DÉJÀ VU

4| Deal Wid Ih.✭

February 1st

Xanai Rylie Billings | 18

6:13 am

I'm really regretting not blocking that fucking number. Cause wah uh mean yah call mi outta mi BED. And I don't even know who the fuck it is!

The loud, incessant buzzing of my phone woke me up, pulling me out of a deep sleep. I groaned, barely cracking my eyes open to see the screen glowing beside me. Kairo was still knocked out, his arm draped across my waist, making it a bit of a struggle to reach my phone.

The caller ID showed "Unknown." Again. My head was pounding from the rude awakening, and I was too annoyed to ignore it this time. I swiped to answer and put the phone to my ear, trying to keep my voice low.

"Hello?" I said, my tone clearly showing I wasn't in the mood for whatever nonsense this was.

"Mi did tell yuh say mi wi find out wah gwaan wid Kyle. Yuh nuh see seh mi serious?" The voice on the other end was low and calm, almost mocking.

The hairs on my arms stood up. The accent was familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. My stomach tightened, and I quickly sat up, slipping out from under Kairo's arm to avoid waking him. I tiptoed over to the bathroom and closed the door behind me.

"Wah di fuck yah call mi fa so early?" I snapped, trying to keep my voice steady even though my heart was racing. "Mi nuh know who yuh be, and mi nuh business bout yuh."

I started mentally timing it because I remembered anything over a minute is traceable.

The person on the other end chuckled, a sound that sent a chill down my spine. "Yuh cyaa ignore mi, Xanai. Mi know more dan yuh think, and mi know seh Kairo deh round yuh now. How long before him find out di whole truth, eh?"

A cold wave of panic washed over me. How the fuck did this person know Kairo was here? I peeked through the bathroom door, checking to make sure he was still asleep. The last thing I needed was for him to wake up and hear any part of this conversation.

"Yuh nuh mek no sense, yuh know dat? Yuh just sound like a bloodclaat madman," I said, trying to sound unbothered, but my voice shook a little. "Mi done tell yuh, mi nuh business wid yuh." I spoke then hung up.

A few moments after, the same "UNKNOWN" began calling again. With a hiss, declined it.

Sooner rather than later they began calling again. I cursed before answering.

The person didn't respond right away. For a moment, all I could hear was breathing on the other end. Then they spoke, voice still calm but now with an edge to it. "Mi give yuh a choice, Xanai. Tell mi wah really happen to Kyle, or mi start send information to people who will make sure you and Kairo pay fi it."

My throat went dry. The air felt thick, like I couldn't breathe. "Yuh cyan threaten mi, yuh nuh have no proof. And even if yuh did, yuh still cyan do mi nutten," I said, though I wasn't sure I believed my own words.

"Yuh a guh risk it?" the voice replied, almost amused. "A'ight then. Watch wah mi do." And just like that, the line went dead.

I stood there, staring at my phone, my mind buzzing with questions and fears. Who was this person, and how much did they really know? I knew I needed to tell Kairo, but the thought of it made my stomach turn. He was unpredictable, and if he thought someone was trying to threaten me, it could get ugly fast.

A knock on the bathroom door startled me, and I quickly shoved my phone into my hoodie pocket. "Nai? Yuh alright?" Kairo's voice was groggy, but I could hear the concern in it.

"Yeah, I'm good," I said, trying to sound casual. "Just ago wash mi hand now. Mi soon come out."

I heard him grunt in acknowledgment before his footsteps moved away from the door. I took a moment to steady myself, splashing some cold water on my face. The reflection in the mirror looked back at me, eyes wide and full of uncertainty. I had to get a grip, and fast. Whoever was behind that voice clearly wasn't going to stop, and I needed to figure out what the hell they wanted before they made good on their threats.

When I finally stepped out of the bathroom, Kairo was sitting up, scrolling through his phone. He glanced up at me, his brows furrowed. "Who did a call yuh so early?"

"Mi nuh know," I said, shrugging, trying to act like it was no big deal. "Must be wrong number."

"Yuh sure?" he asked, eyes narrowing slightly. "Cah yuh look a way, and mi nuh like when people a try mess wid yuh."

My heart skipped a beat. He wasn't buying it. "Mi good, Kai. Is just mi stomach. Mi did fi guh doctor long time and mi nah guh," I said, forcing a smile. "Yuh nuh need fi worry bout mi."

"If yuh nuh start talk right now, mi nah stop till mi find out Nai. Suh talk." he deadpanned.

I froze for a moment, the fake smile slipping from my face. Kairo's eyes were locked on mine, and I could see that he wasn't going to let this go. I had tried to play it off, but he knew me too well.

Mi cyaan tell him.

But if yuh nuh seh something, him aguh start dig, and dat might mek everything worse.

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "Mi swear, anuh nuhn serious, Kai. Somebody just a prank mi or some shit. Mi done deal wid it, so nuh worry yuhself," I said, my tone light and dismissive.

He just stared at me, his jaw tightening. "Xanai, stop act like mi a eediat. Yuh think mi nuh hear yuh pon di phone? Mi hear how yuh voice did sound. Who a threaten yuh?"

Damn. I didn't think he'd caught that. I hesitated, searching for the right words, but my mind was blank.

"A di same Unknown fuckry?"

Bingo.

"Yes. Him call mi 'bout some foolishness. A seh mi fi talk 'bout Kyle or else dem aguh mek things bad fi wi." I said, my voice low, almost hoping he wouldn't hear me. But Kairo heard every word, and I saw his expression shift from concern to a cold, simmering rage.

"Mia guh deal wid e." he spoke, a livid expression playing on his face.

"Kai, mi nuh even know who it is," I said quickly, trying to keep him calm.

"Mi seh mia guh deal wid e. And if yuh eva come bout yah try stop mi, mi fuck yuh up too." he semi-shouted.

Oop.

He sighed, running a hand over his face, trying to ease the tension. "Nai, I'm sorry for shouting at you, but yuh need fi undastand, aunty and uncle trust me wid yuh, suh mi will do anything fi keep yuh safe, yuh understand?"

I felt a lump form in my throat, and I managed a small smile. "Mi know. And mi love yuh fi dat."

He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close. I buried my face in his chest, letting his warmth calm my racing thoughts.

But even as I held onto him, I knew it wasn't over. Whoever was behind those calls wasn't going to back down, and I was going to have to find out who they were, and fast, before things got out of control.

Because if there was one thing I knew about Kairo, it was that he didn't make threats—he made promises. And if it came down to it, he would do whatever it took to protect me, even if it meant burning everything down in the process.

**********

1.9kwords

Yall ik I haven't been posting a lot but honestly mi neva did a get nuh ideas and I wasn't gonna give yall some shit that doh mek sense, yall better than that.

Ima try my best though💕

Also, the character list will be coming out soon, suh jus wull on.

Vote!⭐💕