Novel-novel oleh Netty Writes

Imani POVI sit in the kitchen with Canon, having him try dishes for the new menu.“I miss coming over to your house,” he says.I smile. “I missed you too, Canon,” I reply.Canon has always been my favorite of the four brothers. He’s the youngest at 19, and he used to follow me around everywhere when I first met him.“You not leaving again, right?” he asks.I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t plan on it,” I say. Even saying that feels heavier than it should, like something is already waiting to test it.“How long are you staying?” I ask.He frowns. “Trying to get rid of me already?” he asks.I laugh at him and swat his arm. “No silly, I just want to know if I need to make enough food for you too,” I reply.“Oh yeah, I’m staying. May I?” he asks, pointing to my weed tray.“Please,” I say.My phone vibrates on the counter. The sound cuts through the room sharper than it should, pulling my attention instantly.Unknown Number: I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since you left. How’

Zion POV I sit unwavering in my office at the clubhouse, sensing that something is completely off. It’s not loud. Not obvious. Just a feeling sitting in my chest that won’t move. I haven’t heard a word from King or Ghost all morning. Imani’s interview happened earlier, and there’s still no update. She refused my car and ignored my texts. Ignored me. I tap my fingers sharply on my desk. Once. Twice. Then faster. The sound cutting through the room.Nasir is on the couch, running numbers.“Did you get that footage of the area around the warehouse?” I demand.He shakes his head. “I’m working on it. I need a day,” he responds.I nod slowly. Too slowly. Letting that answer sit longer than it should.“Have you heard from King today?” I press.“Not since I left the house this morning. He was on his way to the Bronx,” he replies.My jaw tightens. That doesn’t sit right. Not with him. Not today.This isn’t like him.I pick up my phone and check her messages—she hasn’t responded. Screen still b

King POV Today’s already a bad day, and it’s only 10am. I’ve got a full rundown of everything that was taken. I’m annoyed I even have to tell him. I’m sitting in one of the houses my brother and I share with my little brother, Canon. The place is quiet, but not peaceful—too much sitting under the surface. “Have you seen Imani yet, King?” Canon asks. My jaw tightens before I reply. Just a second too long. “For a minute, why?” I ask. “I missed her. I wanted to go see her,” he says. “Then go,” I say, pulling my phone out of my pocket as it buzzes. Ghost. Of course it is. And if he’s calling me instead of Zion—this isn’t small. If he’s calling me, it’s about Imani, and he doesn’t want to tell Zion. “What happened?” I ask. “We might have a potential problem,” he says. “How bad?” I ask. “If Boss finds out, pretty bad,” he replies.

Imani POV If I wanted to drive myself, I could have just said that. I didn’t even know he was sending a car. This man is crazy—how did I not see that when we were younger? He was always quiet, but he talked to me and was nice to me even as a teenager. Still, this is too much; he’s everywhere, and I just want to live my life Zion free. Even saying it sounds crazy. Because deep down, I already know—there is no Zion-free. I pull into the parking lot of the restaurant where my interview is. I put the car in park, rest my hands on the steering wheel, and take a deep breath. In. Hold. Out. Again. My fingers tighten slightly against the wheel before I force them to relax. I try to forget everything with Zion since I landed yesterday. Just for this moment. Just long enough to get through this. I get out of the car and walk inside. The door closes behind me with a soft click that feels louder than it should. When I step in, the restaurant is already bustling. Everyone is movin

Imani POVMy alarm blares at 7 a.m., tearing me from a dreamless sleep, my body aching as if I’d been tense all night. Like I never really rested. Like some part of me stayed awake, waiting. The thought of him being in my room and I never heard him sends a shiver down my spine. How long had he been there? How long had he stood in my space while I had no idea? I rub my face, trying to shake the lingering memory, then swing my legs over the side of the bed. The floor is cold beneath my feet, grounding me for half a second before the unease settles right back in.Walking to the closet, I grab a pair of light gray slacks, a soft pink blouse, and my favorite pink heels. I lay the clothes on the bed and set the shoes on the floor before heading to the bathroom. While waiting for the water to heat, I brush my teeth. The bathroom is too quiet except for the rush of the faucet, and even that feels too loud this morning. As steam begins to fill the room, I peel off my pajamas and step into the

Imani’s POVI hesitate before moving as he steps away, like my body is stuck somewhere between where he was, and where I am now.Like if I move too fast, I’ll realize he didn’t really leave.How did he even get in here?The question doesn’t leave, it just sits there, heavy.My body is trembling, my heart pounding fiercely in my chest. Too fast. Too loud. Like it’s trying to catch up to something I don’t understand yet.Like it knows something I don’t.The spot on my wrist still burns from his touch, and I can almost feel his breath on my cheek, so close to me. I rub at it, but it doesn’t fade. It lingers.Heat that doesn’t belong to me.I pace back and forth in the kitchen, desperately trying to make sense of everything, but nothing is making sense. Every step feels uneven. Off.Just as Alani and Sky walk in.Alani’s eyes immediately land on me.Of course they do. I probably look like something is wrong.“Mani, you okay?” she asks softly.I shake my head, too quickly, my mind still ra