Page 37 of Rose
She smiled when she said it. Like it was a blessing. Like she didn’t just hand him a death sentence.
The man stared at her—terrified, bleeding, broken—then scrambled to his car and sped off the block like he was fleeing hell itself.
And truth be told…He was.
The men standing around couldn’t help but laugh as they watched how fast the man peeled off the block, fear in his rearview. A’Mazi walked back into the shop, head down in his phone—checking in with Ahzii, knowing she needed space but still needing to feel close.
“Killing for a woman you don’t even know,” Aunt Marley murmured, side-eyeing Savior with that knowing smirk only she could wear.
Savior chuckled low, but the look on his face didn’t waver.
“Killing for respect,” he corrected, calm but firm. “He disrespectedme—and someone Mazi love. That shit don’t go unnoticed.”
Aunt Marley raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips tugging. She didn’t argue, just let the silence speak for her. She knew better. Knew him better. Knew that wasn’t just about respect.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” she said finally, turning with a wave. “Now the party ain’t over. Come on and get seconds.”
Macho laughed, already falling in behind her. “Ma, you gon’ make our asses fat with all this damn food. Between you and Gold, I don’t know who worse.”
They disappeared down the sidewalk, the block alive again with music and laughter, but Savior didn’t move.
He just stood there.
Staring at the empty space whereshehad been.
Aunt Marley was right. He’d been ready to kill that man, not just for disrespect… but for her. A woman he didn’t know. Didn’t even know her last name. But something about her had locked into him like a trigger he didn’t mean to pull. He told himself it was about loyalty, about Mazi. That’s what heneededto believe.
But deep down, he knew better.
It wasn’t just about Ahzii being beautiful—though she was damn near perfection. It was the way she held herself, the fire in her tone, the way her silence screamed louder than her words. She was danger dressed in honey, and he didn’t even know what it was yet—but he wanted to.
Badly.
Still… he had to let it go. At least on the surface.
Savior pulled out his phone, thumb flying across the screen. Sincere would’ve been his go-to, but his little brother was in the middle of teaching a seminar today. Next best option?
Olivia.
If anyone could find out who that man was—and who he answered to—it was her.
Savior hit send and watched the message disappear into the encrypted ether. Then he slid his phone back in his pocket and finally turned toward the scent of barbecue and soul food calling him home.
But his mind never lefther.
Not for a second.
Chapter 5
“Girl, that man was ready to snap that dude’s neck for you!” Kyre laughed as they sat insideGold, their drinks sweating against the table between bites of hot food.
“That shit not funny.” Ahzii side-eyed her, replaying everything that happened an hour ago like it was still happening. “A’Mazi was gonnakillhim if they didn’t pull him off. All that man wanted was my number—and got mad that I didn’t give it to him.”
“So the kill would’ve been justified,” Kyre countered, sipping her lemon drop like she was in court. “And I’d have gotten my man out on self-defense.”
“You joking, and it’snotfunny.” Ahzii muttered, taking a slow sip of her margarita.
“It kindais.” Kyre smirked. “If Mazi wasn’t gonna kill him,Saviorsurely was.”
