Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Rico POV

Zion Carter finally has a weakness.

For years the Serranos have been trying to take control of the Carter territories. King Carter was the man of his time — ruthless, feared, untouchable.

But now?

Zion is the one who really runs the Carter empire.

He makes the moves.

He handles the business.

He keeps New York in his grip.

Which means if you want to hurt the Carters…

You hurt Zion.

And tonight he made a mistake.

I watched the whole thing from the bar.

The way he stormed across the dance floor. The way the crowd scattered when he hit that kid. The way the music stopped when he claimed her in front of the entire club.

Everyone saw it.

More importantly…

I saw it.

I pull my phone out and call Matteo.

He answers on the first ring.

“Dime.”

His voice is calm. Controlled.

Always calm.

“I have information,” I say, leaning back against the bar with a slow smile.

A small pause.

Then—

“Habla.”

“Zion Carter has a woman.”

Silence fills the line.

A long silence.

Then Matteo finally speaks.

“Who is she?”

“I don’t know yet,” I say. “But I will.”

Another pause.

I can practically hear the wheels in his head turning.

“Good,” Matteo says quietly.

“She will be useful.”

My smile widens.

“Find out who she is,” he continues. “Have someone watch her.”

“Zion knows I saw his little claim he made on her,” I add.

Matteo lets out a soft chuckle.

“Good.”

His voice lowers.

“So he knows he made a mistake.”

“He will try to keep her safe now. At all costs.”

Exactly.

“Find out everything, primo,” Matteo continues. “I want a full file on her by the end of the week.”

The line clicks.

Call ended.

I stay at the bar a few more seconds, letting the music thump through the club while people slowly return to their drinks and conversations like nothing just happened.

But something did happen.

Something important.

I push away from the bar and make my way outside.

The cool night air hits my face as I step onto the sidewalk.

I pull my phone out again and dial another number.

The phone rings.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then a voice answers.

“Yeah boss.”

“I got a job for you,” I say.

“What do you need?”

I glance back toward the club doors.

“I need you to find out everything you can about Zion Carter’s new girl.”

A pause.

Then—

“And then I need you to insert yourself into her life somehow.”

“Follow her. Learn her routine. Put yourself somewhere in it.”

Silence.

Then the man chuckles slightly.

“Got it.”

“Am I trying to date her?”

I smile.

“If it will make Zion Carter spiral and start making mistakes…”

My voice drops.

“Then do whatever you have to do.”

“Say no more.”

“I need constant updates,” I say.

“Got it.”

I end the call.

Sliding the phone back into my pocket.

Now…

We plan.

Imani POV

“Girl what the hell happened?”

Sky pulls up behind my car as we all climb out into the driveway.

My head is still spinning from everything that just happened at the club.

“Hello bitch,” I say, shutting my car door.

“Did you not see Zion kick Darren across the club and break that other dudes jaw?”

Sky shrugs.

“Yeah but he’s Zion Carter, king of New York, Imani.”

Harmony leans against the hood of the car.

“He runs all five boroughs. The Colombians control parts of Queens and the Bronx, but Zion?”

She shakes her head.

“He got most of that.”

“He not a regular dude, Mani.”

The words settle heavy in my chest.

“Yeah but I don’t want to be in none of that,” I say quietly.

I walk towards the house and unlock the door.

“I never really thought that was true. I thought people were just scared of him because of the club.”

I look at them as I step into the living room.

“Not because he was a fucking kingpin.”

“Well bitch,” Alani says.

“He is the kingpin of New York.”

She smirks slightly.

“And your man.”

My stomach twists.

“But what happened upstairs?” she asks.

I let out a breath.

“He basically told me I didn’t have a choice but to be his.”

Their eyes narrow.

“Because he waited six years for me,” I continue.

“And he’s not letting another man have me.”

Silence fills the driveway.

“And…”

I swallow.

“I slapped him.”

All their eyes go wide.

I grab my rolling tray and start grinding weed because Zion has me stressed the hell out.

“You hit him,” Sky says slowly.

“And he let you walk out the room?”

I light the blunt and take a long pull before answering.

“What was he going to do? Hit me?”

“YES bitch,” Harmony blurts.

“Zion does not discriminate. If a woman disrespects him or hits him he hits back.”

She shrugs.

“I saw him slap a club girl before.”

My stomach drops.

Zion hits women.

“Mani,” Alani says carefully.

“Zion been beating dudes asses for you long before today.”

My head snaps toward her.

“What are you talking about?”

She takes the blunt from my hand and inhales.

“How do you think it was so easy for Keenan to let you leave after he put his hands on you?”

My chest tightens.

“But how did Zion find out he hit me?” I ask.

“I told him.”

My heart skips.

“I’ve been keeping him updated on you this whole time.”

The words hang in the air.

“So he beat him up?” I ask quietly.

She exhales smoke.

“He did more than that.”

Her voice drops.

“And that’s why you never saw him again.”

The realization slams into me like a truck.

“Wait.”

My voice cracks.

“He killed him?”

The room goes completely silent.

Alani finally nods.

“Yes.”

She looks at me carefully.

“Girl… Zion claimed you as his the first day he met you.”

“That man is obsessed with you.”

She pauses.

“In that calm, dangerous kind of way.”

Sky whistles low.

“Damn. I didn’t even know it was like that.”

“No,” I whisper.

“He didn’t kill him.”

“Not for that.”

Harmony takes the blunt.

“Imani… Zion has killed men for less.”

The words settle heavy in my chest.

“I can’t do this,” I say suddenly.

“I’m not built like that.”

My voice shakes.

“I’m a chef. Not a gangster. Not a queenpin.”

I look down at my hands.

“I just want to cook.”

“Zion knows that,” Alani says softly.

Sky passes the blunt back to me.

Just as I take a pull—

My phone pings.

A text.

I glance down.

Zion: we need to talk

My stomach twists.

I lock the phone and take another pull.

My phone pings again.

“Bitch is that him?” Sky asks.

“Yes,” I sigh.

“I don’t want to talk to him right now.”

“Imani,” Alani says carefully.

“You know that man will pop up here if you ignore him too long.”

She’s right.

I pick my phone back up.

Open the messages.

Zion: Imani don’t ignore me. You want to have your attitude do that. But answer my messages.

I roll my eyes.

Me: what Zion?

The typing bubble appears instantly.

Zion: you home?

Me: yes Zion I am anything else

Another bubble.

Zion: I need to see you

My chest tightens.

Me: Not tonight Zion I need space

Three dots appear.

Then disappear.

Then appear again.

Finally—

Zion: heard

That one word sends a chill down my spine.

Because now…

Knowing what I know…

I don’t know this man anymore.

The man I’ve been in love with for six long, miserable years suddenly feels like a stranger.

A dangerous stranger.

But the worst part?

I still feel the same pull toward him.

Still want him.

Still love him.

And I don’t know if I’m strong enough to walk away.