her heart, she knew her son was dead, but she wanted answers. Answers that I could give her, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that. My aunt didn’t like attention which was why I knew she had to be desperate to agree to be on television. She wasn’t interested in street politics, and she’d go to war behind her kids. All those things considered, and I knew if I told her, it was Kalim, she’d go straight to the police. Then, she’d be in just as much danger as I was in, and I didn’t want that. Our family had gone through enough.
We arrived at the venue, and Pearce pulled in front of the valet stand. There were a few people walking across the parking lot into the building and most of them looked amazing. The black people, oh they had put that shit on. In every capacity, we were exceptional. No matter the occasion or tax bracket, my people always understood the assignment. The mayor and his beautiful wife that appeared to be about ten years younger than him were standing by the door talking to photographers, and from the YSL heels adorning her feet to the huge rock on her finger, I took her in and silently appreciated her taste.
Two valet attendants opened the doors simultaneously, and Pearce and I emerged from the car. Maybe the tequila we drank was worth four bands because I felt like I was gliding across thepavement. And when Pearce placed his hand on the dip in my back and gently guided me, I almost moaned.
“Pearce!” The mayor’s eyes lit up as he called out to Pearce while the person in front of him was still talking. The white man looked over his shoulder at Pearce and me. He gave a tight smile and a small head nod. I returned the smile and stepped to the side, so Pearce could talk to the mayor.
“I love that dress,” the mayor’s wife gushed, and I gave her a genuine smile. “Thank you so much. And I love your heels.”
“Girl,” she sighed. “These things are killing my feet. Beauty hurts though, right?”
“Right,” I chuckled stunned by the fact that I was talking to the mayor’s wife like we were home girls.
With a smile on my face, my eyes danced around the parking lot as I took in the guests arriving. Pearce’s hand was still on my back, so I wasn’t sure if he felt my body tense or if he saw what I saw, but the moment I observed Kalim walking hand in hand with a gorgeous light-skinned woman, I wanted to turn and run.
Kalim’s jaw muscles flexed as he ogled me like he wanted to choke me with his bare hands. Pearce’s hand moved over to my waist, and he gave me a small squeeze while never stopping his conversation with the mayor. On the outside, I was cool as a cucumber but on the inside, it felt like my organs were boiling. It was suddenly hot as hell, and I wanted to be anywhere but where I was.
Pearce ended his conversation with the mayor, and we walked off just as Kalim greeted him. Pearce grabbed my hand, and we walked inside the building. The décor was very elegant and tasteful. Servers walked around with trays containing finger foods and champagne. Pearce grabbed two glasses and passed me one.
“Shorty, are you breathing? Your face is blue,” he joked.
“That’s not funny,” I resisted the urge to cry. “I’m going to have a heart attack before this is all said and done.”
“You won’t.” Pearce inched closer to me and kissed my lips. “Tell me what I got.”
“Me,” I breathed as he smiled and pecked me again. “Good girl.” I was still smitten, gazing into his eyes when a presence stopped at my side.
“You still playing this game?” Kalim asked, and I froze.
Pearce didn’t take his eyes away from mine right away. He spoke with his irises. It was like he was demanding that I play it cool and not let Kalim see me sweat. He kissed my lips once before turning to face his father.
“Nah. No games. What’s up?”
Kalim’s eyes narrowed while his date appeared confused. “You got it, lil’ nigga. I wouldn’t waste my time trying to off this bitch. I’d much rather watch you go so hard to defy me that you make yourself look stupid chasing worthless ass bitches.”
Fear left my body as offense took its place. Kalim had some damn nerve. His date’s eyes widened a bit while I stared at him with a frown.
