PANTY RAID

85| Embers of Regret

Dayo took another long drag off the blunt dangling from his lips, finishing it. He threw the butt on the floor where it extinguished with a faint sizzle.

He rolled another one and shoved it between his lips. Flicking his lighter, he cupped his hand around the fledgling flame and inhaled the burning smoke with a sigh.

He stared off into the distance as everyone else swirled around him. The music was pumping so loud the walls seemed to pulsate with it, neon lights flashing, bodies pressed together on the dance floor.

He kept his eyes locked on the dance floor where Tina was holding every male gaze in the club captive in her shimmering gold dress.

A muscle in his jaw ticked madly as he watched her and he couldn't help but wonder what had initially drawn him to her in the first place other than her physical beauty.

Her friend, Queenie seemingly alerted her of his presence because she immediately stopped and turned in his direction. A sly grin curved her lips as she approached him.

Dayo shot her a chilling glare before making his way to the quiet corridor, her sharp heels echoing behind him.

"Look who's come to see me," she smiled brightly as she watched him put off his cigarette.

Dayo's voice was a low whisper when he finally spoke. "I have two questions for you, Tina."

She casually folded her arms, rolling her eyes. "How the fucking hell do you know about Somerset?"

"Did Novah tell you?" he asked.

Tina chuckled, her laughter irking Dayo even more. "Come on, Dayo, Novah and I are like oil and water. You know that."

Dayo's jaw clenched. "Then how the fuck did you find out?" he said. "Where you following me?"

"Slow your fucking horses. I wasn't following you," Tina said. "I just happened to run into Novah at the hotel. It was just a coincidence," she said.

"Fucking bitch," Dayo cursed, shoving his hand through his hair.

"Whatever you both were doing at the hotel was none of my business. All I know is that you were in a hotel with another girl."

Dayo's anger flared. "Exactly. It was none of your fucking business. You had no fucking right to tell Eniola."

Tina shrugged, nonchalantly. "Call it girl code, Dayo. Someone had to let a sis know her 'boyfriend' was still screwing his high school sweetheart." She laughed, oblivious to Dayo's growing anger.

Dayo's fists clenched so tightly it hurt, and he took a threatening step closer to her, invading her personal space. Tina instinctively shifted backward until her back met the wall.

Dayo punched the wall beside her head, and she flinched, her eyes wide with fear. "Falling in love with you was the biggest mistake I ever made. Do you know that?" he seethed.

"You betrayed me by fucking Jamal. Do you know what that did to me? And now you're out to ruin me again," he snarled.

"Fuck you, Dayo. You're not one to talk not when you were hooking up with Novah while we were together."

"Deep down in your heart, you know that's a fucking lie. You knew I was all in. I ended things with Novah the minute I set my eyes on you. I knew I wanted you and I didn't want to jeopardize my chances with you so I told Novah we couldn't fuck around anymore. You know that, Tina," he ground through clenched teeth as tears began to shimmer in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Dayo. I knew how much you loved me, I just got blinded. I was confused," Tina said.

"I don't want your damned apology, Christina. It's too fucking late for that," he warned, his voice low and menacing.