Page 12 of Because You're Mine
“No!” I hurriedly answered, peering up at him with wide, scared eyes. “I only want you, baby.” Placing a shaky hand on hischeek, I stared into his eyes as I stood on my tiptoes, crashing my lips onto his. “I love you.”
Not reciprocating the kiss, he stared at me momentarily before dragging his eyes back over to the now fidgety host. “The reservations are under Donovan.”
Quickly nodding, the host didn’t even bother to confirm the information before asking us to follow him. Donovan held my hand tightly as he tugged me toward the center of the restaurant. As we walked the aisle, I wanted to run and hide from the way the patrons were looking at us. Dropping my head in shame, I only lifted it when I noticed we’d stopped walking.
“The waitress will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you—” I started to speak, but my words halted at the figure across the room. Ducked off in the corner was the same shadowy mass that I saw the night I performed the love spell on Donovan. My heart began beating in my chest as sweat began to form all over. I shook with fear and watched as the form grew larger while as those around it continued to eat and go on with their night. Jerking my head from side to side, I looked around to see if anyone else was seeing what I saw. The calmness of the guests was evident that they didn’t.
“’Brena!” Donovan barked, yanking my arm to get my attention. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Huh?” I asked, blinking rapidly as I panted. “Do you see?—”
Turning around, I pointed my finger in the direction from which I’d seen the shadow. When I dragged my eyes back toward where it had been, it was gone. Frowning in bewilderment, I scanned the room, trying to locate where it could have gone. Nothing about this made sense to me. How could it have just disappeared like that? How could no one have seen it?
“Sabrena, I don’t know what’s going on with you tonight, but you’re pissing me the fuck off.” Donovan gripped my arm as heplaced his lips to my ear. “If you don’t want me to cut up in this bitch, you will act like you have some fuckin’ sense.”
Kissing my cheek, he eyed me menacingly as he pulled my seat out for me. Giving him a soft smile, I took a deep breath as I descended into my seat. “I’m fine, love. I’m just so overwhelmed by the love you’re showing me tonight.”
Eyeing me, he said nothing as his jaw ticked. I watched as he spun on his heels, making his way toward the back where the restrooms were located. Taking a deep breath, I sank into my seat and tried to gather my thoughts. My first instinct was to make a run for it, but I knew it would only make matters worse.
“Ma’am, my name is Herman, and I’m the manager tonight,” a balding Hispanic man stated as he placed two glasses of water on the table. “I wanted to come over and make sure everything is okay. A few of the guests and staff are a little…” He side-eyed where Donnie had gone before he continued, “They’re a little worried and wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“Thank you, but your concern is unwarranted.” I gave him an awkward smile. “Please, excuse me while I look over the menu. I want to take my time while he’s occupied. You know, we women can never make our minds up.”
With his arms crossed in front of him, I knew by the look on his face that he didn’t buy my answer. Thankfully, he didn’t pester as he nodded curtly and left the table. With a sigh of relief, I hurriedly went into my clutch and removed a small potion I had been working on for days. Tonight was a rare blood moon, and I had every intention of breaking the love spell. Twisting the cap, I looked around to make sure the coast was clear before I poured the substance into Donovan’s drink. Using my knife to stir, I watched the powder dissolve in the water. I didn’t give him anything to hurt him, but to ensure that he slept long enough for me to do what I needed to do.
“You know… when you first came in, I thought my eyes were deceiving me. Like, there wasnoway you would walk in here like you have the right with yourbest friend’sman.”
Standing over our table was none other than our friend, Ashley. She was all dolled up in her pencil skirt and heels, but the frown on her face made me cringe. The look in her eyes was one of hurt, anger, and disgust.
“This isn’t what you think…” I tried my best to plead with her. “I’m going to fix this and make it right.”
“Make it right?” She threw her head back and laughed, gaining more attention from the guests. “Do you know how badly Janelle is hurting behind Donovan leaving her? She’s been in her bed crying for weeks, unable to understand how the man she thought she was going to spend forever with doesn’t want her all of a sudden.” Dragging her smoldering eyes from me, she glanced up and locked eyes with an unbothered Donovan. “Nigga, how dare you hurt my sister the way you did? She fuckin’ loves you!”
“Sounds like a personal problem.” He shrugged, dropping a kiss on my lips before he took his seat. “Maybe you should be wiping her tears and consoling her instead of coming over here trying to confront my girl. At the end of the day, ’Brena will be the one getting fucked while Janelle is the one drowning in despair over a nigga that no longer desires her. ’Brena is my life, and she will be my wife. Fuck you, Janelle, and anyone else who doesn’t like the choices we’ve made. Not only will I die over her, but I will kill about her, too, so I’ll advise you to move around, Ash.”
Placing his glass of water to his lips, he gulped it halfway as he engaged in a stare-off with Ashley. She searched his face and studied it as if she didn’t know the man before her. In a way, she didn’t.
“You’re different.” She squinted at him before dragging her eyes to me. “What the fuck did you do to him, witch?”
The chair scraped across the marble floor before crashing to the ground, causing everyone in the room to gasp as Donovan stood abruptly from his seat. His eyes completely darkened as he grabbed Ashley by her throat, lifting her from the ground. She clawed at his hand as she wheezed for air. The hold he had on her was deadly, and if he didn’t let her go soon, he’d crush her windpipe.
“What the fuck did you call her?” He ground his jaw, squeezing her throat tighter. “I will kill you for disrespecting her.”
“Baby… let her go!” I pleaded with him as I patted his arm. “You’re going to kill her.”
“Let the bitch die.” The grittiness in his tone was one I’d never heard. “She will pay for trying to harm you.”
With her eyes rolling into the back of her head, I looked around at all the panicking faces. The police would be here soon, and I needed to get him out of here before it’s too late. I had two hours before midnight, and I needed to get to Sunset Valley. Seeing she was losing consciousness, he dropped her to the floor like a bag of potatoes. Shaking from fear, I looked on as the customers held their phones out, pointing and speaking in our direction. On a whim, I closed my eyes and murmured lowly.
Hands midair with mouths real wide
Do not move because time is mine
You will not wonder, you will not shout
When time resumes, don’t seek us out
