Page 11 of Roulette: The Madam

What a fucking waste…

“Fuck you mea–”

I pressed the steel against his chest and tilted my head. Our eyes locked.

“I don’t have to check to see if my brother has one in the chamber because we both know he does. Your voice is extremely annoying, Chino. If you say another word to me I will prove that you aren’t invincible. One call and my sister will be over here in minutes to clean up the mess your heart will make once it explodes from a single bullet. Do not try me. Tonight is not the motherfucking night. So move. Move before I put you on the ground where you belong.Dog.”

Chino began to retreat. Slowly, he took steps backward. The bulge in his hunter-green briefs was visible, even in the dark of the night. I nearly strained the muscles in my eyeballs as they rolled continuously.

A shame. All of that dick has gone to waste.

I slammed the door behind me, peeved that Chino’s access had to be revoked. Because it wasn’t him that I was addicted to.It was his dick. Now that Kiara was carrying his child, it was hers to keep.

Trina blasted through the speakers,reminding me that I wasstillthat bitch, but my head was elsewhere. I needed something more resonating. She wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know.

I shuffled the music in my library. As the universe would have it, Meg was the next voice I heard.

“Dear fuck nigga, still can’t believe I used to fuck with you. Popping Plan Bs cause I ain’t plan to be stuck with you.”

Word for word, I matched Megan’s energy, feeling every word that came from her lips and mine. Eventually the song ended, but I tapped the button on the steering wheel to replay it.

Again.

Again.

And, again.

By the end of the fourth replay, I was at the gate of my new home. Small, fine bumps lifted my skin as its beauty consumed me.

He knows me far too well.

Chemistry would go down in history as the greatest provider in this lifetime.

And the next, because we’ll be sure to find each other.

I dug into the zipper of my bag and retrieved the set of house keys that Teddy had given me before my departure. The gold was in pristine condition. I was anxious to age them with signs of usage over the next few years.

As I slid out of the SUV, I silenced the engine with a push of a button. The heaviness in my chest kept my feet planted on the concrete that led to the five-bedroom home Chemistry had secured for me.

Though it was completely possible for me to purchase my new home and furnish it to my standards, I was forbidden from making large purchases. They were reserved for Teddy’s account. He’d made that very clear to us as we matured and our accounts did the same.

I shoved the gold key marked with a black dot into the door and quickly gained entry. Red rose petals met me at the foyer. My right hand gripped the Glock 9 in my purse. I removed it, aiming it at the nothingness that led me toward the kitchen.

On the counter was a bottle of champagne, submerged in ice inside of a gold bucket. Beside it was a mountain of cash, neatly arranged in stacks of ten thousand. A handwritten note leaned against the bills. I lowered my gun to take the note into my hand.

The red ink scribbled across the torn piece of paper made my entire frame tingle. I was covered in warmth. And suddenly, the heaviness of my heart wasn’t a result of discovering my boyfriend of six years had impregnated my manager of operations.

I wishI could be there.

Today. Every day.

I love you, kid.

This lifetime. Every lifetime.

I was given eight soulmates.

Having you as one swells me with pride.

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