Page 20 of Bully

His head tilted and he squeezed the back of his neck. “I beat his ass and put his brother in the hospital.”

“For a reason?”

Bully shrugged. “We needed to show our power before we moved in on their territory. We offered an easy way to do the transition and they declined, so I did what I had to do.”

Sighing, I massaged my temple. “I don’t want your shit with Rocco putting my baby in danger, Gabriel.”

“Do you think I would have done it if I thought this would happen? That was the whole reason I didn’t tell you about it in the first place. I only agreed because it was shit for me to handle outside of Memphis. I don’t know what he was even doing here, if that was actually him. Though, at this point, I doubt seeing someone that looked like him and then someone doing this was a coincidence.”

“Why didn’t he approach you then?”

“He wants to taunt me and get in my head first. He probably thinks this is where I live and plans to pop up when I least expect it.” Bully casually pushed me off his lap and onto the couch. “I’ma get Asylum to put some cameras up here and at your spa, and I need you to start sharing your location with me again. You and Princess can stay with me until this is handled. I don’t know what he’s doing here, but I’ll have Merc find him, and I will take care of it ASAP.”

“Fine,” I agreed, as if I really had a choice.

I stood to pack our bags, but he stopped me and pulled me into his arms.

“Trust me to handle this, Innvy. I’m not going to let anything happen to you or our baby girl.”

“I trust you,” I assured him as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

He lowered himself to my lips and we shared a deep kiss before we went our separate ways.

* * *

I had been poutingsince we made it to Bully’s house. It was crazy that this was once my home and now I didn’t want to be here. It was more so the reason behind us being here. The car situation destabilizing me and my baby didn’t make my return to the beautiful home easy. Regardless of how many good memories and fun times we’d had, I hated having to come under these circumstances.

It wasn’t my intention to take my attitude out on Bully. This wasn’t a situation he’d knowingly put us in. I believed him when he said he agreed because the favor wasn’t in Memphis. Had it been, I truly believe Bully would have said no. That didn’t make me feel any better, though, so I’d been avoiding him for the past hour.

While he did his thing, I sat in the rocking chair in Innah’s room. He shuffled in, shirtless with his pajama bottoms hanging, and I couldn’t stop myself from licking my lips. Bully had to have put on at least ten or fifteen pounds, and the muscular build looked damn good on him. Before he left, he was lean and slim. Now, his muscles bulged and signified the healthy weight he’d stacked up. My eyes focused on my name written in big, bold letters on his neck.

I still remember the day he got it. It was our third date and he told me he was in love. Of course I didn’t believe him, though I felt like I’d experienced love at first sight with him. He asked me how he could prove it, and I told him to get my name tatted. Bully did that same night, and I got his name on my inner left thigh. Swallowing my desire, I ran my hand down my neck.

“Why you in here hiding?” he asked quietly, but I didn’t expect Innah to wake up.

“No reason,” I muttered, chin almost in my chest from my head hanging so low.

“If you don’t stop playin’ with me, Innvy.”

Bully used my hand to lift me from the seat and out of the room. He led me to the game room downstairs. When we walked inside and I saw what he’d been up to, my eyes watered. Here I was being mad that we had to stay here, and he was doing everything he could to make me feel comfortable again.

“Now I know you my big baby,” he crooned, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “But it ain’t no reason for you to be up there pouting.”

“You did all this for me?”

“I’ll doanythingfor you. You know that.”

I knew, but it was nice to have this reminder. Mood lights were on and flickering. Candles were lit. Pizza and wings were on the table. Weed and tequila were waiting to be consumed. The karaoke machine was cut on and ready to be used. I didn’t even bother getting on TikTok live to do the weekly karaoke like I wanted to. Turning in his arms, I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“This was really sweet, bae. Thank you.” I stood on the tips of my toes and he leaned down to kiss me. “I don’t want you to think I don’t want to be here. I just don’t want to be here because of this situation. Uprooting myself and Innah to avoid danger…” My head shook. “I trust your judgment and I know you’ll keep us safe. I just thought this shit was over.”

“It will be soon. I promise. For now, I don’t want you worrying about that. I want you to enjoy yourself. Now are you sure she’s not going to wake up?”

With a giggle, I headed toward the table to open the boxes of pizza. “Positive, but we can keep the mic low just to be safe.”

And that was exactly what we did.

For the next four hours, we smoked, drank, ate, and had a good time. I ended up going live, and our friends joined in to sing and dance too. It was the most fun I’d had since before he left, and things finally felt normal between us again. I hated what happened to get us to this point, but I loved Bully taking the initiative to make sure we made the most of it.

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