Now, that had my attention. I forgot that Harlo knew how to ride. I glanced at Hakeem who stood there in shock. “What’s your thoughts? Can she do it?”
He rubbed his jaw, then nodded slowly. “I mean, she is the best female rider I know. I hate to admit it, but she always smoked me growing up, so if anyone can win that race, it’s going to be LoLo. Whenever she was upset with Quick, she would do a hundred around La Muerte for fun.”
“Alright. I’d have to see you ride personally, but if you agree to become a member and race for us, I will personally become your bodyguard and ensure your safety until the threat is neutralized.”
All eyes were on Harlo while she made her choice. I was not going to force her into anything, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want her close to me for personal reasons. She still intrigued me, and her beauty nearly rendered me speechless. I was going to protect her anyway, but for my own sanity, I needed to make it make sense. This proposition made sense in the best way.
I saw it the moment she realized her options were slim. She nodded once and released a shaky breath. “Okay, fine. I’ll do it. I want to be protected against him.”
I closed the distance between us and extended my hand. She hesitated to place her small and dainty one in mine, but eventually, she did. I almost forgot how to breathe as we stared at each other. This girl was dangerous, and it had nothing to do with that nigga who wanted to abuse her. It was because she was making me feel things I had no business feeling for my best friend’s sister.
I dropped to my knee in front of her and placed the back of her hand to my forehead. “You have my word that you will be protected. We will treat you as one of our own from this day forward.”
“Okay,” she whispered hoarsely. The tears in her eyes had me ready to set the fucking world on fire, and I was going to start with her bitch ass husband.
This close to her, I could see that birthmark shaped like a jaguar rosette. “You believe me?” I questioned her. Of its own accord, my hand lifted to her face. She flinched at first but relaxed and allowed me to touch her.
She released a breath while I resisted the urge to fall deeper into her beautiful eyes. “Yes, I believe you, Dior.”
I smiled. “Good, because that’s the only way this works. You have to trust me, mama.”
Everything was silent inside my home except for us shuffling inside. Harlo trailed me quietly, arms folded across her chest, eyes assessing what the low light in the foyer revealed. I was still thinking about how it felt to have her on the back of my bike. Clutching to my person like I was all she needed to survive.
“Are you sure I will be safe here?” Her soft voice pierced through my racing thoughts.
I glanced down at her and nodded. “Without a doubt. This is like Fort Knox, mama. No way in, no way out.” For emphasis, I nodded to my security system where I input the code to secure us inside. The system was very high tech from this brainiac named Gorgeous. This was one of the safest places to be in the city.
I allowed my eyes to rest on her to see how she’d respond to that second part. A shiver slid down her spine, and she hugged herself a little tighter. “Okay,” she mumbled. “Can you just show me to my room? It’s been a long day.” Her phone began to vibrate in her pocket. While she was focused on her notifications, I was focused on her.
I studied everything about her. Like the way her temple pulsed when she was deep in thought. I even picked up on her wincing when she was removing her phone from her pocket. And I definitely didn’t miss the way her eyes ballooned at something she read on her phone screen before she pocketed it quickly, pretending that everything was all fine.
“Sorry, sister group chat. Everyone wants to make sure I’m safe.”
I nodded once. “So do I. Let me know what all you need to be comfortable here. My home is my haven, and now it will be yours too.”
My home was spacious but not enough to get lost in. I walked her down the hallway leading to the living room and kitchen. She gasped when we stepped into the open floor plan. I turned to her to see what that was all about. She noted my raised brow and explained.
“Oh, sorry. It’s just really sophisticated in here.”
My head jerked back in offense. “What? You thought a nigga lived in a trap house or somethin’?”
Her laugh was light and airy as she circled my living room. “No, not at all, but it’s just very aesthetically pleasing in here.”
I grunted but chose to keep quiet. Not many people were allowed to see the inside of my home. It was a sanctuary, and every time I stepped inside, I felt nothing but peace. I rubbed my jaw, tracking her every movement like a predator. She stopped in front of this art piece I’d gotten a while back. The artist waslocal but only did commissions through social media. I’d lucked up a few times before she sold out.
“You like it?” It was this raw painting of the crying lady. It was a style of art created by the artist HER, and I was in love with the brand, so not only did I have paintings, but there were a few collectible statues all over the house.
“I love it,” she whispered, then turned to me with the most dazzling smile. I didn’t miss the sheen of tears in her eyes, though. “Not you got a piece of me in your home,” she teased.
I tilted my head to the side. “You’re lying.” I’d never put two and two together, but now that she mentioned it, I felt like an idiot because it made sense.
She giggled innocently and twisted side to side. She motioned me to come closer with a finger. Like a dog on a leash, I closed the distance between us without protest. She pointed to the signature in the corner of the piece. Sure enough, it read HER with a heart beside it, and it finally dawned on me that those were her initials.
“Oh damn, you pretty raw, mama. I’m a fan of your work.”
She turned to the other pieces in the living room and beamed. “I can see that. It is greatly appreciated.” She returned her attention to the painting on the wall and began to nibble on her lip. “Um, I’d like to go to my room now,” she said suddenly.
She was choked up and seconds away from falling apart. It irritated me that I didn’t know why. “Sure.” I turned and led the way to the bedrooms. Mine was at the end of the hallway, so I stopped at the first door on the right. “You can stay in here or the other guest room. It doesn’t matter much to me.”
