The preacher’s daughter

“Kairo!” I called out as I pushed through the apartment door, my voice bright with excitement.

My heels clicked against the hardwood floor as I stepped inside, dropping my purse onto the couch without even looking. His car was outside in the driveway, so I already knew he was home. I had been smiling the whole ride back, thinking about surprising him.

But the apartment was quiet.

Too quiet.

“Kairo?” I called again, walking further inside.

Nothing.

I frowned slightly. The TV wasn’t on. No music. No sound of him moving around. Usually when he knew I was coming home he’d be somewhere waiting on me.

I glanced toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms.

Maybe he fell asleep waiting.

I headed toward my room, already smiling again at the thought of waking him up and climbing into bed with him.

But when I pushed the door open…

The room was empty.

The bed was made.

No Kairo.

Now my smile faded.

“What the hell…” I muttered under my breath.

My stomach tightened as a strange feeling started creeping up my spine. I turned toward the bathroom and pushed that door open too.

Pitch black.

Nobody inside.

Now confusion started turning into something else.

Where the hell was he?

I pulled my phone out of my purse to call him when suddenly my mother’s bedroom door slowly creaked open.

My heart dropped straight into my stomach.

Kairo stepped out.

His shirt hung halfway off one shoulder like he’d just pulled it back on. His belt wasn’t even buckled yet as he hurriedly buttoned his pants.

For a second my brain refused to process what I was seeing.

Then it hit me.

Hard.

“What the hell?!” I screamed, charging toward him before I even realized I was moving.

“Amara, baby chill—it’s not what you think!” he said quickly, grabbing my arms as I tried to swing on him.

“GET OFF ME!” I screamed, kicking and trying to claw my way past him.

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to explode out my chest.

I kicked my mother’s bedroom door with everything in me.

The door flew open.

And there she was.

My mother stood beside the bed wearing nothing but her bra and panties, frantically trying to pull a robe around herself.

The room still smelled like sex.

My stomach twisted violently.

“So you gon’ tell me you didn’t just sleep with my momma?” I said, my voice shaking as tears filled my eyes.

“Amara just let me explain—” Kairo started.

“Explain WHAT?!” I screamed, snatching my arms away from him.

My mother stepped forward.

“Amara baby just listen—”

I backed away from both of them like they were strangers.

Like they were something disgusting.

Like they had both just betrayed me in the worst way possible.

I couldn’t even breathe.

I grabbed my purse and stormed out the apartment before either of them could say another word.

⸻

I jumped into my car and sped off.

My hands were shaking so bad on the steering wheel I could barely hold it steady. My mind was racing with a thousand thoughts all at once.

How long had this been happening?

Was this the first time?

Or had they been sneaking behind my back for months?

The more my mind raced the more sick I felt.

I didn’t want to go anywhere they could find me.

I just needed somewhere safe.

Someone who was on my side.

I grabbed my phone and dialed a number.

“Hey girl!” Nayli answered excitedly.

“You home?” I asked quickly.

“No I’m at Junior’s place.”

“Damn…” I muttered.

“What’s wrong?” she asked immediately.

Something in my voice must’ve tipped her off.

“Some stuff just happened… and I need somewhere to hide and talk,” I said, finally letting the tears fall.

“I’m sending you the location. Pull up. Junior at work on a double tonight.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

⸻

Twenty minutes later I was knocking on her door.

Nayli opened it holding a glass of wine already waiting for me.

“Girl what happened?” she asked immediately.

We sat at her dining table and I told her everything.

Every detail.

Catching Kairo coming out my mother’s room.

Seeing her half naked.

Everything.

“And ever since I left they both been blowing up my phone,” I said, sliding my phone across the table. “Look… he calling again right now.”

Nayli stared at the phone then shook her head slowly.

“Block him.”

“But I love him…” I whispered.

Nayli leaned back in her chair looking at me like I had completely lost my mind.

“Love?” she said slowly. “What love got to do with anything?”

I wiped tears from my face.

“My man slept with my momma…”

“And you crying like YOU the one who did something wrong,” she snapped.

I looked at her confused.

“You left the apartment that’s in YOUR name. They the ones who should’ve been running.”

“My momma—”

“And?” she cut me off.

My phone started ringing again.

Nayli grabbed it and hung up.

“First of all,” she continued, leaning forward, “you not hurt enough. Cause if that was me? Somebody in that house would’ve been catching these hands tonight.”

I looked down at the table.

“So now what?” she asked.

“What you mean now what?” I said quietly.

“I mean are you gonna sit here crying… or are you gonna make that man regret ever playing you?”

Before I could answer another message popped up on my phone.

You need to come back to this house. You overreacting like I fucked some random bitch.

I read the message twice.

My stomach twisted again.

Was he serious?

He really thought this wasn’t a big deal.

Like sleeping with my own mother was normal.

Unless…

Unless it wasn’t the first time.

Anger slowly started replacing the pain in my chest.

“You got something stronger than this wine?” I asked.

Nayli smiled.

A few minutes later we were three shots in.

I wiped my mouth and looked at her.

“What should I do?” I asked.

She grinned.

“Let’s go out tonight.”

“Girl Junior will kill you.”

“All Junior need to know is I’m helping my best friend through a hard time.”

She looked dead serious.

“Let’s go.”

⸻

Since I couldn’t go back to my apartment and my money was limited, Nayli loaned me something to wear.

The strapless black leather bodycon dress hugged every curve of my body.

Even I had to admit I looked damn good in it.

By the time we got to the club the line wrapped around the building.

But once we got inside I understood why.

The place was packed.

Music vibrating through the floor. Lights flashing. Drinks everywhere.

Anybody who was somebody was in there.

Me and Nayli grabbed drinks and found a spot to dance.

My phone kept going crazy in my purse.

When I finally checked it I saw Kairo’s latest message.

I know good and god damn well you not at that club dressed like you single.

I laughed.

Someone clearly saw me and reported back to him.

I showed Nayli the message.

She laughed too.

“Text him back and say you outside looking DAMN good.”

We made our way to the bar for another round.

As Nayli pulled money from her purse a hand stopped her.

“Nah let me and my partner get these,” the guy said flirting with her.

She smiled.

“Well be my guest.”

His friend looked at me.

“How about y’all come sit in our section?”

“Y’all got a section?” Nayli asked skeptically.

They weren’t dressed like they could afford one.

“Yeah right there.”

He pointed across the club.

A section filled with a few more men.

But one of them caught my eye instantly.

He leaned forward slowly on the couch, elbows resting on his knees.

Watching me.

The entire section moved around him like he owned it.

Gold watch.

Black button-down.

Calm eyes studying me like he already knew my secrets.

That man wasn’t part of the crew.

He was running it.

“You can take me to your boss,” I said boldly, pointing straight at him.

Nayli smirked beside me.

The guy escorting us looked irritated but glanced back at the section.

The man gave a small nod.

“Come on,” he said reluctantly.

⸻

When I reached the section my confidence faded slightly.

Up close this man was even finer.

Sharp jawline.

Deep eyes.

Calm dangerous energy.

“I’m Malachi,” he said smoothly, extending his hand.

“But everybody calls me Kai.”

“Amara,” I said.

“Nice to meet you… Mi amor.”

“You mean Amara,” I corrected.

He smirked.

“Nah. I mean Mi amor. I call you what you are.”

Something about his voice sent chills down my spine.

I caught myself biting my lip.

“Come sit with me,” he said taking my hand.

And I didn’t pull away.

We talked for a while until I checked my phone again.

The latest message from Kairo made my stomach drop.

When the news say bodies dropped at that club tonight… remember you chose this.

Fear crept up my spine.

Kairo had a temper.

But I didn’t know if he was crazy enough to actually do something like that.

“I’m sorry… I think I need to go,” I said standing quickly.

“Amara you good?” Nayli asked.

I showed her the message.

Before we could react Kai grabbed my hand.

“Listen,” he said calmly. “I don’t give a fuck about what nigga had you before. But you got my attention now.”

His boldness made my stomach flip.

Before I could respond one of the men leaned over whispering in Kai’s ear.

Kai’s expression changed instantly.

“Let’s go,” he said standing and pulling me up.

“Where?” I asked confused.

But before he could answer—

BANG.

The first gunshot cracked through the music.

Then another.

The DJ cut off mid-song as chaos exploded through the club.

People started screaming.

Chairs flipped.

Glass shattered.

Bodies dove for the floor.

Kai and his crew instantly pulled their guns.

Kai shoved me behind him.

“Stay down!”

But my heels slipped.

I couldn’t keep my footing.

Everything was happening too fast.

Another gunshot rang out.

Then something slammed into my side.

Burning.

Pain exploded through my body.

I heard myself screaming.

The room started spinning.

The last thing I saw before everything went dark…

Was Malachi Carter turning around with murder in his eyes.

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