Page 57 of Rah

Part of me wondered what Solae ever saw in him. But I already knew the answer. Men like Rah finesse. They talk sweet, promise the world, and love bomb a woman until a woman believes she can’t do better. I couldn’t blame her for falling for it. I just knew I wasn’t cut from that cloth.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, and she leaned into me. Now that we had heard that Moses made it out of surgery, her tears had slowed. But she was still trembling, so I pressed a kiss to the side of her head. Her hand clutched mine tightly.

Rah’s eyes cut to us. They were narrowed with jealousy he couldn’t hide. He muttered something under his breath, chuckling, trying to get a rise out of me. I didn’t bite, though. He wasn’t worth it. He could play tough all he wanted, but I saw through him. I’d seen real men, and Rah wasn’t one.

Solae suddenly sat up straighter, as her eyes caught on something at the doorway. I followed her gaze and saw Kahlani standing there, speaking in a low voice with one of the nurses. Solae shot to her feet and walked over. The two said a few things I couldn’t hear from where I sat. Whatever Kahlani said, it had Solae nodding fast in agreement.

A moment later, she came back to me. “I’m gonna go in with Kahlani to visit Moses. She doesn’t want to go in there by herself.”

I nodded and stood. “Then I’mma get out of here, unless you need me to stay.”

Her hand caught mine for a second before she let go. “No… I’m okay. You can go. You’ve done enough already.” Her eyes softened, and she managed a small smile. “Thank you for being here, Priest. Really.”

“It’s no problem. Call me if you need anything, no matter what time it is.”

She nodded, then stepped into me. I wrapped her in my arms, and she let out a breath against my chest before she pulled back.

“Be safe,” she whispered.

“You too.”

I watched her walk off toward Kahlani, and then the two of them headed down the hall together. Only when she was out of sight did I turn and make my way toward the exit.

I left the family waiting area, and the second I stepped into the hallway, I felt Rah’s eyes glued to me. Him and his little crew, the same three dudes who followed him around like puppies, stared me down like they thought I was supposed to be scared of their bitch asses. I didn’t even give them the satisfaction of a look.

Real men don’t acknowledge goofies.

As soon as I hit the quieter stretch toward the elevators, I pulled my phone out and hit Blu. He picked up on the second ring. “Yo.”

“I need you to do something for me.”

“What you need?”

“Find out who Solae’s ex really is. I got a feeling about him. He moves funny. I don’t trust his character, and if he’s tied to Solae, I need to know what’s what.”

Blu chuckled darkly. “Say less. I’ll look into it. Just send me his name and where he’s from.”

I hung up, sliding the phone back into my pocket as the elevator doors opened. I didn’t know exactly what Rah’s game was, but I knew one thing for sure: men like him always showed their hand sooner or later.

AALIYAH

By the time his key was in the door, I had had two glasses of 1800 and a splash of lime juice. The edge was off. Yet, every time I recalled seeing his slob on this heffa’s titty, my skin crawled. Not only was he cheating, but he was also having sleepovers with these hoes. Sex plus time equals feelings. That’s why the bitch felt comfortable enough to send me that picture.

I tried to meet Rah at the door. Yet, he was moving so fast that by the time I made it into the living room, he was disappearing into the bedroom. I sat my glass down on the dining room table as I passed by because I could just see myself throwing it at his head in rage.

The room was dark, so I couldn’t see Rah anywhere. Once flipping the light on, I could see him deep inside the small walk–in closet.

The light coming on in the bedroom announced my presence.

He spoke to me, “What’s up, baby?”

I sat on the bed, allowing him to finish whatever the hell he was doing. “You tell me.”

“Moses is going to be in the hospital for a while. But he’s alive. I really thank God for that, ya’ know?”

“Right.” I bit. I was happy that Moses was alive, but I just could not shake this feeling long enough to respect what Rah was going through by holding my tongue.

The phone was still on the bed. I reached for it, opened it, and went to the pic that was sent to me. Just as I stood to go into the closet, Rah was coming out. I met him in the middle of the floor, ready for a fight.