Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Imani POV

Zion Carter.

That man is too damn fine for his own good.

The way he has my panties wet from just a look should honestly be illegal. I never realized how hard it would be to be in the same room with him until today. Every time he gets close to me my body reacts before my brain can catch up.

The entire time he was in my kitchen earlier I kept picturing sitting on that beautiful face and soaking his beard in my juices.

Oh god.

He hasn’t even fucked me yet.

Hiding this from Jalen is not going to be easy. My brother made it very clear years ago that Zion wasn’t the type of man he wanted around his sisters. And I know he meant it.

I’ve heard the stories.

People whisper about Zion and his whole family running the biggest drug organization in New York. I’ve never seen it for myself though, and honestly I’m hoping to keep it that way.

Alani was right though.

He really waited six years for me.

When he first met me he was twenty-one and I was seventeen. Now he’s twenty-seven and from what everyone says he hasn’t been with anyone seriously this whole time.

Meanwhile I’ve been in two relationships.

The thought makes something warm twist in my chest.

After getting out the shower I stand in my closet, half unpacked and half still full of boxes, trying to figure out what exactly counts as Zion appropriate.

I finally settle on a pink jumpsuit with the entire back cut out that stops just over my ass.

I pair it with a cropped denim jacket and my pink and white Jordan 1’s.

My curls fall loose down my back and I skip makeup completely, just putting on lipstick.

Very low-key.

At least that’s what I tell myself.

Alani walks into my room right as I light the blunt. Smoke curls through the air as she stops dead in the doorway, eyes dragging slowly down my body.

“Damn bitch,” she says. “You tryna get niggas killed tonight?”

I laugh softly, checking my reflection in the mirror.

“I believe Zion said don’t show too much of anything,” she continues. “Bitch that back out gonna have a few dudes on you.”

“It’s not that bad,” I say, handing her the blunt.

She takes a slow pull before shaking her head.

“Okay bitch… we gonna see.”

Then she smirks.

“You look good though.”

“Thank you twin, so do you.”

Alani is wearing a black denim mini skirt with a white crop top that ties in the front and black knee-high boots. Her curls fall around her shoulders just like mine.

We’re identical.

Tonight it’s obvious.

She passes the blunt back.

“You think Omari is gonna get my hints?” she asks.

“Bitch he already caught it,” I say. “He just waiting on you. He’s not as forward as Zion. He doesn’t care about Jalen anymore… even though I don’t think he ever did.”

She laughs.

“You better hope he don’t get mad about this outfit girl because this shit spicy.”

I take one more hit before putting the blunt out.

“You ready? Sky just text me they outside.”

I grab my bag and we head out.

Sky’s car is parked outside blasting music.

The bass rattles through the street before we even reach the driveway.

“Okay y’all are eating in these outfits bitches,” Harmony says the second we walk up.

“You know how we give it up,” I reply, spinning once where I stand.

“Yassss bitch,” Sky shouts. “You look so fucking good Imani.”

“Thank you sis. I worked hard for this body.”

And it’s true.

I dropped a lot of weight after college and I’m proud of the way I look now.

By the time we pull up down the block from Avalanche we can already hear the music from outside.

Sky parks and we all hop out.

As we walk toward the club I catch people staring.

Some of the looks linger.

Some of them are straight disrespectful.

But none of them bother me.

Tonight I feel good.

We walk past the line and straight to the front where my favorite bouncer is standing.

“Oh shit they got you outside sis?” Tyler says when he sees me.

I grin and pull him into a quick hug.

“I know right. I missed you bro.”

“Well go ahead have fun ladies,” he says, lifting the rope. “It’s packed in there.”

“Thanks Ty. Drinks on me next time you’re off.”

We step inside.

The smell of sweat, perfume, and alcohol hits instantly.

Lights flash blue and white across the crowd while the bass vibrates through the floor so hard I can feel it in my chest.

It’s lit tonight.

“I’m going to the bar then the dance floor,” I shout over the music.

We push our way to the bar.

“I need eight Henny shots,” I tell the bartender.

He lines them up and I hand two to each of the girls.

Alani lifts her glass.

“To Imani getting fucked senseless by Zion Carter, king of New York.”

“Wait since when?” Sky says.

“We’re not together,” I say quickly.

“Bitch he said you are mine and he waited for you. Y’all together.”

“Shut up,” I laugh, downing the first shot.

The alcohol burns going down and I shake it off.

“To nothing crazy happening here tonight,” I say lifting my second glass. “Because y’all know how Avalanche give it up. There’s always some bullshit.”

We knock the shots back.

The DJ throws on Boots on the Ground and I head straight for the dance floor.

The music takes over instantly.

I start doing the dance, laughing as the crowd around me joins in.

Eyes land on me from all directions.

Men watching.

Some approaching.

But none of them are the eyes I want on me.

Zion POV

The moment we pull up to Avalanche the music is blasting through the doors.

“Oh shit that’s Zion Carter,” somebody on the line whispers. “He never come here.”

“Yo Z what up?” Ty says as we walk up.

“She here?” I ask.

I don’t even have to say a name.

Ty one of the few people who know how I feel about Imani. They been friends since seventh grade so he know her better than most.

I don’t really like how close they are.

But he ain’t trying to fuck her.

So he safe.

“Yeah she been here like an hour already,” Ty says. “I ain’t gonna lie… she been drawing attention.”

Then he adds,

“And her ex here too with his peoples.”

My jaw tightens.

The second we walk inside the bass hits my chest like a punch.

Lights flash over the crowd.

Bodies moving everywhere.

But my eyes find her instantly.

Imani is on the dance floor.

And that clown ass dude Darren is standing right in her face.

I see red.

People notice me as I start walking and the crowd shifts automatically, moving out of my way.

I reach them just as I hear her say—

“Darren I already told you I wasn’t taking you back. Now move. I said I moved on.”

Good.

She know who she belong to.

“With who?” he laughs. “Nobody gonna take care of you like I did.”

He reaches for her waist.

Bad move.

I grab his wrist before he touches her.

“I’m assuming she didn’t actually give you my name,” I say quietly.

He turns.

The second he recognizes me his face drains.

Everybody knows who I am.

And the fear in his eyes tells me everything I need to know.

“I been waiting to see you anyway,” I say, smiling.

“Zion I ain’t know she was with you,” he stutters.

I step between them and grab him by the throat.

“You don’t touch what is mines,” I say low and lethal. “You lucky I allowed you to be with her in the first place. All for you to cheat on her with that fake ass bitch.”

“Nah it’s not even like that Zion I didn’t even know she was her friend—”

That sets me off.

I drop him and punch him straight in the jaw.

The crack echoes through the club.

He hits the floor.

I kick him in the stomach and he slides across the floor.

The music cuts off.

People scatter.

I walk closer.

“You just a clown and she wasted three years of her time with your bitch ass,” I say, looking around the room. “This for everybody in here.”

I point at Imani.

“Her? That’s me. You touch her you touch me. You disrespect her you disrespect me.”

Silence fills the club.

Then I turn back to her.

“Hey beauty,” I say softly. “You look good as fuck tonight.”

I kiss her gently.

“Take the jacket off.”

She freezes.

I know exactly what she hiding under that jacket.

She hesitates…

Then slowly slides it off.

I grab her hand and spin her once, letting my eyes travel over her body.

“Yeah,” I murmur.

Then lean down to her ear.

“This is too much… but I’ll leave you alone tonight since I’m here now.”

I kiss her again.

Deeper this time.

The DJ slowly starts the music again as security drags Darren out.

I lead her to our private section.

“Zion you didn’t need to do all of that,” she snaps, spinning toward me.

Her anger is sexy.

I smirk.

“You’re even more attractive when you’re upset.”

I pull her onto my lap.

“You right though,” I add quietly. “Now the message clear on who you belong to.”

She shakes her head.

“That was too much.”

I hate that she still doesn’t understand who I really am.

Or the weight my name holds in these streets.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a few club girls walking over.

Especially China.

She been trying to be my old lady for years.

But my heart belonged to Imani long before I met China.

The moment China sees Imani sitting on my lap her face twists.

“Zion who was that dude you checked?” she asks, sliding next to me.

Her thigh brushes mine.

Imani notices immediately.

But she doesn’t say anything to China.

She just looks at me.

“Yo China move,” I say.

She stares at me shocked.

Then slowly moves away.

“Jalen said tomorrow seem like a good day for a ride,” Omari says.

“Well we got church at eight and I need some runs made,” I reply.

Then I squeeze Imani’s thigh lightly.

“I’m taking you home tonight. Omari got Alani.”

She looks at me.

“Okay but what is this Zion?” she says. “I haven’t seen you in years and then you come back staking claim.”

“Not here,” I say firmly.

The look she gives me makes my dick hard but I let her think she in control right now.

“Why not?” she presses.

“Imani… not here.”

She scoffs.

“Whatever.”

She stands and starts walking away.

I grab her arm.

“Don’t do that.”

She spins around, eyes blazing.

“Zion get the fuck off me. I’m not one of your fucking club girls or club members. You don’t talk to me like that.”

She yanks her arm free.

Then she turns and walks straight out onto the dance floor.

The music swallows her instantly.

Bodies move around her, lights flashing across the crowd while she disappears into the middle of it like she didn’t just curse me out in front of my whole section.

For a second I just sit there.

My jaw tight.

Watching.

A couple niggas nearby already clock her.

Watching her hips move.

Looking a little too interested.

Omari leans back in his chair beside me.

“Damn,” he mutters. “You pissed her off.”

I don’t answer.

Because right now all I can see is the way another dude steps closer to her.

Too close.

My fingers tighten around the glass in my hand.

It cracks slightly under the pressure.

Yeah.

This night about to go left.