Page 32 of Imperial: The Corvidae Family

Chapter

Nineteen

Baylyn

Emir had been off for days. Distracted and caught up in his own head. He wasn’t exactly distant but his mind was somewhere else, and I wasn’t stupid enough to pretend I didn’t notice.

This morning was no different.

I watched him from the entrance to the kitchen as I finished pulling on his hoodie.

He moved through the kitchen like he was on autopilot.

The coffee was brewing, but he wasn’t drinking it.

His phone was next to him on the counter, screen lighting up every few seconds with notifications, but he barely glanced at it.

His head was somewhere else. Somewhere I wasn’t.

I crossed the room and stepped inside, planting myself between him and the counter. “Okay,” I said, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. “What’s going on?”

He barely reacted, just reached around me for his coffee. “Nothing.”

“Bullshit. You haven’t been the same since you went to meet your brothers a couple days ago. Don’t play with me.”

His jaw tightened. Not in irritation but more like he was bracing himself. “I told you, it’s nothing.”

“And I told you if you’re not honest with me, this won’t work.”

He arched a brow and grinned, then stared at me like he was deciding how much to say. “Baylyn?—”

“No,” I cut in, stepping closer. “You keep telling me I have to trust you. You know what you’re doing and I don’t need to worry about what’s going on in your world.

Fine, I rock with that, but I’m also not stupid.

I know when something’s weighing on you, and if you’re distracted, then I’m not safe. ”

That made him pause.

I watched his expression shift and his fingers flex like he was fighting the urge to reach for me. He was debating. I could see it in the way his eyes moved, scanning my face, weighing the risk of telling me the truth versus shutting me out.

Then amusement moved across his face.

“You’re really arguing me down in my own damn kitchen?”

I shrugged and locked my arms over my chest. “Yep.”

His lips twitched like he was fighting a grin, but it faded fast. He set his cup down and ran a hand over his beard, exhaling before finally meeting my eyes again.

“Yair found something on Trent. Did a deep dive and pulled up some shit we didn’t know about.”

I leaned against the counter, waiting.

“He has a sister,” Emir continued. “Eighteen years old and two months ago, he transferred the last of his money into a trust for her. Half a million. Then he transferred his properties too.”

I frowned. “That sounds like?—”

“He’s planning to disappear,” Emir finished. “Or die . But based on the way he’s moving and how well he knows me, I’m betting on the last one.”

“You think he’s setting you up.”

“Not think,” Emir corrected. “Know.”

His voice was calm and steady, but I saw the edge beneath his relaxed posture.

“Trent wants to die with honor,” he continued.

“And he wants to ruin me in the process. If I kill him without proof that he came after me, it will go against code. He’s trying to make it so that when I pull that trigger, I’m the one who loses everything. ”

“You won’t, will you?”

“No,” he agreed. “Because I’m not stupid enough to walk into his trap.”

I hesitated, piecing everything together, then shaking my head. “We have proof.”

Emir frowned. “What you mean?”

I grabbed my phone off the counter and pulled up my social media. “Remember those flowers you sent me? And the ones that showed up on my car that night at the club?”

His eyes narrowed and I saw the anger he carried from feeling like he’d left me exposed. I didn’t blame him. As much as Emir believed he could control the entire world, he couldn’t. “Yeah.”

I swiped through my screenshots since I had unfollowed and blocked the account, then turned the screen to face him. “And this.” I held up the page of the second account that followed me after I met Emir.

He took the phone, studying the images and his jaw was tight right before his fingers slid into my hair. He pulled me closer, dropping his mouth to mine in a kiss so deep and possessive it had me gripping his arms to keep steady. When he pulled back, his eyes were dark with satisfaction.

“Damn,” he muttered. “With everything going on, I forgot all about this shit. I’m sure Yair did too. Your pretty ass really does fit in my world.”

“So this helps?”

“This and all the other shit we have is just what we need. I’m about to remind Yair about this account. If he can link this shit to Trent, when I drop that muthafucker nobody will say a damn thing. They’ll know it was justified because he was on some bitch shit.”

I smiled big as hell. “So I helped.”

His eyes stayed on mine as he slid my phone back into my hands. “Yeah, Bay. You helped.”

I grinned. “So that means I’m official now?”

Before he could answer, I tapped my finger against his chest, making a mock gun motion. “I’m in the game.”

Emir barked out a laugh, shaking his head. “Hell no. You will never be that close to what I do.”

I pouted, but he just pulled me closer, gripping my waist. “Trust me, you don’t want that shit on your conscience. Just know I got you.”

“Because my man is a shooter?”

He smirked again with his hands gripping my ass as he lifted me onto the counter. “Damn right.”

Emir had left a little while ago and I was still lounging in his kitchen, scrolling through my phone when a knock at the door pulled my attention.

I frowned, pushing up from my seat. Nobody ever just showed up here so I pulled up the cameras like Emir showed me and noticed his mother standing on his front porch. I quickly raked my fingers through my hair and immediately pulled the door open. “Mrs. Corvidae, hey.”

She slowly raised a brow and I grinned. “Elena, sorry.”

I stepped back. “Come in.”

She took her time crossing the threshold and her eyes moved around the house like she was cataloging everything. I couldn’t blame her. If I walked into my son’s house and found a woman here half-dressed I would have questions too.

“I was looking for Emir,” she said smoothly. “But clearly, I missed him.”

I nodded. “He’s with Yair and Kades.”

“I figured but you’re here.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a question or a statement. Either way, I lifted my chin. “I am.”

Something passed over her face, curiosity, maybe a little amusement. Then she surprised me.

“Well, I don’t plan on leaving just yet. Since I’m here, how about lunch?”

I blinked. “You want to have lunch?”

She raised a brow. “You don’t eat?”

I nodded. “I do.”

“Good,” she said, making herself comfortable at the table. “Then go ahead and make us something.”

I bit my lip, amused at how easily she decided to stay, but I liked that she was comfortable with me. I damn sure wasn’t intimidated just because she was Emir’s mother.

I moved around the kitchen and decided to make something quick, pulling out what I needed for sandwiches. She watched me thoughtfully as I worked.

“You’re comfortable here.”

I glanced up. “Should I not be?”

“I didn’t say that.”

I shrugged, finishing up the sandwiches and setting a plate in front of her before grabbing two bottles of water.

She picked up her sandwich, studying me over the top of it. “You and my son are new, yeah?”

I hesitated, wiping my hands on a napkin. “Yes, we’re new.”

“But you’re comfortable in his home and with him I presume since you’ve had dinner at my house.”

I smiled. “I am.”

She nodded like she understood that more than I expected. “And how do you feel about my son?”

I didn’t hesitate that time. “I really care about him.”

Her expression didn’t change. “Care about him?”

“I want a future with Emir.”

That seemed to satisfy her. She took a bite of her sandwich, chewing like she was considering my words.

“You know who he is.”

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “Yes. I know.”

That got a reaction. Her brows lifted, like she hadn’t been expecting my confirmation. “Interesting.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because Emir doesn’t tell people about that part of his life. Not unless he has to.” She leaned back in her chair, watching me closely. “I’m assuming you knowing was voluntarily on his part, and if he’s told you, then that means you’re not just passing through.”

I frowned and nodded chewing the corner of my lip.

She sighed, setting her sandwich down. “You have questions.”

I hesitated and she waved a hand motioning for me to proceed. “Go ahead and ask whatever you want. I’ll be as honest as I can.”

I glanced down, collecting my thoughts, then looked up. “He told me that your husband is the same or was the same as him. What’s it like?”

Her brow lifted. “What’s what like?”

“Loving a man like him.”

Something shifted in her expression which turned softer and more nostalgic.

“It’s like loving any other man. You put your heart on the line. You love hard. You worry about his well-being and his safety.” She exhaled with her eyes distant like she was remembering something. “But it’s worth it.”

I stayed quiet, letting her speak.

“A man like Emir who lives on the edge and walks in danger loves so incredibly hard, because he never knows when a moment might be his last.” Her eyes locked onto mine.

“So when he loves, he loves thoroughly. With everything in him. It’s unlike anything you can imagine. My boys are just like their father.”

I nodded, absorbing her words. Emir was intense and all-consuming, so I understood exactly what she meant.

“Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

A smile spread across my face. “Yeah. I think I do.”

Elena took another bite of her sandwich, chewing and swallowing before setting it down. “So, what about you?”

I blinked. “What about me?”

“You’ve asked all about Emir and this life but what about yours?”

I hesitated, then shrugged. “Not much to tell.”

“Now, see, I don’t believe that.”

I grinned. “I’m an event planner.”

She nodded. “That’s right. Emir mentioned it a few times. He’s very proud of you.”

“He is?”

Her lips curved. “Of course. You don’t already know that?”

He tells me all the time but I didn’t really read much into it.

“I do.”

“Okay, so is that all? Just an event planner?”

“Well… I work for someone now but I’m actually thinking about starting my own company.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” I said slowly, fidgeting with my plate. “I love what I do, but working under someone else has its limits. I want more control. More freedom to build something that reflects me, my vision.”

Elena studied me for a moment, then asked, “So what’s stopping you?”

“Everything.”

“Be specific.”

“The risks. The uncertainty. The idea of failing. What if I sink everything into this and it doesn’t work out?”

She leaned back, considering my words before speaking. “You ever think about what happens if it does work?”

I frowned and she shrugged. “Fear is real, but it’s also a choice. You can let it stop you or you can let it push you. If you spend too much time worrying about the what-ifs, you’ll wake up one day realizing you wasted time and opportunity.”

I sat with that for a second.

Her voice was steady but encouraging. “If you know this is what you want, start planning. Put things in place so that when the time comes, you’re ready.”

“And if I fail?”

She gave me a knowing look. “Then you get up, dust yourself off, and figure out your next step.”

Something about the way she said it made me relax. Like it really was that simple.

I smiled. “You give good advice, thank you.”

“I know.”

I laughed.

“You have an amazing opportunity as a Black woman, Baylyn. Don’t let fear stop you from going after it, whether it’s business or my son.”

Her words settled over me, but in the best way.

“I won’t.”