Royce

Later that same night was at the club in his office while security escorted people out the building. He looked at the time on his phone, it read 3:05 a.m. it was a pretty successful night to everyone except Royce. All he was thinking about was Kingsley.

A knock at the door catches his attention by a surprise it was Dandre walking in. "Bruh what a night." He cheesed before dapping Royce up. "It was bitches everywhere. That's crazy for a Monday night."

"Yea it is." He said. "I'm actually glad you came in here. What happened with you and Knox?"

Dandre sucked his teeth. "Weirdo. That's all I got to say."

"It's pretty clear who the weirdo is." Royce said. "I'm not even going to sit here and fake it with you. I'm so close to snatch everything away from you."

"The fuck is you talking about?" Dandre looked him up and down as Royce up from his seat.

"I am not in the mood for games. See I already got blood on my hands from earlier. Did you know Nigga came up in here trying to kill me?" Royce stood over Dandre.

"Why you ain't call me?" Dandre held out his arms. "You know I would've handled that for you."

"I know where you was at." Royce pushed him. Dandre pushed his back Royce grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "What was you doing asking for Kingsley in a private room?"

"I wasn't in no private room." He said trying to push Royce away.

"Nah see don't lie. Security told on you when I asked where you was. They told me the last time they saw you was in a private room waiting for Kingsley. So tell me what you wanted with her?"

"I was gonna talk to her about you. Tell her how you really a psychotic ass nigga. I know you took her to New York and put on this front like you generous ass person." He said.

Royce started to laugh. "Psychotic? Nah I don't think so. But you definitely." He said. "How you jealous because you couldn't get her. Oh wait, you couldn't get her and you got upset so you hit her? Right?" He said.

"I never touched her." He said.

Royce sucked his teeth. "Dandre I've known you your whole life. I know when you lie." He said. Before Dandre knew it Royce punched in the mouth. His larger rings bust his lips. His started head spin. "I hear another fucking thing about you putting your hands on someone, I'm going to beat your ass then imma send you back to New York to stay with Momma. Someone is always complaining about you." He pushed Dandre to the floor. "Fuck out my face before I do more than just hit you in the mouth." He watch as Dandre picked himself up and walked out.

Meanwhile at the house Evani was downstairs in the kitchen making herself a sandwich while Knox criticized her every step.

"You like pickles?" He made a face. "Oh I forgot ugly bitches-" he jumped as she pretended to throw a butter knife at him.

"Stop playing with me." She said. "You never know when to keep it cute."

"Why you take everything I say to the heart? I just be playing." He said.

"You play too much." She said. "You see how you was stressed out earlier? Imagine how we feel."

"I don't care about how y'all feel. I say what I want to, ain't none of y'all gonna beat my ass about it." He said.

"You think just you was a professional boxer you can beat everybody?" She made a face. "Stop it."

"I see you ain't came from around the counter." He teased. She chuckled. "Yea stay yo ass over there. You get an inch close to me I'm knocking you out."

"Go to sleep. It's past your bed time." She said said topping her sandwich off with crushed up chips.

"I don't like the way you just did that. Why you crushed them up like that?" He said.

"Because I want too! Your literally about to piss me off." She became irritated.

Front Door, the security alarm alerted. Knox leaned back peaking around the corner seeing Royce coming in. "Who is that?" Evani asked.

"Royce. He ain't come here for you." Knox looked her up and down.

"I don't give a fuck." She rolled her eyes. Royce entered the kitchen. "Get your boy." She said biting into her sandwich.

"That big ass bite-" He was cut off by her throwing the sandwich at him.

"Fight fight fight." Cordell jumped up and down laughing.

Knox brushed the sandwich off his clothes. "She was just playing champ." Royce grabbed his shoulder.

Knox got and hopped over the island. Evani let out a scream and started laughing as she ran. He grabbed her by the back of her leggings pulling her back. He picked her up holding her over his shoulder.

"Now, I know that pool cold as hell. You ready to jump in?" He asked.

"I didn't know you was strong." She wheezed from laughing.

"You think I'm pla- ight." He slide the back door open. Evani pleads and scream for him to stop.

"Did y'all take care of that thing." Royce asked catching Cordell's attention.

"Oh yea we good." He said. "Ya girl upstairs. Probably sick to her stomach."

He walked out the kitchen and went up the steps. As he was going up the steps Amber appeared at the top of the stair case. She eyed him as he walks past her. "You trying to get that fifth one?" He threatened. She turned her head going down the steps.

He walked down the hall and stopped at Kingsley room. He knocked three times and waited for her to open the door.

Once the door opened she saw who it was and tried to close the door. He force his foot between the door. "Let me talk to you." He said pushing the door open. "I'm just trying to explain everything."

"You don't need to, I understand." She said.

"I had to do what needed to be done. He came there with intentions to kill me. In my own workplace." He said. The look on face made him upset. He didn't know what she was thinking and it bothered him. "That wasn't meant for you to see."

He reach to grab her hand but she pushed it away. "I don't know how to feel." She said.

"I understand, I don't want you to think I do that anybody because I don't. I live a lifestyle everyone wants. Some people will praise me some people want to see me fail. I have people that don't like me just because. I have to protect myself by all means. If comes down to killing that person I'm going to do that." He explained. "And I understand if you want your space to think. You can have a few nights off from the club."

All she did was nod her head. He reached to grabbed her again but she turned away. "Alright." He said. "I'll just give you some space to think." He said before walking out her room.

Hour later into the morning Knox was enjoying his coffee on the phone with Royce before the girls wake up. He wrapped himself in a robe sitting comfortably. "Im about to hang up on you. Why you slurping ya coffee like that?" Royce laughed.

"I just feel good this morning." He said. "Im trying to enjoy before it's ruined." He said.

"Whatever man." He said. "Is that my robe Nigga? Yo I've been looking for my shit. Gang you wildin'."

"I think it looks nice. It's a little long but I like it." He closed the robe. "What the plan today?"

"I was thinking flag football. Guys versus girls. It'll be fun." He said.

"Oh I got a couple bitch I wanna tackle just for fun." He evilly laughed

"Ight." He said chuckling before hanging up.

Knox finished his coffee and put away his mug. "Oh shit!" He said as Kingsley walk in the kitchen. He clutches his chest then breathe heavily. "Don't do that. Wait my heart." He leaned over the counter as if he was hurting.

She made a face going in the fridge. "You almost gave me a heart attack." He breathed. "Why you look like that? You need to fix your face."

"You're so dramatic." She mumbles rolling her.

"Nah I'm just playing. We going to the field to play flag football, you down?" He asked.

She ignored him while looking in the fridge trying to decide what she wanted to drink. "Oh you still mad." He said. "Kingsley." He poked her.

He stood there watch her fight her smile. "You know you wanna laugh." He said. "You can laugh bruh."

"Im not talking to you." She said.

"What I do?" He asked.

"I don't like what you did." She said. "Knox you out of all people. You watch people get murdered?"

He sucked his teeth becoming serious. "It wasn't like I had a choice." He said. "You can't be mad at him though. He did what he had to do."

"I just feel terrible." She rubbed her head. "It's like the image of that body keeps replaying in my head over and over.

"Seeing something disturbing will do that too you." He said. "But put yourself in Royce's shoes. People out to get your almost everyday. Someone finally get so close to taking you. We don't let shit like that don't slide. Alright?"

She chuckled. "Not you trying to normalize murder." She grabbed a water bottle.

"I swear I'm not." He said. "So you going to coming with us to play?"

"I guess." She said.

"Ouu weeee." He happily danced.

Naomi groan shielding her face from the sun. "It's hot." She complained for the 15th time.

"I'm ready to go." Lux crossed her arms.

"Oh shut up. Y'all don't ever want to enjoy the sun and nature. That's why half of y'all pale now." Knox rolled his eyes placing his hand on his hips. "It is hot though."

Evani kicked the back of his knee in making him almost fall. Her and Kingsley fell out laughing. "Evani I'm sick of you." He pointed at her. "You the first one I'm chasing."

"Bruh where is Royce! It's hot." Asia wiped sweat from her forehead.

"That sun killing yo ass ain't it?" Knox laughed. "Burning the hell out of you."

Asia gave him the middle finger. Is wasn't too long before Royce and guys from the club pulled up with equipment. "Yeeessss sirrrr." Knox rubbed his hand together.

"You too excited." Nay said.

"Yea because I'm about to drag all yall." He said as Royce and the guys made their way over to the bleachers.

"I got green and orange flags. Girls are green and the guy is orange." Royce said as he handed out flag belts. "I'm pretty sure y'all know how to play flag football."

Once everyone was geared up the went on the field. They got in positions. Cordell had the ball. One of the guys blew the whistle. Cordell passed the ball to Knox and he took off.

Lux and Nay ran towards him. Nay was close to pulling his flags but pushed her head making her fall. He ran in a zig zag making sure Lux wasn't touching him.

He makes it to the end goal and jumped up and down. "Today is about to be a good day!" He shouted.

"You ok?" Kingsley asked as she helped up Nay.

"No." She coughed trying to catch her breath, falling to the ground knocked the wind out her chest.

"Just go sit down." Lux told her. "Shake it off you'll be ok."

"Shut up bitch." She said rolling her eyes. "I'm out. I'm not playing no more."

Nay went and sat down on the bleachers to catch her breath. Royce noticed Nah sitting on the bleachers holding her chest and back.

"Knox!" He yelled across the field. "Really?" He pointed at Nay.

"What?" He asked as if he didn't know what he did.

"I don't need nobody else getting hurt. I need them to be able to work tonight." Royce said making some of the guys laugh.

"Nigga taking this shit personal." Cordell shakes his head.

"This Nigga is crazy man." Royce shakes his head.

Everyone got back in their positions one of the guys name Dom had the ball. Before the whistle blow he told them a play.

The whistle blows. Dom took a few steps back watching Royce run. He throws the ball in the air.

Kingsley held out her hands. She took a few steps back and caught the ball. "GO KINGSLEY! GO!" The girls yelled in excitement.

She started running seeing Royce on the corner of her eyes. He tried to grab her but she dodge and snatched away. She couldn't help but giggle at the thought of him chasing her

"Tackle that boy!" Knox yelled at Royce.

It was too late Kingsley made it to the end goal. The girls cheered. "Give it here." Royce tried to take the ball.

"No." She turned away.

"You think you bad now?" He said. "You made one touchdown." He tried to take it but she curled into a ball on the ground. "Just give it here." He said.

He snatches the ball out her grip. She turned on her back rolling her eyes. "That's why you run slow." She said before getting up.

"Be careful, I could've pulled ya flags but I didn't." He said.

"Whatever." She said. "Keep up next time."

He chuckled to himself watching her small frame run across the field.

TBC