Grabbing her by the throat, I listened as my sisters called out for me to let her go. I watched as her eyes bucked in fear. She had the wrong bitch on the right day, and I was going to let her know it was never a good idea to try me.
“Listen here, and listen good…” I squeezed her neck tighter, causing her to claw at my hand. “Don’t youeverapproach me in public about you being a man’s whore in private. I hope the dick was worth you dying over because this will be the last time you challenge me on some woman-to-woman shit. You’re not Barbara, and I’m sure as shit ain’t Shirley. I will murder you, bitch.” Snatching the tie from her, I watched as she fell to the ground and gasped for air. Stepping over her, I held my head high as people stared and moved out of my way. No one said anything as we filed into the awaiting Escalades.
“Noemi, your brother wants to speak with you.” Nicky and I made eye contact in the rearview mirror. “He said you’re not answering your phone.”
“Take a right at the light, please.” I ignored him and the buzzing of my cell. Rosier and Chandler were blowing up my line. “Park by the meter in front of Chandler’s building, Nicky.”
Doing as I asked, he parked and turned the hazard lights on. Stepping out, I heard a door close behind me, and I knew it was either him or Luca. Entering Gourneau’s Headquarters, I bypassed the front desk as I took the elevator to Chan’s floor.
“Mimi, I know you…” Luca spoke evenly to the side of me. “If that nigga puts his hands on you, I’m killing him. Then your brother is going to kill me, so make sure y’all put me awayrealnice.”
Rolling my eyes to keep from laughing, I walked out of the elevator as soon as it dinged. His secretary wasn’t at her desk when I passed, but I didn’t expect her to be. Without knocking,I pushed his door open and couldn't help the howl that escaped my lips.
“Good to know our talk from the other night meant something to you, muthafucka.” I startled them both as they scrambled to put their clothes on. As he zipped his pants, I laughed, watching her try to stand from her knees, but my Beretta put a halt to all movement.
“Baby, w-what’s going on?” Chandler asked hesitantly as his whore began to weep. “Put the gun down.”
“I don’t care about you or anything that you do, you slimy pig.” I clenched my jaw as I stepped closer to him. “I could care less about the bitches that you fuck.” My eyes dropped to the one on her knees. “I hope he washed last night’s slut from his dick before you decided to fuck him, or maybe, he made you clean her juices with your rank-ass mouth.”
“Noemi—”
“You can fuck a million women, Chandler, because it willneverbe me.” I threw the tie at him, hitting him in the face. “Make that the first and last time a bitch approaches me about fuckin’ you. I hope you enjoyed your night with her. The last time was the last time.”
Raising my brow, I gave him a knowing look before eyeing his secretary one last time. I laughed at her tears before I turned on my heels and walked out of the office the same way I came in. I may have been playing it cool on the outside, but internally, I was hurt. No one wanted a woman approaching her about a man she had dealings with. It didn’t matter if she wanted him or not because the feelings were irrelevant—it was the principle.
“Let me see your phone, Luca.” I held my hand out as we rode the elevator downstairs. “I need to make a quick call.”
Handing it over, I dialed my brother’s number. It didn’t take long before he answered, “Luca, talk to me. Is my sister okay?” Jules answered the phone almost immediately.
“Peachy,” I answered as we reached the lower level and the doors opened. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Name it, baby girl.”
“Angelica Rue.”
“Done,” he responded almost happily as the call disconnected.
Stepping back outside, the spring sun hit my face. With my head upward, I closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh air to calm the rage simmering within me. After a few seconds, I gathered myself before I returned to the truck with the girls waiting for me.”
“Are you okay?” Bridgette asked as soon as I slid inside. “What do you need from us?”
My goal was to never alarm them, but I was tired. My emotions were drained, and this last stunt regarding Chandler had depleted me. I grabbed their hands as a grin slowly formed across my face. The look of confusion they displayed was comical.
“The only thing I need you ladies to do is come to the house and help me pack. My vacation starts now.”
Taking a deep breath, I inhaled the scent of the salty waters below. I lifted my head and allowed the beaming sun to kiss my skin. This was my second day on Grove’s Isle, and it was the most peace I’ve felt in a long time. As I peered into the clear blue ocean and watched the waves crash into the shore, my troubles awaiting me back home were an afterthought. Well, that was until the steady ringing of my phone. Sighing, I waltzed over to the wicker table to answer it.
“Chandler,” I answered in an exasperated tone. “This isn’t much of a vacation if all you’re going to do is blow me up. Shouldn’t you be somewhere with one of your concubines?”
After seeing what I saw the day I popped up in his office, I wouldn’t allow him access to my condo or the compound, and I wasn’t answering his calls. He’d been trying to see me and plead his case, but there truly was no need. He was acting desperate—he’d even gone as far as going to my brothers to get me to speak with him. I had to beg Jules to not turn him into a toad. Rosier was ready to kill him, but he said things were in a good place as is with the organization and didn’t want to make it worse. I told them I was fine and just needed time to decompress.
“I want to apologize to you, Noemi,” he said somberly, causing me to roll my eyes. Not for a minute did I believe him. “I was wrong, and I know that. Please… just give me one last chance to make it right. Tell me where you went on vacation, and I will come to you.”
Knock. Knock.
Peering over my shoulder, a slow smile formed at who would be popping up on me this early.
“Look, Chan, there’s nothing to discuss. Please… let me enjoy my vacation, and when I return home, we will have a conversation.” I smiled as the knocks became more rapid. “In the meantime, you should probably think about if a marriage between us is something that we can bear—I know I am.”
