Page 143 of The Ninth

Instead of walking through, we cut through both bathrooms and straight into my room. I sat on the bench at the bottom of my bed as he closed the room door and walked to me. If he was going to stay, he would’ve been out them jeans. We’re starting the convo off with me already having my feelings hurt.

“Kenzo, just let me speak. I don’t know if I will make it better or worse. I don’t know if what I will say will matter. Just let me speak.”

“Of course, Cassie. Not before I apologize for raising my voice at you earlier.”

“Thank you,” I sighed. “I’m sure my father told you how hard it was before you met him. I also told you, but you also heard it from somewhere else. Me and Tatianna just got in the mindset that we would never be broke again. You were taking care of me before jail, but I was still stacking my own money from make-up. I was just nervous and had people in my ear like I said. The club opened and Tati started stripping. She made 100k in three months, and the younger me realized I couldn’t leave that type of money on the floor.

“I am not a stripper. Well, I didn’t strip full time. At the beginning of the night, I did all the staff’s make-up and got to keep every dime. For the rest of the night, I was just a bottle girl. I wasn’t wearing nun attire, but it also wasn’t just raunchy. I served bottles and drink with people. That’s it. I have so much money from doing that because...some nights we would abuse niggas.”

“Abuse niggas?” his face scrunched up.

“If I got into an argument with you or if a nigga pissed me off...I took it out in the club. Faked like I’m taking shots and getting fucked up when really Kenzie was giving me water. They paid for them. Taking an entire role of money a nigga was being stingy with and throwing it on Tati. Taking stacks and bringing back no change. Making promises I would never keep. I did all that without touching any of them. Without showing them any part of me. They’re disgusting and easy.”

“Cassandra...” he let out a light chuckle while shaking his head.

“I got this pole in here because it seemed fun. Tatianna taught me tricks and it was just good exercise. Freeing. I have never danced for any nigga on this pole, if that’s what you’re wondering. The Ninth has private nights where they shut the club down. Real strict. No phones or nothing. And usually some rich, lowkey niggas. Niggas from out the country that would never come back or from another city. Hell, the Bears. I only begun dancing on those nights. I’ve never danced on regular nights so regular niggas have never seen me. I did dance in sections. But I have never danced on a nigga. I never let them grope me in there. No kisses, hugs, anything. Me dancing for you naked was the only time I’ve ever been naked in there. The set I was wearing was the most revealing I had ever worn. And only because it was my last night. We were beefing. I was tweakin.

“I swear to you, Kenzo. I shouldn’t have been there at all, but that shit was all giggles and make-up for me. I wasn’t trying to trap a nigga. I robbed them and gave the money to my girls. What I did keep, I didn’t spend because the money wasn’t why I was taking from them. I was taking from them because I could. Hair, toes, nails, clothes, bills, I’ve always only ever used your money for that.”

He sat next to me, “Obviously no matter how you chop it up, I’m still upset with you. I still feel disrespected. However...I took your virginity, Cassie. I was your first real boyfriend and started taking care of you before I met you. I can’t blame you for fearing the worst during my bid. I do wish you would’ve still left once you realized I was going to love you for the rest of my life. I remember your face when they took me. I could see it on you that you were afraid to be alone again after your parents. It kills me thinking about that shit.

“You was wrong but you tried to be wrong in the best way you could be,” he chuckled. “You know how crazy you sound telling me yeah I was working in a strip club behind your back for five years but I was just robbing niggas?”

I cackled as he shook his head, “I’m still upset with you. I still feel angry. You got tied up into some stupid ass shit, foe. You knew I would never had under any circumstance been okay with that. But how you moved or tried to at least showed that you were thinking of me. You disrespected me because I love you more than all that shit. To ever let my wife go into a club and have to play niggas for a blue face. Especially when I have so many. You know what it is with us. You should’ve came to Papa about your fears, Crybaby. I never would’ve let you step foot into that club. You or your thot friends.”

I chuckled softly, standing up and standing between his legs. He wrapped me up, pulling me into him while looking up at me. His beautiful ass face. These beautiful ass hazel eyes. If I could go back, I would have never stepped foot in that club.

“I believe you about your role in there. I don’t think you were giving my body to customers in that club to come up. It still hurts that they got to see you like that. But it’s a hurt I can move past.”

“Oh, baby!”

I collapsed down into his arms. His warm lips kissed the side of my face as he held me. I blabbered on and on about how he has always been my number one priority. Coming before anyone and anything. He nodded, telling me he knows.

“Going forward—”

“You ain’t gotta tell me a fuck thing about going forward. I’m so sorry for lying to you. I love you; I love us. I want to get married and spend my life with you, Kenzo. You know niggas don’t excite me. Having their attention means nothing to me. As long as I got you, I’m fine. Even if you went broke next week. You don’t have to worry about me. Ever. I hate niggas, Papa! I hated it out here without you!”

He laughed, kissing my lips multiple times. “Don’t be out here acting like I don’t love you, Cassandra. Allow me to bear the weight of everything in our lives. I just want you happy and pretty with me.”

“Yes sir.” He checked his phone and I frowned. “You’re not staying with me?”

“Slow down, snufflekins!” I cackled. “I still have business to handle. We made shit right between each other, but I need the day to make that shit right within myself. I’m still angry at you. I’m still unhappy. I’m not some simp ass nigga that’s just going to fall to his knees. But I understand the time that was lost between us, and I won’t be causing any more.”

“I love you, Kenzo. Be careful.”

“I’ll just be with Duke, baby. I love you.”

I stepped back, not allowing him to kiss me. He chuckled and stood, bending down to kiss me anyways. All I could do was pout watching my man walk out once again.

Chapter 28: Because I Love You

Cassie’s POV

“Cassandra...” a voice said softly in my ear.

My eyes rolled back realizing it was Kenzo kissing on my cheek, ear, neck, and shoulder. I went to bed in a shirt he wore because it smelled like him. Nothing else. His hand slid up my body, gripping my titty roughly. Biting my lip, I arched my ass against his hard dick.

“It’s time to wake-up, baby.”