Page 72 of Anything Necessary for Her (Crenshaw Kings #9)

A WEEK AND A HALF LATER . . .

I stood before Carolyn’s door, waiting for her to answer after I’d knocked. Finally, she did, smiling curtly like always.

Being around her made me wonder if she was this stoic with her husband and children. I couldn’t imagine her smiling happily or, worse, being seductive.

“Banks, Dr. Ferris forwarded me the report, and it really looks like you’ll still be able to do Giselle.

I hate to say this, but I would need to see you do each routine, in full, before I can officially give you back your roles.

” She prattled on as she rounded her desk, while I sat across from it, dance duffel in my lap.

“That’s no problem. I can promise you that.” I waited until she was seated. “Carolyn, I need to speak with you about the pas de deux. Nikita needs to be disciplined for what she did.”

Expelling a heavy breath as if she were tired of the subject—though I don’t even know how that’s possible since it hasn’t even been discussed—she replied, “Banks, I have no proof that Nikita intentionally tried to harm you.”

“So her bag just somehow ended up in the middle of the floor? Our bags are always off to the sides, corners, or in our lockers. Not to mention, like most people, I look where I am walking before I start walking, and her bag wasn’t there when I began making my way toward the back of the room,” I explained.

“Again, I have no proof it was done intentionally, Banks. You yourself said you did not see her do it, and you’re going by what Kailey is saying.”

“Not just Kailey. All the other ladies said the same thing.”

“All the other ladies, like Kailey, hate Nikita and like you. I don’t really expect anyone to come to her defense,” she retorted, irritating the fuck out of me.

Looking down momentarily and trying to think if I wanted to actually say what I planned to, I lifted my head and said, “Well if Nikita is still in the pas de deux, then I won’t be able to do it.

My understudy can have that role, and I will keep my solo and other parts.

” I straightened my posture, that making me feel better somehow.

“Don’t do this, Banks.” Carolyn shook her head, her tone warning me. “We are too close to showtime, and your injury has put enough strain on this production.”

“I cannot get up there and dance with someone who tried to sabotage and possibly end my career. Nikita is an envious, sore loser, Carolyn, and you know it.” I stared her down, being sure to have unflinching eye contact. “And Kailey being suspended for defending me is not right either.”

“Well, I am not removing Nikita from the show, so I guess your understudy will be doing your part with Calvin.” She leaned back in her chair, tapping her pen against the desk.

“But I want you to know this is a very bad look, Banks. We’ve sent emails, done a large amount of promotion, and people are excited to see our top dancers—you and Nikita—perform together. ”

“That’s unfortunate. Please let me know when you’d like me to perform my sequences for you.” I rose to my feet, watching Carolyn seemingly grind her teeth.

She said nothing as I exited the room, and I just hoped my decision didn’t backfire.

Initially, I was going to attempt to put my pride aside and still dance with Nikita, but I couldn’t. This shit with Nikita had graduated from being a harmless rivalry to something more serious with her trying to injure me.

By the same token, I just couldn’t get on that stage and dance with her while knowing Kailey had been suspended because of me. It wasn’t fair that I got to live out my dream while she couldn’t. The least I could do was attempt to get Nikita out too.

“Can’t Hide It” by Lil Durk bumped as Kailey and I sat on Free’s big ass comfortable couch.

The lights were low, like always, but you could still see people grinding on one another salaciously, smoking out of big ass bowls and other types of contraptions that Low had to explain weren’t crack pipes when I first spotted it, and drinking nasty mixes out of red cups.

“I’m mad these wings are actually good.” Kailey frowned as she dropped the last small bone onto her paper plate.

“I told you.” I laughed, watching her as we leaned against the back of the couch. “I wanna thank you again, Kailey, for beating that bitch up in the moment,” I said.

“Girl.” She waved me off.

“No. I’m serious. You’re not just some sidekick that can make all the sacrifices while I flourish and make it out untouched. I’m going to do whatever I can to fix this, even if I have to tell my dad or leave Prolific.”

“Do not do that.” She cut her eyes at me like her name was Lisara St. Thomas.

“That is the best ballet school on the West Coast, not just in LA. And my parents are already working on it, so it’s possible the suspension will let up soon.

” She gave me a half-hearted smile. “Let daddy Prime relax. We don’t need him wringing Carolyn’s neck. ”

We guffawed in unison just as Low walked up, squatting down before us, so I kissed him.

“Aye, Kailey, I wanted to tell you not to worry about that suspension. I’m gon’ handle it,” he said, as if he’d overheard our conversation, surprising me.

“No, Low. It’s fine. I promise.” Kailey sat up like I had moments ago and shook her head definitively.

“Nah. Anybody that will go up for the woman I love, I gotta take care of ’em. You’ll be back in that school in no time. Hope you don’t think you off the hook for that Giselle show.” He eyed her playfully as he ascended to his feet, pecking me once more along the way.

“Thank you,” she mumbled through snickers. “Girl, he is gone for you. He knows the name of the ballet?”

“He does.” I grinned, watching him swagger off. I was admiring him and making sure these hos looked and didn’t touch in the same breath.

“He caught me off guard when he said Giselle.” She giggled, and I joined as we fell back along the couch as Dom Kennedy rapped over the kickback.

“You need anything else?” I questioned.

“Just one thing.” She turned to me, crossing her legs.

“Anything.”

“Hook me up with Sif.” She flinched when I tapped her arm while laughing. “What? I need a nigga that thinks a million dollars is too cheap to fuck me, okay!”

We chortled loudly.

“I’m gonna tell Stazi on your ass,” I threatened.

Giggling, she replied, “Girl, she know that nigga ain’t going nowhere and that I would never.”

“True.” I cheesed at Kailey’s crazy ass.

Anastazia didn’t play about Asif so I would never make her think my best friend was a threat especially because she wasn’t. Also, Kailey wasn’t a fool and made sure to never make such comments in front of Anastazia.

Regardless, I didn’t want any of my sisters-in-law to get offended by my best friend, because I knew her heart and how she was. Not to mention, Anastazia knew pigs, cows, and horses would fly before my brother was unfaithful and with Kailey of all people.

“But if they ever need a sister wife, you better make sure you put my name in the hat, or I will never forgive you.” Kailey balled up her lips and pointed at me.

“Mhm.” I smirked.

“Did she get her money though?”

Laughing, I replied, “She did, actually. The ladies were joking about it in the group chat, and she sent a screenshot of the wire for five million.”

“Five?” Kailey’s eyes squinted in confusion.

“Yep. Two for head and three for the pussy,” I replied, and we doubled over.

“See, my type.”

“Aye, Kailey. Where that dance you promised me?” Taye called out, his hands cupped along the sides of his mouth to project across the room.

“This thirsty ass nigga.” She moved to get up.

“You like that shit though, Kailey.” I smacked her butt as she confirmed my statement by sticking her tongue out before switching over to him and flirtatiously calling Taye thirsty in the process.

Low and I locked eyes from across the room, and he waved for me to come over. Getting up, I switched to where he was leaned against the wall as Free and Jere were engrossed in conversation.

As soon as I neared him, I tossed my arms around his neck as we kissed. When I pulled back, he stared down into my eyes, pecking my nose then forehead gently before seemingly taking me in.

“Remind me of what the fuck life was like for me before you,” he said, moving my hair behind my shoulder.

“Boring. Monotonous. The sex was trash . And you were depressed.” I listed each one off, then gave a closemouthed smile, still embracing his neck.

He chuckled cutely, and though the music drowned out the actual sound of it, I somehow still knew what it sounded like. It was something I’d committed to memory back when he’d kick it in my parents’ backyard and pay me no mind.

“Promise me it won’t ever go back.”

“It won’t.” I pressed my nose to his as best as I could on my tiptoes.

Our mouths melded together slowly and passionately, despite “Shake Ya Ass” by Mystical being the song of the moment. The room howled and cheered at the song choice, and I definitely heard Kailey’s wild ass among them.

Low picked me up, wrapping my legs around him and began to carry me through the thick crowd of people toward the mouth of the game room.

Like usual, we ended up in the California Room where he fucked me up against the wall.

Presley had asked Kailey and me to come down to her warehouse to assist her for the day, and in return, she’d pay us and give us any appliance from her cookware line of our choice.

Of course, both Kailey and I were down, choosing the air fryer which was new to her line and apparently the best one on the market with a matching price point.

“Girl, I can’t wait to make bacon in this,” Kailey said as soon as Shakur put the air fryers in my trunk.

He chuckled.

“Bacon?” I frowned. “Of all things, Kailey?”

“Bitch, it makes it so your house doesn’t smell like bacon. My daddy be complaining ’cause he don’t eat pork no more, and I be tempting him.”

The three of us chuckled.

“Excuse me, Miss St. Thomas?” a man called out, making me, Shakur, and Kailey whip around to locate the voice.

“Who are you?” Shakur inquired, standing strategically in front of me.

The man smiled disingenuously.

“Shakur Compton of the LA Gremlins. Forgot this is your baby sister.” He smiled, but when Shakur made it clear he wasn’t going to acknowledge his statement, he moved on.

“I’m Detective Clayton Booth. I wanted to speak with Miss St. Thomas.

” He pulled out his miniature notepad. “She is the girlfriend of Willow Harris, right?” He peered around at me.

“Last I checked, that wasn’t illegal, so what the fuck you here for?” Shakur interrogated further, and I had never been happier to have a meddlesome brother.

“No, but she was in Las Vegas with him during the time Brenden Maddox disappeared,” the detective incorrectly stated.

“No.” I stepped out to the side from behind Shakur. “I wasn’t with him. I was with her,” I pointed to Kailey, “for a friend’s birthday party.”

“Exactly,” Kailey cosigned.

“Please. This doesn’t concern you, young lady, but I can surely make it concern you if you’d like.” He threatened Kailey. “Miss St. Thomas, I just have some questions for you. The quicker you answer, the quicker I can leave you alone. Now where were you the night of May fifth?”

I hesitated, not knowing what the fuck to say. If I said the club, he’d probably know Brenden was also at that club. If I lied, I’d have no type of receipts to back it up.

“She don’t answer questions without her lawyer present, unfortunately, Mr. Boot.” Shakur intercepted—no pun intended—thankfully.

“It’s Boo th .” The detective exaggerated the last two letters.

“It’s whatever the fuck I said it was, nigga.”

“And why would you need a lawyer if you’re innocent in everything, Miss St. Thomas?” Booth directed his attention toward me, seeing Shakur was on one.

“Something my brother taught me.” I shrugged.

“Bashar. Right.” He nodded with a smirk. “Your other half brother.”

“Yep. Half hood nigga and half best criminal defense attorney in the state. You just have to choose in which manner he beats your ass.” I winked, making Kailey shriek in amusement and Shakur smirk.

I could tell the detective didn’t like my smart comment because he studied me, a subtle glare on his face as he did it.

Eventually, he reached into the breast pocket of his dress shirt and retrieved a business card before outreaching it to me.

“Why don’t you give that to him then.” He hiked his brows as Shakur snatched it for me, reading it.

“Fuck is he on?” Shakur inquired as soon as the detective was out of earshot.

“No idea,” I lied. “All I know is the mayor’s son is missing, and he told Low he wants to pin it on him,” I spoke half the truth.

Shakur shook his head, scoffing, so it was clear he accepted my answer. He handed me the card then the pay for helping his wife, which was two grand each, and then hugged Kailey and me goodbye.

“Bitch, that line about Bashar should be his slogan for his law office.” Kailey broke through my whirling thoughts as I read over Detective Booth’s card.

I let out a delayed chuckle, but thankfully, she didn’t notice as she rambled on about making Taye grab the big ass air fryer box from her car later.

All the while, I just hoped either Low or Bashar could make this Brenden Maddox shit disappear. For that to happen, though, I would, unfortunately, have to tell my brother what happened in Vegas.