The Price of Thrills

The Calm Before the Storm

I barely remembered the drive home. My hands were on autopilot, steering the car through familiar streets while my mind raced with panic and fear. Darius's words echoed in my head, a terrifying promise: "This ain't over."

As I pulled into our driveway, I saw Enzo waiting on the porch. His face was creased with worry, and for a moment, I considered driving away. But where would I go? This was my home, my life. I couldn't run from it forever.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car. Enzo was by my side in an instant, his strong arms wrapping around me.

"Cara, where have you been? I've been worried sick," he murmured into my hair.

I melted into his embrace, grateful for his warmth, his strength. But the guilt churning in my stomach made me pull away sooner than I wanted to.

"I'm sorry," I said, avoiding his eyes. "I just... I needed some air. Lost track of time."

Enzo's brow furrowed, his dark eyes searching my face. "Imani, what's going on? You've been acting strange for weeks now. Please, talk to me."

For a moment, I was tempted to spill everything. To confess about Darius, about the baby, about the mess I'd made of our lives. But looking at Enzo's concerned face, I couldn't bring myself to shatter his world. Not yet.

"It's nothing," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just stressed about work, that's all. Let's go inside, okay? I'm exhausted."

Enzo didn't look convinced, but he nodded, leading me into the house with a gentle hand on my back. As we stepped into our home, the contrast between this life and the one I'd just left behind by the bayou hit me hard. The sleek, modern furniture, the expensive art on the walls - it all seemed so far removed from the world I'd grown up in. The world Darius was still a part of.

"Are you hungry?" Enzo asked, heading towards the kitchen. "I can whip up some pasta."

"No, thanks," I said quickly. The thought of food made my stomach turn. "I think I just need to lie down for a bit."

Enzo's frown deepened. "Imani, you're starting to scare me. Are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I could feel tears threatening, and I knew if I started crying, I might not be able to stop.

"Okay," Enzo said softly, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Get some rest. I'll be in my study if you need anything."

As soon as Enzo disappeared down the hallway, I let out a shaky breath. I made my way to our bedroom, sinking down onto the edge of the bed. How had everything gone so wrong? How was I going to fix this mess?

My phone buzzed, startling me out of my spiraling thoughts. I looked at the screen, half-expecting to see Darius's name. Instead, it was my mom.

For a second, I considered ignoring the call. But I knew that would only make her worry, and the last thing I needed was for her to show up here unannounced.

"Hey, Mama," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Imani! Baby girl, I've been trying to reach you all day," my mother's voice came through, a mix of relief and exasperation. "Everything okay?"

I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. "Yeah, Mama. Everything's fine. Just been busy, you know how it is."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. When my mother spoke again, her voice was softer, more concerned. "You sure about that, baby? You don't sound like yourself."

I swallowed hard. Even over the phone, my mama could read me like a book. "I'm sure, Mama. Just tired, that's all."

"Mm-hmm," she hummed, clearly not believing me. "Well, I won't pry. But you know you can talk to me about anything, right?"