Prime.
He was standing about twenty feet away, near the strawberry vendor, his eyes locked on me. He wasn’t smiling. Wasn’t moving. Just staring with an intensity that made my stomach flip.
Next to him was an older woman in a beautiful African print dress, her hand on his arm. His grandmother, I assumed.
“Ms. Z?” Nigel’s voice pulled me back. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Fine.” I handed the customer their box, forcing a smile. “Thank you so much.”
When I looked back, Prime was walking toward me. No, not walking. Moving with purpose. Like a predator who’d spotted prey.
My heart started racing.
“Boys, go take a break,” I said quickly. “Get yourselves something to drink.”
“But we just sold?—”
“Please. Go.”
Something in my voice made them both scatter.
Prime reached my table just as they left. Up close, he was even more overwhelming. Dark jeans. Black T-shirt that fit him like it was custom-made. Those ocean eyes scanning my face, my setup, everything.
“Prime.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “What are you doing here?”
“Could ask you the same thing, Goddess.”
That name. That damn name that made my knees weak.
“I’m working. Building my business. What does it look like?”
His eyes dropped to my display. “Sweet Zin. This is yours?”
“Yeah.”
“Congratulations. Looks like you sold out.”
“Almost. Just need to?—”
“Where’s Yusef?” His tone shifted, more serious. “I saw him earlier but?—”
“He’s fine. Taking a break with his friend.”
“His face looked worse.”
My chest tightened. “He got jumped again. At school. They took the camp money.”
Prime’s jaw clenched. “Who?”
“He won’t tell me. And before you say anything, I don’t want you getting involved?—”
“Too late. I’m already involved.” He stepped closer, and I should’ve stepped back, should’ve put distance between us, but I couldn’t make myself move. “You can’t keep?—”
The sound of screeching tires cut through the air.
Everything happened in slow motion and at lightning speed at the same time.
A car—a black sedan—came tearing through the market entrance, weaving wildly, horn blaring. People screamed. Vendors dove out of the way. The car was headed straight for the center of the market. Straight for us.
