Chapter 126: Crossing boundaries

Chapter 126: Crossing boundaries

Brandy drove through the tall gates of her mansion with her jaw tight and her hands locked on the steering wheel. The iron gate closed behind her with a dull final sound that matched her mood.

She didn’t slow when she saw Coco sitting on top of her car near the driveway, one leg bent, the other dangling, a thin cloud of smoke rising lazily around her head. Coco didn’t look up. She didn’t wave. She just kept staring ahead, taking slow drags like she was counting seconds instead of breaths.

Brandy parked hard and stepped out of her car. “You’re really not coming inside?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

Coco exhaled smoke and shrugged. “I’m good out here.”

Brandy studied her for half a second, then shook her head. “Suit yourself.”

She walked straight toward the house, heels clicking sharp against the stone path. She didn’t slow, didn’t pause, didn’t call out to anyone. The front door opened and closed behind her with enough force to echo.

Inside, the house was too quiet.

Brandy’s steps slowed as she crossed the living room, her eyes adjusting. Then she saw them.

Pearl lay stretched across the couch, curled into Detective Flynn’s chest. His arm was wrapped around her waist, her head tucked under his chin. Both of them were asleep, peaceful, careless, like the world outside the walls didn’t exist.

Brandy froze. For a long moment she just stared, disbelief hardening into anger. Then she exploded.

“What the hell is this?” she shouted. “Pearl?”

Pearl jerked awake, gasping. Flynn startled too, sitting up fast, eyes scanning like he expected danger.

“Brandy?” Pearl said, confused. “What…”

“What is he doing in my house?” Brandy snapped, pointing straight at Flynn. “In my living room? This man? That is out to ruin my life!”

Carey rushed out from the hallway, hair messy, eyes wide. “What’s going on?”

Flynn rubbed his face, then stood. “I can explain.”

“No, you won’t,” Brandy said coldly. “You don’t get to explain anything in my house, dude.”

Pearl stood too, moving in front of Flynn without thinking. “Brandy, stop. You’re embarrassing me and overreacting.”

Brandy laughed, sharp and humorless. “Overreacting? Pearl, are you serious right now?”

Pearl crossed her arms. “Yes. Because you don’t get to control my life. Don’t do that. I’m grown…older than you are.”

Brandy stepped closer. “I get to control who sleeps in my house.”

Flynn raised his hands slightly. “Look, if this is a problem, I’ll leave.”

“It is a problem,” Brandy said. “And you will leave. Right now.”

Pearl spun on her. “You can’t just kick him out like that.”

“I absolutely can,” Brandy said. “This is my home.”

Pearl’s voice shook. “He’s my boyfriend.”

The room went silent.

Carey’s eyes widened. “Your what?”

“My boyfriend,” Pearl repeated. “We’re together.”

Brandy stared at her sister like she didn’t recognize her. “Since when?”

Pearl swallowed. “Since a while now.”

“A while?” Brandy echoed. “You’ve been sneaking a detective into my house and you thought that was okay?”

Flynn cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

Brandy turned on him. “You are trouble.”

Pearl snapped, “Enough! You don’t know him.”

“I know exactly what he is,” Brandy said. “And he is not welcome here.”

Flynn reached for Pearl’s hand. “It’s fine.”

Pearl looked at him, eyes soft. “You don’t have to go.”

Flynn smiled faintly. “I do.”

He turned to Brandy. “I’ll leave. No drama.”

Brandy didn’t respond.

Flynn leaned down and kissed Pearl gently on the lips. “I love you,” he said quietly.

Pearl nodded, holding back tears. “I love you too.”

Brandy looked away, disgusted.

Flynn grabbed his jacket and walked toward the door without another word. Carey watched him go, then turned back to her sisters just as Pearl rounded on Brandy.

“You didn’t have to humiliate me,” Pearl shouted.

“You humiliated yourself,” Brandy shot back.

Pearl stepped forward. “You don’t get to judge me.”

“I get to protect you,” Brandy said. “And you don’t see the danger because you’re too busy feeling special over a fuck detective that is using you to try and bring me down.”

Pearl shoved her. Brandy shoved back.

Carey rushed between them. “Stop it! Both of you.”

Pearl struggled against her. “Let go of me!”

Brandy’s chest heaved. “If he hurts you or me…”

Pearl screamed, “He won’t!”

Carey forced them apart. “Enough!”

Pearl broke free and stormed toward the hallway, slamming her bedroom door behind her.

Brandy stood there shaking, anger and fear tangled together. Carey looked at her quietly. “This isn’t over. You know she won’t give him up easily.”

Brandy nodded. “I know.”

Outside, Flynn walked toward his car. As he reached it, he noticed Coco sitting on her hood, smoke curling around her face. She turned her head slowly, eyes meeting his.

“Hey,” Flynn said.

Coco smiled faintly. “Hi.”

Flynn hesitated like he wanted to say more, then nodded and got into his car. The engine started. He drove past her and through the gate without looking back.

Coco watched the car disappear, took one last drag, and exhaled.

“Silly nigga.”