Page 194 of Rose
“We’ll explain everything later, Ma. Promise,” Ahzii said, kissing her cheek before turning away.
Savior’s parents and Aunt Marley slipped back into his room, but Kyre intercepted them in the hall, tears still streaking her cheeks. “Baby, where’s she going?” she asked A’Mazi.
“Just call us when Savior wakes up. We’ll be right back,” he said, kissing her quickly before catching up to Ahzii.
Once they slid into his car, she spoke without looking at him. “You got your piece, right?”
“Yeah… but, Zii—what are we about to do?”
“To kill for the one man who always killed for me.”
That was all she said before the back doors opened. Sarai and Sincere climbed in without invitation.
“Bitch, you didn’t think you were about to go alone,” Sarai said, settling into the seat.
Ahzii smirked. “William’s not dead. He just texted me.” She held up her phone, showing the messages.
Sincere glanced at the screen shocked but snorted. “Your type is crazy-ass men, huh?”
The quick laugh that followed barely cracked the tension.
“Once you take a life, Shug, that shit stays in your soul forever. There’s no going back. You sure you’re ready for this?” A’Mazi asked, his eyes ahead but his tone dead serious.
“Mazi, the man who loved me harder than anyone… who healed me in ways I didn’t think I could be healed… is lying in a bed fighting for his life because of a man who’s lied to me since the day we met. I’m killing that nigga.”
Sarai grinned. “My brother did say you were gonna be unhinged before he changed your last name.”
Ahzii just shook her head, her chest tightening at the thought of Savior’s voice, his arms, his kiss.
“Drive, Maz.”
Her tone left no room for hesitation. A’Mazi hit the gas.
As the Charger ate up the road toward the beach house, the plan began to form. Savior had always been her savior, now it was her turn to be his.
“William!” Ahzii’s voice cracked through the beach house the second she stepped inside. Her nerves were razor sharp, but she had to do this—not just for Savior, but for herself and Willow.
No answer.
Only the low hum of a TV drew her toward the living room.
Then he appeared—a man with a cane, burns searing the left side of his face, bald head glinting under the light.
“Who are you? And where is William?” Ahzii asked, swallowing the lump in her throat, trying to mask the tremor in her voice.
Outside, Mazi sat parked on the beach in full view of the glass windows, eyes locked on her every move. Sincere had already cut every working camera, and Sarai was crouched at the back door, waiting for Ahzii’s signal.
“I am William, Beautiful,” the man said, his voice cold and steady.
Ahzii’s brows knit together. “But… I was just with William. He was here earlier.”
He stepped forward, and she instinctively stepped back.
“That was my twin brother, Darius. God rest his soul. He had to play as me, to make sure you came here, stayed here. He’s been keeping an eye on you… while you smiled in that nigga’s face.”
Her stomach turned. Memories she thought were hallucinations slammed into her, seeing him at the park… the restaurant… her showcase. “That was him?” she whispered, voice shaking.
“Yes. I told him to make you believe it was me. Look at me now.” He motioned to the scarred half of his face. “If I had shown up as myself, you would’ve run.”
