𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐄.

CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST.

FEBRUARY 2016 — AUSTIN, TEXAS.

" .. Mane, pick up da' fuckin' phone Sachi. I ain't playin' wit'chu. You just up and go all da' way to Austin wit'out tellin' me? Dat's some fucked up shit and I know you goin' out there ta' be a hoe. Call me back baby, I just wanna' make dis' shit right. I just wanna' talk, dat's all."

"Nuh uh, gimmie dat' and you take dis'." Sabrinna stepped into the hotel's bathroom to snatch Sachi's phone away and replace it with a shot cup halfway filled with Patron. "We ain't stressin' ova' no niggas dis' weekend boo, especially when we look dis' good."

Sachi sucked her teeth and waved her bestfriend off, throwing her shot back; unbothered by it as if was water in her cup,"Ain't nobody stressed ova' Rod." She finally responded,"I'm too young and I'm way too sexy."

"Hmph, I know dat's right bitch. Let me finished gettin' dressed so we can head out. You almost ready?"

the bass rattled the floor underneath everyone's feet as the strobe lights pulsed red and gold through a haze of smoke. Roman sat slouched in the booth, halfway mentally present trying to get himself to enjoy the night but he just couldn't do it.

His body was here but his mind stayed buried under six feet of grief. He only came out to the gentlemen's club tonight because he got tired of hearing his Marine buddies beg him to "let loose" for a change.

"Aye, you good bro?! C'mon, lighten up. Look at where we're at dude! Look at all this ass up in here!" Dusty, one of his battle buddies he's known since basic combat training shouted at him over the music.

Roman gave him a lazy grin as Dusty slapped his back hard enough to slosh his drink; Hennessy on ice paired with a thick backwood he needed to relieve his mind from the memories of his daughter.

Swallowing his drink until his chest burned, Roman kept his head on a swivel to keep an eye on his surroundings. As he turned his head back to face the front, he immediately made eye contact with one of the dancers he didn't recognize.

But, this unknown woman was undoubtedly captivating - with each sway in her hips and move on the pole, she reeled him in like a mermaid's siren. For the first time in his life Roman felt like he had been hypnotized and put in a trance, like it was only him and Siren in the room.

it wasn't until she finished her set and made her way over that he realized this was real life and he wasn't just dreaming. he blinked and it finally registered that she was standing over him right between his legs – tall with the most gorgeous legs he'd ever seen, curls down her back, shimmery eyeshadow and red lipstick catching the light.

her voice was sweet, southern and charming as she said,"You look like you think too much fa' a man who sittin' in da' middle of a strip club."

He took his time looking her up and down, admiring her full hourglass figure before second guessing if she was speaking to him,"Me?"

"You see anybody else sittin' here like they would ratha' be anywhere else?" she said while smirking, taking a seat right beside him with one leg folded over the other, her chest positioned in his direction with her glittery cleavage on display.

He chuckled and actually showed his teeth, giving her a real smile that he hadn't given anyone in a long time after losing Serenity. for the very first time in months he heard himself genuinely chuckle and smile again.