“Of course,” he grumbled before laughing with a shake of his head. “I’ll make this quick.”
I held the door open wider as he walked in and closed it behind him. “What’s up?”
“I just wanted to come and warn you.” Between his ominous statement and serious expression, I grew concerned. “He’s out.”
“Who’s out?” I questioned, unsure where he was going with this. I didn’t have the time or patience for a slow conversation.
“Wicked.”
If life could have temporarily left me, it would have. My heart felt like it stopped at the sound of his name.
Wicked.
The boy, the man, who’d saved me.
Wicked.
My biggest crush and most unfulfilled desire. I already felt boy crazy over him before he saved me, but when he killed Mario, I became borderline obsessed. Feelings consumed me for years after what happened. I went from gratitude and love to guilt over him going to jail back to gratitude and loyalty to love and then nothing. Nothing for years because I couldn’t talk to him.
Then Daddy died and Wicked reached out to offer his condolences. He had one of his friends, Cole, come to the restaurant to give me a letter and flowers. At the funeral, both Sonny and Cole showed up on Wicked’s behalf. Even after that, Wicked still didn’t want to see me. I thought maybe, just maybe, he’d approve a visit from me, but he didn’t. All I’d ever wanted todo was thank him for saving me, but I never had the chance. Not face to face at least.
“I thought he got fifteen years?” I asked breathlessly, not really knowing what else to say.
“Yeah, but we knew he’d only serve ten. I honestly thought he’d only have to do seven. Must’ve gotten into some shit while he was there.”
“Oh,” I muttered absently, heart racing and body warming over this new revelation.
“Has he stopped by yet? It’s clear you didn’t know he was out, but I still have to ask. Have you noticed anyone hanging around or?—”
“N-no,” I stammered, clutching my beating heart. “I haven’t seen him. I haven’t talked to him since . . .”
His head hung and nodded. “If you hear from him, tell me immediately. I need you to stay away from him. He’s dangerous, Jelai. Now I don’t think he’ll try to reach out to you, but on the off chance you see him out and about, ignore him.”
Brows wrinkling, I shook my head. “I don’t understand. The man gave up ten years of his life for me. I have to thank him. I have to make up for that.”
“You don’t have to make up for shit,” Chris countered quickly. “Wickedchoseto do what he did. He wasn’t a hero; he was a fucking monster. He killed Mario with his bare hands, and you need to stay away from him. Not only is he dangerous, but there’s no doubt in my mind that The Wilted Roses and The RVH Outlaws are going to have an even bigger war now that he’s out. I can’t be worried about you every second of the day, so promise me you’ll stay away from him.”
Truth was, I couldn’t promise him that, because if I had the chance, I was going to thank Wicked for what he’d done for me. Daddy had drilled in my head enough times over the years to stay away from men in motorcycle clubs because they werewhorish with no discipline and no good. On top of that, he swore they were all violent and not to be trusted. I’d never believed that, but he said it so much it resonated with me.
From what I’d seen with TWR, they were protectors, not violent men. What Wicked did for me was proof of that. Still, I had to admit I was one of those people who let rumors and scandals involving some warp my perception of them all.
“The man didn’t let me visit him, and every letter I sent him received no response. The only correspondence he acknowledged from me was a thank you letter Daddy gave him, so I don’t think you have to worry about him and me, Chris.”
“All the same. Stay away from him. He’s no good. If you see him, I need you to tell me immediately, okay?”
“Okay,” I agreed, more so just to get him to leave.
We hugged quickly and said our goodbyes before he left.
By the time I made it upstairs, Chris was knocking again. Growling, I rushed down the stairs and swung the door open. I was unable to hold my irritation in as I said, “I said I’d tell you when I . . .” Instantly, my shoulders slouched and my mouth snapped shut. It didn’t matter how much time had passed. I’d never forget those eyes, that dark skin, that face. “See him.”
As anxious as I was to see Jelai, I didn’t go to her immediately. She wasn’t hard to find. After her father’s death, I used Sonny and Cole to keep track of her. They were also at her high school and college graduations, plus when she and her mother buried Dylan and when she celebrated starting her small business. Jelai may not have boasted about what she did, but I was proud of her. She helped the community with her nutrition coaching and meal planning, and I loved that.
Her and Sidney were like a dynamic duo in the hoods of The Hills. Jelai planned the healthy soul food meals and Sidney cooked them. Having Caden as a client had given Sidney all the recommendation she needed for people to work with her. His reputation spoke loud volumes.
Mama loved the food at Southern Delightz, and she’d been raving about it since I came home. I told her I’d join her there for lunch one day, but I wanted to see Jelai on my own first. I thought I’d worked up the courage to see her today, but when I pulled up to her neighborhood, I started feeling crazy. She’d spent the last ten years trying to talk to me, and I kept turning her down. Now, I just randomly pulled up at her home? The shit sounded crazy as hell.
Just when I was about to start my bike back up and leave, I saw Chris pull up. I couldn’t stop myself from frowning at the sight of him. While I’d only had a few encounters with him as a teenager, they were memorable. He wasn’t the friendly neighborhood cop, let’s just say that.
