Page 51 of A Player's Prayer
As I played with her baby boy, I felt a peace I didn’t know was missing. In my mind, Harley had been guilty by association. I was not fucking with her and had no plans to. But I was mature enough to know that holding a grudge against someone who technically did nothing to me was a waste of my energy. The last thing I wanted to do was cause conflict within this family as a new member, even though I could rightfully do so, because no one could change the fact that Ava was wrong in her actions. Adrian had already expressed he was rocking with me over his brother and his wife if this meeting didn’t go well, but what kind of wife would I be to keep that drama going?
Sliding from the booth, Harley beamed as she came over to my side and pulled me into a hug. I don’t know if it’s because the man is mine, or if I’m really over it, but I just wanted us all to get along, so I hugged her back tightly. I spoke with Mama Evie on numerous occasions, and I can tell she won’t expect anything less. Grudge or not, I was going to have to live with Harley in my life now, as she would have to live with me in hers.
As Harley and I exchanged numbers and promised to genuinely get to know each other, we decided to call it a day. Little AJ was snuggled into my chest, snoring like a bear, and Adrian was blowing my phone up begging to rub on my booty.
“Please be careful getting home! And text me when you get there!” Harley waved and yelled across the lot as she and her son made their way to her brand-new Escalade truck. “That’s if that man lets you!”
Laughing, she was right because the man I married is liable to meet me in the driveway with his dick in his hand, ready to go.Pressing my remote to unlock the Jeep Wrangler, I was rushed from behind. Thrown into the driver’s door of my truck, my keys dropped to the ground.
“What the fuck—Sed?” My eyes went wide at the sight of Zaria’s boyfriend. “What the fuck is wrong with you? You need to back the hell up off of me!” Taking a beat, I looked him over. “What are you doing here?”
To say I was shocked to see him before me was an understatement. He’s always been unattractive, but the sight of this Charleston White lookalike was making me sick to my stomach. I hadn’t seen or heard from him since I left Florida. Looking around the lot, I realized how empty it was outside of a few patrons who weren’t paying any attention to the distress I was in. Seeing that the sun was starting to set, I started to feel frantic.
“What did you do to my girl?” Tears flooded his eyes as he shook with anger. It was then that I noticed the knife in his hand. “Last time we talked, she told me that she was coming here to see you, and I haven’t heard from her since! It’s been weeks!”
Shaking my head in confusion, I had no idea what he was talking about. “You must be mistaken. I haven’t talked to Zaria since I found out she was fucking Bear, and all of you were plotting to kill me!” My voice rose higher than I expected, but that still was a sour subject for me. I reminded myself that this psycho had a knife, and even though I felt like I could take him, I wasn’t going to try. “Ask your boy, Bear. He’s the one fucking her.”
Eyes squinting, he took a step toward me. “Lie again, bitch. She told me she was coming here because you called her and told her you had something for her.” He held up the phone, pushing it in my face. “This was three weeks ago! Now, where the fuck is she?”
Looking at the messages, there was a text from my saved contact, but I didn’t send it. Before I could tell him that, he grabbed my hair, placing the knife to my neck. The rage in his eyes was evident. Screaming for help, I felt like there was no use as the few people who were just outside had disappeared. As he pressed the tip into my neck, he was snatched from behind and thrown to the ground. The instant relief I felt shook me to my core.
“Don’t you ever touch my wife, pussy-ass nigga!” Adrian dropped on top of him, raining blow after blow to his head. “I’m going to murder you, bitch!”
“Baby, no!” I cried as I tried my best to pull him off of Sed, but my attempts were useless. Snatching from me, he continued to beat the shit out of him. I looked around to call for help, but I didn’t have to as Skip and his friend, Money, came running over.
“Aight, nigga. You beat his ass.” Skip pulled him into a bear hug, lifting Adrian as if he weighed nothing. “If you hit me, nigga, I’m calling Evie.”
His chest heaved up and down as he had the look of murder in his eyes. I’d never seen Adrian this upset, and it terrified me a little. Stepping back, I watched as he got himself together.
“Put that hoe-ass nigga in the trunk and take him to the spot.” He kicked Sed in the ribs once more, causing him to groan. He stared at him momentarily before he dragged his eyes to me. I could feel myself shaking from distress.
What was I scared of? I don’t know. But seeing Adrian in complete “Wild mode” was something to consider the next time I wanted to go upside his head as I’ve done in the past.
“Kodi, come here,” he said, his voice stern but soft.
Looking from Money as he threw Sed into the trunk of his car, I dragged my eyes back to my husband. Extending his hand, I looked at it for a second before I placed my hand in his. Pulling me into his chest, I felt his heart beating rapidly as he held me.
“Why you shaking, baby?” He rubbed my hair, kissing my temple. “I’ll never hurt you, Dakota.”
“I’d beat your ass if you tried, nigga.” I was trying to make light of the situation, while calming my psyche down from what I’d just witnessed. “I didn’t want you to kill him… I don’t care about him. But I don’t want to lose you, Adrian.”
No matter how much this man gets on my nerves, I never want to live a life where he isn’t in it. Thinking about it alone sucks, and I never want to experience it again.
“That’s one thing youneverhave to worry about.” His chest rumbled as he laughed. Kissing my forehead, he pulled me back to assess me. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner. When you didn’t answer my call, I thought it was Harley I was going to be putting in the trunk.” He smirked before it dropped as he traced my neck. I could see something flicker in his eyes. “I’m killing that muthafucka.”
“I know…” I whispered. “I just—be careful.” I peered up at him. “I haven’t heard from Zaria, but he said some things?—”
“You know I’d never let anything happen to you, right?” I nodded, because I did know it. “Know that as your husband, I’m going to keep you safe fromallhurt and danger, no matter who it is.”
Holding my stare, I wanted his eyes to say what his words wouldn’t. In my heart, I felt as if I would never hear from or see Zaria again. I should be sad. I should be hurt. Instead, I felt at ease. Every day, I replayed the conversation she and Bear had about me, and if it had to come down to me or them, I’d let my man make the choice every time.
“When are you coming home? Will it be tonight?” I asked as Noemi parked on the other side of my truck. She was also in a Trackhawk, but hers was black-out and made from a different metal. The Jeep looked heavy, and I wondered if it wasbulletproof. I wouldn’t be surprised from what I’d heard about the Boudreaux’s from coworkers at the hospital.
“There will never be a night I don’t come home to my heart.” Opening the passenger door, Noemi smiled and waved. “Do me a favor and kick it with sis until I come and get you.” He pulled me into his arms and dropped another kiss on my lips. “I love you, wife.”
“I love you more, husband.” I kissed him again before sliding into her ride. I watched from her sideview mirror as he sped through the lot in the opposite direction. I said a small prayer that God keep my man safe and bring him back home to me.
“He will be fine.” Noemi patted my knee, comforting me. “Wild might be rambunctious, but trust me when I say, he’s just as calculated with his crazy as the rest of them.”
