Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Zion POV

After I text her, I sit back in my chair in the office at the Yonkers crib I share with my brothers.

The room smells like weed, liquor, and leather. The low lamp on my desk throws a dull amber glow across the walls while the rest of the house sits quiet around us.

Virgo and Nasir sit across from me.

Nasir flicks his lighter and sparks a spliff. The flame lights his face for half a second before he inhales slow and deep, smoke curling toward the ceiling.

“The Serranos know about Imani,” I say, taking a slow sip of my Henny.

Virgo straightens in his chair immediately.

His eyes sharpen.

“That’s a problem,” he says low.

I can already see his brain working.

Running angles.

Thinking about bodies.

“What you about to do?” Virgo asks.

Nasir passes me the blunt.

Virgo is the middle brother out of the three of us and the one always ready to shoot first. At twenty-four he’s the best shot in the family next to me.

I take two slow pulls before passing it to him.

He handles most of my street disputes when I or Omari can’t.

Canon is following right behind him.

“I need you to do what you do best,” I say.

Virgo watches me carefully through the smoke.

“Keep your eyes on the streets.”

I lean forward slightly, resting my elbows on my desk.

“Matteo not gonna move yet… but I know he planning.”

Virgo nods once.

He already understands.

“I need you to do pickups tomorrow after church and after the ride,” I continue.

Virgo exhales smoke toward the ceiling.

“Say less.”

Then he smirks slightly.

“Them Dominican dudes in the Bronx was short last month.”

I stand slowly from my chair.

“Aight.”

“Well you know how to handle that if they short again.”

My eyes lock on his.

“You got the green light.”

Virgo’s jaw tightens slightly.

“Bet.”

“Take Canon with you,” I add.

“He need to start learning.”

Nasir leans back in his chair, studying me.

“Where you going?” he asks.

I grab the Henny bottle and take one last swallow before setting it down.

“Now that I know Rico and them know about her…”

I grab my keys from the desk.

“I need to make sure she safe.”

“And that they don’t got nobody watching her.”

I head toward the door.

“I’m going to Brooklyn.”

Virgo leans forward.

“Aight.”

“But don’t do nothing to make it worse.”

“She already mad at you.”

“And if the Serranos know about her…”

His voice lowers.

“It’s only a matter of time before they find out exactly who she is.”

Always thinking like a soldier.

I taught him well.

Nasir taps ash into the tray.

“Strap up.”

I smirk slightly.

“Always.”

The garage door rolls open with a heavy metallic rumble.

Cold night air spills inside.

I swing my leg over my bike and start the engine.

The roar fills the garage.

For a second I just sit there gripping the handlebars.

Thinking about her.

About the way she looked at me when she slapped me.

Mad.

Scared.

Still wanting me.

I pull out onto the street.

The ride to Brooklyn clears my head.

I hit I-87 first, weaving through traffic before cutting onto the BQE. The wind whips past my helmet as the city lights stretch out in front of me.

Twenty minutes later I pull into Dyker Heights.

Quiet.

Clean.

Nothing like my world.

I turn onto 11th Avenue and stop in front of her house.

I park my bike behind her car and kill the engine.

For a moment I just sit there watching the front door.

Making sure everything looks normal.

No strange cars.

No unfamiliar faces.

Then I walk up to the door.

I stand there for a second before knocking.

Three firm knocks.

I hear movement inside.

Footsteps.

But the door doesn’t open.

So I knock again.

A few seconds later the door swings open.

Imani stands there wearing pink shorts and a matching crop top.

Her curls fall loose around her shoulders.

And for a second—

I forget why I came.

All I can think about is grabbing her.

Pulling her into me.

Burying myself inside her until she remembers exactly who she belongs to.

She stands there looking annoyed…

…and a little relieved to see me at the same time.

“You ignored me,” I say.

“You said you heard me,” she replies immediately.

“I did.”

She crosses her arms.

“So then why are you here Zion?”

“I needed to make sure you were home.”

“And safe.”

Her eyebrows lift slightly.

“So you didn’t want to take my word for it?”

I step inside.

The door closes behind me with a soft click.

I reach out and lift her chin.

“No Imani.”

My voice drops.

“I couldn’t.”

“That scene at the club put you on people’s radar I don’t want you on.”

My thumb brushes lightly along her jaw.

“So I needed to see for myself.”

“If I’m on their radar it’s because of you,” she snaps.

“Exactly.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

I step closer.

“I just got you.”

My hand slides up to cup her cheek.

“I can’t let nothing happen to you, beauty.”

For a moment she leans into my touch.

Just slightly.

Then she catches herself.

Like she remembers she supposed to be mad.

She steps back quickly.

“No.”

“This is why I asked for space.”

I follow her without thinking.

“Space doesn’t mean disappearing on me.”

“I need to know you safe at all times Imani.”

“Ignoring me is not an option.”

Her eyes flash.

She takes another step back.

God she stubborn.

“You killed Keenan?” she asks suddenly.

The question stops me cold.

Damn Alani.

She wasn’t supposed to know that.

Ever.

My jaw tightens.

“I didn’t physically kill him.”

“But I gave the order.”

Her eyes fill instantly.

“Why?”

“He put his hands on you,” I say.

My voice turns harder.

“That didn’t mean he needed to die!” she shouts.

“That’s exactly what that meant,” I snap back.

The words echo in the room.

Silence follows.

Heavy.

“How many other guys did you hurt because of me?” she asks quietly.

I don’t answer.

Her eyes search my face.

“Zion.”

I shake my head slowly.

“Don’t ask questions you not ready to hear the answers to, Imani.”

She stares at me for a long moment.

Then something in her expression shuts down.

“Fine.”

Her voice goes cold.

“Get out.”

I blink.

“What?”

She walks past me and opens the door.

“You saw I’m safe.”

“Now get out and give me my space.”

Her eyes soften slightly.

“I won’t ignore your texts or calls.”

“But I don’t want to see you right now.”

For the first time tonight…

I hesitate.

Then I walk toward the door.

Before I leave, I stop.

I turn back toward her.

For a second we just stand there looking at each other.

The air between us feels heavy… like everything we didn’t say is still sitting in the room.

I step forward and pull her gently toward me.

My hand slides behind her neck and I kiss her.

Soft.

Slow.

Not the way I want to.

Not the way my body is screaming for.

Just enough to remind her.

Her lips stay still against mine.

She doesn’t kiss me back.

But she doesn’t pull away either.

When I step back, her eyes look different.

Not angry.

Not soft.

Just… distant.

“This conversation isn’t over yet, ma,” I murmur.

I walk out the door.

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

But before I reach my bike, I glance back toward the house.

The door closes slowly behind me.

And for the first time since I met her…

I realize I might have pushed Imani far enough that she actually tries to walk away from me.

And that’s not an option.