Luxe by Ashley Antoinette Read Free Book Online Page B

walking calmly out of the house. In case any prying eyes were watching, he didn’t want to be the nigga rushing from the scene of the crime. He was grateful for the dark of night as he flipped his hood over his head and made his way to his car. He pulled off with mixed emotions. He was remorseful, feeling like scum for pulling the trigger, but he knew that when he weighed Keon against Bleu she would always win. Riding for her was a no-brainer. It was a sin Noah had committed on her behalf in order to keep her safe, but he knew that Keon’s death wouldn’t stop the bounty. Another shooter would simply step up to the plate. Noah couldn’t gun down an entire city; instead he would have to keep Bleu hidden until he could get her on her way to Cali. It was the only way to keep her safe. Now their good-bye was inevitable, but he would rather care for her her from afar and know that she was safe than selfishly put her at risk. Love was a bitch and so was karma; he only hoped this murder wouldn’t come back on him in the worst way.

 
    4
    The incessant banging on the door woke Bleu out of her sleep, but as she opened her eyes it felt as if she were living in a dreamworld. The medication that she was on did little to numb her pain. The wound that had been left behind was so gruesome that she was afraid to look down at it. Despite the fact that it didn’t work, she was still grateful for the medication because it made her sleep. As long as she was unconscious, she couldn’t feel the pain, but someone was interrupting that, dragging her into a wakeful state and forcing her to feel. She rolled over onto her side and put her weight on her elbows as she breathed deeply, gritting her teeth before she pushed herself up off the bed. The room seemed to tilt, making her feel unsteady on her feet.
    KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
    â€œWait a minute!” she shouted in frustration as she placed her hands along the wall. She was floating. After doubling her prescription she was kite high. It felt like she was walking on clouds as her feet sank into the plush carpet. By the time she made it to the front door of the apartment she was panting and had worked up a slight sweat. It was as if she had just run a marathon. Her body needed rest. She was overdoing it, trying to force herself to get better before she actually was. If money hadn’t been a factor she would still be recovering in the secure wings of a hospital. She looked out of the peephole and frowned in confusion.
    â€œLarry?” she asked. She stepped back and shook her head, thinking that perhaps she was higher than she thought.
    â€œBleu, it’s me. Open the door,” he said.
    She stood on her tiptoes and peered through the peephole again, confused. He hadn’t called her that since the night he had raped her, and hearing it now instantly brought tears to her eyes. She then turned her head and looked across the room to the clock. It’s close to midnight; what is he doing here? she thought.
    She opened the door slightly, giving him just enough room to see her eyes.
    â€œLarry? What are you—”
    Before the question could leave her mouth Larry fell, as a silenced bullet crashed through his temple. She felt a forceful push as someone rammed his shoulder against the door. She jumped back as the door’s security lock at the top stopped the door from opening completely. She backpedaled slightly, tripping over her own feet as she cursed herself for taking a double dose of medicine. She was incapacitated physically and mentally. As she stumbled to make her way back into Noah’s bedroom, the chain gave way to the force on the other side. Pure panic invaded her as she saw the goon rush into the house. She tried to run, but her legs were so heavy that she clumsily fell to the floor, rocking her entire world when she made impact.
    She roared as agony took over her body. Bleu scrambled to stand but knew that she had no wins in her current