Page 12 of Dima
“Oh, so my father is here as well.”
“He is.”
“There goes my night.”
I gave her a half smile, and she rolled her eyes. I could tell Maeve didn’t want nothing to do with me or anybody else in the crew, but I didn’t walk away. I lived for the casual moments with her. Like the way her fingers touched mine when she turned around, and even the way she rolled her eyes. All that shit rattled me more than any bullet ever had, but I wouldn’t walk away.
“I guess I’ll see you around then. I should enjoy the few minutes I have.”
I grabbed my drink from the bartender’s hand and turned to leave, but Dima touched my elbow to stop me. He looked extra good tonight. He was dressed in the Durty Boyz signature, all black.
“Why not see me now?”
Dima offered up a grin. The reflection of the gold chain around his neck bounced off his white teeth. He was playing a dangerous game, but I wasn’t about to back down. We had a few minutes before my father and the rest of his crew made it inside.
“Um, Li, I’ll meet you at the section.”
“Okay, girl. Don’t do nothing I wouldn’t do.”
My best friend flashed a sly smile before she sipped her drink and danced off. She was so messy, but she had every right to warn me. Dima had the power to make me lose all rationale and fuck him right here on top of this bar.
It was the way his eyes bore into me, even now, when I tried hard not to return his gaze. Dima looked at me in a way that saidI have to have you, and I couldn’t help but blush, especially since I wanted him just as much.
“What you smiling at the ground for? I’m up here, princess.”
He used his finger to lift my eyes from the ground.
“Dima, you know we can’t do this.”
I finally spoke and let my eyes meet his. I didn’t shy away from his gaze this time because he needed to know I was serious. My daddy would kill him before he let us be together.
“Really, we can’t talk?”
“Is talking all you want to do?”
“No, but it’s a good place to start.”
“It’s also a good place to stop. Listen, I know you know how Bishop is by now, so whatever you’re trying to do here, needs to stop. I would hate for something to happen to you. I don’t want that on my conscience.”
Before Dima could respond, a fight broke out right next to us. They weren’t even two feet away from where we’d been standing at the bar. Shots rang out just as fast as the first punch was thrown.
We hit the floor and tried to find cover. I could see people scattered all around the club as they tried to get away. I wanted to get up and run, but I was frozen in place. I didn’t realize how much my father had shielded me until this very moment—the moment I could possibly lose my life for wanting to have a good time with my girls.
Dima mouthed something to me, but I couldn’t make it out. All sound had ceased to exist. The only thing I heard was myheart trying to beat out of my chest, and it was so loud. Tears streamed from my eyes and hit the top of my hands that were flat on the dirty ass club floor.
My thoughts marched around my head in circles until Dima picked me up in his arms. I recognized his scent before anything else. His smell was what brought me back to my senses. He smelled so damn good that I wouldn’t mind his scent being the last thing to violate my nostrils.
“I have to find Liyah.”
I wanted to scream it to the top of my lungs, but it came out as more of a whisper. I was worried about my friend, but the shock of someone shooting so close to me had rendered me almost speechless.
“I’ll text Daze and tell him to grab her, but I got to get you out of here.”
Dima spoke calmly and carried me toward the door. The closer we got, the more I worried about my girl. He was way too calm after we had almost died. I seemed to be the only one rattled.
“Please, Dima. Don’t let him leave without her.”
“He won’t. I promise. I got you, and he got her.”
