Page 17 of Bully

“Promise me you will communicate with me and never abandon us again. If you ever have to go on one of these mafia missions again—”

“I promise I will never keep a secret that effects our home and relationship again. I promise to always communicate and let you in. No one will ever come before you and Princess. And I will never, ever abandon y’all again.”

His declaration eased my nerves instantly. My heart rate steadied, and the slight tremble running up my spine ceased.

“Okay. Yes.”

“Yes?” he repeated with a smile as he sat up in his seat.

“Yes.”

“Innvy,” he muttered, pulling me in for a hug. I melted against him, allowing myself to relish his closeness. Squeezing my eyes shut, I inhaled a deep breath. Finally, it felt like I could rest. Like I could breathe again.

9

Bully

That Weekend

“I’m ready to go home,”I grumbled, feeling my eyebrows wrinkle.

“Brotha, us coming here was your bright idea,” Asylum said.

“Right,” Merc agreed. “How you ready to go and you brought us here?”

They all laughed as Beethoven said, “Y’all know he can’t be away from hisgirls. I told y’all he wouldn’t last the whole weekend. Pay me my mothafuckin’ money!”

“Hellnah,” Karrington said with a shake of his head. “I said I ain’t wanna do the bet because I knew he wouldn’t last.”

“Wait.” I chuckled as I lifted my hands. “Y’all actually bet on me?”

“Yeah, and I’m the only dumbass that had faith in you,” Asylum complained.

“Well, I had faith in you too, but I bet against you because I didn’t want to lose,” Merc added, and we all laughed again.

I’d brought the crew to Vegas for the weekend to thank them for looking out for my girls and my businesses while I was gone. They said it wasn’t necessary but I wanted to put something tangible along with the words of gratitude. I paid for everyone’s flights and suites and had given them each six figures. We were on day two of the trip but I wasn’t sure I would make it until tomorrow night. Innvy had sent me videos of her and Innah a little while ago and I was missing them like crazy. The only reason I’d been able to get through nine months without them was because it was no contact.

“Fuck all y’all, man. I can’t believe this shit,” I said, pulling my phone out to see if Innvy had texted me back. “When Aspen, Blaze, and Dejvi getting here?”

“This evening at five,” Karrington answered.

“Aight, I’ma stay today, but I’m leaving first thing in the morning,” I told them, not caring how amused they found my desire to get home. Now that Innvy was warming up to me again, I wanted to take full advantage.

* * *

Monday Afternoon

It wasa rare day that Innvy didn’t have a lot of clients. She only had three facials and some kind of lash appointment, so she was done by three. Since I had taken princess to her grandparents, I convinced Innvy to let me take her to the spa too. When she walked out and saw me leaning against the white G-Wagon I’d copped she squealed.

“Ooh I love this, Gabriel! You know I wanted one of these!”

“I know… that’s why it’s yours.”

Her mouth dropped, shoulders slouched, and eyes watered. “What?” she whispered, taking a step back.

“We both need something bigger for Princess, so I got you this and me a black one. Here.” Since she was frozen, I chuckled as I sauntered over to her and gave her the keys. “Let’s go.”

“Wait, Bully! You bought me this?”

---