“Okay, I’ll rephrase. I wouldn’t think this would be your thing.”
She’s not wrong, but she wouldn’t want to hear what I did before getting here.
“Are you assuming a gangbanger doesn’t like the fair?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
I laugh and rest my arm around the back of the cart, making sure I don’t touch her.
“Are these your gang colors?” she asks taking me back as she points to my bandana where it has slipped down around my neck.
“Yes.”
“Is there a gang who wears yellow and black?”
Frowning, I nod. 2-Guns wear their trademark yellow and black.
“There a few of them here tonight, won’t that be a problem for you?”
“Could be for them, not me,” I say, brushing it off.
I dig my phone out and shoot a text to Jermaine, letting him know. He’ll be on the lookout regardless, but still, I don’t want him being blindsided while he’s on his own.
“The city doesn’t look so divided when you see it from up here at night, does it,” she murmurs.
I look out over the lights glowing up the city. She’s right, there aren’t any divides. But it wouldn’t look any different during the day, it’s only when you’re on the ground, you see it… you feel it.
“It’ll never change, there’ll always be divides.”
“So you’re a glass half full kinda guy?” she throws at me.
“I’m more of a beat-up empty plastic cup kinda guy.”
She smiles, shaking her head. “I hope one day that changes, it’ll be sad if not.”
“Are you worrying about me, Amelia?”
Staring me dead in the eye, I lose myself in the clearest blue I’ve ever seen.
“Absolutely not, just pointing out the obvious.”
The ride comes to a stop, and I have no idea what just happened. Normally I’d have at least gotten a blowjob. I didn’t even think about that with her, yet I’m hard as fuck.
Jermaine standing tall, his shoulders broad and his chin held high has me going soft. Without thinking it over, I take hold of her hand and help her off the ride. I keep a hold of her as we step down onto the grass. I follow his line of sight and there are three 2-Guns sizing Jermaine up from the burger stall. They catch me joining him and then Tariq coming up behind us.
Three on three is no trouble for us.
“I called in Rodrigo and Daryl. They’re on their way, five minutes out. Cars have been lit up and their shooters are in the river,” Jermaine leans in to whisper in my ear.
Flicking my gaze to the girls, Clare has no idea what’s going on around her as she scrolls through her phone, but Amelia is looking between me and the 2-Guns assholes.
“Maybe you should get out of here?” she whispers.
Slinging my arm around her, I pull her in real close, close enough to whisper in her ear, “I won’t be the one to leave, sweetheart. This is nothing.”
I’m surprised she doesn’t pull away, she stays under my arm and the longer she’s this close, the more I don’t want to let her go. I’m prepared to fight, I always am, but I’m not prepared to feel this need to keep her close.
“Here we go,” Jermaine mutters.
