Page 152 of Real's Love

“Love, don’t disrespect me, or I will introduce you to real problems, real fast. I took time away from my life and my businesses to show you effort and how much I value this relationship. Yet, you let the real little bitch ruin my progress and turn you back into the icicle I spent time thawing.”

“All of this over some sex? Because I wanted to forget a troublesome moment in my life? You overreacting, and I don’t have time to coddle your sensitive ass feelings.”

I wanted to squeeze until the lack of oxygen caused her to have an epiphany.

“I’m the soft one? Who’s the one living her whole life dictated by the actions of weak men from years ago? You act like you so secure, but just the sight of that nigga put your head in a place it shouldn’t even go to. You the little bitch, Love, and I’m sick of your shit.”

And then, I chose peace over violence, yanking my hand away from her.

“You know what? I’ma let you make it. I’ma leave you with these thoughts. In the time that we have been having sex, have I ever approached you with anything other than respect? Yet, you just fucked me like you a nigga who just came home from a bid and needed to get the first one out of the way.That shit turned me off. If you want to dwell in the past and not embrace your future, be my guest. I won’t keep letting you play with me when I revealed my hand already. I’m not the nigga who hid and rejected you. I’m not the nigga who stalked and tried to control you, and you not gon’ treat me like I am. You and Tate and Raouf can have this shit.”

With that, I turned and headed out of the door.

Real had reached his limit.He didn’t admit that, exactly, but when he woke me up, bags packed, and asked me to drive him to Ruston, I could see it in his face. He was going to stay in a hotel until he could get a flight plan filed so that the small jet owned by Hamilton Enterprises could come get him, Juvie, and Markel. I was going to spend a little more time with Theory, handle that issue, before heading back. Luckily, when she decided she was ready to go home to Houston, we’d only be two hundred miles apart.

The low-hanging moon provided the only illumination for most of the drive. The small towns, farms, and fields of North Louisiana were shut down tightly late at night, the darkness almost complete.Real sat in the passenger seat, his fingers tapping a distracted rhythm on his knee. Tension radiated from him, and I felt bad for my nigga. A little while ago, we’d been enjoying the country life. Now, all I could sense was his frustration with Everly.

“Fuck! I just don’t get it,” he said suddenly, his voice tight. “I put myself out there for her, Targen. I’on know what that girl wants. The Defense Department needs to be asking her for tips, cuz that wall around her heart is something serious. Every time I try to get close, it’s like she just hides behind it.”

I glanced at him, a pang of sympathy hitting me right in the chest. “Maybe it’s not about you knocking that wall down. Maybe it’s about you convincing your shorty that wall ain’t needed with you. She gotta decide that,” I replied, trying to keep my tone blank. “Theory said Everly’s been through a lot, a lifetime of little shit. Those damn micro aggressions. She not gon’ just open up.”

He scoffed. “I don’t expect her to, but Ibeentrying.”

“Yeah, you brought pressure. And now you doing the right thing by falling back. Shorty got the ball. If she ain’t ready, she ain’t ready. You can’t force her to be with you the way you want. She gotta make some decisions herself, and she will. You know that girl got feelings for you.”

Real shook his head. “Nah, we been playing it her way, based on her issues. I’m trying to show her that I’m different. That I’m not some dude from her past.” He ran a hand over his head, exasperation spilling out of him. “I’m through chasing.”

I felt for him, I really did. “Sometimes, you gotta let people find their own way, you know? And she gon’ find her way to you.”

“So, now you an expert on love,” he shot back, a smirk flickering across his lips. “Got your hero cape on and all.”

“Yeah. Shit is crazy. I’d do anything for Theory, already,” I said. “I wanna protect her, and I don’t give a fuck who I gotta lay down to do it. I know you get that.”

We fell into a silence that felt heavy, both of us thinking… hell, overthinking, no doubt. My phone buzzed, jolting me out of my thoughts. There was no caller ID, but that wasn’t strange given some of my activities. I answered with a guarded, “Yeah.”

“Brat, ????(Brother, it’s time).” Maxim’s tone was low, calm, despite the seriousness of the message.

I slowed the truck, my heart dropping to my ass. “What’s up, Maxim?”

“There’s an opening,” he said, his voice clipped. “It is perfect for you. But it requires… training. Away. You leave now.”

“Now? Nah,” I objected. “We haven’t even handled the latest project.”

“You will learn that I work immediately and effectively. Those negotiations went well. The company agreed to give us just what we wanted. They’ll be taking a backseat as we handle details. Your portion of the workload will be waiting when you come back,” he said diplomatically.

So, he was holding Chauncey, and his people had agreed to be hands off. That was news to me.

“I’m not even on the farm. I gotta go back?—”

“You don’t have time,brat. I need you in Dallas in three hours. Your trip starts there.

“But I can’t—” I started.

“You will also learn that I do not tolerate excuses, Targen. I have kept my part of the agreement. As a son of a Sidorov, you will keep yours,” Maxim said coldly.

He was used to running shit, but he had me fucked up. “You ain’t the only one teaching,brat,” I snapped.“You will learn that I’m not one of your worshippers. You don’t give me orders like that.”

A dry laugh met my words. “As head of our family’s business endeavors, I definitely give you orders. You are wasting precious time. Pull over.”

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