Page 47 of On Everything
“Always.”
“It does scare me that you even have to say that, Hov.”
“It should scare you, but that’s why we are here. To get rid of all that fear inside of you. I would rather you know the boogey man may pop out than you not know he’s under your bed.”
Hov leaned down and placed a kiss on my lips, both soft yet firm like he was placing a claim on me in that moment. I was wrapped up so tightly in his arms that the gunshots in the back were only background noises to the way our lips smacked once his lips left mine.
“Now, let’s get you home so you can be rested for tomorrow. We can be in Paris by tomorrow night if you want.”
He grabbed his gun off the table and put it into the back of his waistband before he walked out of the booth. We went out to his car, and he doubled back inside before he came out and we took off towards my place. Hov had an old school playlist coming through his speaker and my hand was wrapped in Hov’s across the center console.
We vibed to songs that I hadn’t heard since I was staying at my grandma’s house, like "Juicy Fruit" and "Two Occasions" by The Deele, which was one of her favorite songs to cook to. I was enjoying the vibes and can admit it was kind of sad once I saw that we were making a stop in front of my building.
“Well, thanks for the ride. Oh, and the lessons.”
“You know I got you anytime. But here is a souvenir for you. I got it when I ran back in the gun range.”
“Hov sat a small black gun on the center console.”
“What's this?”
“Huh? Don't tell me I just gave you shooting lessons and missed step one. This right here is what you call a gun.”
“I know what it is. I slapped him on his arm.”
“But I don't know about this Hov. How do I know I will use it right.”
“Just remember everything I told you. You will be fine. Never know when you may need it.”
I thought about it for a moment, before I ultimately grabbed the gun cautiously, putting it inside my purse.”
“It's on safety now, but flip that switch and it's on.”
“Okay. Thanks for your time. See you later.”
“Of course, see me tomorrow, mama.”
I got out of the car, smiling hard as hell and once I looked back over my shoulder, I saw that Hov’s eyes were following me all the way up to the front door.
God, please let me be making the right decisions when it comes to him. He is starting to make me feel really good inside. A feeling that I've been missing for a long time.
Chapter 12
Hov
After Ciara walked into her building, I locked my car door and started down the sidewalk to follow this nigga I saw walking fast as hell in a black and red hoodie. The reason he caught my attention is because the footage from my door cam showed a nigga in that same jacket running in with one other nigga to snatch up Cashmier. I knew if I found one of them, then I would have leverage on the whole operation. This nigga was going to sing like Luther Vandross when I put that steal to his neck.
I crept up behind him, walking as quickly as I could without being seen so that he couldn’t run. When I was in arms reach, I grabbed his ass and chunked him into the brick wall next to the cleaners.
“So, you got balls big enough to fuck with a nigga like me huh.”
He put his hands up in the air like I was arresting his ass. I had him in such a tight grip that he was melting into the concrete.
“Where the fuck is Cashmier?”
“Where is who?”
“Cashmier nigga? You rocking that same fuckin jacket one of them niggas who came up in my shit had on. Where the fuck is she?”
