Page 173 of Rose
“I know, baby.” William’s voice softened. “I can’t stay. I have to go.”
He looked over his shoulder toward the locked door, where someone was now trying to push it open.
“Why?” she asked, her voice cracking as fresh tears trailed down her cheeks. Her hands reached for him, fingertips brushing his chest. “Why now?”
“Ahzii!” Kyre’s voice rang from outside, urgent.
William pulled a folded note from his pocket, placing it in her palm. “Meet me at this address tomorrow at 3. I promise I’ll explain everything.”
Then, one last kiss—quick, gentle, final.
“Wait!” she cried, reaching for him.
But he was already halfway out the window.
“Allure!” Savior’s voice boomed from the other side of the door.
“I love you, Beautiful. See you soon,” William said before vanishing into the night.
Ahzii stood frozen, clutching the note as if it was the only thing keeping her upright. Her heart thudded against her ribs, her breath shallow and broken. She looked down at the address written in neat script. Her hands trembled.
“Baby, please open the door!” Savior called out again, his voice layered in panic.
Snapping back to reality, Ahzii quickly wiped her tears, shoved the note deep into her clutch, and stumbled to unlock the door.
The moment it opened, Savior rushed in, his arms immediately wrapping around her. Kyre followed, concern written all over her face.
“I’m okay,” Ahzii whispered before they could question her, her voice barely holding together. “I promise.”
But Savior wasn’t convinced. “Who was in here? I heard a voice. Who were you talking to?”
Ahzii shook her head, eyes wide with practiced denial. “No one. It was just me.”
Savior scanned the bathroom. It was empty. Still, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“What happened?” Kyre asked, a growing panic behind her words.
A’Mazi stepped in just as Ahzii drew a shaky breath.
“Savior, can you get the car?” she asked, her voice firmer now. “I’m ready to go.”
He hesitated, but nodded and left to pull the Escalade around.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Ahzii turned to Kyre and A’Mazi, her expression raw.
“I’m going to ask y’all this once, and I need the truth,” she said, voice low. “Is William still alive?”
Kyre’s brows furrowed. “What?”
“Is his body lying in that gravesite next to my daughter?”
Kyre opened her mouth, unsure how to answer. “No... the police said they couldn’t recover the body. It was burned beyond recognition. But he’s dead. Right, A’Mazi?”
Ahzii turned to her brother.
A’Mazi nodded slowly. “Yeah. When I pulled you out that fire, his body was next to you. He wasn’t breathing, Shug. That nigga’s dead. Why are you asking me this?”
“I have to go,” Ahzii said, brushing past them.
