10th Commandment | Revamped

Chapter 7

Fantasia finally made it up the stairs. They kissed for a while before she pulled away, an inquisitive look on her face. "I'm curious... why is your husband always away?"

Taraji's reaction suggested she wasn't fond of that line of questioning. "Why do you want to know?"

"Look, I get that you're a private person, and I respect that. But here I am, in your bed—most likely on his side. So where is he when he’s not here with his stunning wife?" Fantasia probed. Taraji sighed. "Well, if you must know, my husband has another wife. I think he’s in D.C. for 'work,' but he's actually somewhere else in the States with his other wife and their son."

"Oh, that’s tough to hear," Fantasia replied.

"It doesn't matter anymore. I got duped, and now it’s just whatever. I'm headed to D.C. for work in two days—I'll handle him then."

"Wow, that’s rough. The idea of someone cheating on you feels as far-fetched as me confessing to a crime. Just so you know, I’ve been played once as well."

"That doesn’t help. Can we just go to bed? I really don't want to talk about this." Fantasia nodded.

"Can I just say one thing, though?"

"What?"

"If you were mine, you’d never have to sleep alone. You’d never have to face this kind of heartache. If you were mine, I'd cherish your heart—that's where I'd want to be. Your peace would matter to me because you are my peace," Fantasia said softly.

Taraji chuckled lightly. "New York's toughest gangster getting all soft on me?"

"Wow, that didn’t even sound like me. You're right—I think I’ll just sleep now. Good night."

"Hey, don’t feel bad. I’d say you’re sweet and soft underneath that tough exterior."

"I am not soft!" Fantasia protested, her frustration evident.

"Okay, you are not!" Taraji replied, trying to lighten the mood as the tension lingered.

Fantasia groaned and turned away, but after a moment, she faced Taraji again. "How did you become an agent?" she asked, her voice calmer now.

"My dad was murdered," Taraji answered, her tone heavy.

Fantasia's expression softened. "I'm really sorry to hear that."

"It's a recurring theme, you know? My brother was killed too, and then my cousin. So, yeah," Taraji continued.

"Taraji, I had no idea. I'm really sorry."

Taraji looked up. "You have a heart?" she teased. Fantasia chuckled. "Seems I do, which surprises me too," she joked back.

"So, what turned a beautiful girl like you toward this dark and twisted life path?"

"It's not dark or twisted; it’s just how being an agent is. Good girls, bad girls," Fantasia explained.

"Sure, right," Taraji replied sarcastically.

"My dad was murdered too. I got bitter and sought revenge for his death. The more I killed, the more I felt I had to kill to survive. Before I knew it, I was taking over dangerous men’s territories and starting my own thing. I had no choice—after my dad died, my mom remarried this jerk, so I got out of the house. They still try to control my life even now, so I fend for myself. At first, I took their money just to get back at him, then they insisted I get a job and whatnot. He’s a cop, and I didn’t want him coming to New York to turn me in. He’s ruthless and bitter; to escape his grasp, I convinced my mother I was fine,” Fantasia said. Taraji studied her for a moment and then handed her a tissue from her nightstand.