Page 20 of Perfect Rhythm

SHADE

As I crossed the parking lot, bracing myself for whatever was about to go down, one thing refused to leave me…the taste of Nyx, still fresh on my tongue.

Sweet. Addictive.

Just like before, she tasted like fucking heaven, and I couldn’t wait to explore the many flavors of her again and again. But for now, it would have to wait. I needed to handle Enzo.

As soon as we made it inside, I was flooded with eager greetings from bloggers and whatever other news source was in the room. But once it became clear who was behind me, those greetings turned into a million questions.

“Is that Nyx?”

“Are you two a couple?”

“How long have you two been dating?”

Ignoring them, my eyes darted around the mid-size room. There was a small stage near the back that housed the DJ booth, and a sleek bar along one wall. Just a few feet away was a crowded section with two round tables, which was exactly where I needed to be.

Wasting no time, I tightened my grip around Nyx’s hand and headed that way.

“Shade, my man, what are you doing here?” Enzo asked as I stepped up to his table.

He leaned back like he owned the place, wearing that smug grin that made me want to knock his chair right from under him.

“What the fuck are you doing here is the better question?”

Hearing my voice, my sister’s head snapped in my direction. She was sitting at the table next to him, oblivious to the fact that Enzo had been watching her all night.

“I’m here on business.”

I scoffed, knowing exactly what type of business he was on.

The room was filled with college girls, and quite a few of them were at his table competing for his attention.

From the outside looking in, it looked as though he was just being friendly and allowing them to get an interview with a celebrity. But I knew better.

“Yeah, okay.” I looked over at Jassi. “Let’s go!”

“Why?” Xandie questioned. “We’re just hanging out. Nothing crazy is happening.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to stick around for the crazy shit that could happen. Now, let’s go.”

Rolling her eyes, Jassi let out an irritated sigh and stood up. “Come on, girl.”

“This is so fucked up,” Xandie said as she sucked her teeth. “I told your ass not to tell him. We should’ve just did our own thing.”

“Nah, she did right.” I grabbed my sister’s hand and handed her off to Trace’s crew. “Get them out of here. No stops.”

“Will do.”

Still holding on to Nyx, I looked at Enzo. “That one?” I pointed to Jassi. “She’s off fucking limits. Don’t look at her, don’t think about her, and definitely don’t touch her.”

His grin widened as he leaned in. “And if I do?”

“Boy, don’t fuck with me!” I took a step forward, and Nyx yanked me back.

Enzo laughed. “Damn, it’s like that? You and I go way back. I thought we were cool.”

“Nigga, we ain’t never been cool, and if you fuck with my sister, you’re going to find out exactly what I mean.”

“Come on, Shade, let’s go,” Nyx whispered.

But I wasn’t ready to leave. Not yet. I needed to know if Enzo was really that stupid...stupid enough to test me and finally silence the itch that was burning through my knuckles.

“Let’s ride,” Trace said, his voice cutting through the tension.

I let the moment hang, my jaw tight.

Suddenly, I felt Nyx tug me toward the exit.

And this time, I followed.

The moment we stepped outside, Jassi was in my face, fire in her eyes. “That was uncalled for.”

“Not to me it wasn’t.” I pushed past her, walking toward the parking lot.

“Shade, you can’t do shit like this. I’m an adult. I can look after myself.”

I stopped. “Oh, really? Do you have any fucking idea who you were sitting next to?”

“Yeah, Enzo. He’s a music producer. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him, but he seemed pretty chill?—”

I got in her face. “That nigga is not chill. Stay the fuck away from him, Jassi!”

My tone alone should’ve checked her. But she wasn’t backing down. “You can’t tell me what to do. You’re not my damn Daddy.”

“But I’m still your fucking blood, and it’s my job to make sure you’re good. If I don’t, you’ll find yourself in some bad shit. I’ve seen it happen, and I’m not going to allow it to happen to you.”

“What are you even talking about?” She questioned.

I paused.

Now wasn’t the time to get into all of that.

“It doesn’t matter. Just know that I’ve seen some shit, and until I feel like you’re able to peep out the stuff that can get you hurt, I’m going to keep doing what the fuck I’m doing. Now, go get your ass in the car and go straight back to campus.”

She gave me a seething gaze, then stormed away.

Despite her being pissed, I didn’t feel the least bit guilty. One day, she would understand where I was coming from.

“You okay?” Nyx asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied, my voice lower than usual.

Trace opened the car door, and I gave her a small nod, letting her slide in before me.

“That was pretty intense,” she said.

“Yeah, it was.”

“What exactly is it that you know about Enzo? What have you seen?”

I didn’t answer right away. I just kept my eyes locked on the passing traffic.

The images that flashed in my head weren’t just bad…they were the kind that stuck with you.

“Nothing that I want to talk about,” I told her.

She let out a soft sigh, the disappointment obvious in her tone. “Fine. Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like to go home now.”

“I do mind,” I said without looking in her direction.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

She turned to look at me. “What the hell are you trying to do? Hold me hostage?”

“Not at all. Like I told you before, I’ll never do anything you don’t want me to do.”

“Okay, well, now I want to go home.”

“Why? Because I won’t tell you what you want to know?”

“No, because it’s been a long ass night, and I’ve got enough shit on my mind.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“Well, for starters, letting you eat my pussy again while I’m still tied to someone else.”

I nodded slowly. “Hmm...I could see why that would be on your mind. But you can just stay with me and sort that shit out.”

“No, I can’t,” she blurted. “In case you’ve forgotten, we were in a room full of bloggers. We’re about to be plastered all over the internet walking hand and hand like a fucking couple. Do you know what I’m about to have to deal with? Eli’s going to lose his shit.”

“Good.”

“No, not good. I’m the one that’s supposed to be losing my shit with him right now. Not the other way around.”

I looked at her, frowning. “What are you talking about?” She turned away, but I wasn’t having it. I grabbed her chin and brought her face back to mine. “I said, what are you talking about?”

She dropped her shoulders. “Well, not that it’s any of your business, but someone sent me some cryptic ass message telling me that he can’t be trusted.”

“Who? Eli?”

“Yes. But I don’t know from who, and I don’t know why they sent it?”

“Well, did you confront him about it?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m trying to figure out if it’s even worth going all crazy over.”

“If it’s on your mind, then apparently it is.” I slipped my hand into the front pocket of her hoodie and pulled out her phone. “Call him right now and ask him.”

She yanked the phone away from me. “What? No. I’m not calling him while I’m with you.”

“Shit, why not? He’s probably laid up with the other bitch right now.”

Her eyes widened. “Okay, now I’m ready to go home for real.”

“Call him, Nyx.”

“No.”

I studied her face, reading every shift in her energy. “You’re scared.”

“What?”

“You’re scared to call him because you think you might find out some shit you don’t want to hear.”

“No...no I’m not.”

“Yes, you are, and I get it. But go ahead and make that call, baby. It’s time you wrap that shit up anyway. The sooner you learn that he’s fucking another bitch, the sooner we can?—”

“Don’t say it.” She lifted her hand to stop me. “This isn’t about you and me. Eli may do a lot of crazy things, but he wouldn’t cheat on me.”

“Okay, well, if you believe that, then just ask him. Better yet, screenshot the message and send it to him. I promise you, those little bubbles are going to pop up like he’s typing.

..then nothing.” I chuckled. “He’s going to need some time to come up with a good lie for that shit.

And if I’m right—if it plays out exactly how I said—you have to spend the night with me. ”

She didn’t seem too fazed by my request as she folded her arms over her chest. “And if it doesn’t?”

“I’ll gladly take you home.”

She paused, clearly weighing everything out.

Did I expect her to actually consider it? Hell no.

But I knew one thing…closed mouths didn’t get fed, and I was ready to eat.

“Fine. I’ll ask him about it,” she finally replied.

“Cool.” I sat back, watching calmly as she sent the screenshot.

She stared at her phone for several seconds, her nails tapping on the screen.

I tried to act like I wasn’t paying attention, but I was praying that shit worked out in my favor.

When her eyes met mine again, I didn’t need her to say a word. I already knew.

Trace glanced back with a knowing smirk. “Where to, boss?”

I grinned. “My penthouse.”