Page 50 of Own It

Inhaling, she said, “Look, I noticed my man Ayan watching you all night.”

“Is he?” I feigned foolishness.

“He is.” She nodded. “I don’t know you, Daylin, but what I do know is if you’re a real woman, you’d turn down his advances, considering he is in a relationship. Please.”

For a moment, I just studied the woman before me, wondering what the fuck she was thinking leaving a man who literally killed for her, to be with a man that she had to beg other women not to fuck.

“Yeah, I don’t find men in relationships appealing, so you have nothing to worry about.” I took my drink from the bartender. “Trust me.”

“Okay, perfect!” She lit up, ecstatic at the fact that I wouldn’t be riding her nigga’s dick tonight. Talk about rock bottom.

I felt bad for her but not bad enough to not fuck with her.

“Plus—” I sipped my perfectly made drink—“his twin brother is more of my type anyway with his fine ass.” I grinned, taking another swig.

Sure, I was popping shit to mess with the bitch, but she knew like every other woman with eyes that Rakim was beautiful.

“Oh, okay.” LaMia’s body went rigid, telling me what I already knew and that was the fact that she still had a bit of a hankering for Rakim.

“And from what I’m seeing, he is single. Think I might have to shoot my shot.” I winked, giggling.

“Yeah. Yeah.” She looked around, gulping down the rest of her drink and damn near slamming the glass on the bar. “Uh, but since you were nice enough to agree not to entertain my man, I wanna help you.” She neared me like Tarin had done earlier, the telltale sign of impending gossip. “Do not go for Rakim Godfrey unless you simply want some dick and your time wasted. He’s extremely emotionally unavailable and has very dark energy from spending years in prison and his traumatic childhood.”

“Well, honestly, that’s perfect ’cause I’m just looking to be ravaged in the bedroom, nothing else. And I know he can do it. Have you seen his hands? Those arms? Those lips? The dark ski—Oop, my bad, girl. Look at me trying to get you to lust over your man’s brother.” I laughed, finishing my own drink. “Wish me luck.” I set the empty champagne glass on the bar and silently thanked the bartender before finger waving to LaMia.

She gave me an uncomfortable close-mouthed smile accompanied by a fake chuckle.

Knowing she was watching my back, I strutted toward Rakim, ignoring the butterflies and the way my stomach sank when his eyes landed on me.

“Nah, I’m chilling tonight. But ’preciate it,” I heard him tell the woman before him.

She blinked rapidly and simpered, doing a piss poor job of hiding her disappointment and then sauntered off.

“What is that, the fifteenth bitch in your face tonight?” I stated, feeling the punch I’d had earlier and the French 75.

Rakim looked down at me with a subtle smirk, making me smile back up at him.

“I’m ready to dip. We been here long enough.” His eyes scoured the party briefly before landing back down on me. “I’m gonna walk out, and then you come a few minutes later, aight?”

“Yes, daddy.” I rolled my eyes but halted. “I meant it in like the bossy way. ’Cause you’re bossing me around . . . not like in the sexy or sex type⁠—”

“Few minutes after me,” he repeated, humor laced throughout his face at my embarrassing ass statement.

I waited for a while, and as I looked around, I noticed LaMia watching me. She seemed satisfied that I’d seemingly been dissed by Rakim as she stood beside Ayan. They were a horrible couple. Ayan’s eyes were wandering more than a cross-eyed bobblehead, and she was worried about who his brother was fucking.

Finally, enough time passed in my head since I didn’t possess a watch or phone, so I switched toward the door of the mansion.

“I didn’t get your name?” Nate Godfrey halted me, and fear immediately settled within my body.

“Um, Daylin.” I allowed him to take my hand and kiss the back of it. I’d never seen someone so large in person.

“Leaving so soon, Daylin?” He smized, looking like an older, scarier version of Rakim. I noticed Ayan looked nothing like him—only his other sons—but he and Rakim shared the most features since they were the same complexion.

“I am. I have to get home to my kids,” I lied, saying anything.

“How many?”

“Five.”