He sat up so fast, I almost fell on the floor, but of course, he was quick to cradle me to his chest. “Fuck no. Was I hurt, yes, but I could never hate you, mama. There’s nothing damaged about you, Harlo. You’re fucking perfect, and I want to spend every day of my life reminding you of that if you let me. I’m not that nigga, and I am going to make sure he’s never a problem for you again.”
I used all my might to hug him. I didn’t care if he couldn’t breathe; I needed to feel this right now, and he gave it to me. When we kissed again, the saltiness of my tears was prevalent, but we ignored it. I didn’t know how to not fall for Dior, so I didn’t fight against it. I didn’t want to. I wanted to believe there was a softer, more stable love for me out there. And if it came from Quadior, that was even better.
Dior extended a hand to help me out of the blacked-out Eskimo that picked us up from the private air strip. When I asked Dior how he could afford a private jet, he was quick to remind me that he owned businesses, sounding like Tokyo Toni and shit. He’d left his bike at the clubhouse for the three days we were gone and couldn’t wait to pick it up. He said it was making his skin itch not to be on two wheels, and I believed him because his anxiousness was palpable. He wanted to check in with everyone, then he said he would take me home.
I couldn’t wait to be alone with him again. A night sleeping on his chest had been well spent, and now that I’d had theexperience, I wanted more. His grip on my hand reminded me of his hands in other places to the point I was damn near skipping behind him, until the roar of multiple engines flooded the air.
We turned in time to see a gang of motorcycles coming toward the clubhouse. Dior and the others instantly went on alert. He slammed the truck door closed, then took up a position beside me. I gulped my peace, seeing an identical version of the truck we’d arrived in pull in behind the motorcycles. I already knew who was about to step out long before he actually did.
Nothing could’ve prepared me to see Emir again. Physically, he was a man to turn heads wherever he went, with his uncanny resemblance to Damson. Still, seeing him only made my stomach harden and my heart race in anticipation of how this was about to play out. We all knew why he was here. Now, it was time for CCB to show and prove whether they really were here to keep me out of his grasp.
At first, no one said anything as the riders all shut off their bikes, and more members of CCB ran from out of the clubhouse. I saw my father and brother in the mix, which settled my nerves a little. However, the way Emir was staring at me had me so uncomfortable that I was about to throw up.
“I just came here for my wife. No need to cause a scene,” Emir admitted without shame. “Come on, Harlo. I’ve searched for you long enough.”
He extended his hand as if he expected me to just waltz across the parking lot into his arms. I had no intention to do so, but the look Quadior gave me had me shaking in my boots. “That’s not going to happen,” Dior finally replied when I didn’t move a muscle. “In this lifetime or the next one.”
Even from across the parking lot, I could see the tick in Emir’s jaw. He was shocked to see someone challenge him. He was used to getting his way, especially when it came to the likes of me, but things were different now. I was different now, and I’drather slit my own throat than to resume a life of abuse with him. I thought I deserved to be treated like that, but Dior was showing me differently. He was reminding me of the truth.
Emir finally chuckled. A guy I wasn’t familiar with spoke next, but he was clearly the leader of the riders. I saw pictures of foxes on their leathers and knew exactly who they were: FBA. The orange color they wore was obnoxious and made them easy targets, no matter where they went.
“Kidnapping wives is low, even for you, Qua. I gotta say I’m a little surprised you’re getting involved in married people’s business.”
Dior produced the meanest scowl I’d ever seen as he looked the dude up and down. “Don’t speak on shit you don’t understand. Like I said, she’s not going anywhere, so you and your little circus act can pack it the fuck up and dip before I lose my cool.”
I shifted, feeling even more uncomfortable with the way Emir was watching me. I sighed in relief when Quadior peeped game and stepped in front of me to shield me from Emir’s scrutiny. Following Dior’s lead, I saw my father, Keem, Laprada, and Mo all take up positions on either side of him, becoming a barricade in front of me. I released a shaky breath, liking these odds much better than before.
Emir chuckled darkly. “I see you called daddy and big brother to save you. That’s cute, but if I find out you’ve given what belongs to me to another man . . .” His voice trailed off as the insinuation tainted the air. We all knew that was a personal jab to how Quadior was defending me. He made me sound like a complete slut rather than a woman running from an abusive marriage. “You’re going to regret it.”
Dior chuckled darkly. “Man, get the fuck out of here with all that wolfin’. You not going to do shit to her. Matter fact, since you’re so big and bad, let’s run a fair one right now. I promise wewon’t jump you.” Even though he said that, I wasn’t sure it was a promise he could keep by the look in every CCB member’s eyes.
I managed to peek between the heads of my brother and Dior to see Emir standing there with a cocky smirk. “I am the governor of this lovely state. You can’t expect me to hash things out with you like a common hooligan.” His eyes drifted over to the riders he’d pulled up over here with, and even I could catch the shade.
Qua scoffed and waved him off. “That’s exactly what I thought. You only like doing shit in private and against women half your size. Bitch ass nigga. Somebody get him the fuck out of here before I forget all this neutrality shit and get cutthroat. You niggas are on my territory. Don’t forget that.”
That was a warning, and everyone felt the heaviness of it. Emir swiped at his nose. “This isn’t over!” he yelled. I was sure he had more to say, but the revving up of all the bikes out front silenced him from saying more. I knew he wanted to lay eyes on me one more time, but my guys kept the barricade in front of me intact. It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders when they all disappeared, and only CCB members were left behind.
Dior turned to Mo and gave him further instruction. “You and Drez, follow them niggas to make sure he’s not lurking around to see when we leave.”
They took off, each taking two guys with them to trail behind FBA and Emir’s blacked-out truck. Dior slowly turned to me with a face set in stone until he looked down at me. It was like every murderous thought in his mind disappeared into oblivion, because I only saw concern on his features.
“Are you okay?” I nodded once, allowing him to pull my forehead to his lips. “I told you, I got you.”
And after today, I truly did believe him. I wasn’t a fool to think Emir would just give up. He was too narcissistic to simplywalk away and leave me alone. However, I had faith that I would never be subjected to a life with him ever again.
“Almost there,” I teased while guiding a blindfolded Harlo through the house. I knew she was slowly suffocating by being locked away in the house, so I wanted to bring some joy into her life. If I was going to ear hustle on her conversations, I might as well put the information to good use.
“Whatever it is better be good because I stopped my game of sudoku for this. I was doing a level hard puzzle, and I almost had it figured out,” she complained. I’d seen her locked in, but I was eager to make her smile.
“That sudoku not the only thing hard,” I mumbled while eyeing how edible she looked in the brown sundress she wore. But honestly, Lo could wear a fucking trash bag around me, andI’d be ready to rip it off her. She was my drug of choice, and I loved having a never-ending supply within arm’s reach.
“You know I could help you with that,” Lo said in a suggestive tone.
I almost took her up on the offer, but I was too excited to show her what I’d done first. “Focus, mama. There’ll be time for that.” Standing behind her, I pushed the door open, then removed her blindfold.
I was giddy as fuck as she stepped into the second spare bedroom that I had turned into an art studio for her to indulge in her passion. I trailed her when she walked deeper inside the room. She spun slowly in a circle before her teary eyes found mine.
“You did this for me?” Her voice was so tender that I knew she was seconds away from crying.
