Page 81 of His to Have
She looked up at me, her fingers lingering on mine just a beat longer before she stood and adjusted her dress. No words passed between us, she just slipped her arm through mine and waited for me to move.
We made our way toward the back of the lounge with deliberate steps. Yanna moved like a boss beside me, with her head held high, expression cool, and eyes that were forever scanning. Without breaking stride, she clocked everything. The bottle girl still lingering near the corner of our section. The small band playing soft jazz near the bar. The curious stares that tried not to be noticeable.
Obviously, the club didn’t quiet down to a low murmur or become dramatically still like you see in the movies. People still chattered in the background, cards still shuffled, and women still flirted with the men who flaunted their wealth like it wasnothing. But something in the room still shifted as we walked. A few minutes later we stood in front of the guest of the hour.
Orlando looked up, a ghost of a scowl playing on his lips. There was history and so much bad blood between us.
“Donatelli,” he deadpanned, no emotion or warmth. Just a barely restrained acknowledgement of the tension between us. We all knew this wasn’t some friendly meet-up. Not even the potential of forming an alliance. This was calculated... a chess move that will end in bloodshed.
The amount this time, was in his hands.
“Orlando... Bianca.” I matched his tone. “I could’ve sworn the last time I left you and your bitch in that raggedy ass town of yours that we came to an understanding.” I slid into the booth, settling in right across from the nigga who, if he wasn’t directly involved in the bullshit, damn sure knew enough to make sure his wife knew the kind of war she was starting.
Orlando’s scowl deepened. “Who the fuck you calling a b—”
“My wife was a target. Yes?” I cut him off. “And you didn’t think I’d come for yours? You should know that about me. I’m not the type to let things slide. And unlike you I look a man in the eye when I tell them that I intend to end everything they hold dear. Your wife, your son, your parents... hell, the list goes on.” A sinister smirk crept onto my face as I leaned back, letting the weight of my words settle in.
He smirked then scoffed. “You think you’re untouchable?”
The corner of my lips lifted. “I know I am.”
“You know you are one cocky son of a bitch.” Bianca finally opened her lips to speak. “No wonder the North is up for grabs. You and all your arrogance.”
“Baby,” Orlando tried to interject, his voice a low warning, but Bianca waved him off, her eyes locked on mine. “You didn’t even know we had eyes on your whole damn operation before the wedding,” Bianca snapped, eyes narrow and locked on mine.“You think you’re the only one with reach? One Reed down... only a Donatelli or two to go.” She smirked.
It wasn’t surprising she was so brazen and spoke recklessly. Bianca and her family were a powerhouse. At least they were back in the day. It was the reason she and Orlando married in the first place Her family gave him legitimacy, but between Reeds andDonatellis, we had practically dismantled their entire empire over the years.
“What did you say?” Yanna who had been sitting quietly chimed in, her eyes narrowing on a heated Bianca. She turned just enough to face Bianca fully. “Say it again. Louder this time.”
Orlando’s wife didn’t even blink, but her mouth pressed into a tight straight line. She hadn’t been talking to Yanna, but now she had her full attention. Her fingers tapped impatiently on the table, and the small muscles in her jaw ticked.
Oh, she was pissed, but it didn’t faze my lady.
That was the one thing I never had to worry about with her. Defending her family... she would always stand her ground, no matter who it was. She stood up to me multiple times. Bianca would be light work.
“I don’t believe I stuttered. You heard me,” Bianca replied, unfazed by the rising tension.
“Damn, baby... and here I was thinking you were being a little too hard on them. Thinking they weren’t even the real problem.” Yanna turned her pout toward me, then looked back at the couple and let out the smallest giggle.
Before I could even say anything, or even agree with her, Yanna waved over a bottle girl. “Let’s get a round of drinks, shall we?” she said with a mischievous grin. “We might as well celebrate since we are commemorating our losses. Celebrating a fallen Reed. Right?”
The tension in the room was palpable. Bianca blinked slowly attempting to downplay the hidden message. But Orlandoshifted, telling me everything I needed to know. He’d caught the threat... or rather the promise.
“Don’t worry,” Yanna said sweetly. “We’ll raise a glass for everybody’s loss tonight.”
The barmaid returned, handing us all a glass. Yanna accepted hers without looking away from Bianca, and I took mine without lifting it yet. The tension was so thick the server didn’t even linger around for a tip.
“I guess we should forego a toast. Or long drawn-out speeches.” Yanna lifted her glass taking a long drink.
Bianca’s jaw tightened. Her fingers tapped against the side of her glass, then curled around it like she was seconds from tossing the cocktail across the room. The more she looked at us, the redder her light face got. She was fuming.
“You’re not going to drink with us? That’s kind of rude don’t you think?” My girl taunted her. “I mean the least you could do is share a drink, especially since you ruined my honeymoon with this guy.” Her thumb flicked toward me without looking.” The North is up for grabs. The South is in shambles. You won, right?”
She gave a soft shrug, her smile stretching wider. “Why not celebrate?”
“You know what? You’re right.” Bianca reached for the glass with the nastiest smile on her face. “Fuck the Reeds. And theDonatellis. Good riddance!”
She raised the drink and looked Yanna straight in the eye before tossing the liquor back in one long pull.
