Page 18 of The Cancer I Chose (BLP Signs of Love #4)

I knocked lightly on Kai’s open bedroom door. He was pacing around the small room, not even aware of my presence. His phone was pressed to his ear. “Yo, call everybody up there. I’m on the way too.”

He ended the call seconds later and tossed the phone onto the bed. “Hey, is everything okay?”

It wasn’t until I spoke that he saw me. He opened his mouth to respond but then stopped himself.

I exhaled in frustration. Kai was always allowed to be in my corner, but he never allowed me to be in his.

I was fed up with it, so I marched over to his closet and stood in the doorway with my arms folded over my chest. I was sure he felt the heat from the fire in my eyes.

“Tell me what’s going on, Kai. It’s not fair that you’re allowed to have my back but won’t allow me to do the same for you.”

He ran a hand down his face. “I don’t want to get you involved. You have enough shit on your plate with your brother.”

“Rylas hasn’t bothered me in weeks. Besides, I’m already involved.” I held my left hand where my ring sparkled all on its own. “We’re married, or did you forget?”

He slid his long legs into a pair of gray sweatpants. The white wife beater came next, hugging his solid frame. I gulped in appreciation, loving the way he looked so good with or without a shirt. He could be served to me either way, and I would devour him all up.

Kai closed the distance between us and lifted my head with my chin.

“I could never forget,” he softly replied.

He stared into my eyes for a second longer before sighing.

“Zero has been trying to strong-arm my aunt out of her business. Today, he has some of the niggas he runs with posted up outside of her restaurant. He’s got another thing coming if he thinks I’m going to allow him to take anyone else from me. ”

I could see the malice in his eyes as he spoke.

I palmed his cheek, which seemed to bring him back into the present.

I didn’t miss his use of the word ‘else,’ meaning he’d lost someone to this Zyro man.

There was so much I didn’t know about Kai, but I was patient with him.

One day, he would have to let me in because we weren’t meant to go through life alone.

Everyone needed someone to lean on. I would be that person for Kai whenever he was ready.

I watched Kai open a safe I hadn’t noticed until the very moment he touched it.

He pulled out a Glock and tucked it into the waistband of his sweats.

I had never seen this side of him, and I was feeling both intrigued and terrified.

I felt more intrigue than fear though. Kai was the type of man you knew was from the streets because of that look in his eyes, but he didn’t necessarily lead with that.

When he pulled down a pair of black block walkers, I knew he meant business.

“I’m coming with you,” I declared, even though guns made me nervous. “And before you disagree, just know I will literally follow you in my own car if I have to.”

Kai shook his head with a chuckle. “Aight, hurry and get ready.”

I raced to my room and threw on a pair of leggings and a t-shirt.

My panda Dunks were by the door, so after I grabbed my phone off my dresser and my purse from my desk, I slipped them on.

I pulled my hair into a messy bun and then spritzed my favorite daytime perfume.

Kai was leaning against the wall, waiting for me.

He shook his head as he inspected me. “You love wearing my clothes.”

I looked down at the t-shirt I had thrown on, completely forgetting that it was one of his. He had cute graphic shirts and hoodies, and they were always music-related. Today I was wearing a Kendrick Lamar shirt.

“You be sneaking into my room when I’m not here?” He raised an eyebrow as if he were suspicious of me.

I smiled. “Mm-hm, I roll around on your bed too.”

Kai cackled, shoulder bumping me. “You’re sick.”

I snickered.

“Bring your ass on.”

I was damn near running to keep up with him. My steps slowed when we stepped outside, and I saw Bones loading Dracos into the trunk. Kai nonchalantly bumped his fist. “Good luck, B. Make sure you hold down the fort.”

“On my mama, nobody’s coming in or out this bitch.” He noticed me standing there. “Is she going?”

Kai turned to look at me nervously, shuffling my weight from foot to foot. “Yeah, with her scary ass.” He opened the passenger door for me. Before I could get in, he placed a hand on my stomach to stop me. “You’re safe, Nuri. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I nodded and gulped. “Okay.”

Kai tapped me on the ass as I climbed into his car.

Of course, I giggled like a schoolgirl while I waited for him to join me.

He hopped in and was speeding down the driveway seconds later.

I always knew his car was fast, but I was used to Kai cruising.

Today, he was gunning it to Prosper Ave.

The entire time he drove, he didn’t even listen to music.

That’s how focused he was. I could see the veins in his arms pulsing with anger.

He was gripping the steering wheel so tight I knew his fingers would be dented when we made it.

He accepted a phone call from Jah telling him that we were ten minutes out. I tried to steady my breathing because I had no clue what I was walking into. I just knew I didn’t want Kai to go alone. In whatever way I could offer support to him or his aunt, I would do it.

He pulled his black bandana from his middle console.

He looked possessed as he took his hands off the wheel to tie it around his neck.

His tires screeched as we arrived five minutes earlier than Kai had predicted.

He barely had the car in park before he was hopping out.

He walked around to the passenger side to let me out.

He kept a hand on the small of my back as he ushered me inside his aunt’s restaurant.

Because they were sitting out there harassing people, she’d closed for the day.

It was costing her money she couldn’t spare to lose, according to Kai.

He was ready to settle things by the look in his eyes.

“Stay here,” he ordered before placing a kiss on my cheek.

I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. I was almost afraid to let him out of my sight. “Be safe.”

Kai nodded, made an ‘R’ with his fingers, drew a cross over his heart, and winked.

I watched him stride out of the restaurant confidently.

My heart was beating a mile a minute, but he didn’t seem worried.

From the window, I watched him walk over to his brothers, friends, and some other guys I’d seen when we were at the cookout.

I just hadn’t gotten introductions because Kai wasn’t with it.

“We talkin’ or we shootin’ pussy?” I heard Lazer yell out, lifting his shirt to expose his gun. Some of the others were holding the Dracos from Kai’s trunk. Everyone had their black bandanas around their necks today and looked ready for war. It was very clear they were a unit.

They didn’t wait for a response as they made their way across the street.

The other group of guys prepared themselves as they came over.

I pressed my ear against the glass as if that would help me to be able to hear what was being said.

However, all I could tell was that words were being exchanged.

By how tense everyone was, I knew the conversation wasn’t friendly at all.

My eyes searched the sea of bodies for Kai, but he was at the front, so I could only see his head and shoulders.

I knew he wasn’t doing any talking as he stood there ready for whatever.

“My, my, my little sister. You’ve been hard to catch up to these days.”

My heart damn near jumped out of my chest when I heard Rylas’ voice behind me. When I turned around, he was standing there with the silver fox I’d woken up in the truck with. He was back to looking rough with a crazed look in his eyes.

I remained silent, unsure of what to think. I didn’t expect to see either of them today. The way Zyro was smirking at me made me uncomfortable. “You’ve made quite a mess of things, sis. All you had to do was marry Zyro, and everything would be all good.”

I shook my head. “I never agreed to that. Whatever debt you owe him is your business.”

“No, it’s our business. Weren’t we raised to look out for each other?”

I scoffed. “Is marrying me off to a man I don’t even know your way of looking out for me?”

My brother nodded and looked at me as if I was the crazy one. “Duh. He’s going to take care of you. I mean, you might have to bust that pussy open and get knocked around from time to time, but you would be set for life, and so would I.”

“We were already set for life. You ruined your future. There is no way in hell I will allow you to ruin mine.”

“Grab her so we can go. I want to be long gone by the time they realize we have her,” Zyro finally spoke.

I held up my hand. “I’m already well taken care of by my husband. I would rather die than go anywhere with you.”

Zyro frowned as he looked at Rylas. “You stupid little bitch.” He began laughing as he lunged at me.

I ran around the tables trying to get away, but he grabbed me by my hair and snatched me back.

“They created annulments for a reason. You weren’t in your right mind when you signed that paperwork.

Therefore, the marriage is null and void.

” He placed his mouth by my ear. “You are going to do this for me whether you like it or not, you ungrateful little bitch.”

I refused to go anywhere with these men. I knew I wasn’t strong enough to fight Ry off, but I could use my voice. I screamed as loud as I fucking could while struggling against him. He slapped me across the face, but that didn’t stop me.

“Kai! Kai! Kai!” I continued to scream for my husband.

Ry almost had me to the back when I heard gunshots.

“No,” I cried, immediately becoming afraid that something had happened to him.

Everything was chaos after that. I was tossed in the back of a truck, but before it could take off, shots rang out from everywhere.

I got down on the floor and covered my ears, praying for God to keep me safe.

For minutes, all I heard were gunshots, my labored breathing, and my racing heart.

You couldn’t convince me that I wasn’t in the middle of a civil war in a third-world country.

I screamed when the back door was snatched open but stopped when I saw who was standing there. I leaped into Kai’s arms and wrapped myself around his body like a python. I was crying so hard I was hyperventilating. He lowered his black bandana from his mouth.

“You’re okay, baby. You’re okay. Breathe,” he tried to soothe me.

Kai sat me on the seat, wiping away my tears.

“Shh, shh. It’s okay, baby. Breathe, please.

We’re good. I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.

” He paused, then lifted a finger to my mouth.

“I’m going to fucking kill him,” he roared.

I saw a drop of blood on his finger when he pulled it away.

“Y’all good?” Jah asked, walking up with his bandana covering his mouth. He saw my face and cursed. “Fuck, sis.” He looked as crushed as his brother to see me sitting there with a busted lip.

Kai helped me out the back. When he turned to his brother, he began doing sign language. Jah nodded and then responded. I wish I could understand what they were saying, but I didn’t have the energy right now to ask about it. This was a lot.

Everyone else walked up as I glued myself to Kai’s side.

“Them niggas are after my wife, and they’re gonna have to go through me to get to her,” my husband declared.

“Me too.” Jah was quick to back him up.

I watched as his family and friends all did the same thing he did before he walked out of the restaurant. They made the letter ‘R’ with their fingers, then drew a cross over their heart. Kai turned to me and did the same.

“What’s happening?” I questioned in a shaky voice.

Jah smiled. “We all just vowed to protect you with our lives. You gang now, Nuri Symone.”

My mouth fell open as I turned to Kai. He nodded once, confirming what his brother said.

I shook my head. “No, no. I can’t ask y’all to do that.”

Lazer scoffed before lowering his bandana and spitting on the ground.

“You didn’t ask. We told you what we’re going to do.

We always protect our own.” We could hear sirens in the distance.

“Everybody get ghost and link at the spot.” He placed a hand on Kai’s shoulder.

“Take care of home first. We’ll be waiting for our orders, OG. ”

Kai nodded once, then nodded for me to follow him. We ran around the front of the building, then slid into his car. I gasped when I saw bodies lying in the road. The puddles of blood leaking from mouths and gaping wounds were the last thing I noticed as Kai gunned it down the street.