Page 38 of Trading Places

“You crazy? Damn right I want you. You had me ready to go to your father’s house and put a bullet in his head cause you wasn’t answering.”

“I just needed some time to think everything through and to make sure what we have is real.”

I push her back against the couch. I get on top of her. I grab her legs. “You know damn well what we have is real. You mine.”

“I better fucking be.”

“I have no idea what the future holds, but I know you ain’t leaving my side again.”

“I’m not. I’m yours for real.”

Someone kicks at my door. They push harder. I jump up. “There’s a gun under my pillow. Don’t come out until I tell you to. Go!”

She nods, shaking. She runs upstairs.

I pull my gun out of my pocket, and grab my silencer off the table. I put it on, and once they bust through my door, I put a bullet in the first guy’s head.

He falls back.

I watch the other guy run out. I follow him. I tackle him down in front of my house. He’s crawling, trying to get away.

I hit him on the back of the head with the gun. I flip him over and shoot him in the chest and then the head.

I pull the mask off, and it’s some Latino guy I ain’t never seen before. But I already know Trell is behind this. He wants me dead.

I run upstairs and go to my bedroom. “Open up, baby. It’s me.”

She opens the door, and she’s trembling with the gun in her hand.

I hold her.

Poor baby.

“Get dressed. We gotta go to your spot.”

She quickly puts her clothes on. “Who was it?”

“I wasn’t familiar with them, but I know it’s Trell.”

She grabs her stuff, and we head out the back door. I look around with my gun in my hand and hold her hand with my other.

When we get to my rental car, I open the door for her, and she gets in quickly. I get in and speed off. I head for 495.

“No, we need to go to the club first. My dad needs to pay for this shit. We ain’t running from his ass,” she spits.

“Alright, babe.”

Chapter 17

Zari

I walk into my father’s club, and usually I’m dressed to the nines. But right now I don’t care about labels. My heart is pounding out of my chest, and people are drinking champagne. Having a good fucking time, so oblivious to what happened to my man.

What could’ve happened to either of us if Drey wasn’t quick on his feet.

I stomp right to the sacred VIP section and see Von grinning in his tired ass suit, showing off his teeth. I scrunch my face at him. “Where is Montrell?” I bark.

Von lifts his glass to me. “You didn’t hear? Your father is out of the game.”