Page 147 of Treason's Temptation
“Politics,” I muttered, jamming my finger into the button.
“Oh, so you’ve got her wrapped up in your shit?”
“She’s wrapped up in your shit! Isn’t that why she was withhimin the first place?” I snapped, stepping onto the elevator.
She almost missed it, staring at me with disdain for knowing the truth, but her hand stopped them, joining me.
“I’d watch my mouth making accusations you don’t know shit about.”
“I’m not you. I don’t do what’s best for me at the expense of the people I love.”
Most of Sloane’s allure was wrapped in her mystery. You only saw what she wanted you to. She didn’t account for the fact that we shared the same quality, making it easy to read.
“I’m sure she’s regretting it now, sitting in a fuckin’ cell.”
The elevator opened on the top floor, and Rayven jumped to her feet, likely expecting Navie. Instead, her smile faded as she stared at their family matriarch.
“Sloane! What are you doing here? Where’s Vie?” she panicked, looking past me.
“You wanna tell her since you know every goddamn thing?” Sloane asked, facing me with a hand on her hip.
“She’s in jail for the night.”
“Jail! Why the hell is she in jail? Is this about-.” She cut her eyes to Sloane because, despite all the shit she’d pulled, Rayven was loyal.
“For something she didn’t do. I’m going down there in the morning. You can come with me to see her,” I offered.
“I’m going too,” Sloane insisted.
“You’re not going anywhere with me. Blue is going through enough. I’m not doing that to her.”
My resistance cracked Sloane’s fragile ego. The audacity of a man not fawning at her feet following her lead.
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
“Sloane, stop!” Rayven yelled, but I quickly learned there was no reasoning with her, especially when she couldn’t get her way.
“Contrary to what you andBluethink, I know my child. If she were going to kill Lorenzo, she would’ve done it long ago, but you’re new here,” she smiled, moving her rook with confidence, “I see how you look at her. A lost fuckin’ puppy hanging on to her every mood. Sitting at her feet waiting on a command because you can’t move without her telling you to. Or maybe you’re playing her close so you can sabotage her to take the fall for what you did.”
“Tre, is that what you’re doing?” Rayven responded, grabbing my arm, forcing me to look into her eyes. “Tell me you wouldn’t do that to Vie!”
She looked so much like Navie, I found myself wondering if she thought the same. Sloane was good at spinning the narrative- taking the heat off of her, but she wasn’t better than me.
“They’d all do that. Don’t let the good looks and sweet talk fool you.”
“You got everything right except one thing. I’m no fuckin’ puppy. I’m a big dog protective and loyal to my owner. When it comes to her, there’s no line I won’t cross. Not a soul I won’t put down if it means keeping her safe. That’s my baby now, and I’m calling the shots. If you want to see her, wait until she comes home, or get on the visitation list like everybody else.”
“I’m not everybody else. I’m her mother. She needs me whether she knows it or not! That’s my baby in there, and she’s pregnant!”
“And I’m protecting mine.”
“Wait a minute!” Rayven’s hands clung to her head. “She’s pregnant! Tre, you promised me! You said you’d take care of her.”
Sloane chuckled, “And you believed him?”
“Tre, let me holla at you for a second,” Ward interjected because there was nowhere for this conversation to go but further down the toilet.
Shifting down the hall, my fist hit the office door open. Ward followed so close behind me that it almost popped him in the face.
