Page 81 of Breaking the Rules
“She’s good with her?”
“She’s amazing with her. Those two are like best friends. I sleep on the edge of the bed, and I’m an afterthought.”
Kymber laughed. “That’s what you wanted, family. Enjoy it. I love you.”
“I love you, take care of yourself. Get through these six years like a muhfuckin’ G, you hear me?”
“I hear you. I got you.”
“Nah, Kym. I got you.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
“Mm,” Savanhi groaned, touching one of her faded bruises on her face. “At least it doesn’t hurt as bad as it could.”
It’s been three weeks since Brixx entered her space and violated her. Before Noble, she would’ve retreated into herself, disappeared for a while, and come out like nothing was ever wrong. Something snapped inside of her the day she saw the betrayal. All the things and ways that she allowed Brixx to mistreat her. The confidence in her that was broken before throwing abandon to the wind. She found a whole new life. One worth being proud of. In her eyes, the pain would always be worth the reward.
“Are you ready yet, Sassy?” Areli asked, click clacking into the bathroom with her hands on her nonexistent hips. “Deucey said, don’t take all day.”
“You tell Deucey he’ll wait as long as I tell him to wait,” Savanhi sassed back.
“I ain’t no damn dog, Sass,” Noble rumbled, walking into the bedroom in a crisp white button-up and a tailored pair of red silk Mikado trousers.
Savanhi eye-balled him in the mirror with a desire-filled smirk, frown over her half-made-up face. She hadn’t gotten dressed yet, still wrapped in her robe Noble bought when they got home from the hospital.
“You’re not a Doberman Pincher? My DP? No?” Savanhi asked, locking eyes with him and watching as he swayed.
“You trying to tell me what to do?” he asked with a raised brow. “Knowing that I can’t do what I want for another three to four weeks?”
Savanhi smacked her lips. “Yep.”
Areli, unaware of what the adults were talking about, leaned into Savanhi as she reached up to touch her belly. “How is my cousin baby?”
“Good, you know tomorrow you get to go with us and find out what it is,” Savanhi shared, finding joy in the way Areli found joy.
She gasped. “I want it to be a girl.”
“I’m outnumbered already,” Noble stated, entering their space with Savanhi’s phone in his hand. “We need a boy up in here. And you need to take this.”
He placed her phone down on the countertop. Savanhi’s eyes moved from Areli and Noble to the unsaved county number. She sighed. “Areli, make sure you have everything you need to spend the night with Remi, okay?”
“Okay,” Areli buzzed, click clacking out of the room.
“Listen to what he has to say. Tell him what you need to,” Noble placed a kiss on her cheek and a tap on her ass. “Then put your pretty ass in that dress so we can go.”
“Yes, Deucey,” she hummed playfully before sighing again and answering the call. Listening to the prompts, she answered, “I accept.”
“Vanhi,” Zayden spoke her name with a weight of guilt. “I heard.”
“I’m okay, Zay. I promise you I am. How are you? Any word from your lawyer?”
Zayden huffed out a puff of air, almost like he couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “Five years. One year in a halfway house. Three years’ probation.”
“How’d that happen?” Savanhi asked with shock.
“Brixx and Manny. They disappeared. State can only charge me for drugs I had in my possession,” Zayden shared. “So in five years I get to hug you and tell you I’m sorry.”
“Zayyy.”
