Page 132 of I See You

Hassan laid it all out—everything Jules told him. Desmond’s connection to the DeVille family, Braxton’s angle to pin the murder on him, and the reality that if even one thing went left, this wouldn’t end in courtrooms—it’d end in blood. They weren’t just dealing with past sins anymore. This was deeper than the streets, deeper than revenge. This was legacy and politics, the kind of war you don’t see cominguntil it’s too late.

They came up with a plan—stay smart, keep the business clean, nothing sloppy that could raise awareness. The more legit they looked, the less Braxton could touch them. Hassan looked at Von. “Pull all the files from when Madea first took me in. Every visit, every document, every slip of paper. If Braxton’s digging, he’ll start there.” Von nodded without a word, already pulling out his phone, hands moving quick. Then Hassan turned to Roman. “That favor you owe Jules? Time to use it. I need to know who’s sitting at Carlos DeVille’s table—and who’s tied to law enforcement.” Roman smirked. “Say less. I’ll get the list.”

Leaning back in his chair, Hassan took a slow drag from his blunt, exhaling through his nose, eyes narrowed. That quiet warmth he felt earlier, with Sevyn in his arms and in her bed, was gone. In this space, it was different. Here, he wasn’t a grandson, or a cousin, or a man trying to heal. Here, he was something else entirely. A strategist. A ghost-maker. A man playing chess with people who didn’t even know they were pieces. And right now, the game had only just begun.

Chapter 17

Sevyn drove behind Dorian, following her through traffic as they headed to an upscale restaurant for family brunch. It wasn’t just the two of them—the whole family would be there. Sevyn, her parents, Dorian, and hers. It had been a minute since they’d all sat down together, and Sevyn was genuinely looking forward to it. She needed the distraction. Needed something to pull her thoughts away from Hassan.

Because for the past three days, he’d been all she could think about.

That night kept replaying in her head—the way he looked when he came to the club, raw and vulnerable, like the world was caving in around him. The quiet weight in his eyes as he fought demons only he could see. And the way her body fit against his when they slept… like it belonged there.

She had learned something new about him that night.

That beneath all that cold, hard, terrifying exterior, there was softness. Vulnerability. Emotion. He wasn’t numb like the world believed. He felt everything. Deeply.

Learning he was bipolar or that he hallucinated younger versions of himself didn’t scare her—it made her understand him more. Made her want to help him carry it. Made her want to show him how to face it without falling apart. But what she wasn’t ready to admit, not even to herself, was how he made her feel. How his presence warmed something inside her. How her body reacted just by being near him. How her heart seemed to slow down whenever he was close, like it finally had permission to rest.

Hassan was just her client. That was the boundary.

But falling asleep beside him… waking up on top of him… feeling his arms wrap around her like she belonged there?

That was a line she should’ve never crossed.

And deep down, she knew it wasn’t the last time she’d find herself toeingit.

Sevyn trailed behind Dorian’s brand-new maroon Corvette, already making a mental note to ask about it the second they parked. Minutes later, they pulled into Valarie’s—a rooftop restaurant known for its upscale brunch, lunch, and dinner options. It was as elegant on the outside as it was on the inside, with modern architecture, glass walls, and an interior that screamed money and refinement.

Sevyn eased her Maserati into valet right behind Dorian’s ride. Both women stepped out, designer shoes hitting against the pavement as they made their way to the entrance, moving quickly since they were already running late.

“I see you got a new ride,” Sevyn said with a curious smirk, eyeing the Corvette.

Dorian rolled her eyes, shaking her head like she’d been waiting for the question. “Girl, Roman got me that.”

Sevyn’s brows shot up. She knew they were messing around, but this?

“He out here buying you cars now?” Sevyn teased as they walked through the glass doors.

“That nigga doing everything he can to make himself my man,” Dorian replied, completely unbothered. “It’s gonna take more thana fancy-ass car—and demon dick… but I’m not about to block my blessings either.”

Sevynlaughed,shakingherhead.Dorianstayedwithherfoot on these men’s necks. They lined up for her, ready to hand her the world, and she still barely gave them the time of day. But Sevyn knew better—knew Dorian was feeling Roman, even if she wasn’t saying it out loud.

“Hello, the Love princesses,” the host greeted with a warm smile, making both women chuckle.

They were regulars here. Their family always booked dinners and events at Valarie’s, so the staff knew them well.

“Hey, Paul,” Sevyn greeted.

“Your family’s waiting on the roof. Follow me.”

They followed him through the restaurant to the private rooftop terrace, where the chatter of their family echoed in the distance. The space was quieter than usual—intimate, surrounded by greenery and soft jazz—but the energy of love and laughter still lingered in the air. “They finally arrived,” Paul joked as Sevyn and Dorian came into view.“Canalwayscountonthesetwotobefashionablylate—but somehow still show up at the same time.”

“Hey, Auntie,” Sevyn said as Diana—Dorian’s mom and Trina’s twin sister—gave her a knowing look before pulling her in for a hug. Sevynmoveddownthetable,greetingherUncleSeanandthen hugging her parents, while Dorian did the same. Once pleasantries were done, the girls finally slid into their seats.

Sevyn took her time skimming the menu, using it to distract herself from how she felt—mentally, emotionally.

“Time to drink!” Dorian announced, hyped, making the parents around the table shake their heads in unison.

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