Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
“But Emily still knew some Spanish?”
“Not anymore. Daryl neither. Kennedy would translate shit for us when we had a situation that called for it.”
“Lunita spoke very good Spanish.”
Maxwell shrugged. “Never heard Em speak it since we were little.”
I smoked more of the joint.
Maxwell frowned. “I don't want to believe. . .this.”
“This?”
“Two people, man. I don't like that for Em. She's been through enough.”
“It makes sense.”
“I don't like it. I would rather think of it as just. . .her dark side.” Max looked at me. “Maybe, instead of Lunita. We keep it at Demily.”
“She's Lunita. A completely different personality.”
“That's some white people shit.”
I smirked. “It's human shit, Maxwell. A mind splits in order to protect itself.”
“And you know a lot about minds splitting.”
“The Brotherhood is filled with all types of people with split minds, split hearts, and even split souls.”
Sighing, Maxwell stared off at the stars in the sky. “Em deserves a happy ending. Not this shit.”
“She will get her happy ending, if I have to bomb all the bad endings in the process.”
Maxwell shook his head.
Silence filled the balcony.
I drew in one last puff and put the joint out.
Then, we just stared at the stars as if the answer to our problem had been written in the night sky.
Maxwell broke the silence. “She really chanted the song, His Eye is on the Sparrow?”
“How does it go?”
He scowled. “You want me to sing to you?”
“Just tell me the lyrics.”
“It goes like this. Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come?” Maxwell inhaled and then exhaled. “Why should my heart feel lonely, and long for heaven and home.”
I gazed at him.
“When Jesus is my portion. A constant friend is He.”
I recognized the words and nodded.
“His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches over me.”
I bobbed my head. “Those last lines are what she said when she cut the cross into Salvatore's chest.”
Maxwell closed his eyes.
Smoke left his nostrils.
“Did Emily sing it as a kid?”
He remained still with his eyes shut.
“Maxwell? Did she sing it?”
He opened his eyes and turned to me. “Naw. . .my dad used to sing it all the time. It was his favorite song.”
Pressure rose within me.
Maxwell put the joint out. “I'm going back in the room to braid her hair, then I'm passing out by the door. I should be here when she wakes up.”
“No.” I blocked his way. “Braid her hair and then follow the advice you gave to Harlem Crew.”
“You mean the advice Boris and Blue aren't taking?”
“Everyone is worried for Emily. That is good. But we still need to get our rest.”
“Look, man. I'm going to be here—”
I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. “I need you, Maxwell.”
He looked away.
“I need you to be strong. These days are going to be bloody and full of death, and that's just the war.”
Maxwell sighed.
“Lunita hinted that you kept Emily calm. She also said that I take things too far.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Lunita explained that she only comes when Emily is either being sexually attacked or dealing with a suffering sadness.”
Maxwell backed up. “That's what she said?”
I nodded solemnly. “We have to tell Emily everything, but we also have to be her foundation. That will gain control of the situation for now.”
“I don't know how to tell Em this shit.”
“That's why you won't be there.” I touched my chest. “I will, and I'll be the one to tell her.”
Chapter 7
The Beauty in the Madness
Emily
I woke up encased in a warm cocoon of muscle and satiny smooth skin. Kazimir had those strong arms around me. My head lay on his chest.
There is no better way to wake up.
His body was a biological marvel. On one side, it was built to create destruction—rough hands, powerful shoulders, and massive biceps. Kaz had a six-pack that could break a foot if someone kicked him.
Then on the other side, it was a smooth sea of muscles, cradling me in warmth and security.
The scent of Kazimir enveloped me—powerful and seductively masculine, clouding my thoughts. His smell was home. I no longer attached myself to a city or country. It was Kazimir's presence that defined my location.
Yawning, I blinked my eyes and looked down at my body. I wore a white lace gown that comfortably hugged my body. To my surprise, it didn’t feel like I had on panties.
I must have forgotten them when I went to sleep.
I lay my head back against Kaz's chest.
When did I go to sleep?
I tried to figure out yesterday and drew a blank.
The steady rhythm of his heartbeats sounded in my ear. I gave up on trying to remember last night and relished in his heart's melody.
This is heaven.
Yawning again, I slowly lifted my head, not wanting to wake Kaz, but needing to watch my gorgeous, dangerous man sleep.