Devil

-38-

-Goddess-

I watched Esla saunter her ass down those steps and knew what I wanted now. A new "victim". Sorry Nico but your role has been dropped. A pang of guilt hit me. Nico had been there for me through my hard times and she also had been there for me through my... wet times. I didn't want it to feel like a betrayal or me being ungrateful when I tell her that I don't have feelings for her. I want her to feel like she's free from my chaos.

But I still want us to be friends.

I hated letting people down gently because I had never done it before. The irony of it is that I've went around my entire life acting like I was better than everyone and pretending that I was something larger than myself, and sometimes still do, but I can't do something as simple as tell my best friend and business partner that certain feelings aren't there anymore.

I swept Nicotine's money up off the desk and tidied her office up. The money display had been to possibly intimidate "Coco" and Esla, but I see my attempts at sabotaging their emotions were unnecessary. I left the office and went to the elevators on Nico's office's floor. I saw Esla and Coenna leaving out to their car as I arrived on the first floor where I watched with a parting sadness as my new victim left my vicinity.

I'll see you again, little Lavigne.

I met Nico at her apartment, excited to see if she had found any promising properties. Her expression gave away nothing. Had I pissed her off? Could she somehow tell I had lost feelings for her? I didn't want her to be able to tell if I had for some reason- she deserved to hear it from my mouth.

"I found a house...well, it's considered an apartment the way it's built but it appears like a house," she scratched her head. "It's in Stafford Blue. The Stafford Blue Apartments," she smirked.

"Oh hell nahh, living near you," I joked. "But at least that's a decent distance between my parents and I." My eyes widened as I fumbled for my phone in my pocket. I had forgotten to check their missed messages! "Actually your apartment wouldn't be near this side. The complex has different styles of apartments throughout the place," Nico said as I unlocked my phone.

"I'll do a background search of the area too, if you want," Nico added as I scrolled through my messages. "Goddess what's wrong?" she asked me seriously.

"I forgot to text my family back." And Legend too. I didn't bother acknowledging Nicotine's questions as I started with my family's messages first, verified that I hadn't been kidnapped (the irony of that), then went to see what Legend had text about.

Legend of Korruh: I sent Esla ur number. I figured she'd want her phone.
Legend of Korruh: I think Nico has her phone.
Legend of Korruh: u ok?? Did u get it
Legend of Korruh: typing...

I smirked to myself, thinking about all the jealousy I had endured in Legend and Nicotine's presence as I typed my next sentence.

Me: Daddy's ok. Thx for askin ma 🥰
Legend of Korruh: 💀 ian wit dat gay shii
Me: we both gay ass studs at the end of da day
Legend of Korruh: don't they he sayin girls at the end of da day?? Not studs?
Me: nope. We all gay ass studs at the end of da day🤧
Legend of Korruh: be* Uhh ok 👀

I put up my phone and looked up to see Nico "patiently" waiting for my response to something.

"Huh?" I asked.

She sighed, looking slightly irritated. "There's a house slash apartment on the other end of Stafford Blue. It just went for sale today. I stopped by and talked to the woman who's selling it. She said she's moving to Jamaica. In a week she'll be out of there and the house is spotless with only some minor water damage," Nicotine informed me, each sentence said shortly.

I went up to her and hugged her. "I'm sorry I get difficult sometimes. You've done a lot for me and I appreciate you. I'm tryna be a better Goddess."

"Just be yourself mamas," Nico mumbled against my shoulder. "But I don't know who I am anymore," I whispered back. "Mine?" I could feel Nico's infamous smirk against my collarbone. I tried to keep myself from stiffening up and enjoyed the quietness between us. I would have to tell her soon but damn it would hurt.

Hopefully it wouldn't snatch us apart as far as the bond we've built over the years. And hopefully it won't affect the way we did business and travelled.

I pulled back and exhaled heavily. "So what's the lady's name? Her age?"

"I don't know her age but she looks to be about late 40s, 50s, or maybe early 60s," Nico informed me.

"Her name was Olivia Orange," she then said with a smile. "She was sweet and kind."

I nodded as if I even knew the woman.

"I'm gonna take the deal right off the back. I'll just have to have someone come and exterminate the place, check out the water damage, and check out other house shit," I said with a shrug after a moment. Nicotine nodded in agreement.

I looked around at the place she shared with her mother.

"When you thinking about moving out? And where's old lady Millson been?"

"She's been making new friends and doing old people social stuff," Nico shrugged. "I've basically had the house to myself because she's also been putting in extra shifts."

"Hmm, maybe she's saving up for something," I shrugged. I looked at the time on my phone. "Anyways, lemme go home and start packing up. I got some shit to do." Nico nodded and watched me get up, smacking my boxers that peeked above my sagging jeans. "You gay," I smirked.

"I'm Nico," she smirked back.