“S-Sorry,” he stuttered.
I tightened my arm around his thick neck. “Nah, that doesn’t sound too convincing. Tell my beautiful, kind-hearted, sweet, and intelligent better half that you’re sorry.”
“I-I’m s-sorry, Mrs. Bell.”
“For what?” I growled, nearly choking him.
“For disrespecting you. I’m sorry!” His strained voice cracked at the end. It was like listening to my favorite slow jam.
“Baby,” I called to Pretty. Her eyes followed Alli as he handed me a knife that looked even deadlier than I felt right now. I could see her heart beating wildly in her chest.
“No! Please! I’m sorry!” Buchanan begged.
Pointing the end of the blade at Pretty, I said, “This is what I do to niggas who fuck wit’ what belongs to me.” With the speed of lightning, I flipped the knife like the expert I was and held eye contact with Pretty as I swiftly inserted the blade into his chest. I didn’t stop there. Repeatedly, I drove the dagger into hischest until he went limp. Blood covered me. His dead weight was heavy. Yet, I held on to him a little longer until I was sure he wouldn’t take another breath.
His blood covered my hands, my arms, my face, and the black clothes I wore. Wearing the blood of the enemy was a badge of honor for this other nigga. He relished in the enemy’s blood, loved the enemy’s blood,cravedthe enemy’s blood…
“Adir…”
Pretty’s shaky voice snapped me back to reality. Slowly, I blinked as I came back to myself. I couldn’t recall ever blacking out as bad as I did just now. Removing the knife from Buchanan’s body, I released him and let his body hit the concrete floor. I stripped down to my boxers and carried my clothes, shoes, and the knife to the furnace nestled against the corner of the room. After discarding everything there, I closed the door and lit the contents on fire.
Next, I went to the laundry sink and scrubbed the blood from my face and hands, whistling as I did so. Whistling aided me in coming out of this fucking psychosis. Donning a new set of clothes and shoes that Duval handed me, I took one last look at the officer and committed his lifeless body to memory. I had to. It brought me pleasure to. Once I was done, wordlessly, I went to Pretty, took her hand, and led her back up the stairs until we were in the main house. Silently, we walked back home. We headed straight for the shower, where Pretty stripped and joined me.
As she washed my chest, she whispered, “Who is he?”
Her beautiful brown eyes looked so innocent and, although slightly filled with fear, still managed to bear some understanding behind them. She wanted to know the man she’d encountered inside the dungeon.
“How would you feel if I told you that I don’t know?” I mumbled. It frightened me to think that other nigga would comebetween me and the woman I loved. However, it was inevitable that she would have encountered him. She had to know he existed and that he would doanythingfor her. Even if he scared her.
She continued washing me and questioned, “How often does he…take over you?”
“Rarely and under extreme circumstances.”
She nodded. “So, an officer of the law pepper spraying me and putting handcuffs on me is considered an extreme circumstance?”
For a minute, I sounded as crazy as she made me sound for taking shit that far. Then, I tilted my head and offered her a small, humorless, crooked smile, which didn’t help my case. She thought I was crazy as shit.
“He assaulted you!” Just saying that shit made me hoarse with emotion.
“Shh…” Her wet fingers touched my lips as if to calm me down. “It’s okay, baby.I’mokay.” She plastered her body to mine. “See… I’m okay.” Tears welled up in her eyes which had finally healed over.
Gently, I hemmed her up until we were eye to eye. “I’d shed my own blood for you!” I declared against her lips.
She kissed me, then leaned back and said, “I don’t doubt you for one second, baby.”
“Don’t ever doubt what I’d do for you or this family.”
“I promise,” she whispered.
Silently, she continued to wash my body. Between her hands softly caressing my body, the feel of the suds and water against my skin, and the sound of the water falling from the shower head, I closed my eyes and slowly allowed the last bit of rage and adrenaline to flee my body.
COCO
MyhandsslidoverAdir’s chest and abs, assisting the water in rinsing him off. He was so wound up. The muscles in his body were tight as if he was full of nothing but rage. Which was crazy, considering he’d been so calm these last few days.
Never in my life had I felt the effects of pepper spray. Even after a few days, I was still a little traumatized by the whole situation. One minute, I was pushing the officer out of the way to get to Adir, the next I felt liquid dousing me in my eyes, then the officer had me on the ground. Being placed on the ground like I was a criminal was the worst feeling I’d ever experienced—and I witnessed my mother passing. I was so terrified. Then, Adir was there.
“I’m okay,” I mumbled against Adir’s lips again, just in case he didn’t hear me the first time. Water clung to my lashes as I looked into his eyes. I kissed his lips once more, then his scruffy cheek. Moving lower, I kissed the area next to his Adam’s apple, then down his hard inked chest my lips went. His chestrumbled with his low growl. Taking his dick into my hands, I softly stroked the part of him that was equal parts terrifying and satisfying.
