Page 88 of I See You

“Watch that shit, nigga.” Hassan cut in, his jaw clenching.

“My bad, boss. Didn’t mean no disrespect.” Von quickly corrected himself before continuing. “She’s clean, through and through. Born and raised here, but her parents? Filthy rich. Her father, Steven Love, is basically the godfather of real estate. Used to be involved in some illegal dealings back in the day but straightened out. Her mother, Trina Love, was a doctor before he retired her. Now she’s big on charity work, hospitals and shit.”

Hassan barely reacted. He didn’t care about her parents or their money. His only concern was Sevyn.

“Now, as for Sevyn Love… she’s just like them. Clean-cut. Dominating in her field. Behavioral therapist, top of her class at University of Memphis, got her master’s. Nothing shady, no dirt on her name.” Von paused before adding, “Except for that Braxton nigga being her nigga.”

Hassan’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, his patience thinning.

“Aight. Keep me updated.” He pulled into his driveway, shutting off the engine.

“You got it, boss.”

Hassan had one more thing to add. “And let me know if you see that nigga around her. The minute you spot them together, you call me.” His voice was sharp, leaving no room for questions.

Von was silent for a moment, and Hassan knew he was wondering why this woman mattered so much. But Von wasn’t stupid enough to ask.

“Say less.”

Hassan hung up, sitting in his car outside of his house. He didn’t know why the idea of Braxton anywhere near Sevyn pissed him off as much as it did, but he wasn’t about to sit around and analyze it.

One thing was certain—Braxton had already hurt her once. That wouldn’t happen again. Not while Hassan was watching.

Hassan exhaled deeply, the weight of too much shit on his plate pressing down on him. His grandmother’s words, Sevyn’s presence in his mind, Braxton snooping around, and now Hendrix fucking Gaines making his way back into town—it was too much at once. And if there was one thing Hassan didn’t tolerate, it was loose ends.

He pulledhis phoneoutand dialedVon again. The line barely rang before Von picked up, always ready for whatever Hassan needed. “Aye, Von. Look into Hendrix Gaines,” Hassan said, his tone cold and razor-sharp. “I need to know that nigga’s every move. The second hestepsfootbackinMemphis—Iwanttoknow.Nothingthatnigga does gets past me. Nothing.”

Von didn’t hesitate. “Aight. I got you.”

That’s what Hassan liked about him. No questions. No dumbass curiosity. Just straight execution. Von was the best at what he did, and that’s why Hassan kept him close. Roman might’ve been his right hand, but Von? Von was the eyes and ears, the one who made sure Hassan always had the upper hand.

And when it came to Hendrix, Hassan wasn’t leaving shit to chance. That nigga had already caused enough damage in his lifetime. Now, he was back, and Hassan wasn’t about to let him disrupt shit.If Hendrix thought he was just gonna pop back up and move around unnoticed, he had another thing coming.

Hassan leaned back against the headrest, gripping the wheel as his thoughts twisted into a storm he couldn’t shake. He wasn’t the type to be caught slipping—not in business, not in the streets, and sure as hell not with a woman. But Sevyn? She had blindsided him in a way no one ever had.

At first, looking into Braxton was just business. The nigga was poking around, and Hassan had to stay ahead of the game. But the deeper he dug, the more he realized that Sevyn was connected to him, whichmeantshehadtobelookedinto,too.Hecouldn’triskletting his guard down—not when so much was at stake.

Von had found nothing, and that should’ve put Hassan at ease. But it didn’t. It just pissed him off more. No one was ever that clean, not in his world. People always had dirt, hidden agendas, something they were scheming on. But Sevyn? She was exactly who she said she was. No secrets. No skeletons. No ulterior motives.

A force.A dangerous force.

One that cracked through the steel walls he built for everyone else like they were nothing. That realization sat heavy in his chest, tightening something inside him he didn’t want to acknowledge. He’d spent his whole life avoiding vulnerability, making sure no one got close enough to reach the parts of him he buried deep. But with Sevyn, it was different.

He hated it.

Part of him wished she was dirty, that Von would’ve found something—anything—that gave him a reason to shut down, push her away, and go back to the cold-hearted nigga he’d always been. But Sevyn wasn’t giving him that out.

She was making it impossible.

Hassan exhaled sharply, shaking his head as he stepped out of his Bentley and headed inside. He was done thinking about this shit. He needed a break, a moment to shut his mind off.

And that was another problem.

Because relaxing? That wasn’t something he did.

???

Sevyn stepped out of her car, Dorian right behind her, nerves tangled in knots as she made her way up her parents' long driveway. She had been avoiding this moment for weeks, not ready to tellthem about her breakup with Braxton, dreading their reaction. The disappointment, the questions, the inevitable lectures—she wasn’t ready. But she couldn’t keep dodging them forever. Thankfully, Dorian agreed to come with her, a much-needed buffer in case things went south.

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