Page 113 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
Markus yanked the crowbar from one thigh and pierced it through another. Every whimper in her sleep, every scar on her body, every second she went, afraid of the wind blowing, he wasgoing to feel it. On top of that, every act of betrayal would all be left with Javier and the corpse around him.
Markus yanked the bloodied bar out and began to beat his body with it. Every body, Markus had to drop for the threat of touching Reign, taking her from him, or anything else, Javier felt the assault. His laughing turned into pleas for him to stop. There was no stopping. If anything, Markus was thinking of more to do. Because he didn’t have the heart to make his blood suffer.
The final act was the crowbar driving through Javier’s crotch. “So you won’t get the idea of fuckin’ your way through the afterlife. You’re going to die slow. You have all the time to count.”
Markus stepped away and looked at the men who had watched his brute. A silent warning to never betray him. Respect was gold, and fear was the currency to keep it circulating. “Light this bitch up.”
She waited for him.Regardless of how angry he’d be that she put herself in harm’s way to get the closer she needed, she waited for him. On the stairs, the lit candles served as light. Her satin night shirt providing her warmth. The hours ticked by into the night before Markus turned the doorknob. Duffle bags were hanging off his shoulder, his glasses on his face, his suit gone. Burned, she assumed.
Reign stood on her bare feet and trekked toward him, reaching for a bag.
His voice tender, yet stern. “No.”
She retracted her hands and secured the door when he moved past her.
“Come up here so we can talk.”
Her feet followed his every step toward the bedroom. His duffle bags were opened – shirts, pants, sweats, underwear. All being placed into the empty drawers, she left free of her things for him.
Markus briefly looked up at her, taking in the softness she held now versus the shell of the woman he’d met months ago. “I got it. Sit down.”
Reign sat on the ottoman and watched his movements, waited for his words.
“I’ve been at the house since the business was handled. Reflecting,” he started. “I didn’t want to come in here with my ego leading the way. Although seeing my lady, I left at the house at the drop being sprayed by bullets, damn near sent me into a spiral-”
“Markus, I just needed-”
“Let me finish, please.”
Reign pressed her lips together and nodded. “Okay.”
“Above all else, my job, my purpose here is to protect you. And all that you carry. That light, that power, and when God smiles on me, my seed. That’s what I was put here for. I’ve been a dope boy all my life. That’s what I do. It’s not who I am, nor is it my purpose. My purpose is you. And all that you are. It goes beyond the love that’s budding in my being for you. You understand?”
“I do.”
“Then I need you to fully understand that you can never do that again. I understand why. I understand what you needed. Iunderstand that weight you carried. It’s laid by me every night. It whimpers while you slept. It rests in your eyes. It’s scarred over your body. I know your pain cause I feel my own. But I know that this wasn’t just because I saw something that I liked. You are for me, and I am for you. I need you safe and sound. Because if you get ripped from me, there’s nothing left to live right for. Nothing. You feel me?”
“I do. I’m sorry.” She moved closer, stopping his hands from unpacking. “Can you look at me?”
“I’m over the fuckin’ crying,” Markus muttered, tapping into emotions he had the ability to drown out before she came into his life.
“I know.” Her reply was soft. Her touch, even softer.
“I got to bury my aunt in two days.”
“I know.”
He looked at her. “I need to feel something other than this rage.”
“I’m right here. I’m your well.”
His brows pinched with question.
“If you're thirsty, drink. Hungry, eat. Need some place to lay your head, do it. Because even though I messed up, my love for you extends past it all. I’m right here.” She gently cupped his face and kissed his marijuana smoke flavored lips. “Can I?”
Markus lightly grabbed the back of her neck. “You can’t do that shit again. I don’t care how soft you talking to me.”
She kissed him again. “I know.”
