Page 16 of Vega

“I’m tired of sounding like a broken record.”

He pulled me against him. “You don’t have to worry about that with me.”

I closed my eyes and held him. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For being weird.”

“You’ve always been weird. That isn’t new.”

I laughed, as Dior kissed my temple. “You know I’m your family, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then stop trying to handle everything alone.”

I nodded against his shoulder. I felt terrible for lying to him. But guilt was survivable. Roman Granger might not be.

So, I let Dior believe I was haunted by the woman who had abandoned me instead of the man who might kill me.

4

NOVELLA “ELLA” HART

Rain tapped steadily against the kitchen windows while old-school R&B played from the speaker on the counter.

A rainy summer night gave me the perfect excuse to spend the evening tucked beneath Kash.

I stood at the stove stirring the cream sauce for the Cajun pasta while the chicken finished in the oven. I had already changed into a fitted tank top and shorts, tied my hair up, and poured myself a glass of wine.

I was tasting the pasta sauce when Kash entered the kitchen with his phone in one hand and his keys in the other.

My shoulders instantly sank with disappointment. “Where are you going?”

“I have to handle something.”

I pouted. “Right now?”

“Yeah. It’s urgent.”

He always used the word “urgent” when he had business in the streets. I wasn’t naive, and Kash had never insulted my intelligence by pretending his money came only from legitimate business. Still, he had created a firm line between our relationship and whatever happened outside our home. He didn’t conduct business around me. He didn’t discuss names, problems, or money. He got a call, and he stepped away. Situations happened, and he handled them without bringing the conflict back to our door.

Most of the time, I appreciated that. Lately, it felt like he was hiding more than usual.

“Dinner is almost ready, though,” I said, deepening my pout. “You told me you were staying in tonight.”

“I was.” He walked toward me and placed one hand on my waist. “I’ll be back within an hour.”

I looked at his keys instead of his face.

Kash lowered his head until I had no choice but to look at him. “Stop pouting.”

“I’m not pouting.”

“You are.”

I stared at him, and he smiled, which only annoyed me more because he knew exactly how to soften me when I wanted to stay mad.