Page 33 of Perfect Rhythm

SHADE

“Hey, can you pass me that bag of screws?” I asked Jassi, studying the pieces of her desk like they were some rare exhibit at a museum.

Looking up from her phone, she grabbed the small pouch beside her feet and handed it to me. “Here.”

“Thank you.”

“Mmhmm.”

That was the most she’d said to me since I’d arrived at her apartment forty-five minutes ago.

It didn’t matter that I was sitting in her living room in the middle of the afternoon putting together some shit that she could’ve done herself.

The only thing that mattered was the grudge she was determined to hold about what happened at the party the other night.

“So, what’s up? How’s everything been since school started?”

“Everything’s cool.”

“Really?” I placed the power drill down beside me. “That’s all you have to say?”

“Yep.”

“Come on, Jassi. It’s been three days since that shit went down with Enzo. You’re still pissed at me?”

“Yep.”

“Alright, fine.” I sighed. “I’m sorry for acting crazy. But I told you I don’t trust that nigga.”

“Why?”

“Don’t worry about all that.”

She returned to looking at her phone. “And that’s why I’m going to stay pissed at you. You can’t publicly embarrass me, tell me not to be around someone, and give me no reason as to why. It’s not fair.”

I blew out a heavy breath. She wasn’t wrong. But at the same time, I just needed her to trust me on the matter.

“Look, Enzo isn’t all there. I’ve witnessed him do some crazy shit, and I don’t want you to get mixed up in what he has going on.”

“Crazy shit like what?”

I lined up the power drill with the screw, holding it steady. “You’re really going to make me tell you?”

“If you want me to stop being mad at you, yes.”

My shoulders sank.

As much as I wanted to protect my sister from the bullshit, I was starting to realize that keeping her in the dark probably wasn’t the answer.

I placed the drill back down on the floor and let out a deep sigh. “Enzo’s been in the music business for a while, and for the most part, if you want a hit, he’s the person you want to connect with.”

Nodding, Jassi folded her arms over her chest. “Okay.”

“I linked up with him shortly after I released my first single, and I was excited as hell to be working with him. Shit, who wouldn’t be?

” I shrugged. “The first few weeks after meeting up, we kicked it pretty hard. He’s big on throwing parties, so I was hanging with him damn near every night.

Getting drunk, hooking up with different women.

..all that shit. My ass was living the life. But all that changed in an instant.”

I swallowed hard, throat tightening as the memory forced its way to the surface.

“What happened?”

“One night, we were at the studio, and I saw him bring in these young chicks. And when I say young, I’m talking really young. Like, fresh out of junior high going into high school, young.”

Jassi frowned. “What? Eww.”

“Right. I thought I was tripping, so I asked him if he checked their IDs. But I didn’t need an ID to know they were too damn young to be in a room full of grown ass niggas. But he pretty much told me he didn’t give a damn about any of that because he loved breaking young bitches in.”

“Wait a minute, so are you telling me that Enzo is a fucking pedophile?”

“Oh, that’s not even the half of it.” I started working on the desk again.

“I was pretty lit, so I was waiting for my driver to pick me up and take me to the crib. I wasn’t about to sit around and watch him fuck off with little girls.

But while I was waiting outside, I saw Enzo drag one of them out of the studio.

He was beating the shit out of her…I’m talking fist to the face. ”

Jassi gasped, her hand slamming against her mouth. “Please tell me you?—”

“I sure the fuck did. I knocked that nigga on his ass and showed him what a fist felt like against his own damn face. It took everyone in the building to get me off of him.”

“What did he do?”

“He didn’t do shit. I mean, he tried to claim that he would fuck up my career, but at the time, I had the number one song in the country. Not to mention, he knew who I had connections with.” I shrugged. “So, I wasn’t really fucked up.”

Laughing, my sister shook her head. “When you say connections, are you referring to who I think you’re referring to?”

“Damn right…and he wasn’t ready for the kind of shit they be on. So, long story short, he don’t fuck with me, and I don’t fuck with him.”

“And the girl?”

I shook my head. “I tried to help her and give her a ride to the hospital. But she told me to go fuck myself and then went back in the studio with Enzo.”

“Damn, really?”

“Yep. At first, I was shocked. I even reached out to my manager at the time and let him know what was up. But he didn’t seem to care either. He pretty much laughed it off and told me that Enzo was just being Enzo.”

“Wow.”

I nodded. “That’s when I learned that because of who he was, that nigga could get away with anything, and I didn’t want any parts of it. So, that’s why I was clowning the other night. I was truly looking out for you.”

She sighed. “I wish you would’ve just told me that. I could’ve made the right decision on my own.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Jassi wrapped her arms around my neck. “I knew you weren’t acting crazy for no reason. I just really wanted you to tell me,” she whispered. “Thank you for always looking out for me.”

“No doubt.”

“But no more of your security. I think I’m good on my own.”

“I don’t know about all that. I still need to feel comfortable.”

She gave me a stern glare. “I’m serious, Shade. No more security. You’re the famous one, not me.”

“Alright, fine. But if anything pops off that makes me feel like you could be in danger, your ass is getting security for the rest of your life. Understood?”

She rolled her eyes and strolled back over to the couch. “Mmhmm.”

“I’m not playing.”

“I know you aren’t.” She waved me off and curled her legs beneath her. “Anyway, let’s talk about something more important. How are things with you and Nyx? Are y’all boyfriend and girlfriend yet?”

Purposely not looking in her direction, I focused on making sure the last few screws I’d put in were as tight as they should be. “No, we’re not.”

“What’s the holdup? According to the blogs, her and Eli aren’t even together anymore.”

I exhaled slowly.

I really didn’t want to talk about it.

“It’s not that simple.”

“Why not?”

“Well, for starters, she just got out of a relationship with someone she couldn’t trust.”

“Oh, I see, so she doesn’t feel like she can trust you?”

“Not yet. Well, not with me being?—”

“A fuckboy?” Jassi blurted before laughing.

“I was going to say not with me being in this industry. My reputation isn’t exactly the best when it comes to settling down with women.”

“So...a fuckboy, like I said.”

“Can you please stop calling me that shit? I’ve never not been honest about my intentions when it comes to women. They know exactly what they’re getting from me.”

“Which is nothing.”

“Exactly.”

“Until, Nyx,” she said with a cheesy grin.

“Are you really doing this right now?”

“I’m just trying to get an understanding of what’s going on here.”

“Well, now that you’re done analyzing me, do you have some actual suggestions? Because I haven’t heard from her since she went to her father’s birthday dinner last night.”

I tried not to act on it, but I was feeling some kind of way about her going back to her crib. Especially since she didn’t even bother telling me.

Thankfully, I had one of my people swing by her apartment to make sure she was good. I would’ve done it myself, but I got the feeling she needed some space.

“Damn, what did you do?” Jassi questioned.

“I didn’t do anything.”

Well...besides fuck her again after she put her little boundaries in place.

Maybe that was the issue.

But she seemed fine when she left.

“Have you told her how you feel?”

“Yes, of course.”

“No, not on that macho nacho shit you be talking.”

Amused, I shook my head. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Macho nacho. You know, when you let your ego get in the way and say everything with your dick, instead of with your heart.”

I jerked my head back. “Please don’t ever say dick to me again.”

She shrugged. “I’m just telling you what I think. You can’t keep moving like you’re only thinking about one thing and expect her to think you’re not a fuckboy.”

“But I told her that’s not what I’m on.”

“Yeah, but it’s your actions, though. If she’s moving like she wants space, then you need to give her that.

At least for a little while. You need to show her that you’re really on some other shit when it comes to her.

Respect. That’s the key. She needs to know that you respect her beyond anything else.

Once she knows that, she’ll be all yours, and she won’t think twice about it. ”

I looked at my sister, a little taken aback by how mature she sounded. “Where did you learn all of this?”

“Trust me, I’m not just a pretty face. Your little sister has some brains.”

I nodded slowly. “I see.”

“Mmhmm.” She held out her hand. “That will be five hundred dollars.”

“Five hundred dollars?” I laughed. “You funny as hell.”

“I’m dead ass serious. Now, pay up.”

“What happened to all that shit about you not wanting my money?”

“After all of the headaches you’ve given me, I deserve all the coins you want to offer.”

I tilted my head to the side and pulled out some cash. “Here.”

Pushing away the bills, she grabbed the wad of money that I was slipping back into my pocket. “Thanks, big brother. Love you.” She planted a kiss on my cheek, then called Xandie into the living room. “Let’s go to the mall.”

I shook my head and looked back at Trace. “Damn, she really just played me, huh?”

“Looks that way.”

Smiling, I returned my attention to the desk. “Make sure they get to the mall safely.”

“But I thought you were done putting security on her.”

“Yeah, well, what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”