Page 26 of Wick
At Riggs' declaration, I watch as an immense amount of relief pours off the woman in front of us. She really thought we'd turn her and her child over in order to save our own asses. Fuck that shit. The Kings back down to no one. Cortez better bring everything he has to the battlefield because when he faces off with me, he's going to need a whole fucking army.
Chapter Ten
Tequila
"This is ridiculous." Huffing my frustration, I lean back, letting my upper body and head sink into the mound of pillows behind me. Finally, taking in Malik's bedroom, I realize it's almost as sparse as the rest of the house. Aside from the sizeable King-sized bed, which feels like heaven compared to the hospital bed, there's a long dresser with a TV hanging above it and an oversized chair positioned by one of the windows along with a desk on the opposite side of the room.
Bringing my hand up, I cover up a yawn. I can't remember the last time I felt so tired. Not just physically, but mentally as well. Looking over at the nightstand, I spot the TV remote. I also notice the picture frame sitting right beside it and pick it up. My fingertips trace the surface of the photograph as I study the three familiar faces staring back at me—much younger versions of me, my brother, and Malik. Emotions swell, causing my chest to feel heavy. My tired eyes well up, and a few tears stream down my cheeks. I remember the day this photo was taken like it was yesterday. It was the night of homecoming. I was so excited to go. Especially since my dad was set against me dating for so long. The rule was, I had to wait until high school. So, when I was asked my freshman year by Terrance Johnson to homecoming, I was more than ready to spread my wings. Daddy, on the other hand, wasn't as prepared as he thought he was. I laugh to myself and wipe the tears from my eyes. Most girls go shopping with their moms or girlfriends; I had my Dad. My mood lightens, and I smile. We spent the entire day together. He took me shopping, spending countless hours waiting for me as I tried on dress after dress until I found the right one. To top it all off, he took me to dinner, just me and him, where he gave me a spa day gift card, which I used the day before the dance to get my hair and nails done.
Continuing to stare at the photo, I hone in on the smiles we were all wearing and take in how happy we were despite the little fact none of that night went the way it was planned but exactly how it was supposed to be. My date ended up with a terrible case of food poisoning the night before the dance. Nevertheless, I had a dress, the perfect pair of shoes, and my hair was on point. I wasn't going to let anything stop me. The next day, I put myself together, determined to take myself to the dance.
When I got downstairs, Malik and my brother were standing in the living room with Daddy. My brother dressed in a suit, and Malik sans a suit jacket, staring at me in a way he never had before. I remember the heat I felt from it.
My eyes grow heavy. I set the picture frame back in its place, retrieve the TV remote and turned on the TV. I find it much easier to fall asleep with background noise and sinking further into the pillows I finally give in to my fatigue. Closing my eyes, I fall asleep.
Rounding the corner, I step into the living room. There standing beside my dad is Malik, next to him, my brother. "What are you two doing here?" I stop, waiting for someone to answer me as the three men in my life do nothing but stare at me. I start to feel unsure and uneasy, the longer they stay silent. "What?" I look down at myself, thinking something is wrong with my attire. "Do I not look okay? Is something stuck on my butt or something?" I ask as I turn my back to them.
My Daddy walks across the room. Grabbing my hand, he twirls me, and I giggle like a little girl. "You look absolutely beautiful, baby girl." I look up, and his eyes are a bit misty. "You look so much like your mother."
I smile. I never had the chance to know my mom, but dad keeps pictures of her everywhere. She passed away hours after giving birth to me from a pulmonary embolism. My dad raised us by himself. Being a single dad hasn't always been easy for him, especially trying to raise a teenage daughter, but I've never wanted for anything. I couldn't ask for a better dad. "Thanks, Daddy." I throw my arms around his waist, hugging him. "The girls will be here any minute to pick me up. We haven't discussed curfew yet." I take a step back.
"Your friends will meet you at the dance." My brother and Malik stroll in our direction, joining us.
"What are you talking about?" I ask, confused. I just talked to Jessica an hour ago. As far as I know, plans haven’t changed. Suddenly my stomach sinks to the floor.
"I'm taking you to homecoming," Malik rushes to say, and my eyes connect with his. The intensity in them throws me off. He stares at me like I'm prey—like I'm his, and it feels like a fire consumes me. "I mean, your brother and me." He soon adds, causing the spell he had over me to break. My Daddy's shoulders shake with a chuckle.
"Let me get this straight." I start to feel a little peeved. "You three," I eyeball all of them, "have decided to take it upon yourselves to change my plans for me?" I raise my brow. "I don't need anyone feeling sorry for me. It's not like I was stood up. Terrance got sick. I'm fine with going solo." I fold my arms, determined to let them see I can stand on my own.
"Baby girl," my dad says, his tone telling me to turn the dial back on my stubbornness.
I cut my eyes to Malik, who is still focused on me, then my brother. "Come on. We'll all have a good time. Promise," Damien says.
"Fine." I give, and my dad grasps my shoulders as he kisses my forehead. "You three have fun." Then he turns toward Malik as my brother heads for the front door. "Take care of my baby girl. Make sure she's home by 10:00 pm." He grills Malik as if he's my date.
"Daddy. It's Friday and homecoming. Come on, can't you stretch curfew just for tonight? Say, midnight?" I give him a pleading look.
"Tonight only." He faces Malik, "You have my daughter home, inside this house at midnight, sharp."
Malik's face turns serious. "Yes, sir." My dad gives him a sharp nod.
"Let's get going, you two," Damien calls from the front door.
Hugging my dad's neck, I retrieve my purse and walk out the door, following my brother and Malik one step behind. As much as I try to hide it, I can't contain my enthusiasm or the way I feel when Malik's palm touches the small of my back before reaching in front of me to open my brother's car door.
Looking back at him, I smile, and he returns one of his own.
Later that night, Malik drives us home. I sit in the passenger seat, tapping my bare toes to the rhythm of the music from the radio, on the floorboard. Meanwhile, my brother is in the backseat, sleeping off the alcohol he and some of his other teammates snuck into the dance tonight. I look in the backseat and laugh when he mumbles in his sleep. "If our dad sees him like this..." I don't finish my thoughts before Malik says, "Don't worry. He won't. Damien is staying with me tonight."
"You’re a good friend."
Malik laughs, and it brings a smile to my face. "I don't know about that, but he's the best friend I've ever had. You both are." Those last words, him calling me his friend suddenly doesn't sit right with me. It almost feels like he punched me in the stomach.
"You okay?" Malik looks over at me as he's pulling my brother's car into the driveway of our home.
I swallow the lump in my throat. "Huh?" I look over at him, and he's staring hard at me. "Yeah, I'm fine." I lie. The truth is, I'm feeling a lot of things at the moment, and I can't process any of them being this close to him. Flinging the car door open, I pick my heels up off the floorboard. With them and my purse clutched in my hands, I take off in a hurry toward the front door.
"Vayda." Suddenly Malik is right behind me, and I pause with my hand on the door handle. "Wait."
