Page 82 of Session 33

The taller one, Alyssa, with dark curly hair, perked up. “That sounds fun,” she said, her eyes targeting me.

I nodded at her, giving her a polite smile, a quick flash of teeth. I wasn’t trying to be rude, but I wasn’t trying to entertain her either. That didn’t stop her from walking right up to me and plopping down like she’d known me for years.

Everyone else fell into conversation. I could see Angel from the corner of my eye. She was sitting with Charmaine, but her focus wasn’t on the conversation. It was on me and Alyssa. Her jaw was tight, her shoulders stiff. I knew that look. She was annoyed. And instead of leaving it alone, I leaned into it. I turned up the charm with Alyssa, making her laugh loud enough for Angel to hear. I was being petty as hell, but I couldn’t help it. I needed to see Angel react, even if it was just a glare. As long as she reacts it meant she cared.

Naomi wasn’t having it, though. She got up, grabbed her water, and shut it all down. “I don’t even think I want s’mores anymore,” she said, side-eyeing me hard. “Let’s head back before it gets too hot.”

She didn’t wait for anyone to argue. She walked right between me and Alyssa, effectively ending the conversation.

“C’mon on, Cassius.” She damn near screeched.

I laughed and stood, following the group without a backward glance at Alyssa.

Back at the cabin, everyone else went inside to cool off. Jonas, Silas, and I hung back, passing around a blunt. I wasn’t smoking anymore, but the smell was tempting. That itch was always there, even when I didn’t want to admit it. But my reason for quitting were my motivation to ignore the temptation.

I shifted my weight, crossing my arms over my chest, my eyes narrowing in Silas direction. “You know,” I said, “first time you piss me off, I’m using it as an excuse to beat your ass for kissing Angel.”

Silas blew out a slow stream of smoke, watching it curl in the air before glancing at me with a smug grin. He leaned back even farther, arms stretched out like he owned the place. “Figured you’d feel that way,” he said, flicking ash onto the ground. “That’s why I made sure to enjoy it. She’s soft as hell and tastes like—”

“Don’t,” I warned.

Jonas chuckled, lazily scratching his chin as he shook his head. “Y’all need to chill before these turns into some Wild West shit.”

“Relax, Cass. I ain’t about fucking her, though I wouldn’t say no if she offered. But she grew on me.” he added with a shrug, his eyes cutting to mine. “I just like her around. Ekon’s my boy as much as yours. So don’t fuck up again, or I might just step in and take your place.” Silas grinned, holding the blunt out to Jonas.”

Smug ass mother fucker, as if he could take my place. I narrowed my eyes but didn’t argue.

I intercepted the weed, took a hit, the flicked it into the woods. They both laughed.

I left them outside and headed into the house.

The cabin was quiet. I dropped my backpack in the room. I heard the shower running in the ensuite. Angel’s phone buzzed on thenightstand, the screen lighting up repeatedly. I glanced at it, and before I could stop myself, I picked it up.

Seventeen new messages from Solomon.

I read them. Each one was worse than the last. Threats. Insults. My grip tightened, knuckles going white as my jaw clenched so hard it felt like my teeth might crack. The motherfucker was still trying to intimidate her.

The water shut off, and Angel stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, her skin still damp. She froze when she saw me holding her phone.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice hesitant.

I held up the phone, the screen still lit with his vile ass shit. “What is this?” I demanded.

Her eyes widened, and she fumbled for an explanation. “Cassius... I was going to tell you.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “When? Before or after he hurt or killed your hard-headed ass?”

Chapter seventy one

Cassius’s eyes blazed with anger. His entire face was red and tight, his jaw clenched so hard I thought it might snap.

“You seriously didn’t think to tell me about this?” he demanded, holding up my phone like it was some kind of damning evidence. He waved it in my face, and it took everything in me not to knock his hand away.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Cassius, just let me explain,” I gritted out.

“Explain what?” he shot back, stepping closer. “You’ve got this crazy-ass motherfucker still threatening you, and you didn’t think I needed to know? You think I wouldn’t protect you? Protect Ekon?”

I stepped forward, desperate now. “It’s not like that—”