Page 1 of Seek & Destroy

Prologue

Hunnids, hunnids, in my hand

Want it, want it, spend them bands

Yeah, I’ma take all I can get

That money keeps that pussy wet…

I pulledinto my driveway blasting “Price Tags” by Jazmine Sullivan, spotting Kwame’s car. I smiled, seeing that he was home and back from his business trip. I really missed him and couldn’t wait to spend time with my baby. Shutting off the engine, I grabbed the takeout bags from Lemuel’s, then hurried inside the house.

“Babe! Where you at?” I called out, kicking off my shoes.

“In the bedroom. Come here for a second.”

I set the food on the table by the door, then made my way up the stairs to lay eyes on him. Upon entering my bedroom, Kwame stood from the bed as I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. I went in for a kiss, but he turned his head, so it landed on his chin.

I frowned. “What’s wrong?”

He pulled away from me and lifted his phone, swiping to something then turning it to me. It was a picture of Marc and I sharing an intimate kiss… a kiss that I did not authorize nor want. He swiped again, showing me another photo of me sitting in Solo’s lap and another photo of Chris and me hugging outside of the airport. I was busted.

“What the fuck is this, Esani?”

“Wait… I can ex—”

He put his hand to my mouth, silencing me. I could see the hurt and pain in his eyes as he moved me out of his way and headed out of the room.

“Kwame! Wait a minute. Just listen to me!” I exclaimed as I followed him down the stairs. I knew I had fucked up terribly, but I needed to plead my case because I couldn’t lose him. I couldn’t let him walk out of that door because I knew it would be the end of us once he did.

Kwame was everything a girl could ever ask for. He was a handsome, paid, trust fund baby, and had his hands in a lot of things, which made his net worth a whopping 19.2 million dollars. I knew a lot of people would call me crazy as fuck for ever doing what I did to him, but the truth was, I was born to be a savage.

Since the moment I slid out of my mother’s womb and learned to talk and comprehend, she instilled in me that no matter how good the man was, he was going to cheat and break my heart. She told me toneverfall in love and toalwayskeep a couple men on the side just in case the one I was with wanted to act out.

And here I was… foolishly using what I’d learned all my life to fuck over the one nigga that wouldn’t cheat on me if someone paid him to do it. I knew he was a good man... a great man actually, but my mother tampered with my mind at such a young age, and I didn’t know how else to be.

“It’s all about the finesse, baby girl.Make ’em fall in love with you, but never fall for them. As soon as you do, you’re doomed. If you treat them right, fuck ’em good, feed ’em, and do everything a good girlfriend or wife would do, they’ll give you the world. Rule number one—never get caught. Rule number two—never save their number in your phone under their names. That shit is a dead giveaway and will become a disaster. Rule number three—if they ask you if you’re seeing someone else, deny it until your fucking face turns blue. Last rule—never ever ever fall in love with them! Give off the illusion but never fall.”

Just hearingher words in my head now made me regret the day I ever listened to her. Now, look at me, praying to the Most High that Kwame wouldn’t leave me.

“What is there to explain, Esa? The shit you on should be illegal! Like... fuck! I trusted you. I gave my heart to you, even after I told you my story.”

“But she didn’t love you like I do. I-I was confused, babe. My mom, she—”

“Oh, now you’re about to blame ya moms? You’re a grown ass woman, Esani.”

“But it’s true! I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“How many?”

I could tell that he was upset—as he should be. I had a damn black book of niggas on the line up. I fucked with some, and I only kept around others for entertainment purposes, but the ones I did actually mess around with, the ones in those photos, were enough to have him running for the hills.

“It was only three. But that doesn’t matter, babe. I love you, and I only want you. You know that! I swear there is nothing going on between me or any of those men—”

“You’re still fucking lying! I don’t know what I was thinking. DeAngelo told me to watch out for you. I should have listened to him, but I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt. You were just too good to be true.”

For the first time in my life, I felt my eyes prickle, and a lone tear slipped down my cheek. For the first time in my life, I regretted ever taking my mother’s advice, and the fact that I thought I wasn’t even really in love with him was blowing me. It wasn’t even about the money. I had my own. My hair and nail bar was one of the hottest in Detroit and brought me at least eighty thousand a year. It was the mere fact that because I’d been taught to never give my heart to a man, and I hurt the one man I knew I wanted to be my forever.

“I…Kwame...I’m begging you not to leave me. I messed up. I admit it. But I swear to you, I’ve never loved anyone as much! Kwame!”

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