Xander dropped anchor and clutched Niyah’s wrist. “Come with me.”
He led her to the back of the boat. “Take off your shoes,” he encouraged.
Relief hit when Niyah stepped out of her shoes without debate. Xander removed his shoes and stepped on the flat surface of the swim platform. “Here, you’ll find the most incredible view of the sunset.”
Xander held her hand and carefully helped her onto the platform. He sat and pulled her to sit next to him. She sat, but she crossed her legs, refusing to let her feet hang over the edge. Xander couldn’t help but laugh at her hilarious phobia. He grabbed her legs and placed them over his. “Now, you’re safe from the little water mammals.”
Niyah thanked him with a smirk and crossed her feet at the ankles. Xander admired her pretty feet and delicate toes painted with white nail polish.
“It feels like we’re in a different country; like a million miles from home.” Niyah released a deep sigh. “I could lose myself here.”
Xander rubbed her ankle. “I thought you’d appreciate it.”
For the next twenty minutes they sat and allowed the boat to rock them into a state of relaxation as they watched the sun sink beneath the horizon. The banter between them was light and fun. Xander probably should have kept it that way, but he couldn’t resist a conversation about her safety. “So… I know you guys have made arrangements for you to go back to work. But I don’t think it’s the best idea.”
Niyah turned to him with anxiety in her beautiful brown eyes and asked, “What do you suggest I do, Xander?”
“I suggest you take some time off work and stay here for a couple of weeks.”
Niyah frowned. “I can’t just take off work.”
Xander closed her hand in his. “It’s not safe. Between the Secret Service and Lincoln’s guys, this is the safest place to be.”
Niyah sighed. “Xander--”
Xander cut off her words before she could outright refuse. “At least, give the police some time to catch these guys. Bella will be working the case remotely, and Donna will be working it from the streets. Give ‘em a couple of weeks please.”
Niyah smiled and cupped his jaw with her free hand. “Your concern for me is sweet. It really is. I know Bella and Donna are exceptional detectives and I have no doubt they’ll solve this case. But Xander, you should know that homicides in Chicago rarely get solved without me. What I do is essential to solving these cases, and the twins are gonna need every member of the team to get the job done.”
Xander exhaled his frustration at her stubbornness. He knew that her job was important for solving murders. More importantly, she could obtain information on the men who had attacked his family. But the death of Niyah’s friend was a clear indication that she was in grave danger. Apparently, the killer or killers knew how detrimental she was to the investigation. A solution needed to be found, and Xander believed that he had found it. He covered Niyah’s hand on his jaw. “How about this?” he began, praying that she wouldn’t shut him down. “How about you allow me to stay with you during the week and then you come back here on the weekend?” Xander held his breath. He was ready for a full-fledged debate.
To his surprise, Niyah nodded. “Okay,” she agreed in a whisper. “We can do that.”
After exhaling with relief, Xander smiled and pulled her into a hug that she might have considered inappropriate. He held her body tight and close to his. At first, she froze as if she didn’t know how to respond. But he soon noticed the ease of hertension as her body melded to his. In his arms, it felt as if she belonged. It was warm and familiar. It felt right.
There, on the lake at dusk in a beautiful field of waterlilies, was where Xander decided he would have Niyah no matter her hangups about his race, no matter the danger she was facing, she was his to claim.
DONNA
Donna entered Bella’s room to find her and Taylor lying in bed, giggling at something on the television.
“Why did you get my sister high?” The accusation slash question was aimed at Taylor.
“Um-mm,” Taylor argued, shaking her head vigorously. “That wasn’t none of me! Her ass was high when I got here. She the one who got me high!”
Donna pursed her lips suspiciously. “Where would Bella get weed from?”
“Victoria Storm!” Bella spouted. She tried to sit up and fell back against the pillow. “I’m fucked up, y’all!” she squealed through laughter. Then, she blessed Donna with the goofiest smile she’d ever seen. “My face don’t hurt no more.”
Donna chuckled and climbed into bed with the two of them. “I’m glad you’re feeling better because we need you back in action. We need your detective brain to reactivate.”
“You’re a detective,” Taylor pointed out.
“I am, but murder investigations are not in my wheelhouse. I work undercover. We need Bella.”
Almost immediately, Donna was hit with an idea. If Bella was what they needed, then Bella was who they were gonna get. She hopped out of the bed. “Be good!” she shouted before leaving. She went to her room and grabbed her purse, duffle bag, and cell phone.
After shuffling through the Creeds’ maze of a house, she left from a side door that was nearest to the garage. Lincoln and his crew of mercenaries were standing just a few feet from the garage.
