Page 96 of Faded Rhythm

Brett shrugs. “What the fuck happened to her neck?”

I don’t say it, but that’s what made Brett hit me. He saw the hickies and bite marks on my neck from me and Julian’s wild night last night and went ballistic.

The man behind Julian nudges him forward. “Kneel.”

He does.

Stillness settles, and the air grows thick with tension and rage.

Brett settles back on his stool, gun still pointed at me. “Where the fuck is my money?”

Julian’s eyes are trained on me, laser focused on my injuries. “It’s on the way.”

Brett flicks the safety off. “I’m not in the mood to wait.”

I whimper, the sound escaping before I can stop it.

Julian shifts to the left, placing himself directly in front of me. “Nah. You gon’ have to kill me first.”

Brett chuckles. “I told you to have your fun with her. I never said to fall in love. You really ready to die for this hoe?”

“Watch your fuckin’ mouth,” Julian snarls.

“Damn. So that’s your girl now, huh?” Brett smirks. “Simp ass nigga.”

Julian shrugs. “Why’d you send me after Dime?”

Brett’s face falls.

“Too broke to wait for him to die, so you put me up to it. I saw right through that shit.”

Brett’s silence is confirmation.

I stare at him in shock, wondering how I ever tricked myself into thinking he was a good man, or at least a man worth marrying.

“Did y’all have fun playing house?” Brett asks bitterly. “How’d it feel rolling around in my dirt?”

“The fuck is wrong with you?” Julian asks. “No wonder she was leaving your bitch ass.”

“You think I give a fuck? Look, she’s all yours. Just be careful of that one.” He barks out a hateful laugh. “She ain’t shit. She’ll lie right to your face and pass off another nigga’s kid as yours.”

I close my eyes. My breath leaves my lungs.

Brett’s voice is low and rough. “Go on, Sable. I wanna hear you deny that shit in front of your man.”

I take a deep breath and open my eyes. “How did you find out?”

“I tested them,” he snaps. “Real simple. Learned from the best. My old man said always make sure what’s yours is really yours.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, my eyes filling with tears as I connect the dots. “Is that why you killed Dash?”

Brett snickers, shifting his eyes to Julian. “I didn’t kill Dash, sweetheart. But your boy might be able to shed some light.”

Julian turns to look at me, and I can see it on his face.

“What is he talking about?” I ask, my voice full of desperation.

Julian’s shoulders drop and the air leaves my lungs.

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