Page 123 of Are You Going to Love Me

“The shit we did was wild. Like that time the corner store got raided when Poppi was trying to teach us a lesson about money management, and they were asking us if we saw anyone, and we started signing,” Eden spoke with a snicker. “And then she marched her crazy ass up to the station and pressed them about talking to us.”

“Poppi was built different.”

“Poppi is the reason police don’t hit the avenue anymore. They said if you were getting your ass beat, don’t call us.”

The sisters shared a laugh before Staysha squeezed her hand again. “Eden, I’m proud of you. I know I don’t say it all the time, but you keep proving why you’re unstoppable. Don’t let anythinglive in your head for free, okay? Charge all that shit and if it can’t pay what it owes you don’t pay it attention.”

Eden grunted. “I hear you. I do. I’m just feeling that something is coming, and when it does, how am I going to shield myself from it?”

“You want to know the most beautiful thing about having someone who cares about you?”

“I suppose you’re about to tell me,” Eden sassed with a slight roll of her eyes.

“Relax, it’s my first real relationship, I’m learning new things,” Staysha replied with a giggle.

“Thank God for that because you sure do know how to pick ‘em.”

“I was just trying to fuck on something, and he said uh uh. So here we are. Anyway, those type of men up there are going to stand in front of us right, wrong, or indifferent. If some shit goes down, this time you’re protected. Now get out your head and get a nap, we got a lot of shit to do, and I need you smiling and rubbing elbows. Lucci is tied to some big people in the industry. This can be big for you and MB.”

“All of us. It could be big for all of us.”

“Exactly. Look at this damn jet!” Staysha hummed as the stewardess passed with champagne flutes and a personal charcuterie board. “Thank you.”

“Thanks,” Eden hummed slightly, taking her complimentary snack and beverage. Her eyes floated toward the front of the jet, where Maximus’s brows were pinned together as he studied his phone screen. As if he knew she was taking him in with her own pensive expression, he didn’t look up.

After a two-and-a-half-hour flight, they were back on land, in a Maybach Sprinter on the way to the JoyBed Rolani set aside for the group. The mansion, nestled off a private road, had three stories, each floor holding a view of the crystal-clear oceanand a terrace overlooking the infinity pool. Custom artwork, valuing well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars range, strategically lined the walls around the house. Immaculate didn’t touch how beautiful this home was.

“We have maybe two hours before the Sprinter is back for the dinner party at Lucci’s. A chef will be here in the morning. I have wardrobe coming tomorrow, around noon, for final fittings before sound check for MB. Dinner is still up in the air, whether we’re doing something here or going out. And then the big day,” Staysha called off the list of events as the group listened in the foyer. “Brody, you have the first floor bedroom because no one wants to come in contact with whatever woman you pick up this weekend. Second floor MB and Eden. Keon and I are on the third.”

Brody smirked. “I’m glad you know. The minute I’m off, I’m getting off.”

“Nigga,” Keon blew. “Don’t you got a team of people to put on notice?”

“Yeah, and when I’m done with that, I’m folding somebody’s daughter up. Putting her on notice,” Brody said with a grunt as he thrusted against the air.

Eden, tired and still annoyed, shook her head and walked away. By the time she got to the second floor, her bags were positioned in the closet, and the attendants assigned to the house were unpacking her things and stationing them in their places. Eden, wanting to be out of the way, roamed out onto the terrace and took in the scenery.

She inhaled, held it, tried to steady herself, and released it. She attempted this a few times before she sensed Maximus. A final breath was pulled in and released before he moved closer and boxed her in.

“Why you not talking to me?” he questioned.

“Can we handle this when we get back home? I’m not trying to ruin your moment.”

“Not knowing why you’re not talking to me is going to ruin my moment, E. You stared at me all flight. You didn’t say a word over here. Be real, what’s up?”

She didn’t speak immediately. She allowed her eyes to trace over the waves. “I know you told me everything was good. But it’s not. And don’t feed me no bullshit. I can feel it. I can feel you. I've felt you before you were mine for real.” Eden broke out his box and moved across the terrace. “I don’t want to believe that you’ll do something to skew my trust in you.”

Maximus rubbed his hand over his durag-covered head. “E, it’s gang shit I can handle.”

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Gang shit you can handle? I've heard that so many times. And it’s never handled easily; it always ends with blood or death. Remember who I am.”

“Oh, baby, I know exactly who you are. Which is why I’m not bringing this shit to you. It ain’t your job to politic gang shit or stand in front of me. I got to handle this the way it needs to be handled.”

“At what cost? I know my aunt, and Mama is greedy bitch. I'm her niece, and she lowkey attempted to extort me.”

Maximus shifted, and Eden caught it. Felt it.

“Is she extorting you?”

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