Page 42 of Thirst

I nod. “Yes, she is.”

Shawn lets out a long sigh. “Wow. After all this time.” He reaches over and pats me on the shoulder. “Congratulations. I'm happy for you. You deserve some love. I know you've got me, and I’ll always be your boy, but I know you need this. You've always needed this. So I'm glad it’s happening. But why do I get the feeling that you're not happy about it?”

“It’s not that I'm unhappy,” I try to explain. “It’s that … man, I just can't stop thinking about her. Her blood hit my tongue and it was like being brought back to life after being dead for decades. I lost control of my entire body and my abilities. It literally lifted me from the floor and sent me floating to the ceiling, and that’s not an exaggeration. I floated to the fucking ceiling and spun around in a daze for an hour before I was able to come down.”

“Holy shit.”

“Yeah, holy shit. She became an angel to a devil, showing me how good it all can be. She became the sole light in my black existence, and I just can't get over it. I never knew I could feel like this. Now, I need her. I need her, Shawn. ”

Shawn chuckles lightly. “Damn. That's deep. It must really be something, because I have never heard you talk like this before, and what’s more is that I've never seen you look like this. So I know it’s true, and I'm thrilled for you, big dog. Truly, I am. So what’s the next move? Now that you have confirmation, I'm sure you’re thinking about what’s next.”

“Absolutely,” I say, nodding before sipping my wine. “Now that I know, protecting Aaliyah is priority number one. Nothing is more important than that, and that includes other people’s lives. I want her out of that strip club and away from the men who frequent it. I want her away from Von, so I have to figure out how to make it happen. If anyone gets in the way of that, I’ll it’s over for them, and I don't care if the cops find the bodies I leave in my wake. For her, I’ll burn it all down—Philadelphia, the entire state of Pennsylvania, the whole east coast—it will all go up in smoke if that’s what it takes to keep her safe.”

Shawn’s eyebrows go up. “Damn. You're serious.”

“As a heart attack,” I reply. “It starts now. I have a financial meeting with some vendors from the casino tonight, so I can't go to Fantasies myself. I need you to go.”

“Okay. What about Black Coins?”

“The casino will be fine. It practically runs itself anyway. I don't pay security for nothing, and if it collapses in on itself, then so be it. Aaliyah is all that truly matters. So, go to Fantasies tonight and just watch her. Make sure nothing happens to her.”

“To what extent? She’s a stripper after all, and she's gonna have to dance for men, but I'm sure you don't want your Companion handing out lap dances to every man with a few twenties in his pocket.”

“I know she has a job to do, and I don't wanna disrupt that. Not yet. So just fall back and watch from afar. I'm sure it’ll be business as usual, but if you see her in any situation that could be dangerous, intervene on my behalf.”

“Oh, you mean you want me to put hands on somebody.”

“Without hesitation.”

Shawn laughs, nodding like he just got permission to take fistfuls of cash from a bank vault. “Okay. Bet.”

“Don't cause a scene unless you need to,” I say. “I don't want to shake up her life too much too fast. There's a lot she and I need to discuss, and I already texted her when I woke up. We’re gonna have dinner on her next night off, and hopefully I can figure out how to explain some of this. But I'm anxious. She already said she had something she wanted to talk to me about.”

“Damn, already? What if she tries to end it?”

I shake my head. “I don't know what I’d do, but I've got a feeling that it’s not that.”

“Okay,” Shawn says as she stands. “So I'm going to the strip club tonight. I love my job. Meanwhile, you’ll spend the night in meetings while struggling to clear your brain enough to pay attention.”

“I don't know how I'm gonna get through it,” I reply, gripping my drink tighter as I prepare to chug the rest. “I have to figure out how to tell her everything: that my life changed when I saw her, that drinking blood isn't a kink, that she's my fated partner, and most important of all, that I'm one hundred and fifty-six years old.”

I let out a long sigh, then knock back the rest of my drink.

AALIYAH

Twenty-Six

“Is your little boyfriend gonna be here tonight?”

I grin as I take my seat next to Majesty, with her short hair perfectly styled and her all-white lace outfit looking divine. Her sepia skin glows and reflects the light from her vanity, and when we sit next to each other, I find myself marveling at how different skin tones can be so similarly beautiful. It’s obvious that my dark chocolate skin isn't as light as hers, but Black beauty is untamable regardless of its shade, and I love when the mirror reminds me.

Once I'm seated, I fiddle with the clasp on my lime green bra as I reply to her, thinking about what happened the last time I saw Amari, and what happened afterwards. “Nah, he's not coming tonight, unfortunately. Said he had a meeting or something.”

“Oh, so he really is your little boyfriend?” she asks with a surprised look on her face and a high-pitched voice. “You're actually dating a customer?”

My focus moves from my bra to the strap on one of my white and green heels. “I didn't say all that.”

“You didn't have to,” she says, raising a suspicious eyebrow. “I saw the way your face lit up when I mentioned him. Plus, I noticed you took a little trip up to the Viper Rooms the last time he was here. I'm surprised at you, Aaliyah. You actually went up there. I don't know if I should congratulate you or ask if you're good.”