"I bet she could never make you cry
'Cause the scars on your heart are still mine
Tell me that she couldn't get this sting
'She can almost be the worst of me'
Too bad she's just eating off your dreams
Let me know when you're ready to plea
Maybe you just need to send for me
Send for me
Send for me
Send for me (woo)
Send for me…"
Rihanna – "Woo"
She allowed him to stay the night with her in the apartment.
With Erik's arms wrapped around her, Yani lightly touched the scars on his chest and the silence in her bedroom wrapped them in a cocoon of denial. Tracing the contours of the keloids with her fingertips, she was aware that each one meant something, and her gut instinct told her it was something bad. Newer ones that he had returned with had healed up, and there wasn't much space left on his front or back to add that much more. Unless he planned on putting new ones down below…
Erik's lips kept brushing against her forehead, kissing her there all through the night. Neither one of them slept well, and when dawn arrived, Yani decided to skip her classes.
She held him all morning, even when he dozed off in a fitful bit of sleep. His heartbeat thumped in her ear and she tried to take in all of his body heat. She had to pee but was afraid to move, not wanting to break the spell of just holding him close. Keeping him with her. Her bladder won out and she slipped out of the room to relieve herself.
She knew he was awake once more when she felt his right hand rubbing on her right butt cheek. He glanced at his watch.
"You shouldn't skip your classes, Yani."
"I can catch up from a classmate…be still…"
She pushed him back down onto her bed when he tried to pull his shirt back on.
"Go to school—"
"Please…just lay down."
She rested her head back on his chest and wiped her eyes with her wrist, hoping no tears dropped on his skin. Erik rubbed her back.
"Don't get behind on schoolwork because of me. I have five days left. Klaue and the others are booked to leave in two. I'm closing down shop for him. We'll have time together. A whole weekend."
He tilted her chin up with his hand.
"I want you to bring Sweet Pea and come to the compound. Just the three of us. When Our Lady's Manor is vacated, I'll send for you. We'll go to Kendall's show, spend a whole day together at the cove, I'll cook you some more gumbo…"
She nodded her head then placed it back on his chest. Her eyes were blurry from the water threatening to fall again from her lids and Erik wiped them away. Her lips kissed the center of his chest and she crawled on top of him and stared at his face. His eyes were soft-looking and she touched his lips. He lifted her up and kissed her, held her neck and lower back and allowed his mouth to kiss away the pain she felt. She pushed back on the future and clung desperately to every second he touched her.
Erik rolled her over onto her back and licked down the side of her neck. Her skin tingled then burned for him. Turning her head to the side, his mouth latched onto the back of her neck. He pressed gentle kisses there and she turned all the way over, allowing him to kiss his way down her spine until his tongue dipped into the tiny indentations on her lower back.
"Killmonger…"
Her sighs urged him on and he nipped at her ass cheeks with his teeth and then dragged his tongue down her left thigh until he reached her ankles. He did the same to her right ass cheek and leg.
She glanced back at him.
"What are yuh doin' ?"
She watched him kiss back up her side until she felt the hairs of his beard tickle her neck again.
"Tasting you all over," he said.
She turned over and he suckled her left collar bone.
"What do I taste like?"
"Whatchu think? Sugar."
"Yeah?"
"Mmmhmm, especially down here…"
His tongue swirled on her flesh as it passed between her breasts and down to her belly button. She widened her thighs when he reached her clit.
"So sweet…" he sighed as the warmth of his breath made her shiver.
Her eyes rolled back when the hot wetness of his thick tongue slathered her inner labia with saliva and hums from his throat.
"You get so wet for me…so fast girl…"
His fingers slid up and played with her nipples as he took care of business down below.
"Killmonger—"
"Pussy jumpin'…"
Yani felt the pulsing in her center controlled by his voice. It was no different than when he used to call her on the phone and make her play with herself while he had to sit and listen to Klaue talk all day. She tried to imagine him sitting in a meeting with Klaue, an earbud stuck in his ear as he heard her playing in her pussy. Such a nasty man. She gazed down at her folds and saw her body obeying him and only him.
He pinched her nipples hard.
"Cum in my mouth."
"Ooh…"
His full lips smothered her vulva and she released on command, her body arching up from the bed as she grabbed for his hair. He licked up everything she gave and when she looked down at him, his lips and beard glistened.
"Open that pussy up for me."
Slick fingers peeled back her drenched folds and Erik lifted up to his knees. He stroked his erection and she watched his face contort in ecstasy.
"Got me so hard…'bout to make a mess…"
Yani felt the twitching in her pussy again. Erik jammed his left fist on the bed against her waist as he shifted forward and aimed the tip of his dick near her opening. A copious amount of clear fluid dribbled out from his slit. She knew what was next.
"Fuck…look what you makin' me do bitch—"
"Hmmmph…"
Erik's body jerked hard.
"…big mess…"
"…get your pussy…"
"….bitch…"
"…yours…"
"Yani! Fuck!"
Erik's ejaculate soaked the opening of her pussy and covered her mound in a heavy cream that dripped a copious amount onto the sheet.
"Turn over," he demanded.
She did and Erik straddled her thighs, placing his length between her ass cheeks. He shifted his body forward and his chest pressed into her back while he humped her. She loved feeling his full weight on her.
His left hand circled around her throat while his beard scratched against the right side of her face.
"Open your legs."
The harsh whisper in her ear made her gasp. Spreading her thighs, Yani panted into the sheets as Erik adjusted his erection with his right hand. Entering her slowly and going deep, Erik brought fresh tears to her eyes while squeezing her throat. The slight pressure he gave her neck made her insides clench. Not too hard…not too soft…just enough to make her woozy.
"Don't move…dassit…dassit girl. You ain't gotta do nothing but take this dick. Hear me?"
Yani gasped when the deep strokes he gave her went slower.
"Fuck…listen to that pussy…"
Erik's tongue kissed the back of her neck and his lips stayed there a he rocked into her. Each lust-laden stroke was drawn out as he made sure his balls slammed against her clit and rested there just long enough to tease her swollen bud. Wet squelching noises punctuated each stroke and Yani screamed into her pillow.
"Oh, shit…oh shit…Yani…gripping my dick like that…don't stop…keep doing that…oh shit."
His fingers tightened around her neck even more and she grabbed the metal rods of her headboard with both hands.
"…ass got me fucked up…shit…"
Erik pulled out and rested his dick between her cheeks again.
"…fuck I'm cumming…"
Hot spurts coated her back and she rested her head on her pillow as he rubbed her behind, squeezing her cheeks and still stroking his dick up and down her backside. Heavy exhales left his mouth until flopped down next to her. Her eyes turned to look between his legs. He was finally flaccid.
Erik stroked her back and played with his cum, rubbing into her skin. He loved seeing her covered in his essence. Any chance he got, he made sure to smear it all over her body. Marking her.
He checked his watch again. A heaviness settled around him once more. He kissed her with slow wet satisfaction until his watch alarm went off. She closed her eyes and her lips pouted heavily.
"Gotta dip, baby…hey, don't make that face."
Pushing her forehead into her pillow, Yani waved her hand at him.
"Go on, man."
"Gimme another kiss."
She leaned over and licked his lips before giving him what he wanted.
"Make sure you go to class this afternoon. Send me a picture that you are there."
"I don't have to go if I don't want—"
SLAP!
Erik's hand stung as it smacked her right ass cheek.
"I'm not playing. Give baby girl a kiss for me later."
Yani reached down and rubbed her butt.
"Fine."
He left her room discreetly and Yani padded to the bathroom nude. It was too late to act like Nannette didn't hear them when she returned from dropping off her daughter earlier.
Showering for a long time, she tried to give any lingering thoughts about him leaving to the hot water Gods as she cleaned herself thoroughly. Throwing on her favorite robe, she sauntered into the living room.
"No school today?" Nannette asked.
"I'm going this afternoon."
"Busy?"
The smirk on Nannette's face made Yani snicker. She sat down next to her roommate on the couch.
"He won't stay over again. That was just a one-time thing. He's leaving the island for good."
Nannette's eyes looked concerned.
"What happened?"
"His job."
"You two…?"
"I have school. He has his career. It can't work…not right now."
"So there's a chance—"
"Let's go to the movies tonight. I can have Anika watch the girls and you and I can have dinner and a movie after my classes today. We deserve some fun. My treat."
The words came out perky, but Nannette saw Yani's obvious lip tremble and she reached over and patted her thigh.
"That sounds like fun. We do deserve a girl's night together."
"It's a date."
Yani jumped up from the couch before she broke down all the way.
###
The compound security system was Erik's forte.
He knew every inch of the place because of Yani and Leona.
Once the others left, he would recalibrate everything under his control. He wanted Yani and Sydette to have paradise once more. He would give it to them with a high degree of privacy.
Time was now spent being under Klaue's beck and call. They jettisoned mercs they would no longer use, and Erik learned a lot about Klaue's inner circle. Had the man took a different path in life, he would've made an effective neutral diplomat. He was also loyal to no one but himself…and Erik.
Crazy.
This man that Erik would kill once he was on his way to Wakanda had a soft spot for his unknown secret enemy. He entrusted Erik with security codes to his private stash/safe houses around the world. Important decisions were bounced off of Erik first before Klaue brought it to the other men. There was a high level of respect that Klaue had for him that he was not afraid to show in front of the others.
Erik often wondered: Did he have the same relationship with his father before he turned on him?
He could easily see why his Baba used Klaue. The man had connections to people and places that shouldn't be possible. This filthy uncouth little man could talk his way around the fucking world. Could reach out and take an audience with friend and foe of any country.
Erik knew his own father had an arrogance and pride of association with people, so it must've been difficult for him to be in Klaue's presence for any length of time. N'Jobu Udaku didn't suffer fools, and from what Erik could decipher from his father's journals, Klaue was meant to be disposed of after they took vibranium out of the country. Something went awry, something made Klaue turn against his father and bomb a bunch of Wakandans to cover his tracks. Erik took great care in covering his own tracks, acquiescing to Klaue when it was beneficial to him and his agenda to keep the man focused. What did his father do or say that let Klaue know he was in danger?
"Let's call it a day, mate," Klaue said, rubbing his eyes as he shut down a digital 3D map of Busan, South Korea. It was four in the morning and Klaue had them up for over twenty hours.
Erik suggested that any exchange of goods should happen in Busan if Klaue could swing it. Klaue had a friend of a friend with connections to a place that had no problem allowing illicit deals to occur in the open. Klaue liked the idea. It wasn't Europe or Africa.
Erik and Klaue heard the security system announce Linda's presence. She walked in wearing clothes she had left in the previous day. A cat with a canary in its mouth look was plastered on her face. Erik knew that look well. She had been dicked down properly outside of the compound.
"Good morning, Ms. Chambers," Klaue teased.
"Good night," she said blowing them both kisses and traipsing toward her room.
Erik walked out onto the balcony, his eyes seeking the comfort of the Caribbean Sea.
Find a sizeable chunk of vibranium. Get it to Ross and the C.I.A. Let Klaue get his currency and then take him out once they entered East African territory.
He rubbed the side of his hip. He had enough smooth skin there to place about five to six more body counts.
Erik made arrangements to visit all of his close remaining family members. That meant trips to Oakland, D.C., Martha's Vineyard, and Sao Paulo. A final tour before Wakanda and vengeance…
No. Not vengeance.
Justice.
Erik made plans in his head to study Busan more. Coordinate charting a private plane to get in and out of South Korea quickly. The C.I.A. would be on high alert with an exchange of vibranium on the line. Several contingency plans would have to be made if their cover was blown. A four-person team could do a lot by being efficient, but they'd have to know the lay of the land intimately. Erik's Korean was rusty, but his childhood friend Walter could help out with that. An extended stay in Oakland and visit's to Walter's grandmother would have him up to speed in no time. His ear for languages was uncanny, and Walter's grandmother was crazy about him. She'd be ecstatic to speak in her native tongue with him. He'd have to do some self-study to capture the dialects near Busan for nuance and slang.
"How is Yani?"
Erik was startled to hear Klaue ask about her. The man stood and watched the sea with him.
"I hear things, Killmonger."
"Like what?"
Erik's face turned to stone as he watched Klaue's face.
"Don't get hostile, mate. I know you have feelings for her. That whole severance package ruse gave you away. I'm going to have a barbecue tomorrow night for the crew. A farewell to the island gathering. I'll invite her. Think of it as a present for you. Another reward for work well done here."
The fuck?
Talking about Yani like she was some slave girl he could pass around as he saw fit? Erik's left fist clenched and he counted down from fifty to zero in his head hoping he wouldn't be impulsive and reach for the Glock strapped to his thigh. The itch to blast the man where he stood was strong.
"Do what you want."
"It's what you want. Hell, she can stay the night if you want."
"Why?"
Klaue shrugged.
"Why not?"
It was tempting. Having her next to him there and not having to sneak off. Having her in their bed again.
He turned to look at the sea again. His eyes were wistful. The yearning to stay so strong in his bones.
All he had to do was step away…
###
He's not happy to have her around the compound.
Yani eats from a paper plate while sitting on a deck chair near the pool. Klaue mans the barbecue grill there and the rest of the mercs eat, talk and drink. Leona sits next to Yani with her own plate.
Shipley controls the music and loud 90's rap plays. Erik eats from his plate as he pretends to conversate with Limbano. Linda drinks beer and laughs hard at whatever Neal and the other mercs are talking about.
Erik tries his best not to stare at Yani, but he can't help himself. Life comes at him faster now, and he knows these are the last days he will be near her and it stresses him.
"Here, have some more shrimp," Klaue says, piling two wood skewers on his plate.
Yani's eyes catch his and she smiles at him. He accepts the love he sees there but doesn't smile back. He doesn't want the others to see how he really feels about her.
Cee Cee walks down to the pool area carrying more beer and a full bottle of rum and Shipley takes the rum and heads to the minibar.
"Killmonger!"
Limbano waves at him with Linda.
"We're going down to the gun range. Trying out the new Glocks."
Erik leaves his plate on a pool deck table and follows them. Passing by Yani, her eyes looked worried.
"Yani, come with?" Linda asked.
Erik stares at Linda and then back at Yani.
"You always watch us down there. Come see it up close," Linda cajoled.
"No thank you, I'm just going to relax—"
"Go on down. I need to speak with your Aunt privately," Klaue said.
Yani's eyes flicked over to her Aunt and cousin before they rest on Erik's face again. Linda strolled over and grabbed Yani's hand.
"I'll show you how to shoot," Linda said.
"I know how to," Yani answered.
Linda stopped and looked her over.
"Really?"
Yani nodded.
"This should be fun then," Linda said looking at Erik when she said it.
Yani followed them down to the range and Erik felt his body get tense.
Everyone put on protective eyewear and earplugs. Erik watched Shipley unlock a gun crate full of the new Glocks Klaue brought to the island.
The mercs took turns shooting and Erik cradled a Glock in his hand waiting his turn.
"These are better than the Kabul ones," Erik told Limbano.
"New manufacturer."
"You want next?" Linda asked Yani who stood behind everyone.
Erik knew she was still nervous around guns, and it didn't help there were so many weapons being waved around. Linda was also acting a little too sweet with Yani, treating her like a real guest. Erik didn't trust her.
"No. You can go," Yani said.
Erik saw Neal looking Yani over. She wore some plain jeans and a t-shirt, but Neal's eyes danced over her body in an obvious way.
Linda took her place and fired off an impressive round into her target. The others commented on her accuracy and she cheesed really hard in front of Erik as the accolades made her head swell.
"Your turn," Linda said to Yani.
Erik handed Yani the weapon she would fire and went over the precautions with her again. He could see Linda smirking as she slipped her weapon into her holster.
Yani took her position and Erik could feel the others watching with amusement in their eyes. There were a few snickers when Yani took deep breaths from nervousness.
"If it's too much for you, you don't have to shoot…" Linda said.
Yani looked back at her.
"It's not too much," she said.
Erik held his breath, but he didn't need to. Yani popped off some accurate shots into her target and it wiped the smile right off of Linda's face.
"Damn, she's almost as good as you, Shipley," Limbano teased.
"Lucky shot—"
Yani shot up the targets of the others. Moving slowly across the range her accuracy got better and when she turned to look at them while changing the magazine with precision, no one said anything.
"Not bad, huh?" Yani said.
The men laughed. Linda didn't.
"Had us fooled," Linda said.
Yani handed the Glock back to Erik.
"How did you learn to shoot like that?" Linda asked.
Yani's eyes darted to Erik and Linda's face soured.
"Had a good teacher," Yani said. Her arm slinked around Erik's and he felt all the eyes of the mercs on them. Bad move.
Yani reached up and cradled Erik's face before kissing his lips.
"There it is," Shipley said.
"Ribs are ready!" Cee Cee called to them all from above the gun range. The others moved to finish eating, and Linda was the last to stroll back up after putting away her weapon. Erik stayed behind with Yani.
"Why?" he asked.
"I don't care anymore," Yani said squeezing his arm, "fuck her too."
"Getting bold, girl."
"I'm staying the night too," she said.
"Nah. We not doing that—"
"Klaue said I could stay. I'm staying. And we fucking too."
Yani stepped away from him.
"Wait a minute—"
"I want some ribs. I want Klaue to serve it to me."
"We can go to a hotel."
"No. I want to be in our bed. I want you to make love to me and I want that bitch to hear us."
What the fuck was happening?
"Where is this coming from?"
"I'm stealing every moment I can with you, and I don't care if they make fun of us for being together."
"I'd rather go to a hotel."
"I'm going to give you some good pussy in our bed."
Erik reached out to grab her hand and pulled her close.
"Talking all nasty. Girl whatchu—"
Her hands pulled his head down to her and her mouth smothered his.
"Yani, shit…"
He tried pulling back from her, his eyes sweeping up to where the mercs had dispersed. He saw Linda looking down at them.
Yani turned to look and saw Linda herself.
"Mind yuh business," Yani called up.
Linda walked away and Yani laughed at her.
"She wahn mi dick, but she can't have it."
Yani groped between his legs and Erik couldn't believe how brazen she was. It was turning him on.
"You tryna get into it now?" he teased rubbing her ass with his hands.
"We can do it right here. I don't care."
"You wildin', Ma. I like it though."
"I love you, Killmonger."
Her arms wrapped around his neck and he lifted her up.
"I'll always love you. Know that," he said.
She nodded and he kissed her. Soft at first and then he couldn't help himself. His tongue rolled out and she joined hers with his. Slow wide-open mouth licks that had their heads twisting side to side every few seconds. Yani's lips went to his neck and Erik groaned when he felt her teeth bite him and then suck hard on the skin. Her head pulled back from him and her eyes were hungry.
"I wahn suck yuh dick."
The purring in her throat made Erik moan out loud. He dropped her to her feet and adjusted his dick in his pants. Looking around he dragged her to a spot he knew that cameras wouldn't see them.
Yani dropped to her knees and pulled up her shirt so he could see her breasts. Her fingers undid her bra and when her tits were free, Erik unfastened his pants and let them drop to his knees. Yani cupped her breasts with her hands and Erik pinched her nipples.
"Stick out your tongue," he demanded.
She barely had her mouth open before he was stuffing his length down her throat.
"This what you want?"
Yani choked on his dick and her watery eyes were determined to keep his thickness in her mouth. He packed her throat tight and she fondled his balls.
"What if Linda comes back down here? You want her to see you like this?"
Yani groaned on his dick and Erik felt his balls throb and jump.
Her wet tongue ran down his length on both sides before she rested that sweet mouth on the spongey head.
"Titties all out…bitch…you want me to cum on your face?"
A loud popping sound occurred when she released his dick from her mouth. Saliva ran down her chin.
"Cum on my face…" she whispered. Her breathy voice had him in a daze.
"That's what you deserve," he said grabbing hold of his erection and pumping his fist around it.
His eyes shot up to check for anyone watching, and he moved closer to her so his dick was right next to her face.
"You deserve all this," he said, "look at me…Yani…look at me."
Her big eyes pleading for his release made his cum hard on her face. He milked his dick until her face dripped with hot ejaculate. His jizz dropped onto her breasts and she smeared it all over her nipples the way he liked her to.
"Mi wahn more, Daddy," she hissed at him.
"Fuck, girl."
Erik fixed his pants and reached down pulling her to her feet. He dragged her down to Klaue's main house, her tits still out in the open as they slipped past security cams. He had her fully naked and bent over his bed, his dick plunging in and out of her while he choked her the fuck out.
"Getting fucking bold like that…you want this dick bad. You 'gon get it, bitch."
Yani threw that sugar-sweet pussy back on him and he stuck his thumb in her ass while choking her harder.
"Pussy 'gon be sore when I get done," he shouted.
He shoved her head down onto the bed and Yani arched her back so that her ass clapped on him.
"Fuck!" he shouted when he felt his nuts tighten, "turn over!"
He pulled out and Yani scrambled onto her back. He sprayed semen all over her chest and stomach, his yelling loud enough to surprise himself.
He dragged his eyes all over her body while she squeezed her tits for him.
"Fuck me again," she commanded.
"Damn…Yani…let a nigga recuperate."
She laughed and closed her legs. Sitting up she reached out and stroked the keloids on his stomach.
"Mi gwine wear yuh out, man," she said.
He closed his eyes savoring the tone of her voice.
She was his. This sweet island girl with the baby that made him fall in love with this life.
Erik sat next to her on the bed.
"Yani…what if…what if I decide—"
"Killmonger, you better get these ribs before they disappear."
Shipley's voice was perverse and loud over the intercom system.
"We should eat. Get nourished before we go at it again," Yani said jumping off the bed.
Erik watched her run into his bathroom to shower and he sat on his bed thinking of what he was about to tell her. His mind was filled with doubts and jumbled thoughts, but he wanted to talk to her about staying. Giving up the life. But in that split second of Shipley disrupting his words, Erik decided not to say anything. He was delirious with the sex and his mouth was only going to say something in the heat of the moment that he couldn't back up once he really thought it through once his hormones cooled off.
Yani walked out with a towel wrapped around her.
"I'll wait for you to clean up," she said plopping back on the bed.
Erik plodded over to the shower.
"What were you saying before Shipley called you?"
"Um, nothing important. Just…should I dress up for Kendall's thing?"
"If you want to."
"We should. Let's show out. Wear that white dress again—"
"I have something in mind I think you'll like better."
"Showing ass?"
"Maybe."
He heard her laugh and it was the most precious thing to him at that moment.
###
Yani went to grab a bottled water from the middle house when Linda confronted her.
"What were you yelling at me down at the gun range?"
Linda was taller than Yani and tried to use her height to intimidate her. Yani didn't back down. She held the water in her hand and glared at the woman.
"I told yuh to mind yuh business."
"Just cuz he fucks you doesn't mean you're special to him."
"Yuh talkin' from experience?" Yani asked.
"Killmonger and I have a relationship you would never understand—"
"Relationship? Tuh. He fucked you one time—"
"Is that what he told you? To spare your little feelings? You are so naïve. Doesn't matter. He's leaving with me and you won't see him again once we bounce off this tiresome island. Enjoy what you can get."
The smirk on Yani's face faltered.
Linda looked her up and down.
"You're lying. He's not sleeping with you."
"Believe what you want. Like I said, get what you can get."
Yani refused to leave the room. That was probably what Linda wanted her to do. Go running off into the night and leaving Erik behind for her to pester.
"I'm getting a lot—"
"Thots usually do—"
Yani laughed with bitterness.
"What do you get out of doing this? Alla we can see you're pretty, can have anyone yuh want. Who am I to yuh, gyal? Compettition? Mi the first woman tuh block yuh? If him want yuh pum pum, him be in yuh bed, not mine—"
Linda pushed up on her and poked her finger in Yani's face.
"You are trash—"
"Him no wahn yuh. Let him go."
Yani's hand slapped Linda's finger away and Linda knocked the water bottle out of Yani's hand.
"For real? Yuh wahn do this in Klaue's house, bitch?"
Yani stepped back, her fists balled up and ready to knock Linda into Kingdom come. The woman's face was twisted up in an ugly scowl.
"Why are yuh so hateful…?"
Yani took in all of Linda's energy and then it struck her.
She was in love with Killmonger too.
It wasn't petty jealousy or catty girl bullshit. This woman before her had feelings for the man she was in love with too.
But Killmonger loved Yani. And Linda couldn't deal with that.
Yani unclenched her fists.
"I'm sorry he doesn't love you."
"What?!"
"Yuh hate me because of that—"
"Shut the fuck up—"
"I'd be mad at mi too if that man didn't love mi the way he does—"
Yani felt the slap sting her face and her first reaction to jump the woman was thwarted fast when Klaue walked in. Yani grabbed a hold of Linda's shirt and Klaue jumped between them blocking them from one another.
"Stop it!" Klaue yelled, but his face showed amusement.
"Make her leave!' Linda yelled.
Neal walked in and grabbed Yani's hand when she reached down to throw the bottled water in Linda's face.
"Let go of me!" Yani said shaking him off of her.
"What are you two fighting about?" Neal asked, "Is this over Killmonger? Linda, for real?"
Neal laughed out loud.
"Killmonger! Yo man, you got your bitches in here fighting each other!"
Linda rolled her eyes and stepped away from Klaue. Her face was turning pink.
"She's about to get her ass beat," Yani yelled.
"By who? You?!" Linda shouted back.
Yani sucked her teeth and threw the bottle. It hit Linda in the face and she lunged for her. Klaue pushed Linda back.
"Calm yourself, Chambers," Klaue warned.
Erik walked in with Leona and Cee Cee behind him. His eyes went to Yani's immediately.
"Nigga you are the cause of this ruckus," Neale cackled.
Linda stormed out past him and Yani looked around in embarrassment when her Aunt and cousin gave her a look of shame.
"I'm sorry," Yani said to Erik, "she started it and I was 'bout tuh finish it."
"Let's just go outside, eat a little, drink a little. Relax and enjoy this last time together," Klaue said.
"I'm going home," Yani said.
She picked up the bottle she threw and place it on the kitchen counter.
"Thank you for inviting me Mr. Klaue. Have safe travels," Yani said brushing past her Aunt and cousin.
Erik bounded after her.
"What happened?" he asked.
They saw Linda stomping down toward Klaue's main house. Erik followed Yani up to the front of the compound. She stopped in front of her car.
"She's in love with you."
Erik's eyes blinked.
"You didn't know?"
Yani wrapped her arms around her stomach.
"How long have you worked with her? Over a year? You didn't notice anything?"
"She don't love me—"
"Yes. She does. She hates me because you don't love her…or maybe…maybe you do in a way. God, Killmonger…"
"It don't matter."
"It does. You're about to go off and do God knows what with Klaue and she's going to be by your side. In love with you. Willing to do anything for you. I feel sorry for her. I was about to fight that bitch over you. We look so stupid in front of these men."
"I can't help how she feels, Yani."
"That's why I'm leaving. I don't like her, but I'm not going to stay around here trying to hurt someone unintentionally. I wanted to fuck you in that bed just so she could hear us tonight—"
"You still can."
Erik smiled at her and Yani laughed when she really didn't want to. It was all so messy. And sad. If Erik didn't love her, Yani knew she would be miserable and just as hurt as Linda was.
"You don't have to leave."
"I need to. I don't want to be around her. I might fight her if she looks at me wrong again. She needs her ass beat, but her real problem is with you. Not me."
Yani studied Erik's face.
"You don't feel anything for her?"
"She's just a colleague. We fucked—"
"Once?"
"A couple of times over a twelve-hour period. That was it. We get along. Nothing more. Not since you."
"What about when we…separated?"
"We not sleeping together. Can we squash this speculation?"
Erik looked around the area.
"Let's go to a hotel," he said.
Yani stepped close to him and touched his chest.
"No matter what happens with us Killmonger, you need to work out shit with her."
"Why you pushing it, Ma?"
"I looked at her face. I know that look. She's in deep. I don't want her tuh hurt you—"
"Hurt me?"
"She's just like you. A killer."
Erik's face grew tight.
"It's what you all are. It's what's all over your chest and back. Your arms. I don't want you to leave me and have me worrying that she will do something to you. She'll do it too, just to get back at me. I know it."
"Yani…don't say that, don't be worrying about shit like that—"
He tried to hug her.
"You don't give me a choice!"
She threw her hands up.
"Tahir tried to warn me. Even you tried to warn me. But it's the truth. Yuh the bad man on the hill. And I love you. And so does another woman. A bad woman."
"Give me a minute. Lemme grab a change of clothes and we can spend the night away from here together. We can talk—"
"Nothing to talk about. Not us—"
"Yani…I want to be with you tonight. Right now."
Yani gave a big sigh and leaned against her car.
"Go get your stuff, man," she said.
Erik kissed her forehead and jogged away from her. Her cell vibrated and she texted Leona that she was leaving with Erik.
Waiting for him, the time ticked away and she walked back into the compound. The others were still eating and drinking and listening to music and her Aunt watched her make her way down to the main house.
Yani heard them talking before she saw them on the balcony.
Erik was perched next to Linda on the lounger that she and Erik loved when they were alone together. His voice was soft and Linda was close enough to him for their shoulders to touch. It looked serious and intimate.
Yani made her way back up to her car and her Aunt was waiting for her.
"What is going on?" Leona asked.
"Killmonger has to deal with Linda. She has feelings for him and it's just…messy."
"How do you feel about her loving him?"
"I don't like it. But…how could she not? I mean. I love him Auntie. I love him so much and he's leaving me. She'll be with him and I'll never see him again. So I'll always wonder about them being together—"
Her chest heaved and Yani threw her hands over her face.
"Oh, Yani. I wish you could find the right one for once."
"But I did. I just can't keep him. That's not my fault."
Leona hugged her and the smell of her Aunt's lavender lotion and hair grease soothed her. The familiar smells of family.
"I love him too much, Auntie."
"I know. I see it. He loves you too. It's so obvious."
"Hey," Erik said.
Yani pulled back from her Aunt and wiped her eyes.
"You were talking to her?" Yani asked.
Erik's eyes flicked away from looking at Yani directly.
"Yeah."
Leona patted Yani's back.
"Goodnight, Erik," Leona said.
Leona's eyes watched them both.
"Be good to each other," she said walking away from them.
"How did she take it?"
He shrugged.
"Killmonger—"
"I don't want to talk about her. Let's go. I just wanna be with you right now."
He tossed his small duffle bag into her car.
"I'll drive," he said.
She handed him her keys.
He chose a hotel on the other side of the island and she called her parents to tell them she would pick up Sydette in the morning.
Their lovemaking was slow.
Gentle.
Erik's hands touched her everywhere and in every way possible. His lips painted kisses on her skin from her forehead to her toes. He was deliberate. Methodical in a sexy way. His cell rang and when they both looked at his phone on the nightstand, they saw Linda's avatar glowing.
Yani shoved his phone onto the floor and straddled his hips.
She wore him out as she promised.
