Page 119 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

He grins at me, pulling on the skimpy chin hairs that probably just started growing in. “You nervous for no reason, Twin. You gon’ kill this shit, then I can announce you finna be on my new single, and I’ma act like I took you from Coach.”

Our security surrounds us as we make it to the elevator. Red glances at the big burly men before grinning back at me. “You used to this shit huh?”

I shrug. “You’ll get used to it, too.”

“Nah. Security make it seem like I’m pussy.”

Red’s snatched so fast that the wind blows through my hair. Grime yokes him up as the elevator doors open.

“Nigga, ya whole crew scattered and you hiding out with ya big brother’s peoples. You are pussy. Now shut the fuck up and chill.” He throws Red into the elevator and I step on with two guards, Tripp, and Dori.

“You gon’ learn to shut that big ass mouth of yours. We almost got a deal worked out with the Russians, and I don’t need you fucking up more and sending Pops and your moms to an early grave.”

I slide next to Red, who’s fuming. “You gon’ tell me what you did?” I fake whisper.

That disarms him, and once again he pulls me close. “You look at me like Trin did. Like I could do no wrong. I want you to stay like that forever, Twin. You don’t need to know any different.”

Tripp scoffs, but when I catch his gaze in the mirror on the door, he shows me all thirty-two of his teeth.

When the doors open, Titan is in the lobby, flanked by two women and his own security guards. One of the women can barely stay still, grabbing Titan’s hand as she cheeses at me, her head swiveling between us. She’s tiny like Patience, with a cloud of blue and green hair pulled into two puff balls on her head. Even from far away, I can see the intricate lines drawn on her face. She’s gorgeous, and even though she looks nothing like Titan, I know that’s his daughter.

When we get closer, I see I know the other woman with him. My stomach drops, just for a second, before my lips spread, hiding the images of the bitch fucking my nigga all the times she thought she was getting over on me.

Titan’s in another suit, and our respective guards fan out as we reach him. He’s about to say something before his daughter screeches and jumps in front of me.

“This red hairrrrrrrrrrr!” Without a second thought, she bumps Red out of the way and takes my hands in hers.

Her energy is unreal. I literally feel the positivity radiating off her, downloading into me from our joined hands.

“You look so good. I was so hoping you’d kick all your habits. We need more affirmations rap! Thank you again for performing at my birthday. You were my first choice, so this works out.” She squeezes my hands before glancing behind her at Titan, who practically melts at her attention.

“Thank you again, Daddy.” She giggles before turning back forward and pulling me into a hug.

“Damn, Gaia. Nice to see you, too,” Red spits from our sides.

“Don’t mind him. It’s an honor to perform for your birthday.” I hug her back, before she leaves the embrace and turns to Red.

“See, Tron. You weren’t invited, and yet, you found a way to come to my birthday anyway. Daddy, this is the boy who said–”

“Maaaaan, you trippin’ girl. I’ma go to our section. Happy birthday, Gaia.” Red produces a velvet box from his back pocket before skidaddling with the rest of G$, including a cackling Grime. Gaia catches it midair, and places it in the pocket of her wrap dress before shrugging.

“Wynter Snow, this is my fiancée Porscha.”

My smile turns saccharine as I take my former best friend in. Money truly does elevate everyone, with her full bundles and Donna Karan dress clinging to her frame. We lost touch when she went away to school, but now I know she was distancing herself to fuck with Rico. A man she told me was beneath me, once upon a time.

“Me and Porsch go way back. Nice to see you again, girl.” I lean in for a hug. She’s surprised, but takes it in stride, a small smile forming on her red lips.

“Rico told me all about how y’all fucked,” I whisper into her ear, kissing her cheek. She freezes, so I lean back and move to her other cheek. “I’ma put it on your nigga so good, he’ll want a mold of my pussy. Then we’ll be even.”

I kiss her other cheek, then step back. Either I wasn’t whispering, or Gaia was entirely too close, because the way her eyes are nearly falling out of her head, I know she heard me.

Her arms curl around mine and she leads me toward the elevators that lead to the club.

I lean over to apologize, but her smile is back and it’s genuine.

“I hate her. I don’t know what Daddy sees in her, so if you do take him from her and become my new mom, you have my support.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think I can be your new mom. I was just talking big shit. But I’ll try and break them up another way, and then you can find him someone who isn’t a slore.”