Page 45 of Own It

“Because she kind of looks down on me. She always did, even when we were preteens—she’s two years older—but now it’s mainly because she’s a doctor, and I’m not. She’s not the only one who looks down her nose at me because of it; my parents do too. Cairo, my brother, is the only one who acts normally about it.”

“Why didn’t you become a doctor then?” I sat back, studying her and getting my fill on her beautiful face for the night.

The excitement I felt from being able to stare at her as long as I wanted, blaming it on the fact that we were conversing, should’ve been studied.

“Majority of the reason is because I just don’t have an interest in medicine. The other is that I don’t like being told or forced into something.” Her brow heightened for a millisecond.

“Trust me, I can tell, and that’s why I asked. I knew part of the reason you ain’t take that route is ’cause you don’t like to listen to shit, even when it’s a dangerous situation.” I bobbed my head in the direction of her ankle.

“Not true! Most people would try to escape from this situation, Rakim! Doesn’t mean I’m rebellious.”

“Baby girl, . . . I kidnapped you and told you I’d kill you. You believe me, right?”

“I do.”

“Yet you still called me a bitch ass nigga and ain’t got a weapon in sight to back yaself up.” I wasn’t even done speaking before she started laughing. I couldn’t help but to join her, basking in how big her smile was.

“I mean, in my defense, that’s what you were giving at the time.” She shrugged, sighing and still giggling a little bit.

“You the first person to ever call me that,” I admitted.

She chuckled again, then let it cease naturally before saying, “I feel weird laughing with you under these circumstances. You could kill me, and I’m over here giggling and chuckling.”

“Don’t feel weird.” I sank down into the seat I’d forgotten to return behind the writing desk, watching her. “I might not kill you. I might just keep you for myself.”

We stared at one another for a long while before she opened her mouth to speak.

“You—”

“Get some rest.” I stood, knowing I’d said too fucking much. “We have to be somewhere tomorrow evening.”

Daylin was already feisty and disobedient as fuck, and women seemed to get even worse once they knew you fucked with them. I couldn’t have her already feisty ass knowing I liked her, or I might as well end this whole shit and let Talid perish.

“Umm, where?”

“You’ll see. And it don’t matter. Ain’t like you can’t not go. I wouldn’t even take you, but I have no one to keep an eye on yo’ ass.”

“Hmph. We better not be going anywhere public, because my hair is fucked up.” She lay back down and opened her book.

When she realized I was watching her with a look that said she only proved my point about being rebellious as fuck, she clenched her teeth and shrugged.

“Good night.”

“Good night, Rakim,” she sang in that soft voice of hers that I wouldn’t stop hearing replay in my fucking head for the rest of the night.

* * *

THE NEXT MORNING . . .

I had to do a few things at my own house, so while Zaire and Josias were free before tonight’s festivities, I had them at the ranch house babysitting Daylin.

After cleaning out my fridge, something I usually had my maid, Gina, do, but I’d put her on vacation until this shit with Daylin was over since I wouldn’t be here like that, I hopped in the shower.

I didn’t feel comfortable with Gina having a key to my crib, coming and going as she fucking pleased while knowing I wouldn’t really be here.

I brushed my teeth once out, then slipped on some clothes before sitting down to make a few calls. Before I could even hit the green call button on the first one, my doorbell sounded off.

Standing, I exited the bedroom and made my way downstairs to the foyer to look through the peephole. Seeing LaMia, I froze for a second, running through my mental rolodex trying to conjure up any reason as to why her ass was here.