Page 12

T he moment we stepped off that jet and slid into the convoy of blacked-out trucks, I felt the new energy and reality set in that paradise was officially over.

The air was just different and full of tension, and I knew that shit was back in motion.

Dom’s jaws were tight when he stepped off.

His soldiers were already posted on the strip wearing black hoodies, dreads tucked in fitted tightly, and gold chains peeking from beneath their crewnecks.

They wasn’t smiling either and everybody looked like they were ready to slide if he gave the word.

By the time we got to the penthouse, the calmness I felt in the Bahamas was long gone.

My slides hardly made a noise against the floor as I glided inside.

By the time Dom and I exchanged a few words and turned around, Victoria was already sitting on the couch, with her left arm wrapped and bandaged.

Her eyes were red and full of jealousy or betrayal, but nobody had betrayed her besides her uncle.

Tone rounded the corner and stood nearby with his arms folded, watching it all play out with that look that said he was tired of everybody’s shit.

Her eyes were focused on us and her mouth popped off like we owed her something.

“While I was taking a bullet, you were out in paradise somewhere? I overheard you were out of town, and you’re supposed to be watching me. Because you weren’t, I got shot!” she spat at Dom.

Dom looked at her like she was annoying and an inconvenience, but he still had that dangerous look in his eyes.

His face said, ‘who the fuck she thinks she’s talking to’ and that slow burn in the way the intensity in his eyes grew would make anybody fold if they knew any better.

I stayed quiet, but I felt myself flinch just a little.

She didn’t know who she was talking to. Dom didn’t say a word, so she continued.

“You think this is funny?” Victoria snapped again. “I’m under fire and your people have to call in a fucking emergency in to get me treated and you were somewhere in swim trunks. This isn’t fair.”

I didn’t give her the satisfaction of raising my voice; it wasn’t my style. She may have been a brat with El Blanca, but in Miami, that shit would never work. I slowly stepped forward making sure my tone was cool as ice. “You might want to watch your tone, sweetheart.”

Victoria turned to me next with a distasteful, yet arrogant look on her face. “And you… what are you? The assistant? You go everywhere he goes, huh?”

Dom’s hand went up and he slowly licked his lips trying to remain cool.

It wasn’t in a threatening way; it was just enough to stop the madness before it got ugly.

He wasn’t trying to hear that shit. His voice was deep when he spoke.

“She not the assistant,” he said dryly. “She my fuckin’ wife.

So while you in my crib, under my roof, protected by my crew, you gon’ speak on her name with respect. ”

Victoria blinked a few times, and I watched the color drain from her face. Whatever come back she had was long gone and she was shocked. “W-wife?” she stammered trying to get it out.

“Mrs. Royal,” Dom repeated, staring her dead in her eyes.

The entire room fell silent almost like she was hesitating or thinking about what to say.

I didn’t smirk or throw it in her face. Instead, I just stood tall and let my presence speak for itself.

Victoria slowly sat back and was quiet now.

Her mouth may have been closed but her eyes were full of confusion.

I didn’t hate her, she didn’t know I was his wife, but now she did.

Once she pulled herself together, Dom gave her the floor.

“Tell me exactly what was said between you and El Blanca before the hit.”

Victoria slowly licked her lips. “I called him, and I told him I wanted answers. He flipped out and told me you weren’t loyal anymore…

that you were pulling away.” She explained.

Dom didn’t flinch. He just leaned on the counter and stared like he was already thinking ten steps ahead.

Victoria looked down and continued. “He told me I’d regret it if I stayed with you…

I think I’ve been a pawn this whole time. ”

“You sure the men had the tattoo?” Dom asked.

She nodded. “It was definitely one of El Blanca’s. I’ve seen it all my life all over the compounds, the mansions, and the shootouts.”

That was all Dom needed to hear. His silence was loud as hell.

I could see the killer instinct behind his eyes.

He was already plotting. While Dom and Tone exchanged a quick look, my phone vibrated in my bag from an unknown number.

It could’ve been someone at the office or someone about business especially on this line.

I stepped a few feet away with the phone to my ear and cautiously answered. “Hello?”

“I ain’t heard from you,” a familiar voice said in a low tone. “You really got me in some shit huh?”

Hearing Dru’s voice caused my stomach to drop but I kept my face straight. Dom was still in my peripheral, while talking low to Tone. I slightly turned my back to the room. “Dru, this ain’t the time…”

“You gon’ tell me what that was? I got knocked out and I was tied up, Carmen.

My head still hurt from that shit. What the fuck is goin’ on?

I damn sho’ feel like I’m owed an answer.

Go figure, I meet a bitch at the bar and end up kidnapped a few hours.

I didn’t even sniff the pussy. Who the fuck are you for real ‘cause niggas aren’t comin’ like that unless its behind somebody important. ”

I sighed. I didn’t owe him a damn thing, but maybe I did, who knows. All I knew was that now wasn’t the time at all because we had bigger fish to fry. “I’ll explain everything, I swear… but not now. Don’t call this number again. I’ll reach out when it’s safe,” I said, keeping my voice emotionless.

Dru started to say something else, but I ended the call and silenced the ringer just in case he called back.

My heart was pounding loud in my chest, but I walked back like I didn’t just get caught playing with fire a few seconds ago.

Dom’s eyes landed on mine, and it was a quiet but knowing glare almost as if he knew something.

He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he knew something was up.

I exhaled and straightened my top before looking over at Victoria who was now fully aware of how deep this family shit ran.

She wasn’t just dealing with Dom; she was dealing with The Royals and that came with a price.

Victoria sat there quiet now, still processing what Dom had just revealed.

She wasn’t stupid. The name “Mrs. Royal” sat on her chest like a weight.

Dom leaned back against the marble island, with his arms folded across his chest waiting for her to gather herself with the same serious expression.

“Call him,” he ordered. Victoria looked up and frowned. “El Blanca,” he said. “Call him now.”

She slowly nodded her head, pulling her phone out of the front pocket of her sweats.

Her hands trembled as she hit the contact and put it on speaker.

We’re sorry, this line is no longer in service.

She blinked and tried again. “No, no,” she whispered, fumbling with the phone.

“That don’t make sense…” Victoria’s chest heaved up and down like she was trying not to lose it.

She rushed to grab her tablet off the table, tapping at it furiously.

Dom, Tone, and I watched her without moving.

She opened one banking app and then another before realizing they were all at zero balance.

“W-what the fuck…” Her voice cracked. “He emptied my accounts… all of them…”

Her hand shot up to her mouth as tears welled up and she dropped down onto the couch.

The tears were coming slowly at first and then they broke loose, and she was ugly crying with a lot of panic behind it.

For a split second, Dom’s jaw tensed, and I saw it.

He didn’t move to console her, but his energy gave off some type of pity.

That stone-cold heart of his cracked just enough to acknowledge what this meant.

Victoria was now his responsibility. El Blanca had officially thrown her ass away.

I stood quietly for a second before I stepped over to her. “Victoria,” I said, in a sharp yet calming tone.

She looked up at me with hatred in her eyes, and it was the kind of hatred because I had everything she wanted.

I had the freedom, the man, the life, and the throne.

It was born from jealousy, confusion, and humiliation.

That woman wanted to be me, and I saw it clear as day, but I didn’t bring it up because I didn’t give a single fuck.

“Come talk to me for a minute,” I said, gently, but firmly tugging her by the arm.

Her eyes shot down to my hand on her arm.

She didn’t want to follow me, but she did anyway just to save face in front of Dom.

We stepped into the hallway right outside the living room and she folded her arms across her chest trying to hold onto whatever dignity she had left, but her eyes were still wet and bloodshot red.

Her cheeks were flushed too but still couldn’t deny how pretty she was, and I never would because that’s the truth.

“I see the distaste in your eyes,” I said calmly.

“That shit doesn’t move me.” I said. She rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything and that was the best thing that she could’ve done.

“You thought you were doing something, huh? You thought sucking Dom’s dick was going to give you a piece of the kingdom?

” I leaned closer, and lowered my voice, however I wasn’t spitting venom, at least not yet.

“Let me give you some game, woman to woman. That was the first and last time I’ll ever offer it.

” I told her. Victoria’s breath got caught in her throat and I continued.

“If you want to play in a big girl’s world, stop crying like a weak ass lil’ girl.

Ain’t nobody going to save you out here, and damn sure not in this life.

You want to be safe? You build your own shelter.

You want to be powerful? Learn how to move without a leash. ”

Her lips began to quiver. “You knew?”

I slightly tilted my head to the side with a smirk on my face. “Baby, I always know and don’t think for a second it fazed me,” I said, stepping even closer. “Because at the end of the day, when it comes to Dom, there’s only one woman he’s protecting with his life and you’re looking at her.”

Was I pissed about their encounter? Of course I was, but rule number one… don’t ever let the next woman know that the right side of the heart is fucked up about the left. Victoria didn’t respond because she knew she couldn’t and plus, she’d swallowed too much of the truth at one damn time today.

I leaned back, still calm. “Get your shit together and boss up. That’s the best advice you’ll ever get from me and the last.” I said before turning around and strutting out the hallway without looking back.

I walked over to Dom next. He hadn’t moved from his spot and his eyes never left me.

I leaned up for a second and kissed him on the cheek before leaning into his ear.

“I need a shadow… I’m heading home. I’ll be ready for tomorrow’s meeting.

” I told him. He simply nodded once because it was no words needed in this moment.

We’d had a beautiful time of him really treating me like his wife and now…

it was over, back to business. With that, I grabbed my bag and left the penthouse like a queen leaving the throne room.

I didn’t even look back. Victoria could cry all night if she wanted but this wasn’t a life for tears.

I learned that the hard way years ago, and right now, I had shit to do.