Page 182 of Rose
Olivia stood a few feet away, her own tears slipping down her face. The air around them was heavy, thick with grief and unspoken truths, each of them knowing there was no going back from what they’d just uncovered.
“I’m telling her the truth,” Sincere said once they pulled apart. “Everything. She deserves to know what happened to her… and her baby. Including that you had nothing to do with it.”
“We’re gonna figure this shit out together—as a family,” Saint said firmly. “Ain’t nobody to blame but that Lazarus nigga.”
“Call me with updates. I need to head back to the office,” Olivia added, pulling each of the men into a quick hug before stepping away. Moments later, she and Saint climbed into their cars and pulled out of the warehouse lot, their taillights fading into the distance.
“Well, Ahzii’s already ignoring my ass, and I don’t even know why,” Savior muttered. “Ever since the showcase she’s been… different. She left this morning saying she needed space and wanted to stay with her mom. I couldn’t say no to that, even though I didn’t want her to fucking leave.”
Sincere chuckled, earning a glare sharp enough to cut glass.
“Nigga, what the fuck did you do? Cheat?”
“Man, Allure pussy too good for me to even think about sticking my dick in another woman.” Savior’s voice was quick, defensive, and deadly serious.
Sincere smirked but didn’t doubt him for a second.
“She texted me saying she needed more space. Staying with her mother for a few days. But…” Savior’s jaw tightened. “I can’t shake this feeling that something’s up.”
“You think she knows about the mission… and that’s why she blocked my ass?” Savior’s voice cracked, the words heavier than he wanted them to be.
“Nah.” Sincere shook his head without hesitation. “If she knew, she wouldn’t have texted you first. She’d have vanished. And A’Mazi? That nigga would be here right now, killing both our asses.”
Savior gave a slow nod, but the weight in his chest didn’t budge. It sat there like a loaded gun, pressing harder with every breath, making it damn near impossible to think about anything but her.
“Either she broke up with you, about to, or she really does need space. And judging by the killer look in your eyes right now, I’m gonna go with the last one—forthe sake of mankind. If Ahzii broke up with your crazy ass, you’d start World War Three.”
Savior didn’t even crack a smile.
“Just give her what she’s asking for,” Sincere said, more serious now. “I know this is your first time in love, your first real relationship, so you don’t know yet… but when a woman asks for space and she’s not ending shit, she means it. Whatever shook her up last night at the showcase got under her skin bad. She just needs to process it.”
Savior nodded, but it didn’t make the tightness in his chest loosen. “I just hate not knowing what’s going on in her head. Feels helpless.”
Sincere chuckled again, shaking his head. “A woman could be the most transparent being on earth and you’d still be out here trying to solve her like a fucking puzzle. Doesn’t matter if you marry Zii and spend fifty years with her—you’ll never fully know what’s going on up here.” He tapped his temple. “Stop trying to save her, just love her. Even when you don’t understand her.”
Savior sat with that for a beat, then finally let out a low chuckle. Couldn’t believe his little brother was giving him relationship advice.
“Give her the space she asked for. Call her tomorrow. Go home. Get some sleep,” Sincere finished.
They dapped up, but Savior knew damn well sleep wasn’t coming tonight. Not with the weight still pressing down on his chest. No matter how much Sincere swore Ahzii being in that house wasn’t his fault… he couldn’t let go of the guilt.
Savior sat in his car, the engine silent, his mind racing a mile a minute with nothing but Ahzii’s face playing on repeat. He bowed his head, eyes closing, chest heavy like the air around him was too thick to breathe.
“Dear Lord… I know it’s been a minute since I’ve come to You, and that’s on me. Thank You for everything, and I know You don’t approve of the way I live… but this ain’t about me. This is more important than anything I could ever ask for. I come to You humbly… asking that You cover Allure. Protect her mind, her body, her heart. Give her the strength to push through whatever’s weighing on her right now. Bring her back to me, Lord… because You know I need her more than anything in this world. But if she was only meant to be a blessing for a season… if she’s not mine to keep… thank You for letting me feel what real love feels like. And I pray You heal her in ways I never could.”
He sat there for a long moment after whispering “Amen,” like maybe God would answer right then and there. The weight of that prayer settled in his chest as he finally turned the key and drove away.
Even after praying, the truth stayed sharp in his gut, losing Ahzii wouldn’t just hurt. It would feel like a death sentence.
???
The next day..
“Keep your arm extended, Allure.” Savior’s voice was low, steady, as he stood behind her, his hands briefly guiding her grip before easing away. It was a rare, quiet Saturday—no shop runs, no showcase plans, no interruptions. Just them, the salt airfrom his private beach, and a neat row of cans lined up in the sand a dozen yards away.
It was only her second time holding a gun, but he could already see the difference in her stance. When Ahzii first asked him to teach her, he’d hesitated. The thought of her ever needing to defend herself put a knot in his chest. But she’d been determined, and Savior never broke a promise to her.
“Eyes on the target,” he reminded, his tone softer than the waves rolling in. Ahzii narrowed her gaze at the cans, her body tightening with focus.
