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Meco chuckled, rubbing his hand down his face. “Y’all ain't even been married that long for this kinda shit. What you been doing to her?”

“Me?” Lo questioned incredulously. “Why not ask why her ass is being a cheating-ass bitch?”

“You don't even know if she’s cheating though. It’s speculation.”

A knowing expression covered Lo’s countenance. “You know when I got a feeling about something, it’s always true. Just like when I told you Desirae was a fucking snake.”

Meco nodded. “Yeah, you don't be wrong, but why you think she’s cheating on you? What are you not doing?”

Conversation ceased as Lo retreated to his thoughts. He hadn’t been on his shit when it came to Bria, that he could admit, but she had a duty to be a faithful wife. His actions weren’t the blame for her stepping out on him. Lo refused to take the accountability for that.

“I already know you been giving her ass hell,” Meco noted.

He hated having a twin that was so in tune with him. Lo could never get anything past Meco.

“Listen, you can’t treat her like you treat the hoes you run through. Your wife is different. You gotta open up and show her a softer side. Be nice to her, nigga. When is the last time y’all went out on a date?”

Pulling on his beard, Lo confessed, “We haven’t.”

Meco peered at him like he had sprouted two heads. “What the fuck? Y’all been married for what? Almost two months and you ain't took her out?”

“I’ve been busy.” Lo shrugged.

“Bro, you on bullshit. No wonder her ass is creepin’ on you.”

Lo cut his eyes at Meco. “So, she gets a pass for fucking on the next nigga?”

“No, but you ain't giving her no reason to be faithful. I’m not saying what she’s doing is right but you ain't easy to deal with.

Do you ask her about her day? Call her just so she can hear your voice?

Do you send flowers? Ain't she a dancer? Do you rub her feet after a long day? Do you draw a bath for her? Make her feel like the only girl in the world? What the fuck do you do?”

Lo was ashamed to say that he didn’t pour anything into Bria.

“You don't do shit, huh?”

Although he was right, Lo couldn’t confess it. His pride wouldn’t allow him to reveal how he had been treating Bria like an extra in a movie.

“Listen, Lo, women need attention, and they need love. They need to know that you're interested in them. You can’t be treating your wife like she don't mean shit to you. I understand that this was an arranged situation, but you can at least make the best of it. Open up and stop dogging her out.”

That was easy for Meco to say. Opening himself up would require Lo to expose his past and he couldn’t stomach that reality. No one knew about the prison he lived in. He couldn’t make a move without his past dictating his current existence. Opening up was more terrifying than one could imagine.

“So, what you gon’ do if she’s cheating on you?” Meco quizzed.

“Crash out.”

Meco snickered. “Don't go too far.”

“I don't wanna hear that shit. She gon’ pay for her crimes against me,” he joked.

The two shared a laugh before he spotted two figures walking. Narrowing his eyes, he spotted Bria. What angered him was her hand placement. Holding hands with another man almost made Lo explode. Again, he hoped she would have proven him wrong, but the actuality of her betrayal was right before him.

“Damn,” Meco drawled, shaking his head. “I was hoping you was on some paranoid shit.”

Yeah, me too…

Witnessing another man hug Bria around her waist and she wrap her arms around his neck almost had him seeing red.

Despite his temper, Lo maintained self-control.

He needed to see how far her deceit would go.

Seconds later, he was crushed when she kissed him with so much passion, it literally made him nauseous.

“You gon’ get out the car?”

Lo smacked his lips. “The fuck? Do I look like a bitch to you?”

Meco tipped his head back, chortling. “I thought you would get out on some Cheater’s type shit.”

He shook his head, watching Bria get in the car and the man close her door. Tapping the roof of her car, he walked away as she drove off.

“Nah, I’ma do this shit my way.”

Meco smirked at him. “I don't even wanna ask.”

“Then don't. It’s ‘bout to get ugly for her ass.”

One day later…

Bria stood in the kitchen, sipping on a cup of coffee while gazing out the bay window.

The last twenty-four hours had been so terribly hard on her mental.

She’d committed a sin that would require heavy repenting.

Although, she was upset by Dough having to leave abruptly, she knew it was a save on her behalf.

She had no business allowing him between her legs when she was carrying the last name of another man.

In her moment of rage, she had chosen to be unfaithful, and it brought her great remorse.

Bria hadn’t seen nor heard from Lo. Normally, it would upset her with him not coming home but she was thankful for the distance.

That way he wouldn’t be able to see the stain of Dough that was left on her.

When she got home, Bria scrubbed her body of any remnants of him.

She vowed never to put herself in the position to fall into temptation.

The sound of the garage door prompted Bria’s body to steel.

Her chest heaved as she placed the coffee on the table.

How was she to act? Normal, right? Or should she avoid him and busy herself around the house?

Yeah, that was it. Bria opened the pantry and began pulling items out.

The kitchen door opened, and she walked farther inside, acting as if she was rearranging items. Lo’s heavy footsteps drew closer, provoking her hands to tremble while pulling boxes of food out.

His presence was strong as he stood in the doorway.

Bria had no choice but to look at him and when she did, she exhaled.

Black seemed to be his color. Donning a black hoodie with black jeans and black Timbs, he stared at her with eyes she couldn’t read.

Lo walked toward her, and Bria winced. Did he know about her indiscretion?

Was the stench of her betrayal so potent that he could smell it?

She wasn’t sure and when Lo gently grabbed her chin and kissed her lips, Bria was muddled.

In the midst of her confusion, she consumed him with the need of an addict.

Why did his lips taste so good? Bria was so pissed at him for holding back for so long.

All she ever wanted was to connect with him on a level that wasn’t just surface.

Lo pulled back, gazing into her eyes with his toasted brown irises.

There was a spell in his orbs. One that would’ve been activated the day she first met him, but Lo hadn’t been receptive to her.

“I’m sorry for upsetting you last night. Do you forgive me?”

Bria’s eyes expanded, stunned by his apology. This was Mr. I do what I want. Lo didn’t care about her feelings so hearing him apologize was a nice treat.

Too shocked to talk, she nodded confirmation. Lo explored her face with intent before licking his lips.

“You feel like taking a ride with me?”

“Sure.”

“A’ight, meet me in the car.”

Lo walked away, taking his masculine scent with him.

Bria traveled upstairs and put on a lounge set.

She didn’t know what to make of this sudden change with Lo, but she received it.

After getting dressed, she walked down to the garage and got inside his Lincoln Nautilus.

Lo drove away without saying much to her.

It felt good being on the passenger side of his truck.

She wondered if her rant had prompted this sudden change in him.

They’d argued before but last night had been the worst of their debates.

Lo grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers together.

When he kissed the back of it, a genuine beam stretched on her lips.

This was such a beautiful contrast to the man she had been forced to deal with.

It made her regret her blunder so much more.

They rode in silence and basked in each other’s company.

Lo didn’t have to say a word in this moment.

This had been the most affection he’d shown her, and she wanted to stay in this mood.

After a forty-minute drive, Lo pulled down a long driveway and parked in front of a dilapidated building.

“What’s this?” Bria wondered aloud.

“It’s something special inside for you. Come on.”

Lo got out first and rounded the car to open the door.

Bria stepped out, cautiously looking at the building that could use more siding and new windows.

Lo unlocked the door with a key, and they entered.

Surprisingly, it was empty as he walked toward another door that looked like a vault.

Lo pulled it open, and they walked inside.

Bria looked around at what looked like a lab.

The color was drab with several cabinets, a freezer, and a long sterile table.

The temp was chilly, urging Bria to rub her hands down her arms to warm up.

Lo was in front of her and when he stepped aside, her tracks came to a halt. Her mouth parted, unable to believe what her vision reflected.

What the fuck?

Bria’s body had become a haven for panic. Heart palpitations, bubbling guts, and the tightening of her chest had devoured her at a rapid rate.

“What’s wrong?” Lo asked with a sinister smile.

She glanced at him then at Dough whose arms were tied over his head.

Duct tape concealed his mouth while he stood on a bucket.

This was bad. So bad that Bria thought she would piss on herself because fear had seized her body.

Without warning, she ran back to the door, attempting to flee what was bound to be a crime scene.

When she pulled on the handle, it didn’t budge.

“Shit,” she whimpered, banging on the door.

Once Bria accepted the reality of being locked inside, tears leaked from her eyes.

“Come on, Bri-Bri. You gon’ miss all the fun,” Lo taunted her.