Page 17 of Obsessive Love
“The son is a liability,” I said, shaking my head because Xoey might be crazy, but she wasn’t blind; I knew it, so there was no reason to pretend otherwise. “She’s quiet, lowkey; if anything, he could have used her business to wash his money.”
“She wasn’t about to let that happen,” I denied as I checked over the steaks. “She’s legit. Nothing funny is coming her way.”
“And you’re going to keep it that way,” Xoey said, pointing at me. I nodded, and she smiled. “I like her for you, Pyrite.” She stood and wiped her hands over her butt and the back of her legs to knock off any dirt that may have gotten on her. “She’s going to give you a run for your money, and you’ll love it every step of the way.”
“Why do you always wish love on people but don’t want it for yourself?” I asked as I took the steaks from the grill.
“It's not that I don’t want it; it's more so I doubt I’ll get it,” she said with a shrug. Her phone beeped, and she sighed before heading to the door. “I gotta go. I’ll stop by later this week and check on my bestie.”
“Alright,” I said as I watched her leave. I finished cooking my steak and then took it to the house to rest while I prepared some garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. Once everything was done, I plated it and headed downstairs to check on Fable.
“You got any food allergies?” I asked her as I set her plate on the table in front of the couch. Fable watched me closely, and all I could do was laugh. “Itty Bitty, step out here so we can talk.” She stared at the door and then sighed before pushing it open.
“This door has been unlocked the entire time?” Her eyes narrowed, and I nodded. “The fuck kind of shit is that?”
“You didn’t try it?” I knew she hadn’t because I’d watched her the entire time, but still wanted her to say it.
“No,” she answered. Her eyes went to the stairs, and I knew she would book it up the stairs to test her luck.
I sat just as she took off up the stairs, and I picked up my plate to start eating. She banged against the door, screaming for help, and all I could do was shake my head.
“It’s locked,” I said between bites of my food. I could see her kicking the shit out my door, and I chuckled. She’d break her fucking toes before that door budged. It was damn near a foot thick, and eight of those inches were metal. When I had this basement renovated, I asked for it to be a shelter in case my past came back to get me, and I needed to protect my family.
“Let me out!” Fable yelled and slammed her fist into the door. “Let me the fuck out of here! Help me!”
“Nobody can hear you,” I said as I watched her. “The door is too thick, and the room is soundproof!”
“HELP ME!” she continued to yell. I had to give it to her; she was stubborn and persistent, yelling, hitting, and kicking the door the entire time I ate. “Help!”
I wiped my mouth with my napkin, put it on my plate, and then set it on the table. I was full and partially sleepy, but watching Fable was entertaining. My phone rang, and I pulled it from my pocket to see Amethyst's name on my screen.
“What’s good, Am?” I answered the phone.
“Send her the fuck away!” Amethyst announced. The roar of his engine echoed through the phone, and I knew he was probably going faster than he should have. “Get her the fuck out of the city!”
“It ain't my call, lil bro,” I sighed as I watched Fable. “She’s here to drop off Givens’ engagement ring.”
“Tell that nigga the next time he needs her that they are supposed to go to her!” Amethyst yelled. “That’s the fucking deal! They go to her.”
“That’s not my call, Amethyst,” I replied. Fable finally stopped fighting the door and was staring at it as if she could magically force it open. “She’s grown and makes her own decisions. I can't make her do shit she doesn’t want to.”
“Stop fucking flying her back!” The sound of him fucking up the steering wheel echoed through the speaker. “She has unlimited access to the jet; home is now on the no-fly list.”
“Ameth-”
“No!” he yelled. “That’s my fucking rule! She can't come back home until I got this shit handled.”
“It’s been six months, Amethyst; she needs to know the truth,” I sighed and wiped my hand over my face. My brother was stubborn as fuck. I understood why he was on edge, but I would never know why he didn’t tell the truth to his best friend, Yale Forrester. If anyone was going to ride with him, it would be her. Would she be hurt? Yes, but she’d forgive him and have his back. He just needed to give her the chance.
“Send her the fuck back!” Amethyst yelled, and then the call ended.
I dropped the phone onto my lap and sat back. “The door ain’t gonna open, Itty Bitty; come here and eat.”
“I would rather starve,” she replied as she turned her face. The light above her head made her brown skin glisten, and I couldn’t help but be a little jealous of the fact that she’d allowed it to bask in her presence while she looked at me like I was shit under her shoe. “For all I know, you could’ve poisoned it.”
“Why would I do that?” I chuckled.
“You kidnapped me,” she replied like it answered my question. “You don’t seem like the kind that thinks things through, which is surprising because you are known as a good businessman.”
