“No. Keep those off,” he growled with desire. “I’ll get rid of them.”
Breathless, I held my pants in my hands, not sure what would happen next between us, but very much ready to explore that gorgeous body of his.
I’m sorry, Zora, but your brother is hot as fuck. Please forgive me.
Guilt filled my body.
Would she even be mad? I have no idea.
Kamal prowled over to the door and opened it. Instantly, his seductive voice shifted to bloody murder. “What are you doing here?!”
A female’s voice sounded on the other side. “I didn’t know where you were at. I was so worried.”
He tried to close the door.
“No! Wait!” She screamed. “Please, Kamal! Just give me a minute. I came over here in the dark!”
Oh my God. Is that Amber?
I hurried and put on my pants.Chapter 10
KamalDrama
Amber proved that she could make this year worse than a global pandemic ever could.
There she stood, across from me. Someone had bruised her left eye. Her lip had been busted too. Her shirt was ripped. Her jacket was half-off.
Damn it.
“Please.” Tears left her eyes. “Just let me in so we can talk.”
I grimaced. “What happened to your face?”
“Can we talk about this inside?”
I ran my fingers through my hair, stepped out into the hall, and closed the door. “No. Say what you have to say and go.”
“Really, Kamal? Do you not see my face?” She whimpered. “And I have to go to the bathroom.”
I did my best to not feel sorry for her, but secretly my heart cringed. “What happened?”
“Let me in.”
“Tell me out here.”
“Why aren’t you—” She lowered her gaze to my jeans. “Your dick is hard.”
“Focus on what you have to say and not my—”
“You have a woman in there?”
“Amber, who hit you?”
She went over to the door and banged on it. “Hello?! Hello?!”
“What are you doing?” I got in front of her. “This is a quiet building. Don’t bring your mess over here.”
“Who’s in there?”
“None of your damn business. We’re not together.”
“All this time you’ve been cheating on me?”
I frowned. “That would make you feel better at night. Wouldn’t it?”
She stepped back. Her fingers shook at her side. “I was practically raped today—”
“Really?”
“Practically.”
I sighed.
“It wouldn’t matter if it were true or not, you don’t care. And the uber driver was mean to me. Can I go inside, use the bathroom, and sit down for a minute before you throw me back out there? I have no one.”
My heart twisted.
The last thing I wanted was to bring this mess around Jade or even stink up my sister’s apartment with Amber’s toxic crap. But if someone had hurt Amber, then it would be wrong to push her away, simply because I despised her.
You’re lucky my mother raised a good man.
“You have three minutes. Use the bathroom and then go.” I let out a long breath and opened the door. “Come in.”
She curved that bruised lip into a smile and limped forward.
Damn it. I hope this isn’t a bad idea.
Continuing with the dramatic limping, she entered and then paused at the entrance of the living room. There, a shocked Jade stood.
I cleared my throat. “Amber will just use the bathroom and then leave.”
Anger rode Amber’s voice. “Hello, Tonya.”
Jade frowned. “My name is Jade.”
I walked inside and kept the door open. “The bathroom is on the right.”
Amber pointed at Jade. “You’re Zora’s best friend. Right?”
“I am.” Worry covered Jade’s face. “What happened to your eye?”
“Kamal wouldn’t want me to talk about it.” She limped over to the bathroom, went inside, and slammed the door.
Jade glared my way as if she were close to slapping me.
I raised my hands. “She’s out of here soon. Trust me.”
“What happened to her face?”
“Oh.” I shook my head. “I didn’t hit her if that’s what you think.”
“I mean. . .” Jade sighed. “Look. The way she worded it and I know that yesterday you caught her and—”
“I don’t hit women. Someone else did that to her.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I may not look that upset about it. That’s because I’m tired of her shit. She’s being manipulative right now. And I’m pissed that she brought her toxic crap over here. But I would never hit her or any woman.”
“Okay.” Jade ran her finger through her hair. “So. . .should I give you two a minute or—”
“Absolutely not.” I walked over to Jade. “Amber has to go. I don’t even know how to deal with this. Usually, when I break up, it’s done. I don’t see the person anymore.”
Jade glanced at the door. “Things change when you move a person in and—”
“No. She’s crazy and toxic.”
“But maybe you have to hear her out.”
“Why?”
“Because it doesn’t look like she is going to give up on you.”
I placed my hands in my pockets. “I’m sorry, Jade. You shouldn’t be around this drama. After she’s out of the bathroom, I’m sending Amber on her way.”