Page 22 of Divine II

“Being that this is our first date, I’m hoping you know not to order anything too heavy.”

“Excuse me?” I frowned, looking up from my menu.

“If I were you, I would go with a wedge salad,” he suggested.

“Thankfully, you’re not me. Ordering for me was cute and all at first, but I’m very capable of making my own decisions,” I informed him.

He chuckled. “Bishop told me you were a feisty one. I might have to see what I can do about that.”

“Bishop should have told you to kiss my ass, but I see he left that up to me,” I snapped.

“You should go ahead and get that profanity out of your system. That’s not gonna be a good look for me.”

“I don’t give a damn what’s a good look for you. You know what?” I asked, grabbing my clutch off the table.

“Yes, I know a lot. Didn’t your dear old cousin tell you? I know that either your people killed Sherrod Bates or had your bodyguard to kill him. I know that our people are speculating that your hounds had something to do with it. I also know that I don’t give a damn who did it. My company is losing a quarter of a million dollars a week without his investments. It wasn’t my idea to accept the payoff, but since it came with you, I figured it might be worth it. Half the niggas in the city would kill to have you on their arm. All I had to do was wait foryouto have someone killed.” Zane chuckled.

I smirked at his statement, although I didn’t find a damn thing funny.

“Is that all?”

“I wanted to let the food come and have a drink or two before we got down to business, but I see you’re not equipped to act civil. I figured your hounds had taught you some manners, but how could a bunch of men teach a woman how to be a lady? It’s not your fault. Trust me. I will fix you.”

“I don’t need fixing,” I retorted.

“If you don’t like dying, you’ll realize that you do. You don’t have the upper hand here, Divine. That’s the first thing you need to understand. You’re probably used to getting your way and having niggas throwing their jackets at your feet to keep you from getting your shoes wet, but this ain’t that. I gave you a chance to see what we could be together. You remember that?

“I offered you an escape from your family’s bondage and an opportunity to be in my world, but you shut me down without giving it a second thought. Now, I’m in control. Since the men in your family know they don’t want war, they had to give up the only thing more precious than money, their golden girl. I’m going to have fun with you. I’ll make sure you enjoy yourself too. First, I have to teach you some manners.”

“I hope you don’t think that little speech scared me.”

“Oh, my little speech wasn’t meant to scare you. I actually hope it turned you on as much as it turned me on. We can get along, Divine. This doesn’t have to be a hostage situation unless you make it that way.”

“Trust me, I’m no hostage. I drove myself here, remember?”

“I do,” he said, pausing as our waitress placed our drinks on the table.

“Are you guys ready to place your food orders?” she quizzed, looking between the two of us as we engaged in a stare off.

“Give us a few more minutes,” I stated before Zane had the chance to part his lips to order for me.

Once she was out of ear shot, he finally spoke up.

“This doesn’t have to be a constant battle. I fight enough in my day-to-day life. I need my woman to be my peace. You understand me?”

“I’m not your woman.”

“Yet,” he countered.

“Ever!” I bit out.

“I’m having a pool party at my compound on Sunday,” he said, changing the subject as if we weren’t both just baring our teeth. “Bishop is coming to finalize the details of our agreement and make sure that I found you acceptable. You should be there since I’ll have some of my important connections there. Make sure you wear something tasteful. Don’t come with your ass and titties hanging out. I see I need to tell you that since half the city’s already seen your thighs tonight.”

I scoffed, picking up the glass of wine and taking a sip before I responded. “I’ll pass. I’m not coming to be paraded in front of your friends.”

“But you will. That’s the basis of this whole fucking deal. Once people see that the Reigns are in business and literally in bed with me, they’ll know I’m forging a new path. I’m trying to escape the stigma attached to my name. What better way to do it than popping out with the squeaky-clean dark dynasty princess that no one could ever have?”

“And if I don’t show?” I asked, tilting my head to the side to wait for his answer.

---