23 ELIJAH

My woman is wearing a short black dress with a deep neckline that partially reveals her breasts. Her makeup is flawless, and her long legs are to die for.

"This doesn't concern you," I say sharply. "This is between him and me." I point at my brother.

"Well, actually, it does concern me because my new friend and I are having a good time. Go back to your blonde girl; she's probably willing to be whatever you want," Alicia retorts, pressing herself even closer to Michele. My brother then puts his arm around her shoulders.

"You have three seconds to remove your arm from her," I warn him.

Instinctively, I draw the gun I always carry with me everywhere, pointing it at Michele's head.

"Elijah!" Alicia exclaims, this time looking terrified. But Michele has a triumphant smile on his face, as if he wanted this to happen all along.

"I know this is what you've always wanted," Michele says, unfazed.

I grip my gun even tighter and keep it trained on him.

"Elijah, put that gun down!" Alicia pleads.

"Step aside, Alicia!"

"No!" she replies firmly. "Lower that gun before someone gets hurt!"

"I challenge you, Elijah," Michele taunts.

"Enough!" Alicia glances at Michele before getting up and trying to approach me. "Elijah, please..."

I don't let her finish speaking before I fire a shot into the ceiling. The music immediately stops, and people start screaming and rushing out of the club, leaving only the three of us inside.

I look at Michele, who hasn't lost his smile, but then I look at Alicia, and her eyes are filled with tears. At that moment, I realize I acted hastily without considering how she would feel. It's the first time I've drawn and fired a gun so close to her.

"We're leaving," I say, attempting to take her hand, but she quickly moves away from me.

"No," she shakes her head while wiping her tears. "I won't go with someone as violent as you."

Alicia walks away from me, and Harold follows her, leaving me with a heavy knot in my throat.

"Oh, little brother," Michele gets up from his seat. "You must understand that as long as I'm alive, you won't be happy."

"Not with her, Michele," I glare at him. "If you so much as touch a hair on Alicia's head, you'll die the most agonizing death."

"Not if she leaves you first," he shrugs. "Besides, she clearly saw you holding hands with Angelique Voucher."

"Has this been your plan all along?" I confront him.

"My plans always end with you in ruins. I want to see you humiliated and groveling at my feet."

"Not even in your wildest dreams," I spit out with anger. "So, stay away from Alicia."

I warn him one last time before leaving the club. I completely ignore Angelique, who tried to stop me. The only person on my mind right now is Alicia. I don't want her to have a bad image of me, but my damn job involves using a weapon and eliminating anyone who gets in our way, and Michele has repeatedly crossed my path. I'm just about ready to take him out.

I find her not far from the entrance, where Harold was trying to calm her down and prevent her from leaving.

"I'll take care of this, Harold," I say while discreetly stowing away my gun where she can't see it.

"Stay away from me, Elijah. I don't want to see you ever again," she sobs, her makeup ruined.

"We need to talk, whether you want to or not," I tell her, taking her by the arm to lead her to the car.

"I told you no!" She pulls away from my grip. "You abandoned me. I saw you with that blonde, all cuddled up. You probably just had sex because I saw you step out of the elevator, adjusting your cock. You chose another woman, and I did the same thing. I always end up crying with nothing left to do because you're a damn lunatic and possessive. I want all of this to end."

"No," I shake my head. "You're mine, Alicia. Only mine, for me, my property, and no one else's. You can't expect me to be happy when I see you with my damn brother."

"Brother?" She looks at me, confused.

"Yes, that scum is my brother. I want you to stay away from him. Don't let him touch you because only I can do that. Don't talk to him or form a friendship because it won't end well."

"What will end right now is the strange relationship you and I have," she retorts.

"That will never happen," I emphasize. "Now let's go home."

"That's not my home, and I'm not going back there."

"You will, one way or another," I threaten.

"You can't force me to go somewhere I don't want to, and that's final."

Without waiting for another response from her, I hoist her over my shoulder and carry her to the car. She kicks and protests, but that wasn't part of my plan. I load her into the car, then get in myself, and we head back home.

"I hate you!" She crosses her arms angrily, her hair disheveled.

"You can hate me all you want, but you won't leave my side."

"This is kidnapping! Help!" she shouts, but quickly covers her mouth with her hand.

"You can't kidnap an engaged girlfriend."

Alicia tries to speak, but her words are muffled by my hand.

"I'd rather go to hell and kiss the devil," she says when I finally release her mouth.

"Well, I'll be waiting for you there."

I will wait for her for the rest of my life because she's the only one who has made me act this way. She's the only person for whom I've pointed a gun at my brother with a desire to kill him. Once again, this demonstrates the immense power Alicia Star has over me.