Chapter 12

Twelve

Neo

Two Weeks Later

"You don't haveto be in a rush to leave," Rey said as I put my bags in the back of the town car he requested to take me home.

The night Gatlin was killed and I became aware of Steven's cheating, Merc handled Bart. I wasn't sure what exactly happened, but the following day, news of his and Gatlin's disappearance had made the news. When Merc came to let Rey know the job was completed, he quit and left soon after I thanked him for yet again saving my life.

Even though I could have gone home, I stayed with Rey. It was crazy how I'd gone from being anxious to return to my normal life to wanting to avoid it because of Steven's infidelity. Here I was feeling consumed by guilt over a kiss, while he'd been carrying on a relationship for God only knows how long with his baby mama. I didn't even have the stomach to go through their profiles to put together a timeframe based on their videos.

When Rey heard about what happened, he told me I didn't have to be in a rush to leave, which I appreciated. It made me smile knowing that two weeks later, he shared the same sentiment. I'd meant it when I said he was becoming like a second father to me, but it was time for me to stop running from my failed relationship and get back to my life.

"I'll be back to visit."

"You promise?"

"Of course. I'm going to keep my keyboard here, so that way you know I'll be back."

He gave me a warm hug and stuffed something in my bag, telling me, "Don't let anything he says keep you in that house. Leave, Neo, no matter what."

"I will." I assured him with a nod.

We embraced again before I got in the town car. I checked my bag, and a smile lifted the corners of my lips when I saw the stacks of money he put inside. I sent my parents a text in our group chat, letting them know I was finally on my way back home, and they reminded me that I could come there as soon as I was done packing a few things. Daddy had already told me he had a moving company on standby to take my things to storage when I was ready. I didn't feel any tugs in my heart that wanted to stay with Steven and try and work things out.

Even before I saw the videos, I'd kind of made up in my mind to end things. Finding out that he was cheating only solidified I was making the right decision to remove him from my life.

I had purposefully chosen a weekday afternoon to go and grab a few things plus my car, so I was surprised when I went inside and found him in the bedroom. He immediately leaped from bed and started toward me, but I lifted my hands to stop him.

"I've been waiting for you to come home," he said. "There's a lot we need to discuss."

"No there's not, actually. You cheated and we're over."

As I headed to the closet, he followed me. "I know that might have looked bad, but Asia was just keeping me company while you were gone. That's it."

Laughing, I pulled my rolling luggage out of the closet and placed it on the bed.

"You're lying."

"Bae, I'm telling you the truth." Steven grabbed my hand. "There was nothing going on between me and Asia before you left."

I hadn't told him about me seeing her TikTok, so I could understand why he thought he could get away with lying. The crazy thing was, I didn't even have the energy to go back and forth with him. I didn't have the energy to watch him scramble and try and finesse the truth.

"Steve, it's clear you are attached to that woman. Be with her and leave me the hell alone."

For a while, he just stood there and stared at me. I couldn't believe I didn't see the signs. How he randomly stopped bringing China here and opted to spend time with her outside of the house. How he somehow grew busier at work but never seemed to make more money. How we stopped having sex and going out and he was totally okay with it.

"So you're just going to leave me? You're not even going to try and work this out?" he asked as I started to gather things from the bathroom.

God. I hated I'd even moved in with him. We'd been staying together for the last year. It happened right after he gifted me with the building for my store. It was crazy because he'd been acting suspicious and secretive, and I thought it was because he was about to propose. The building was even better. I was so grateful I agreed to move in with him, even though I'd been against it for a while.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. That was when he started acting sketchy and staying out more. That was also when Asia started getting real cocky and limiting the time China could be with us here. Now I couldn't help but wonder if Steven gifted me with the store because of guilt or as a way to keep me with him if and when I found out about his cheating.

When I ignored him, he continued. "Fine. If you don't want me, then you don't want nothing that I gave you. So I hope you're ready to pack all your shit tonight, because you can't come back after this."

Amusement filled me as I tossed my things into my bag. "Okay, that's fine, Steve."

"And the music store too."

Now that made me pause and finally give him the attention he wanted. "What?"

"That's in my name. I leased that building for you. So if you don't want me, you don't want the store either."

I stared at him as confusion filled me. I couldn't believe he was serious. With a chuckle, I placed my hand on my hip. "You don't know shit about running a vinyl music store. What reason would you have to keep it other than to hurt me?"

"That's more than enough for me."

My smile fell as I pulled in a deep breath. "So let me get this straight." Putting my hands in prayer position, I looked toward the ceiling. "You cheat on me, and when I find out and leave you, you decide to force me to stay with you or lose the thing I love the most?"

He took slow steps in my direction. "That's exactly what I'm saying." Steven was so confident I would agree that he began to take my clothing out of my bag. "I can fix this if you give me a chance. You've worked hard to turn that store into what it is. I know you're not going to be dumb enough to give that up just because I made a mistake."

"That's where you're wrong, Steven." I snatched my clothes out of his arms. "I won't be bullied into staying with you. So if you want to cause me even more pain by taking my store away from me, fine. I'll rebuild without you."

With a shrug, he walked away. I said I wouldn't cry in front of this man, so I was glad he left. I was cool with leaving our home. What I wasn't prepared for was for him to take my store from me. Even though the business was mine, the building was in his name. Since he was paying to own it, if he wanted me out, I had no choice but to leave.

I jogged into the bathroom and slammed the door behind me as my tears started to pour. Sliding down it, I asked God why this was happening to me. It was one thing for me to lose the man I loved and thought I'd be with forever, but now, I was losing my passion and joy too. When I was composed enough, I asked my parents and Innvy to come help me pack. The sooner I got away from this man… the better.

I loved my people.

As soon as my parents arrived, my mood was lifted.

They'd brought several of my cousins and aunts and uncles along too.

What started as them helping me pack my things turned into a moving out party. We were well into the night, drinking, dancing, and enjoying ourselves. Steven left quickly when my cousins arrived because he didn't want no smoke, and all I could do was laugh.

I gave him the courtesy of letting him know when I was leaving, and I also cleaned up, though a part of me wanted to leave the house a mess since he wanted to be so damn messy.

As I headed out to the garage to get in my car, he was pulling up with China and Asia in his. Asia couldn't wait to get out and taunt me with, "I'm glad your ass is finally gone so I can come back to where I rightfully belong."

Under normal circumstances, I would never fight over a man, but when I punched her silly ass, it had nothing to do with Steven and everything to do with the way she'd been disrespecting me. Innvy came rushing into the garage as China screamed for her mama, daring Asia to get up and try to swing back.

I told her crazy ass to go back to her car and let me know when she made it home. My parents wanted me to trail them to their place, but I wasn't ready to settle down just yet. Even though the random party had briefly put me in good spirits, the weight of my reality hit my heart as I pulled out of the garage and driveway.

My relationship was over, my store was taken from me, and I had nothing to call my own other than my car. Figuring a drive would help me ease my mind, I told my parents I'd let them know when I was on my way to their place so they wouldn't be startled by my late arrival. Daddy asked me if I was sure because it was supposed to start snowing soon, but I didn't care. It didn't snow too bad in Memphis anyway, so I was sure I would be fine.

So maybe leavingin the middle of the night wasn't the best idea. It wasn't my intention. Had I known Steven would give me an ultimatum—accept his bullshit or give up my home, business, and the life we were building—I would have been more prepared to make my escape. No part of my mind or heart wanted to believe the man I'd spent the last two years with could be so heartless and selfish. He knew how much music and my vinyl store meant to me. That was why he'd given it to me for our anniversary one year ago. I preferred it over an engagement ring, and now, I had neither.

It didn't matter how much I told myself it was better I get away from Steven now after seeing the real him—my heart still hurt over how the man I loved could treat me this way. It also didn't help that I had "Nothing But Love" by Lu Kala on repeat. Tears blurred my eyes as I belted the lyrics. It was as if she'd written the song just for me.

I had no real destination in mind as I drove. I could have gone to a friend's house or to my parents' home, but I didn't want to talk about what was going on with me and Steven. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be driving in the dark or while it was snowing.

The further I got into my drive, the worse the snow got. I'd filled up my tank before hopping on the interstate, and though I didn't check the time I started driving, since I would soon be out of gas, I assumed I'd been on the road for at least five or six hours. Unintentionally, it seemed I'd taken a familiar trail to a mountain town like Gatlinburg from my home in Memphis. Because of how windy it was and how heavy the snow was falling, I didn't want to risk driving through the mountains.

My decision not to continue driving was finalized when I got stuck in a snowdrift. I didn't think anything could make my night or my life worse, but here I was, stuck in the middle of nowhere in a huge pile of snow. Curses and cries left me as I yelled and punched the steering wheel. I was mad at Steven for betraying and abandoning me. I was mad at God for making this godforsaken snow. I was mad at myself for not paying attention to where I was driving and ending up in a snowy town so late at night.

Checking the time, I sighed at the sight of 10:39 p.m. Wiping my face, I inhaled what I hoped would be a calming breath. I tried to request a tow truck, but my insurance company's app didn't work. My outgoing calls weren't working either. If the sun was out, I'd sit in my car and hope help would drive by. Because it was pitch black out, I didn't want to risk a car coming and hitting me.

So, I got out and grabbed the two bags I packed in my car before leaving and headed north. I couldn't remember the last house I'd passed, and there were only two lights shining ahead. I had no idea what I was walking into, but anything at this point would have been better than being stuck with no service in the cold. As I headed toward the lights, I prayed they wouldn't lead to a serial killer who planned to make me their next victim.