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Six Months Later
In the coming months, Nia needed a fresh start after her father’s death. She deleted her escorting app, had her IUD birth control removed, and invested in good camera equipment and lighting for camming. Nia devoted herself to self-care, including yoga and occasional therapy. Her therapist was helpful, he was a handsome man in his mid-sixties with a warm demeanor and although she trusted him, she never disclosed everything about Lorenzo. She had loyalty to him and she was still in love with him, but there was so much wrapped up in their relationship that she never fully trusted another person with that information.
After recovering from hot yoga that morning, Nia removed her workout clothes and tossed it in the hamper. She turned the lever in the shower and allowed the water to run down her body, loosening her stiff muscles once more. She remembered the last time she and Lorenzo shared the shower, and how good it felt to make love with him. She scrubbed these thoughts away until her skin was smooth and supple.
Nia had removed her sew-in extensions and wore her natural kinky curls in a high puff on top of her head. She opted for more comfortable clothes and enjoyed her makeup-free days just as much as her full glam days. As she looked in the mirror at herself while brushing her teeth, her eyes wandered down to her neck. She never found it within herself to remove the necklace Lorenzo had given her all of those months ago. The thought of taking it off was painful and she still thought about him most days, but never reached out. She knew he was most likely keeping tabs on her, but she was focusing on other things in life.
About half of her escorting clients transitioned over into her camming viewers through the site, HotBunnies. The site took a little under half of what she made, but fans rewarded her with gift cards and other gifts, which she cashed in. On her shows, she’d dress up in sexy lingerie and outfits and strip or play with sex toys for about three hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Camming paid the bills and gave her it was just time-consuming, but it was far less draining than being face to face with men and having them touch her. Other times, she sold foot pics and nudes, which she had no idea had such a market.
Despite all of this, she wanted more out of her life, For a long time, she thought about going back to school to finish her business degree but she was afraid she’d fail. She swallowed her pride and began taking classes online instead. It was quite difficult at first, but she pushed herself and she was expecting to graduate in the next few months.
Outside of her academics and work, plants became therapy for Nia. She owned ten plants and sat them on the windowsills of her apartment and they became a healing mechanism. They breathed life and warmth into her space. She was still dealing with the grief of losing her father and she never fully forgave him for what he said to her, but she tried to put it behind her.
Sabrina and Nasir were thriving while they lived with their aunt and uncle. Their grades improved and she was happy they were finally experiencing a stable two-parent home. She could never thank her aunt and uncle enough for what they did, and they were happy to start parenting all over again.
***
That afternoon, Nia and Sloan enjoyed 90’s classics like Set it Off and Love Jones as Sloan started the long process of braiding her hair in box braid extensions. Having a girls’ night was much-needed self-care for the women. Nia brought over chips and salsa and they made taquitos from scratch. Sloan’s apartment was cute and quirky in a hipster neighborhood in the Fishtown section of the city. It was a stark difference from the pantsuits and high necklines she wore to work at a law firm.
“You’re doing better than I thought you would,” Sloan said as she braided Nia’s hair.
Nia shrugged. “It’s been rough. I miss him every day.”
“He was your father,” Sloan said she reached for more hair. “You won’t heal overnight, give yourself time.”
“Have you spoken to Lorenzo?”
“No,” Nia crossed her arms and tried to focus her attention away from the tension on her scalp. “I can’t face him, at least not now.”
“Has he called you or anything?” Sloan asked.
“No.” she sighed. “He’s probably busy. I kinda implied I don’t want us talking anymore.”
“We both know that’s not gonna happen.” Sloan shifted in her seat. “That man was everything to you and from the way you talk about him, I know you mean a lot to him too. Give it time, girl.”
“What about you?” Nia asked as she reached for a gummy bear in a bowl. “I know there has to be someone you’re talking to.”
Sloan chuckled. “You’re right. There’s this fine brother at the law firm, his name is Rasheed. I tried doing the swirl like you but there’s something about him. I thought he would ask me out by now istanbul escort but he hasn’t yet.”
“You are young, black, educated, and gorgeous, take the lead,” Nia replied. “Sometimes you have to make the first move.” .
Sloan and Nia exchanged hugs before Nia walked to her car. Nia enjoyed riding through the city at night. There was something about the way the lights hit the wet streets and how the skyscrapers shined that made it seem more beautiful than the night before.
It was late when Nia pulled into the back lot of her apartment building, but she decided to reward herself with a pint of ice cream at the nearby CVS on the corner. As she was turning the corner and walking towards her building, a tall man in his early 30’s wearing a suit approached her. He was handsome with dark curls and deep olive-toned skin.
“Are you Nia Harris?” the man asked.
Nia’s heart sank. She knew he had to be a cop. “Yes, I am.”
“Hi, I’m Detective Ramos,” he said, giving her a small smile. “I just wanted to ask you a few questions regarding Lorenzo Nicosio.”
Nia nearly shuttered at his name. “I don’t know who that is.”
“I’ve heard that’s your boyfriend.” Detective Ramos replied. “A little old for you, don’t you think?”
“He’s not my boyfriend anymore.”
“But I thought you’d never heard of him?”
There was a slight pause.
Det. Ramos shifted in his shoes. “Anyway, do you know where he was the night of Sunday, September 29th of last year?”
“He was with me.” she lied. She promised she’d always protect him, and vice versa. There was no lying about that. “Why do you ask?”
“We have reason to believe someone was murdered that night,” he replied. “Do you know anything about that?”
“I don’t know anything about that, sir,” Nia said as she played with her keys.
Det. Ramos glared at her. “You don’t have to cover for him, you know that right?”
Nia shook her head no and tightened her purse strap. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir, but I don’t have anything to tell you.”
Det. Ramos’ brown eyes roamed Nia’s body before returning to her eyes again with a more relaxed expression.
“Whatever you say, Ms. Harris.” Det. Ramos said. “Also, how much would it cost a guy like me to take you on a real date?”
Nia felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew he could throw her in jail for solicitation if he wanted to, but she held her ground.
“I’m not dating anyone at the moment,” Nia said, clearing her throat. “I don’t plan on it.”
Det. Ramos chuckled and nodded his head. “Suit yourself. I’ll see you around, Ms. Harris.”
The detective left her alone at the entrance of her building and it took a moment for her to catch her breath. Nia wanted to call Lorenzo right then, but she stopped herself. She wasn’t sure if her phone calls were being recorded or not, but she’d watched enough crime shows to know how to be careful. She lived with the realization that she was in danger at all times for the sheer fact that she dated one of the most powerful men in the city. It kept her up at night, but she couldn’t live in fear.
Nia was preparing to indulge in her ice cream when her face nearly went pale as the nightly news came flashing on her television screen.
“Philadelphia Police has recovered the remains of Samuel Mancuchi, a local man with ties to organized crime in South Philadelphia who disappeared back in September of last year. More at 11.”
Nia dropped her spoon in the pint of the frozen dessert and jumped off her couch. Her heart raced and she couldn’t get to her phone fast enough. She hesitated a moment before she dialed Lorenzo’s number in a panic.
He picked on the first ring.
“Are you ok?” Lorenzo said in his deep voice.
“Lorenzo, can we talk?” Nia closed her eyes at the sound of his deep voice.
There was a short pause. “Where are you?”
“I’m home.”
“I’ll have a car pick you up,” he said before clearing his throat. “Be ready in ten minutes.”
The phone call ended and Nia threw on a pair of dark jeans and a chunky sweater. She did a quick once over in the mirror. It had been nearly six months since they’d seen each other and she wanted to look nicer, but that wasn’t important. She quickly threw on a pair of hoop earrings and raced downstairs.
Nia stood by the tall glass doors on the side entrance of her apartment building as the city was hustling and bustling outside. Suddenly, a black car stopped in front of the door. She always recognized the cars Lorenzo’s men picked her up in.
“Hi,” Nia greeted as she hopped in the backseat.
The man looked in the rearview mirror back at her. “Are you ready, Ms. Harris?”
“Yes,” Nia said as she strapped herself into the seat. “Thank you.”
The car sped off the short distance to Lorenzo’s apartment located across the street from Rittenhouse Square. Escort Anadolu Yakası Sometimes it bothered her that they lived within walking distance of one another but never saw each other. Nia pushed these thoughts away. She couldn’t get wrapped up again.
“We’re here.” the driver said as they pulled up under the awning of Lorenzo’s condo.
Nia unbuckled her seatbelt. “Thank you, sir.”
She felt herself getting butterflies in her tummy as she walked to the entrance. She opened the large, heavy doors and one of Lorenzo’s men whose name always escaped Nia allowed her to go upstairs. She took deep breaths as the elevator ascended the floors. Part of her felt excited when she reached Lorenzo’s front door but she was terrified at the same time.
“Nia,” Lorenzo said as he opened the door.
“Hi,” Nia said in a low voice.
The two stared at each other for a moment. Lorenzo’s heart raced when he saw her. He looked the same, but somehow different, almost as if he was hurt. He wore a crisp white button-down shirt and black dress pants. His hair was slicked back in waves, while still graying near his temples. Lorenzo had more fine lines appearing on his face, but he was still so handsome. He still took her breath away.
“Come in, come in.” he said as he motioned for her to come into his condo.
His familiar scent hit Nia’s nose and she felt at home again. There was something about this man that always drew her in. She nearly forgot what she was there for.
Nia removed her light jacket and sat on the couch. Lorenzo focused his eyes on hers as if he were looking into her soul.
“Is everything alright?” Lorenzo said in a low, deep tone. “Can I offer you anything to drink?”
“No, it’s fine. I-I wanted to talk to you about something,” Nia said as she studied his face, looking for any signs of emotion.
“Did something happen?”
Nia looked away and then back at him. “A detective asked me questions about you. I didn’t say anything, I-I never would, but they told me they found the remains of the man you killed back in September.”
Lorenzo loosened up his collar and cleared his throat. It wouldn’t be the first time he was caught up in a cop asking questions, or the first time he’d been to prison. The last cop who started digging into his past went missing, they never found him. Lorenzo had more than one skeleton in his closet.
“I don’t want you to worry about that,” Lorenzo said calmly. “But thank you for covering for me.”
Nia furrowed her brow and sat up straight. “Is that all you have to say? I know that you’re probably used to cops questioning you, but I’m not. I don’t want to get arrested for prostitution.”
Lorenzo stood up and walked closer to her. “Did he say he would do that? Was it that pig Detective Ramos?”
“He didn’t say it but I know he meant it.” Nia crossed her arms and felt herself getting visibly upset. “I can’t go to jail, things just started to get okay again, I–“
“Shhh shhh, it’s okay,” Lorenzo enclosed her in his arms. “I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, I promised you that, you know I keep my promises. . .”
Nia pressed her head against his hard chest and listened to his heart beating. This man felt so much warm and familiar, she thought she’d melt into him. “I’m sorry for shutting you out as I did. You were trying to help and I’m sorry for everything I said to you.”
“No, no, it’s okay, love.” Lorenzo pulled her away from him and looked into her eyes.”You were hurt and I understand what that’s like. I won’t hold that against you. I’ve been lost without you, baby.”
Lorenzo studied her eyes and his hand cupped her face before lowering his lips down to hers. Their lips met and Lorenzo kissed with so much might, her lips grew sore. Nia sighed as she felt his tongue slip into her mouth and caressed hers. He held her and rubbed on her curves and remembered the way she’d twist and turn in his sheets at night. He missed her smell, her touch, everything. There was something about her that drew him in and he would probably spend the rest of his life trying to figure that out. He pressed his lips against the small of her neck and tugged at it with his lips before Nia could catch her breath.
There was so much that was left unsaid between them. It haunted them both at night as if it were a loud and steady hum waking them up from their sleep. They knew they belonged to one another and nothing could change that.
***
For the rest of the night, the pair talked and caught up on life but restrained from sex. Lorenzo told her that he would be stepping back from organized crime as a mob boss and passing his title to his cousin, Michael, who was maturing and seemed to have a good head on his shoulders and a strong stomach. Lorenzo seemed reluctant to do so, but he knew it needed to be done. She told him she’d stopped escorting and transitioned Anadolu Yakası Rus Escort to camming, but he already knew that.
“Your hair looks different,” Lorenzo said as he sat his head on his fist. “I like it.”
Nia smiled and played with a braid that came loose from the bun. “Thanks.”
“You look good,” he said, returning the same smile. “Healthy. You have a new glow about you.”
Lorenzo reached out and traced his finger along her full lips as they laid in bed. It always fascinated Nia how such a dangerous man could be so gentle with her. Every time he would touch her, it felt so electric and needed, it felt right.
“I’m still in love with you, Lorenzo.” Nia proclaimed.
He swallowed hard. “I’ve always loved you, Nia. I’ll never stop. And I wanted to say again how sorry I am about your father.”
Nia looked away, her eyes off in a distance. “It’s okay, it’s not your fault. I think my father and I had issues for years and I ignored them. Thank you for sticking up for me.”
“How are you handling it?”
Nia bit her lip and looked away. “Some days are better than others but I’m okay for now. Sabrina and Nasir are living with my aunt and uncle.”
“I know.”
She forgot he knew everything that went on in her life, but she couldn’t help but feel some type of way about it. He was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
“I never stopped thinking about you and your family, Nia,” he said as he glanced at the necklace around her neck. “You’re a part of me, you always have been.”
Nia felt herself getting emotional. “I-I think I still want a future with you, Lorenzo. But I wanna know something.”
“What do you wanna know?”
Nia swallowed the lump in her throat. “Before we do anything more, I wanna know why you and your ex-wife broke up.”
Lorenzo remained silent for a moment before meeting her eyes again. “We had our issues. She was scared and paranoid all the time when I was away and she came up with all these ideas in her head that I was sleeping around when I was away on business, but I was more than faithful, you know that.”
Nia nodded her head. “I know you’re faithful, but I worry about you when you’re out too. The stuff you do to people. . .you’re twice my age but I feel like I could lose you at any moment. I’m not sure if I can live like that.”
“I want things to be different this time.” Lorenzo sighed. “I want us to work through things when it gets rough. I’ve given a lot of thought into this but before things got bad between us, I wanted us to start a family.”
Nia pondered on that for a moment. She always wanted to be a mother, but only when she was financially comfortable and mentally ready. She’d thought about adopting while she was escorting, but knew she wouldn’t have time to care for a child and work at the same time. It was only until Lorenzo came into her life that it all seemed like a possibility.
“I wanted that too,” Nia replied as she rested her head on the sheets. “But I’d hate it if something happened to you.”
Death was always a possibility, but the stakes were higher for Lorenzo. It’s not like he didn’t face death once or twice. He always slept with a weapon nearby and twenty-four-hour surveillance.
“I wanted to make things better. I started slowly becoming legit,” he explained. “I’m becoming a better person for you and for us.”
Nia shook her head. “That’s good because I can’t bring a child into a world like that.”
“Neither could I,” Lorenzo said as he held her left hand.
The pair talked for another hour before Nia realized how much time had passed.
“I think I should get going,” she said, getting off the bed.
“Do you want me to get you a car?”
The pair walked through his condo until they stopped at the entrance.
“No it’s fine,” Nia said as she pulled her coat on. “It’s a nice night, I wanna walk under the stars.”
Lorenzo furrowed his brows. “No, it’s late and I don’t want you out here alone. Are you sure?”
“I can take care of myself,” Nia smiled. “But thank you.”
He leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. “Alright, kid. Just give me a call when you get in. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Always.” Nia smiled.
Nia waved goodbye before walking down the hallway and entering the elevator.
***
The city was quiet once again and the full moon was in perfect view the whole walk home. Nia walked confidently with newfound happiness once again. Lorenzo was in her life again and he was her love, this was for certain. She was more sure of that than anything else.
As Nia walked to the side entrance of her building and rummaged through her purse for her keys, a dark presence nearly stopped her dead in her tracks.
His face looked different, in a distorted type of way. He stood there, just feet away from her in dark clothing.
“Nia, it’s great to see you again,” he said.
A shiver ran through Nia’s spine and her heart skipped a beat. “Antoni.”
*Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! What did you think of this chapter? I hope you all are safe and taking care of yourselves. Please comment and rate! Thank you for you support.~Jasmine*
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