Page 12 of Love & Vendettas

If it’s the last thing that I do, I’ll see that she suffers for the hell that she’s put my mama through.

6 – ZAIRE – MACALLAN

The club is jumping as we make our way through to the VIP lounge. Bayleigh bobs her head and bounces to Megan’sHiss.

I glance behind her, looking at my baby’s ass bouncing in that tight dress she’s wearing, and I glance around to make sure no one’s sweating her. I do catch a few young niggas checking her ass out.

I shake my head because here she goes, creating a scene again. She knows that that ass draws attention.

We keep walking through the crowd, and I spot a few dudes I know and give them a slight nod.

It’s Hakeem’s birthday, and he wants to get wild and loose as usual. I know that he’ll have several broads draped over him before the night is out, forgetting about his woman at home.

As for me and mine, my baby is with me wherever I go unless it’s business-related. I don’t fuck around on Bayleigh, and I don’t give her a reason to do that to me.

“You think Keem’s going to be mad that we were late?” Bayleigh asks as we near the section where I can see that my people are already turned up.

The music seems to be louder in this area than in the rest of the club, and bottles are being poured into glasses and on bodies. Only a few of them won’t be drinking, and that includes Jamal, Janel, and Malik. They always have to be on alert in case something pops off.

“Nah, he’s too drunk to realize that we weren’t here,” I state, pointing at Hakeem, who’s standing on a table with one of the dancers, giving the rest of the crew a table dance.

Bayleigh rolls her eyes. “Anyone who sees the straightlaced, buttoned-up accountant in the daytime would have a hard time believing he’s this party animal that he is whenever we hit the clubs.”

“I know!” I shout over the music as we grab one of the couches.

“Bossman, it’s my birthday!” Hakeem shouts as he slides off the table and staggers our way.

“So, I’m told.” I laugh, leaning back into the couch and wrapping my arm around Bayleigh.

“I told errybody, my Bossman’s throwing me this party tonight!”

I shake my head. I shouldn’t be surprised. When announcing that I would fund this excursion tonight, I told him to keep it on the low.

Everyone in this city knows who I am, but I don’t make it a habit of flaunting my wealth or extravagance. I don’t like drawing unnecessary attention my way, especially in public, and definitely not when my woman and my kids are around.

I catch Jamal’s and Malik’s eyes in the corner where they’re standing. We have a few other men stationed around the club, and I know that everyone is on alert as usual.

There are only a few select clubs throughout the city and surrounding areas that we frequent, but Stage 21 isn’t one of them. This club is relatively new, and my team has been wanting to check it out.

Hakeem suggested gathering here for his birthday, and because he really wanted it, I agreed. I’ve checked out the owners, and we swept the club earlier tonight before they were open for business. But now that Hakeem is drunk and talking a little too loose and loudly, I hope that he doesn’t make me regret the decision to host his party here.

Janel and Kim are in the middle of the floor dancing and attracting the eyes of all the men around us, including some who aren’t in VIP. They’re both wearing lace and leather. Their clothes are provocative, although Janel’s outfit covers more areas than Kim’s.

Marisa, my receptionist, dances her way to our couch and takes a seat beside Bayleigh, hugging her. My team respects me, but they love and adore my wife.

“Hey, Boss Lady. So glad to see you,” Marisa gushes.

They talk for a while before Bayleigh’s head bobs up when she hears Muni Long’sMake Me Forget.

“Baby, I want to dance,” Bayleigh declares.

I’m not the dancing type, but there isn’t anything that I won’t do for my lady.

She stands, full of smiles, and reaches her freshly manicured hands my way. I take them and let her drag me out of the VIP section.

Bayleigh’s arms around me lure me into a false sense of security, and for a while, as I inhale her sweet fragrance and bask in her soft, lush curves, I don’t focus on the danger that always lurks whenever I’m in public.

I press my lips into the groove of her neck, and she purrs contentedly against my shoulder, sending a hum of vibrations right through me. We sway slowly back and forth, and Bayleigh pulls back and stares into my eyes.

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