Free Beware 2: The Comeback by Shanora Williams

noise.
    Eventually, she gives up, and I exhale, clutching the edge of the sink. I squeeze the cool porcelain until my fingers go numb, shutting my eyes and breathing unevenly.
    I pant.
    My body vibrates with rage.
    I’m tormented by three years of being beaten, abused, and belittled. I’m fucked up, that’s for damn sure. At one point, I thought I’d be in that cell forever. I hated thinking negatively because I always sought a way out of a bad situation one way or another. I guess the only good thing that came out of being raised by Bruce was the fact that he didn’t raise a quitter. His taunting became of good use to me.
    But West is dead. He’s gone, but I know he was working with someone. A “bigger shark” as he put it. This is why I find it hard to trust anyone. I just can’t help but wonder who would be bold enough to try and take me down and think I wouldn’t look into it when I made it out alive?
    Obviously someone I know, otherwise they would’ve had West kill me. Someone who knows my weaknesses. Someone who wants my business and is willing to wait patiently for it. Someone who knows I have secrets of the trade and needs them. That is the only reason I’m still breathing. Someone who would rather see me suffer than die.
    A knock sounds on the door, and my eyes pop open as Maurice speaks up. “Ace, you all good in there, man?”
    “Fine,” I call. I turn the faucet off, change into the suit Bianca handpicked for me, and after spraying on some cologne, I stare into the mirror. A crooked smile takes over my lips when I realize I’m back.
    I’m fucking back.
    Those three years now mean nothing. They were a minor set back—a set back I honestly deserved—but I’m here. And soon, my empire will be bigger than it ever was before.
    My kingdom will be impenetrable.
    Unbreakable.
    Indestructible.
    This time, I’ll be sure of it. But first, I need my Red. I need her back in my life for good. What’s the point of ruling a kingdom if there’s no queen to share it with?
    She is my queen. My soulmate. My life.
    She may feel stuck—torn—but I’ll fix that. I will get her back. I don’t care if it’s the last thing I do on this earth.
    ***
    Streetlights flicker past, and I flip my wrist to check my Rolex . 5:54. “How much longer?” I ask the driver.
    “Not too long, Mr. Crow. We’ll be there at exactly six. I give you the go ahead right now to fire me if we aren’t.” Max chuckles, clutching the wheel and glancing in the rearview mirror at me. I stare back out the window.
    I was nervous as hell earlier, walking in on London. I wasn’t sure how she would react to me walking in so boldly, or seeing me period. But I knew a woman like London needed that. She needed me to charge in. She needed me to show her exactly what she’s missed—what she’s longed for. That nothing between us has changed.
    A smile tingles at my lips when I remember just how good it felt to be inside her again. After so many years, stroking into her wet and eager pussy felt miraculous. I was dying to do so much more, but I had to control myself. I had to leave her hanging. I had to give her space and let her think. I know she’ll be walking out of her front door and coming to me at six.
    And as Max pulls up to the curb and the door swings open as I look towards the house, I smirk. London is a girl of risks. She’s a lover of the unknown. I am the unknown.
    She stops in front of the door, adjusting her dress before tucking her black clutch beneath her armpit. Her sequined, black dress shimmies around her curves as she trots toward the truck. Max starts to get out of the car, but I stop him.
    “Got it,” I say before pushing out of the car. The California breeze brushes past me as I walk around the front of the car. I breathe in the salty air, allowing it to relax me. London stops walking just before reaching the last step, her hazel eyes wide. “Coming?” I ask, reaching for the door handle.
    Her lips part as if she wants