Page 48 of Perfect Rhythm

NYX

“This no good son of a bitch,” I whispered under my breath.

Jassi leaned into my ear. “I thought he was in jail.”

“I thought so too.”

My eyes didn’t leave the entrance. Grinning from ear to ear as he stood side by side with Enzo, Mecca slapped hands, gave hugs, and dapped people up like he was some kind of hero.

It was wild how many people surrounded him, showing love like he hadn’t just been arrested for attacking my best friend.

But that’s the industry for you. If you’re a man, and you’ve got enough money behind your name, people will ignore the grimy shit you do behind closed doors.

Especially if it has anything to do with hurting women.

“Hey, you ready to go?” Shade’s voice cut through the noise, his hand gripping my arm.

“Go?” Jassi questioned, confused. “But Noni G hasn’t even played anything yet. I’m sure she’s going to start as soon as her security gets rid of that clown.”

“Nah, we need to go now.” He nodded toward me. “I know that look. Nyx is seconds away from snapping. If I let it happen, I’m going to have to step in and handle Mecca’s ass.”

“I don’t need you to handle him. I can do it myself.”

“Trust me, I know you can. But I won’t let you,” he said low and serious. “Because if that nigga so much as flinches in your direction, I’m putting his ass down.”

“Shade—”

“No, Nyx. Let’s go. Now!”

His eyes were locked on me, dark and unmoving. They demanded obedience.

I lowered my gaze, knowing this wasn’t a fight I was going to win. But I hated that Mecca’s arrival was ruining the evening.

“Well, at least send a car for Jassi and Xandie to get home. I don’t want to be the reason their night ends early.”

“Oh my God, yes, please send us a car,” Xandie pleaded.

Jassi gave him a puppy dog stare and rested her head against his arm.

“Alright, fine.” Shade sighed. “But remember what I said about Enzo. Stay the hell away from him and anyone else in his crew. That includes Mecca.”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s going to be an issue.” Jassi nodded toward the two men who were standing in front of Mecca. Their arms were folded over their chests and they wore a mean mug that made it clear they weren’t to be toyed with.

We couldn’t hear what was being said, but the intensity of the exchange was pretty obvious. Mecca was being put out.

Good.

I hoped he was so overcome with shame that he didn’t show his face at shit else in this city. But I knew that was wishful thinking on my part. Mecca was the type to believe that there were no consequences for his actions, and he could sweet talk his way out of anything.

I tilted my head as I noticed his disapproving gaze.

This fool isn’t moving.

“What the hell? Why doesn’t he just leave?” I shouted. “Nobody wants him here.”

“Because he has too much damn pride,” Shade said. “That shit always gets in the way. Maybe I should go talk to him.”

I shot him a stern look. “I think the fuck not. You’re the last person who needs to have that conversation. Just seconds ago, you were talking about killing him, and let’s not forget about how you were after he attacked Skye. Your head was in the same place then too.”

Shade looked like he wanted to challenge me, but he couldn’t. He knew I was right. Their crossing paths tonight was a recipe for disaster.

“You know what? Fine,” Shade said, throwing his hands up. “I’ll stay out of it. If he gets himself killed, his blood won’t be on my hands.”

“Exactly.”

Finally, one of the security guys reached for Mecca’s arm, but he jerked away before the guard could get a grip, shrugging him off and turning toward the door with a dismissive glare.

I let out a quiet sigh, annoyed by his little show, then turned to Shade. “Before we go, I’m going to stop by the bathroom.”

“Okay, I’ll come with you.”

I pressed my hand against his chest. “Relax, I’m not going to do anything stupid. I promise.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Wow, so little faith.” I laughed.

“In this situation, you’re damn right. I have no faith at all.”

I rolled my eyes playfully. “Fine. You can come with me. But you have to wait outside while I pee. Unless...” I raised a brow and slid my arms around his neck. “You want to lock the door and do something else.”

“Oh, so that’s what we’re on now? You do realize we’re in public, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Which means people can see us, and bloggers are probably taking hundreds of photos of us right now?”

“Let them take all the photos they want. I don’t even care anymore.”

“Damn, okay.”

I couldn’t stop staring at him. Every part of me was buzzing with emotions I couldn’t name.

But all of them felt right. The way he didn’t hesitate to shut everything down just to protect me?

It did something to me. I didn’t care who was watching.

I didn’t care what people had to say. I didn’t even care about the risk I was taking by giving him my heart.

I just wanted to hold on to the way he made me feel and enjoy the moment.

But first...I had to pee.

“Okay, sorry,” I said as I started to bounce a little. “I definitely gotta go.”

“Come on.” He grabbed my hand and led me down the stairs.

Mecca still hadn’t left the building. He was taking his sweet time dapping people up and saying his goodbyes.

“He’s so fucking extra,” I whispered.

“Couldn’t be me escorting his ass out,” Trace spoke behind us. “He would’ve been laid out on the concrete by now.”

I didn’t doubt that one bit. Once Trace made it clear that it was time to exit, that was the only option. It was simply get the fuck out before he put a bullet in your head or smash a fist into your skull.

“Looks like Noni G needs to be getting some new security,” Shade said while looking back at me.

I shrugged and looked over at Trace. “Maybe you should give her your card.”

“I don’t go looking for work. It finds me.”

Laughing, I sucked my teeth. “Oh, well, excuse me, big shot. I guess I forgot who I was talking to.”

“Yeah, I guess you did.”

Trace was such a smart ass. But I gave him a pass since he was a man with a gun, and pretty damn good at using it. Plus, I liked the way he had Shade’s back, and not just because he was paid to.

“Aye, Nyx,” Mecca called out just as we made it to the other side of the club. “Let me holler at you outside for a second.”

My eyes widened. I know damn well this fool ain’t talking to me.

“Nah, just keep it moving,” Shade stepped in without looking his way.

“Yo,” Mecca said, his voice loud enough to cut through the crowd. “You need to talk to your girl and tell her to quit fucking lying on me. I just went over there to talk. All that other shit she claimed happened, didn’t.”

I felt my insides start to boil.

There was no way he was serious. I heard the shit myself.

“Do not respond to him,” Shade whispered.

“But he’s lying.”

“I don’t care. Let him say what he wants.”

I took a deep breath and tried to focus on our destination.

“Damn, Shade. It’s like that?” Mecca continued. “I thought we were boys.”

We kept walking.

“Alright, cool,” he said, bitterness dripping from his tongue. “I see how it is. You don’t give a fuck about your boys now that you finally got that bitch on your arm, huh?”

Shade stopped mid-step, and like the universe knew what time it was, the music did too.

My stomach dropped. Fuck.