16. Derek’s Destiny

HAKEEM

Hakeem Diaz

“It’s, ‘she’s 5’2, but I want you,’” Rich muttered, flicking a few more bills into the g-string of the girl bent over in front of him, her ass bouncing to the rhythm.

“Why the fuck would he care about her height?” Orlando shot back, squinting like he was trying to solve a damn riddle.

“Maybe he’s got a height preference,” Rich suggested with a shrug, still not taking his eyes off the action.

“It’s, ‘she’s fine too, but I want you,’ dumbass! Context clues!” Orlando said, emphasizing every word like he was schooling a kid.

Them two kept going back and forth, arguing like they ain’t got real shit to handle in front of them.

I just shook my head at their bullshit, half paying attention while I slapped some bills on the ass bouncing right in front of me. A few more of the crew were posted up around the club, chilling in different corners, faces lit up by the strobe lights cutting through the thick smoke in the air.

Truth got his big show coming up at this Jubilee thing, but with him chasing Destiny around like a stray dog chasing a bone, I figured me and the boys needed to turn up a bit now that they were in town for the performance. Found this spot a couple towns over since Juniper dry as hell—ain’t shit popping there.

The bass from “Powerglide” by Rae Sremmurd had the whole spot shaking, that beat pounding like a second heartbeat deep in my chest. The DJ’s voice cracked through the speakers, yelling out hype to a crowd already lost in the rhythm, bodies moving like they was born to do it. The room was straight-up throbbing with flesh and heat—asses clapping, titties bouncing, and the floor turned into a rainstorm of crumpled bills flying everywhere.

Desperation hung thick in the air, heavy like the smoke that clung to the walls and the floors—every inch soaked in that vibe. You could taste it, feel it, like it was baked into the damn atmosphere. And right there in the middle of it all, we was just playing our part, watching it all go down, throwing money, and letting the night take us wherever.

“You ready, Big Daddy?” a voice purred from behind, her hands sliding down my chest like she was mapping out a route.

Oh yeah, I’d paid for some private time, but got caught up in all this madness while I was waiting.

“I gotta go, sweetheart,” I said, standing up and nudging the girl in front of me to the side, her ass still bouncing to the beat. My girl—the one I’d been waiting on—slipped her hand into mine, pulling me away with that kind of smile that promised a whole different kind of fun waiting just around the corner.

“Hey! You’re just gonna leave? I thought we were having a good time,” the girl in front of me whined, her face all scrunched up like I just stole her last dollar.

“Fuck him, we got plenty of cash over here!” Orlando called out, loud and reckless, his grin spreading wide. He was already deep in it, throwing bills around like it was nothing, ready to keep it raining.

She didn’t even blink. Flashed a quick smile and slid over to where the other girls were grinding on their laps. She knew the deal—money was money, and with D-Truth’s crew in the house, it was coming down like a storm tonight.

I slipped off into a private room with the stripper named Candy. She wasn’t giving me no play at first, all disinterest and cold shoulders, until I dropped D-Truth’s name. She paused, gave me a look that was quick and sharp, then pulled out her phone and started Googling. Next thing I knew, her whole vibe flipped—she’s all smiles and soft touches, her eyes wide with that look of recognition. She’d seen the photos: me in the background, posted up next to D on stage, trailing him on shopping sprees, looking like his right-hand man. And just like that, I mattered. Whatever. Comes with the territory of rolling with a dude like D.

Shit, more times than I can count, I’ve gotten pussy just off the strength of his name. I ain’t about to complain. Most of these girls, they ain’t seeing me for me; they see an opportunity. They figure if they can get with me, maybe it gets them one step closer to D. And, truth be told, most of ‘em don’t even know what I do for him. Hell, sometimes I don’t even think he knows. But that don’t slow them down. They’ll start with me or one of the other cats in D’s crew and think they can work their way up, hoping to catch his eye and hit the jackpot.

And truth be told, it used to work sometimes. But on his last tour, he switched up—more quiet, stuck in his head. He wasn’t smashing nobody, not even E’Lana. Even caught his ass crying one night, looking at his phone. My man was down bad, and back then, I couldn’t figure out what his deal was. I now knew he was on Destiny’s IG from his burner account.

But now we’re down here in Juniper, and D’s got his girl back—the one he been fiendin' for since forever. That train done left the station. From now on, if these girls wanna roll with us, they gotta settle for a dude like me. Not that they’ve realized that yet.

Ain’t like I’m some lame out here. I ain’t no ugly nigga, neither. I’m a big dude, yeah, but so was Biggie and Heavy D, and they had chicks lined up, no problem. I got that Dominican flavor straight outta The Bronx—curly hair, hazel eyes, that real New York swag. I’m a whole vibe, whether these chicks see it or not. Shit, you ask me, I’m a damn good one, no doubt.

“This room comfortable for you, Big Daddy?” she asked, voice sweet like honey but with a little bite to it, like she knew how to play this game better than most. Her ass was something serious, barely held together by that blue string outfit that looked like it was stitched with nothing but hope and a prayer. She guided me down onto a plush leather sofa, the kind that damn near swallowed you whole when you sat in it.

“Yeah, this straight,” I said, my hand already grabbing a handful of that ass, giving it a good shake.

“Good. Sit back and let me give you the Candy special,” she purred, that grin spreading across her face, eyes shining under the dim lights like she’d dusted ‘em with diamonds. She was this pretty caramel-skinned thing, the kind that could have you hypnotized if you let your guard down.

I didn’t know what the hell the “special” was supposed to be, but I figured it involved me getting my dick out, so I went ahead and made myself comfortable. Her eyes went wide, a hungry look creeping across her face as she started moving, her body swaying like she was working some kind of magic.

And I needed this—needed something to take the edge off, ‘cause crashing at Destiny’s place was wearing me down. Not that Destiny wasn’t chill, but her and D fucked like they were trying to break a Guinness record—loud as hell, like the walls were made out of paper. Every damn night, it was a concert of banging, slapping, moaning, and hollering, all hours. Fucking animals, man. Enough to make a man lose his mind, for real.

Not to mention the ice cream machine I was digging for was between Destiny’s legs. And let’s be real—I wasn’t getting none of that.

I pulled a condom out of my wallet, and I swear Candy’s eyes lit up like Christmas morning. She bit down on her lip, looking like she was about to get exactly what she came for. And me? I knew I was finally about to get what I needed too.

“Okay, I see you ain’t playing no games,” she murmured, licking her lips slowly, her eyes locked on mine like she was reading my every thought.

“None, Ma,” I replied, my voice steady, eyes holding hers. I wasn’t here to waste time.

“Good,” she purred, her hips still swaying as she closed the gap between us, the rhythm of her body like a slow, deliberate promise.

She was right there, close enough for me to feel the heat radiating off her skin. I was face to face with her pussy now, and the scent of her arousal filled the space between us, thick and heady like perfume mixed with adrenaline.

“Do what you want Daddy, you wanna kiss it, lick it, put some fingers in it?”, she asked moving the little triangle to the side and revealing herself to me as she ground in my face.

“Really need you to sit on this dick”, I said getting straight to the point.

I wasn’t about to put my mouth on that, no matter how pretty it looked. I didn’t know this girl, didn’t know where she’d been, and this whole setup was already walking a fine line. She let out a low, knowing laugh, like she’d seen it all before, and started working herself with her fingers, her eyes locked on mine. She was putting on a show, playing up the part, and the room was getting hotter by the second, the air thick with lust.

I wrapped my hand around myself, stroking up and down, my eyes still on her but my mind drifting far away—anywhere but here. I pictured somewhere far from this smoke-choked club, somewhere clean, with a girl who didn’t have dollar bills sticking to her thighs. A place I’d never been, with a girl I’d never touched. But that thought was just a mirage. I wasn’t here for fantasies.

When I’d had enough of the back and forth, the teasing, I rolled the condom on, giving her the look that said I was done playing. She saw it, read the signal clear, and moved to climb on. To me, she was just a means to an end. I needed to get this nut off, clear my head, and refocus. Business was business, and moments like this were just part of it—necessary distractions to keep myself sharp and ready for what was next.

“Damn, Big Daddy.”, she moaned as she slide down on my lap with me inside her.

She been doing this, no doubt in my mind. She moved like she got years in this game, like she could do this with her eyes closed. And damn, it felt good—hot, wet, tight—good enough to make me forget every other thing going on around me. I shut my eyes, let my head fall back, and gripped them thick ass cheeks in my hands, squeezing ‘em like I could hold onto this moment just a little longer, like maybe that’d keep everything else from creeping back in.

“You’re a greedy boy, aren’t you?” she teased, her voice low and taunting, her tits bouncing right in my face with every grind of her hips. “I know big boys like to have something in their mouth,” she said, pulling her top aside and shoving a nipple between my lips.

I didn’t hesitate. I went in, sucking on her like I was starving, tongue swirling around, teeth just grazing enough to pull a gasp outta her. I could feel her whole body shiver, reacting to every flick, every pull. She wanted a show, and I was giving her the whole damn performance, keeping my grip tight on her ass, holding her in place like I wasn’t about to let her go nowhere.

"That's it," she whispered, her voice a mix of command and encouragement.

I didn’t have shit to say back. My mouth was too busy, locked on the taste of her skin, feeling her nipples between my lips. All I could do was lose myself in it, let the noise from the rest of the world fade out like it didn’t exist.

I finally let my mouth take a breather, biting my lip as I shut my eyes and pulled her closer, pressing her body down on top of mine. I slid back, getting comfortable, sinking all the way into that plush leather. Yeah, this right here was better. Now I could really let go, let my mind wander a bit. I saw her in my head, felt her—the one who been living rent-free in my thoughts. I could almost make myself believe it was her in my hands, her riding me just like this.

“Eden,” I whispered, her name slipping out my mouth like I’d been holding it in forever.

“Who?” Candy’s voice snapped me back to right now, her head jerking up, eyes narrowing as mine shot open. “I said my name was Candy.”

“That’s what I said,” I lied, smooth as ever, not missing a beat, and thrusting up into her, making her bounce, her titties jiggling with the motion.

“Oh,” she laughed, that suspicion melting away just as quick as it showed up. She started riding me harder, letting it slide, while I tried to keep my mind from slipping back to where it really wanted to go.

“Your hearing probably fucked up from always being in these loud-ass clubs,” I said, my tone half-joking, half-serious.

“Yeah, probably,” she giggled, not missing a beat.

Candy’s giggles melted into soft moans as I kept driving up into her. Each thrust had her shuddering, her hands pressing down on my chest for some leverage. Her eyes were half-closed, lips parted, caught up in the ride. But my mind? It was already somewhere else, drifting to where it really wanted to be.

I gripped her waist tighter, guiding her movements, but my head wasn’t in this room. I was thinking about Eden—how she’d move on me, how she’d feel under my hands, the taste of her skin. It was like Candy’s body was just a placeholder for the real thing, something my brain was using to fill the gap. I kept thrusting, deeper, harder, like I could shake the thoughts loose, but I knew it wasn’t happening. That name was stuck in my head, burned in there like a brand. Eden.

Candy’s breathing picked up, her moans getting louder as she rode me faster, the sound of our bodies slapping together drowning out the bass from the club outside. She was putting on a show, her head thrown back, eyes closed, but I could tell she was still watching me, trying to pull me back into the moment.

“Yeah, Big Daddy, just like that,” she groaned, leaning in, her voice dripping with a practiced sultriness. Her hands clawed at my chest, nails digging into my skin as she tried to pull me back into the room, back to her.

I felt myself getting closer, my grip tightening around her waist, and I knew I had to finish this. I needed to let it all go, to burn off whatever was building up inside me. I bucked up harder, my hips pounding against hers with a roughness that made her squeal. She was lost in it now, moaning louder, calling out, but I wasn’t hearing her anymore.

All I could see, all I could feel, was Eden.

I let out a low growl, my body tensing, and I felt Candy tighten around me, her body clenching and releasing as she threw her head back in a moan that echoed off the walls. I held her down, my thrusts becoming more erratic, losing rhythm until I felt myself release, the tension snapping like a rubber band inside me.

“Fuck!”, I roared as I saw Eden’s face.

Candy collapsed against me, panting, her chest heaving against mine. I stared up at the ceiling, the room spinning, and tried to catch my breath. She nuzzled into my neck, all satisfied and warm, while I tried to remember where the hell I was. She played her part perfectly, but the rush was fading, leaving me with the hollow echo of a name I couldn’t forget.

“Damn, Big Daddy,” she whispered, her lips brushing my ear, trying to bring me back to her. But I was already gone again, lost in thoughts of a woman who wasn’t here, a woman who might never be.

When I found my way to Juniper, tagging along with Marcy and them, I didn’t know what to expect. But then I saw Eden for the first time at that toy drive. Damn, I’d never seen anyone so fucking pretty. The kind of pretty that makes you feel like a kid again, all nervous and shit. Those lyrics popped right into my head: “5’5' with brown eyes, smile like the sunrise.” She was like something out of a song, but that day went south so fast, we all got caught up in some shit that still fucked me up some nights.

Ever since that day, I been rolling with Truth, helping him make his rounds, checking in on families, or doing whatever else he needed when he wasn’t buried deep inside Destiny. And every time I caught sight of Eden, I’d try to play it cool, act like I wasn’t feeling some type of way. We hadn’t really talked like that; every time I thought about making a move, my nerves would trip me up. She had this way of making me feel like I was some awkward kid back in high school or some shit. Plus, she was always caught up in whatever Destiny had her doing, running around like she was on a mission, and I wasn’t about to step on that.

And besides, once this Jubilee mess was over, I knew we’d be bouncing, leaving this town in the rearview. Didn’t make sense to start something that wasn’t built to last. So for now, she was just a fantasy in my head—one I’d much rather be holding onto right now instead of Candy.

“You gon' let me go, or you want me to lay up with you and cuddle? ‘Cause that’s extra,” Candy’s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to the moment.

I snapped out of it, the haze clearing from my mind. “Nah, you can go,” I said, sliding her off me and pulling out. Reality hit like a cold slap to the face, reminding me where I was and who I was with.

I slid the condom off, wrapped it tight, and shoved it in my pocket. I caught Candy giving me a look, like I just broke some unwritten rule, but I didn’t see no bathroom around and I damn sure wasn’t about to leave my DNA out here. She could think whatever she wanted. I wasn’t gonna let her handle that shit. I might not be D-Truth, sitting on a damn near billion, but I wasn’t stupid either. D always told me to stay sharp, especially in situations like this.

“We squared up, right?” I asked, noticing she was still watching me, like she was waiting on something more.

“Yeah… no tip?” she asked, eyebrows up, lips pouting like she thought that might work.

I laughed, shaking my head. “A tip? Alright, I got one for you,” I said, leaning in with a grin that carried just enough sting to cut. “Don’t waste too much time hoping to get in D-Truth’s bed. ‘Cause that shit? Never gonna happen. Might want to lower your expectations a bit.”

Her face twisted, a flash of anger crossing her eyes. “Fuck you,” she snapped, her tone losing that fake sweetness.

I shrugged, unfazed. “Already did, sweetheart. But hey, you still got plenty of other suckers out there,” I said, nodding toward the club outside. “Just don’t forget—some dreams don’t come true, no matter how hard you grind.”

She scoffed, rolling her eyes and turning away, but I caught the way her lips pressed into a thin line. I’d hit a nerve, and she didn’t like it one bit.

“Yeah, yeah. Get outta here,” she muttered.

I flashed her a quick smile, feeling that cocky satisfaction spread through me. “Pleasure doing business with you, Candy,” I said as I slipped past her and out the door, back into the thumping bass and flashing lights of the club.

Orlando and Rich were still deep in their bullshit, tossing bills like they had an allergy to holding onto cash. I made my way back over, a little swagger in my step, ready to jump back into the madness.

“Yo, y’all still trying to prove who’s the bigger idiot?” I called out, sliding back into the circle, back into the noise and chaos that felt like home.

They were both still posted up, laps full of ass and mouths full of trash talk, but the second they saw me, the focus shifted.

“Look who’s back from his little one-on-one,” Orlando hollered over the music, that wide, knowing grin all over his face. “You get what you paid for, Hakeem, or she hit you with that extra charge for your weak-ass game?”

“Nah, nah, I think I heard him in there whispering sweet nothings,” Rich jumped in, laughing as he slapped another bill onto the girl’s thigh. “Bet he was like, ‘You ever been to The Bronx? I could show you around.’”

I rolled my eyes, smirking. “Y’all clowns got jokes tonight, huh? Just ‘cause I don’t gotta toss all my rent money to get a chick’s attention don’t mean I ain’t handling my business.”

Orlando leaned back, laughing. “Man, your business is charity work compared to what we doin’ out here. I bet she’s in there thinking, ‘Bless his heart, he tried.’”

Rich snorted. “Yeah, you keep runnin’ that game, ‘Keem. Let us know when you finally step up to the big leagues.”

I chuckled, my grin turning sharp. “Big leagues? Y’all talkin’ like you ballin’, but you playin’ yourselves harder than these girls. Keep throwin’ your money around, but just know I’m stackin’ mine while y’all out here goin’ broke for attention.”

Rich laughed, shaking his head. “Aight, aight, ‘Keem, you think you slick with that mouth. Just ‘cause you got a little game don’t mean you ain’t as broke as the rest of us, fam.”

“Broke?!” I fired back, leaning in with a shit-eating grin. “Only thing broke around here is your taste, clown. I been down here grinding while y’all been playing like you still on summer vacation. Where the hell y’all been?”

“On break, dumbass. Truth came down here to get his shorty, not to hustle,” Orlando cut in, like I was the one talkin’ crazy.

“So that means y’all been sittin’ on ya ass, not stackin’ no bread. Don’t even think about askin’ me for a dollar for the rest of this trip,” I laughed, pointing at them. “Get ya shit together, clowns.”

The three of us kept going, the insults flying, each jab rougher than the last, but that was how it was with us. Underneath all the shit-talk, there was a bond—thick as thieves, always ready to hit where it hurt but never meaning to draw blood.

“Aight, aight, chill, y’all,” Rich finally said, waving his hand like he was calling time-out. “I’ma grab another drink. Y’all keep clownin’.”

I grinned, watching him swagger off. “Yeah, you go do that. Get yourself some courage in a cup, maybe then you’ll finally holla at a girl without blowin’ your whole paycheck.”

He threw me the finger over his shoulder as he headed for the bar, and I just leaned back, chuckling to myself. Orlando and me stood there, watching the scene, the club still goin’ wild around us like it always does.

Outta nowhere, it felt like I got hit with a jolt of electricity straight down my spine. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and my heart started banging in my chest like a damn drumline. A weird heat flushed through me, like I was standing too close to a fire. My eyes locked in on her, but nah, it couldn’t be her. Ain’t no damn way. Not here. And for damn sure not in that little-ass outfit she had on.

I had to be trippin'. I’d smoked a bit tonight, had some drinks, but I couldn’t be that bent. This shit looked too real, too sharp.

I blinked hard, trying to clear my head, but the vision didn’t budge. There she was, clear as day—Eden. Across the damn room. She was laughing, head thrown back, curls bouncing like they had a mind of their own, sitting on some dude’s lap like she belonged there. His hand was resting on her thigh, all easy and too damn comfortable. My Eden.

My brain was spinning, thoughts racing a mile a minute, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away. She was supposed to be different, too good for this kinda scene. What the hell was she doing here? I felt this tightness in my chest, like my whole world just flipped upside down and I was trying to catch my balance. None of this made any damn sense.

Orlando peeped the shift in my vibe, caught how I was zoned out, eyes locked on like a heat-seeking missile. He followed my line of sight, brow knitting up. “Yo, what the fuck got you lookin’ like you just seen a ghost, man?” he asked, leaning in, trying to see what had me all twisted.

I didn’t say shit. My mouth was dry as hell, fists clenching tight at my sides. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. My mind kept screaming, Not my Eden. Not like this. But there she was, looking like she was having the time of her life, draped across some dude’s lap. And just like that, the whole night flipped on its head, all the noise in the club starting to drown out like I was underwater.

My feet moved before my brain could catch up, and with every step closer, I prayed I was wrong. But there she was, clear as day. I didn’t even think, just snatched her ass right up off dude. Her eyes went wide, pure shock spilling across her face.

“Oh my God!” she screamed, voice all high-pitched and panicked.

“What the fuck you doing here?” I barked, my grip on her arm tighter than I meant. Anger and confusion tangled up in my head, making my voice sharper than it should be.

Her eyes finally focused on me, a flicker of recognition sparking in them. “Hakeem?” She yanked herself out of my grip, stumbling back like she was scared of me, and that cut deep. That wasn’t what I was trying to do, but this whole scene had me all kinds of fucked up.

“Yo, what’s your problem, man? She’s working!” the dude she was on stood up, puffing his chest out like he was about to do something.

I turned to face him, still running hot. “Man, shut the fuck up before you get dealt with,” I snapped, not even hesitating.

“This is so embarrassing,” Eden muttered.

“Embarrassed?” I barked, eyes locked on her. “I asked you a question. Fuck is you doing here, Eden?” I yelled, my voice coming out raw, like I had some kinda claim on her, like she was stepping outta line.

“I’m working,” she shot back, her voice shaky but trying to stay steady.

“Working? At a fucking strip club?” I fired, disbelief and heat mixing in my words.

“I’m a waitress, it’s my second night,” she said, looking at me with those big, teary eyes, like she was a kid who just got caught sneaking out the house.

“Destiny and D know you working here?” I pressed, my mind spinning, trying to piece together how the hell she ended up caught in this mess.

“No, I—” she started, her voice cracking like she was right on the edge of breaking, like the words wouldn’t come out.

“This where you wanna work?” I shouted, frustration boiling over. “You couldn’t work at a fucking Chili's or some shit?” I fired back, my tone sharp, like I was trying to knock some sense into her.

“Say, man, you don’t hear me fucking talking to you?” the dude barked, stepping up like he wanted smoke. I’d already forgot he was even there, too caught up in Eden and whatever the fuck she thought she was doing.

I turned, hit him with a stare that could burn through steel, stepping up so he could feel the heat radiating off me.

“Get the fuck out my face before we got a real problem,” I growled, my voice low and deadly. I wasn’t here to play. I had bigger shit to sort out.

Whatever Eden was caught up in, Destiny wasn’t gonna be feeling it. And if Destiny got heated, D was gonna flip, and when D had a problem, it landed right in my lap.

The dude took a step back, sizing me up, like he was trying to figure if he wanted to push it.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” I muttered, turning my focus back to Eden. “You and me, we’re going outside. Now.”

“No!” Eden snapped, her eyes lit up with a fire I ain’t know she had. “What’s your problem? I don’t even know you like that.”

Her words hit like a slap, but I wasn’t backing down. She was wildin’ out, and I wasn’t about to let her think this was a good idea.

“Eden, go get your shit and let’s go! You’re leaving,” I barked, my voice cutting through all the music and noise around us like a knife.

“I’m working!” she fired back, her tone just as sharp, standing her ground like she was ready to go toe-to-toe.

This girl had lost her damn mind, thinking she could stay up in here and play this game. And if she thought I was about to let this slide, she had another thing coming.

“I’m walking you to the back, to your fucking locker, or wherever the hell strippers keep their shit. You gon’ get your stuff, and we out this bitch. Unless you want me to drag you outta here,” I said, voice steady but with that edge, letting her know I wasn’t here to play games.

Her eyes went wide, real shocked now. She wasn’t ready for this energy.

“Don’t look like she wanna leave with you,” the dude chimed in again, like he ain’t learn nothing the first time.

Jesus Christ. Before I could think, my hand was around his neck, and I slammed him back against the wall, hard enough to make the whole place rattle. Girls started screaming, backing up quick as I pinned his ass to the wall. My crew clocked the whole thing in an instant, Orlando and Rich moving in closer, ready for whatever popped off next.

Dude’s eyes went wide, real fear setting in now. He thought I was just talking shit. He didn’t know I’ve put dudes down for a lot less than this.

“I ain’t gonna tell you again—mind your fucking business,” I growled, my voice low and full of venom.

“Come on, Keem,” Orlando chuckled, stepping up beside me, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “You got dude pissin’ himself.”

I looked down, and sure enough, homeboy had a dark stain spreading down his leg, piss running down his shorts.

“Lucky you ain’t got none on my J’s,” I muttered, loosening my grip. He dropped to the floor, landing in his own puddle.

I gave him one last look as the screams started to settle down, stepping back slow to make sure he wasn’t gonna try any funny shit. Then I turned back to Eden.

“Go get your shit, Ma,” I told her, my tone leaving no room for discussion.

This time, she didn’t protest. She nodded, tight-lipped, and practically ran toward the back room. I walked in the direction she went, making sure to keep an eye on things while I waited outside, watching her every step. She was safe for now, but I needed to figure out what the hell was going on and how to handle it before this situation blew up even bigger.

“Fuck going on, man? Who’s that girl?” Rich asked, his eyes cutting over to where Eden just disappeared.

I sucked my teeth. “One of Truth’s people. She don’t need to be up in here.”

Rich shook his head, catching the drift. He knew how many fires I put out for D before he even knew something was about to blow. This was just another problem I had to handle, keep off his radar. Eden came out a minute later, full of attitude, shoving past me like she was mad as hell. I caught a glimpse of her ass, and if I was noticing it, best believe every other dude in here was too.

“Aye!” I called after her, peeling off my sweatshirt. “Put this on,” I said, tossing it her way.

She huffed, rolling her eyes like some bratty kid, but she slipped it over her head anyway. Just like the good girl I knew she had in her. She kept moving, and I followed her out to her beat-up old-school Corolla, parked all the way out in the lot's shadows.

“I better not see your ass back up here,” I warned as she swung open the car door.

“Whatever,” she muttered, rolling her eyes again as she fired up the engine. “You embarrassed me in there.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” I shot back. “Now take your ass home before I snitch on you.”

She paused, her hand still on the ignition. “You’re really gonna tell?” she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and a touch of fear, like she couldn’t figure out if I was bluffing.

I leaned in closer, dead serious. “You think I won’t? If it keeps you outta this bullshit and keeps D and Destiny off my back, I’ll tell ‘em without thinking twice.”

She stared me down for a second, trying to read me, but I wasn’t budging.

“Go home, Eden,” I said, trying to soften it up, even though my chest was still tight with all this shit swirling around.

She didn’t say another word, just gave me a look—caught somewhere between pissed off and disappointed—then she drove off, her old Corolla rattling into the night. I stood there, watching her taillights disappear down the street, the streetlights throwing long, lonely shadows across the lot.

I didn’t care if she was just waitressing; she wasn’t doing that shit here. Not in this spot. But I needed to know why she was here in the first place. What kinda mess she got herself into? What made her end up in a place like this? I didn’t have those answers yet, but one thing was clear—she was safe tonight. That’s what mattered for now.

I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding and started heading back to the club.

This girl was gonna be far more trouble than I ever anticipated. And the way things were unraveling, I had a feeling this was just the beginning.

Whatever Eden was caught up in, it wasn’t just gonna blow over. And like it or not, I was about to get dragged right into the middle of it.