Page 60 of A Kingpin's Weakness
He looked at me hard. “You need some time.”
“And I’ll take that when we deliver Ronnie’s body to his mama.” I met his eyes. Voice calm. Final. “If I don’t kill her too.”
CHAPTER 12
Stormi
“Seth.”
His name left my lips like a prayer I didn’t know I was saying. The house was too quiet, the kind of quiet that clings to your skin and makes your heart race. I hadn’t seen him since he and Rich left with Lia’s body. My stomach was still in knots from it, like I’d swallowed broken glass, and every step only made it cut deeper. I’d tried to stay busy. Helped Ms. Serena with dinner. Pretended I had an appetite, even though every bite turned to ash in my mouth. I tucked S3 into bed, read to him until he drifted off. But my mind was stuck on Jo and Noah two more pieces of my heart out there in a world that felt like it was cracking apart.
Jo’s phone was still off. Noah’s sent me straight to voicemail. And Ronnie?
Ronnie was a damn monster.
I moved toward the bathroom. The door was cracked just enough for me to hear something soft but sharp. A sound that didn’t belong to this strong, solid man. He’s crying. It hit me like a punch to the chest.
Knock. Knock.
“Seth,” I said, voice barely above a whisper. “Can I come in?” No answer but something about his silence told me more than words ever could.
I pushed the door open gently. There he was sitting on the cold tile floor, back against the tub, legs stretched out, head leaned back like he was trying to disappear into the wall. And the tears they were falling, steady and raw. My heart broke for him.
“Hey,” I said softly as I moved closer. “I was looking for you.”
Before I could even sit fully beside him, Seth pulled me into his lap like he needed me closer to breathe. His arms locked around me like I was the last piece holding him together. And God, I didn’t realize how much I needed that too just to be held. But still guilt burned hot in my chest.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, the tears spilling before I could stop them. “Seth, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. If I hadn’t”
“Stop,” he said, wiping my tears with his thumbs before pressing a kiss to my lips, slow and full of everything he didn’t have the strength to say.
“Baby,” he said, his voice thick with pain. “This ain’t on you. Ronnie did this ‘cause he wants the power. He’s been planning this setting it all up behind the scenes. I found out today he killed my pops.” His voice cracked on those last words. “All for the damn streets.”
I couldn’t say a word. Couldn’t breathe, even. I just wrapped my arms around him, held him tighter than I ever had. I wanted to take his pain and carry it with mine, bury it somewhere deep where it couldn’t touch him.
And Rich. God, Rich looked like he was dying inside. I should’ve hugged him before he left. Should’ve said something. But there was nothing to say when everything was falling apart.
“I need you to promise me something,” Seth whispered against my hair. “Promise me you’ll stay. Don’t go out there. Don’t try to leave. I can’t lose you too.”
“Seth...” My voice cracked. “I’m scared. Jo and Noah they out there. And if Ronnie’s still moving like this…”
“I already have Jo and Noah put up at one of my rental properties.”
I blinked. “What? Are you serious? Can I talk to them?”
Seth didn’t hesitate. He pulled out his phone, swiped through his contacts, and pressed a number. The line rang twice before someone picked up.
“Boss.”
“Quan,” Seth said, his voice dropping into that cold, commanding tone that made my heart skip for all the wrong reasons. “Put Noah on the phone.”
There was a pause, then some muffled voices in the background. I heard the scrape of the phone changing hands, a little rustle, and then a new voice came through the line—low, familiar, and already carrying trouble. “Yo.” The sound of my brother’s voice hit me right in the chest.
“Noah! Are you okay?” I asked, relief and tension crashing inside me all at once.
“Stormi, what the hell is going on?” Noah snapped. “Tell your so-called man to let me outta here. I got shit to handle.”
Yup. Same old Noah.
