The Queen's Game

Chapter 13: The Club

(Soleil's POV)

It was supposed to be a regular Saturday night—just a few hours away from my family and the chaos that came with being the oldest sibling of five. Ivy, Azalea, and Dahlia—my triplet sisters—were going through their usual "don’t touch my stuff" phase. Orion and River, my twin brothers, had football and basketball practice, which meant they were either arguing about who was better or arguing about anything else. My mom, Aurora, was already pulling hair dye out of her kit, ready to prep someone’s weave. My dad, Jaden, had just gotten home from a long day of football coaching at the high school, where he was probably yelling at some kid who couldn’t catch a damn football.

But I needed a break. So, when Tiana hit me up about this club in Oakland—where some local influencers were supposed to be hanging out—I didn’t hesitate. We were going to check it out. No questions asked.

---

It’s funny because, despite being new to the area, I was already hearing a lot about the power players in Oakland. Kehlani Parrish’s name came up at least once a day. Rumors swirled about her like dust in the wind—some people said she ran the city, others whispered that she was a dangerous woman with connections deep into the streets. I wasn’t sure what to think, but I wasn’t stupid enough to ignore the warnings either.

“Don’t go near her, Soleil,” Tiana had told me more than once. “She doesn’t fuck around. She’s not the kind of person you wanna cross.”

I brushed it off the first few times, like whatever, it’s just gossip, right? But the more I heard, the more I found myself feeling…curious.

The night started like any other outing with my friends—Maya, Kailani, Jaz, and Devin—all of us buzzing with excitement, dressed in outfits that felt way too much for Oakland, but I didn't care. I wanted to feel good. Tiana was all about the vibe—ready to hit the club and see if we could run into some of the influencers who were supposedly going to be there.

“Alright, y’all ready to get our party on?” Jaz asked, smirking as she adjusted her tight black dress.

“Hell yeah,” Devin replied, his grin wide. “I need to get some damn attention tonight.”

“Shut up, Devin,” Maya laughed. “Not every girl in there is gonna want you.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll make them want me,” he shot back, his hands raised in mock defense.

We piled into the car, and Tiana led the way to the club. The vibe in the car was electric—loud music, nonstop chatter, and talk about what we might do if we saw anyone famous. It was all fun, no real seriousness. My mind, though, couldn’t stop thinking about Kehlani. What was she like? Was she really as scary as everyone said?

By the time we reached the club, the line was already crazy long. Everyone was talking about the VIP section. Some influencers were supposed to be there, and of course, we all wanted in.

“You know they got security guards like they're guarding the fucking president, right?” Tiana said, adjusting her oversized sunglasses, despite it being nighttime. “You ain’t getting in without them checking your ID and your vibe.”

“I’m good,” I muttered. I’d already planned on staying low-key. This was my first time hitting a real club in Oakland, and I wasn’t trying to do too much.

We managed to get in, though, after a few minutes of waiting. The bouncer let us through, giving me a side-eye as I handed him my ID. We were in.

The music was loud, the bass thumping so hard I could feel it in my chest. The lights flickered in neon hues, casting everything in a neon glow. The crowd was already hyped up, some people dancing, others talking in corners or to the bouncers. It felt like the energy in the club had been cranked to max. I wasn’t used to this—L.A. had its own vibe, but this felt…raw.

“Alright, let’s grab drinks,” Maya said, leading us toward the bar.

I was barely listening, distracted by the loud thrum of the crowd, the pulsing lights, and the undeniable pull of the VIP section above the dance floor. The raised platform had a velvet rope and bodyguards all around it, making sure no one got too close to whatever the hell was going on up there.

Then, I saw her.

Kehlani Parrish.

She was sitting at the center of the VIP booth, flanked by two large men who looked like they could break anyone in half with a single move. Kehlani was the definition of cool. Everything about her was effortless—her dark curls framing her face just right, her all-black ensemble almost glowing under the club lights. She wasn’t wearing flashy jewelry, but she didn’t need to. There was power in her quiet confidence, and everyone seemed to recognize it.

She didn’t look my way, but I couldn’t look away from her. Her presence was magnetic, like the whole room knew she was the one everyone had to bow to.

I swallowed hard.

Tiana was next to me, and she must’ve caught my gaze, because she shook her head slightly.

“Nope. Don’t even think about it,” she warned, her voice low, but sharp. “Kehlani’s a boss, but she’s not someone you wanna mess with. Keep your ass over here.”

I nodded, but damn, it was hard to ignore the feeling in my chest. The curiosity, the mystery… I had to know more. I didn’t want to get involved with someone like Kehlani, but there was something about her that made my heart race.

As we made our way toward the bar, I tried not to glance at the VIP section, but I couldn’t help it. I caught another glimpse of Kehlani talking to some guys, her hand resting casually on her drink, and I felt this weird mix of admiration and intimidation.

“You good, girl?” Jaz asked, noticing I wasn’t really paying attention.

“Yeah,” I said, snapping out of my trance. “Just…checking things out.”

“You’re acting like you’re starstruck or something.” Maya raised an eyebrow.

“Shut up,” I muttered, half-laughing, half-nervous.

But deep down, I was starstruck. Maybe it was the danger of it all, or the way she moved through the club like she was untouchable. Something about Kehlani’s vibe just had me in a chokehold.

My mom’s warning echoed in my mind. “Stay outta trouble, Soleil.”

Aurora had no clue who Kehlani was. She had no idea how influential, how dangerous, this woman could be. She always said things like, “Don’t be getting involved with nobody who got too much power. They’ll drag you down with them.”

I laughed at myself. I wasn’t about to get involved with her. I was just a girl from L.A., trying to make sense of this new world.

But still, every time I looked up at that VIP section, my eyes couldn’t help but search for Kehlani. And that pull? It was undeniable. Something told me that this night wouldn’t be the last time I’d cross paths with her.

---

The night dragged on, but every time I caught a glimpse of Kehlani, that same feeling gnawed at me—like I was about to get caught up in something bigger than myself.

---

Back home, my family was doing their usual thing. Mom was in the kitchen prepping some jerk chicken for dinner, while Dad was sitting with Orion and River, talking about their latest games. As much as I loved my family, I needed a break from the noise.

“Yo, how’d the club go?” Orion asked when I finally got back to my room.

I rolled my eyes. “It was cool, but nothing crazy.”

River, who had been playing with his basketball, gave me a sly grin. “You were checking out somebody, huh?”

“Shut up, little man,” I muttered, tossing my hoodie onto the bed.

The day wasn’t over, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of what had happened in that club. What was it about Kehlani that kept drawing me in? I didn’t know yet. But I felt like I was just getting started.

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