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“Samuel! It’s good. It’s not going to happen again.”

  “I know it’s not because you are moving your firm out of that building as soon as possible.”

  “I have about three more years on my lease. I can’t just pick up and leave like that.”

  “You can and you will!”

  “No, I am not!”

  “You are going to break that lease.”

  “Break the lea…that’s absurd!”

  “What’s absurd is them allowing Leathen’s wife up on your floor. I hope you were as irate with them as you are right now.”

  “I told you it was handled.”

  “It wasn’t handled. It was addressed. It will be handled when you move out. You should’ve left after you were attacked. You can move into the building I’m in. There are a couple of empty floors.”

  “I can’t afford the floors in your building! I am still building my firm, Samuel. I don’t have capital to just throw around.”

  “You are moving, and that’s final. You can either start the process yourself or I will.”

  “Neither is happening! It’s my business. I have the final say on where we go. We aren’t going anywhere!”

  I sat back in the bed and folded my arms across my chest.

  “Yeah, okay,” he mumbled.

  I wish he would think he can just demand that I move out of that building. I am paying little to nothing for rent, and I am locked in on that price for the next three years. I know other people in that building that are paying double what I am paying. I’m not moving. It’s my name on the door, not his.

  I was pulled from my internal dialogue by Samuel talking on the phone.

  “Hi, Vince…yes, I am doing better thanks for asking. I did receive the card and the flowers, thank you. I haven’t been into the office, but I am hoping I will be cleared to go back soon…Yes…thanks. So look, I am calling because I need one of those empty floors you have in the building. They are still vacant, correct?... Good. No, I’m not expanding, yet. There will be another firm occupying it…No, not my competition, my family…Correct. Can you send over some numbers to my secretary so I can review them?... Yes…Great. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks…Take care.”

  He disconnected the call, put his phone down and turned the volume up on the TV.

  “You think you can just force me to move?”

  He didn’t respond.

  “How do you have an attitude?” I snapped. “This doesn’t have anything to do with you!”

  “What the hell did you just say?” he asked after turning towards me, his signature scowl back in place.

  “I said this doesn’t…”

  “You repeat that crap and I’m pushing your ass out of this bed. You’ve been at this hospital every day moving my legs, monitoring machines, talking with doctors and washing my dick! I thought that made us a team. My welfare has been your number one priority but when I have something to say about what’s going on with you, all of a sudden it has nothing to with me? Get the hell outta here with that bull,” he waved his hand then turned his attention back to the TV.

  “It’s not bull…”

  “Yes, it is bull! I can’t be all weak and crap, unable to physically defend you but have you walk into a building every day that is not secure. I won’t be able to concentrate or get anything done. You are my everything! Don’t you get that? Nothing can happen to you! Then you said some crap about capital and staying in that building because of the money. Are you kidding me? Everything I have is yours, Vee. Everything! You don’t get to put yourself in danger to save a few bucks. If you can’t afford the rent, then I will personally front the money to the firm, and you will pay me back. Period. Patterson Law is moving. Do you understand?”

  “Fine.”

  “Good.”

  UGH! He makes me so mad! I sat back and folded my arms across my chest.

  “Hey everyone,” Ray said after a quick knock before entering.

  “Hey Ray,” I said dryly then turned back to the TV.

  “What’s up, El,” Ray said while putting the bag of food down on the bedside table and pushing it toward the bed. “How are you today?”

  “I’m better than yesterday. Thanks for bringing this food.”

  “No problem.”

  “Tomorrow or the next day I should be getting some information from Vince, the building’s owner. Can you make sure I get it?”

  “You are back to working already?”

  “Somewhat.”

  “Is everything okay?” Ray made eye contact with me, and I rolled my eyes.

  “It’s fine. We were discussing some moves that are about to happen,” Samuel answered.

  “More like forcing,” I rolled my eyes.

  “O-kay. Then, I’m out.”

  Ray kissed my cheek before leaving the room.

  Samuel

  I removed the food containers from the bags and set it up on the table in front of us. Ulysses had sent chicken parmigiana for me and the chicken and waffles for Averie. I was still fuming from the story Averie told me about Leathen’s wife getting past security and on to her floor. I didn’t care what she felt about moving from that building, that was going to happen as soon as possible. I needed to find out if Leathen’s wife was a threat to Averie and make sure she regretted ever crossing her path. I would have to talk to Countee about that. I cut into my chicken and noticed that Averie hadn’t touched her food yet.

  “You gone keep pouting or you gone eat?”

  “I’m a grown woman, Samuel. I don’t pout.”

  “You acting like a little girl right now.”

  “I just don’t like the way you bullied me. You only get away with stuff like that because I love you. Anyone else would have walked away from me with their balls in their hands. Let me make my own choices about my business.”

  “This has nothing to do with your business. This has everything to do with your safety. That building and its security have demonstrated on more than one occasion that they are negligent in their duty to secure the building and its occupants. I’m not telling you anything about how to structure your firm, treat your employees or handle your cases. If you ask me, then I can, but that’s not what this about. It’s bad business on the landlord’s part. They should be hyper-vigilant about people coming up on your floor after the attack but yet again some clown that’s easily persuaded let another potentially dangerous person up there. Does that make sense to you?”

  “It’s not that simple…”

  “Put it this way. What if I said I wanted to out on my own and find who shot me?”

  “That’s just stupid,” she responded.

  “Why?”

  “Why? Because it is!”

  “But why, Vee?”

  “Because you would be putting yourself in harm’s way…touché. I understand.”

  “You know what, you don’t even have to take the floor in my building. I can’t lie, the suggestion was somewhat selfish. I would love to be that close to you on a daily basis.”

  She pushed the table back and maneuvered herself to straddle my lap. I welcomed her by placing my hands on her behind.

  “You were being selfish? Trying to get me closer to you?”

  “Yep,” I moaned while she kissed my neck. “I know you’ve had to think for everyone around you and think for yourself. I’m sure the thought of moving probably is overwhelming. I’m back, and I’m not going anywhere. You don’t have to make all the decisions on your own anymore. We can figure anything out together, right?”

  “Yes, we can and we will. I missed you so much.”

  She looked at me with unshed tears pooling in her eyes.

  “I won’t leave you again.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.”

  She leaned in and pulled my bottom lip into her mouth then ran her tongue along the seam of my lips. I pulled her closer, and we started to kiss. I hadn’t felt her this close to me or on top of me since I’d been awake and I was enjoying every second o
f tasting her, smelling her, experiencing her. The first person I thought about when I didn’t think I was going to make it, the one voice that I could distinguish among the rest when I was in a coma, the one I fought to get back to. The woman that I loved.

  “El,” she pulled away and looked at me asking without speaking if we could be physical. If we could make love.

  “Lock the door,” I nodded toward the hospital room door.

  “You sure? Should we ask the doctor?”

  “I already did. He said I’m fine just be careful of the wounds.”

  I wanted to make love to Vee the second she walked in the room after I’d come out of the coma. I knew I needed to ask about it, not for me because I was more than ready but I didn’t want to expose her to something. Not that I had anything before the incident, but I wanted to be careful. He gave me the green light.

  She hurried from the bed and quickly locked the door then pulled her shirt over her head. She reached around and unhooked her bra. My mouth began to water. She shimmied out of her pants and panties then padded back over to the bed. Seeing her beautiful, chocolate breasts, her ample hips and bare center had me completely aroused. I quickly pulled my shirt over my head and lifted my hips from the bed to get my pajama bottoms down. I had butterflies in my stomach anticipating the feeling of being inside my lady.

  With her eyes locked on mine, she moved towards me like a panther stalking its prey, seconds away from pouncing. She ran her warm tongue along the length of my member forcing my eyes to involuntarily roll to the back of my head. I gripped the fitted sheet to stop myself from grabbing her head and holding her in place. She licked the head lapping up the pre-cum that had seeped out. She continued her ascent, kissing and licking until she made it to my lips.

  “I’m going to take care of you,” she said while kissing my neck.

  I pulled her up to access her breasts. I sucked one into my mouth enjoying the feeling of her nipple turning into a pebble in my mouth. I moved over to the other and experienced the same thing. She maneuvered herself and sank down onto my erection. We moaned together.

  It felt like the first time all over again. She was so warm, so wet and fit me perfectly. She started to move but I held her in place trying to compose myself, or this was going to be over before we even got started. After a minute or so, I released her, and she started to gyrate and moan making that last minute useless. Averie was everything I wanted in a woman, her looks, her drive, her love, her brain and her ability to make me moan.

  “Baby you feel so good,” she said into my ear as she continued to ride me.

  “You are amazing,” I said while gripping her ass. I pushed the button to make the bed lower creating another angle and giving me a little control.

  “Are you okay?” she asked breathily after I lowered the bed.

  “I’m in heaven,” I said while I gripped her ass tighter and pumped into her.

  “El!” she yelled.

  “Shhh,” I responded, but I really didn’t care who heard her.

  I gripped even tighter as I felt the slow building of a massive explosion. Averie bit into my shoulder as she climaxed and I was right behind her. Neither of us moved for several minutes. I was waiting for the feeling in my toes and fingertips to return. I think Averie fell asleep. Eventually, she climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom. She came out fully dressed. I went in behind her and came out to her changing the sheets on the bed.

  “Stay with me?”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  Averie

  “How is Samuel doing?” Kenzie said.

  Keeva and I were talking to her on FaceTime. I propped my iPad up on my dresser so she could see us. Kenzie called me at least three times a day since Samuel went into the hospital. She was in the middle of working on an album and couldn’t leave LA. More accurately, I told her she better not leave. If something happened that required her to be here, I would let her know. She was being given the opportunity of a lifetime, and I didn’t want her to mess it up.

  “He’s doing well. He’s coming home tomorrow.”

  “I am so happy to hear that!”

  “I’m ecstatic, so I can’t even imagine how you feel,” Keeva added.

  “I can’t describe what these last six weeks of my life have been like. I had some serious conversations with God about how He does things for real. I tried to be optimistic, but some days, it was hard to just get out of bed,” I admitted.

  “We all have watched you in these last few weeks. The way you’ve managed to run your business and take care of Samuel. I am so proud of you, Vee. I know that I don’t say that very often but you make me proud every day,” Keeva said.

  “It’s true. I wanted to be there with you so bad but you are my she-ro for real,” Kenzie added.

  I blinked away the tears that threatened to fall before I spoke.

  “I didn’t know how to navigate this whole situation but I knew that someone was praying for me because on those days when I felt I couldn’t do it anymore, there was a small voice that told me I could. I’m just glad this part is over.”

  “What time will he be going home tomorrow?” Keeva asked.

  “Doctor McIntyre…”

  “With his fine ass,” Keeva interrupted.

  “Facts. Anyway, he said that he should be able to leave after one o’clock. All of the doctors need to come through and talk about at home care and follow up then he will be done with that place. I have a deposition with one of my clients that has been on my calendar for a while so I couldn’t change it. That shouldn’t take longer than an hour. Then I will be at the hospital.”

  “We will meet you out at his house, correct?” Keeva asked.

  “Right. I am going to stay out there with him. I will commute into the city on the days I need to go into the office.”

  “You can get him in that house and show him how much you’ve missed him,” Kenzie laughed.

  “I’ve already done that,” I winked.

  “At the hospital, Vee? Dang, y’all just couldn’t wait?” Keeva laughed.

  “I mean we had everything we needed to accomplish our goal, a nice soft bed and a locked door, so we went for it,” I shrugged.

  “Just nasty,” Kenzie laughed.

  “Naw, nasty is what I’m going to do to him once I get him alone in that house.”

  We all laughed.

  “I know we’ve all been so focused on El but how are you guys? It feels like we haven’t talked in so long.”

  “We’ve talked every day, just not about us. That’s cool, though. I don’t have anything worth discussing for real,” Keeva answered.

  “Well, I’m getting married!” Kenzie smiled showing all her teeth.

  “You sure are! Have you guys set a date yet?”

  “We want to do it there in Saint Louis in six months.”

  “Ken, that doesn’t give us a whole lot of time.”

  “Chile, puh-leeze! You know mommy went straight to the craft store to purchase poster boards, markers, and a new easel. She will have a presentation very soon.”

  “That so true!” We laughed.

  “She already asked me about the color scheme and sent me a whole Pinterest board with invitations and save the date ideas. She’s ready,” Kenzie added.

  “How do you feel about that? I mean it’s your wedding.”

  “I don’t care. My main concern is my dress. I just want to be gorgeous. I want Travis’ jaw to hit the ground when I walk down the aisle.”

  “His jaw will hit the ground no matter what you wear,” Keeva said. “I will put in something on the dress, though.”

  “I will too.”

  “I have the best sisters in the world!” Kenzie smiled, “Bro in law is gonna be okay with you helping, Key?”

  Keeva bunched her eyebrows and rolled her eyes.

  “Whoa, what was that look about?” Kenzie asked.

  “Are you and Kerem okay?” I asked.

  “Honestly? No, we’re not. It’s the same as we
discussed before. I can’t pinpoint the issue, and he won’t tell me, but I know it’s something.”

  “Something like what?” I further questioned.

  “Someone…”

  “No, Key! No way. It’s probably just work or something,” Kenzie said.

  “I try not to think that way but the way things are going, that’s the only conclusion I’ve come to.”

  “Have you asked him?”

  “He got irate. We argued about it, and he left. He came back later and apologized saying he was just stressed out.”

  “I mean, that is the typical reaction when you are guilty of something. But, I don’t think Kerem would step out on you,” Kenzie said.

  “I used to say that emphatically, but now I don’t know. Something has to give though. I can’t stand this feeling.”

  “What feeling?”

  “It’s a feeling of waiting for the next shoe to fall. I can feel it.”

  “Maybe you guys could speak to a therapist?”

  “I suggested a therapist, but you know how men think that therapy is for people who are sick. According to him, we are fine. So for now, I’m just waiting. We will see what happens next.”

  I sat down on the bench at the foot of my bed next to her. I put my arm around her, and she rested her head on my shoulder.

  “If I find out something about him without him telling me, I’m going to tie his ass to the bed and light a blow torch under his balls. I’m going to charbroil ‘em.”

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  “Haven’t we already gone over the sequence of events at least three times?” I asked while rechecking the time on my watch.

  What should have lasted a maximum of forty-five minutes was now going into the third hour. Opposing counsel was not prepared and kept repeating questions he’d already asked.

  “I need for the witness to answer the question,” opposing counsel responded.

  “She already answered it, and she is not going to answer it again. As a matter of fact, this meeting is over. You have wasted our time trying to cover up the fact that you came off the porch to play with the big dogs but didn’t realize just how big the other dogs were. Call my office when you have real questions to ask and don’t schedule anything else with my client until you’ve sat down with one of the senior partners at your firm to reevaluate your career choice. And tell Randall, your managing partner, that I am insulted that they put you on the case.”