“Wait, you said he had the initials HG and TQ tatted on his neck?”
“Yes.”
“Baby, you ain’t got shit to worry about.”
“I mean, I knew this was a rough area of town, but everyone has been so welcoming that I hadn’t expected this.”
I was still crying and trying to remain calm, but I was so upset that someone would dare come at me that way.
Harlem cupped my face in his hands and tilted my head so that I was looking at him.
“Hey, do you trust me?”
“Yes, but I’m still afraid.”
“If you trust me, there’s no need to be afraid. Just like I made your permit problems disappear, I can make these do the same.”
His words spoken in a low, deadly threat made me pull back and frown at him.
“How, by threatening him, paying him off? That’s not the sort of life that I want to lead.”
“Listen, Baby, I get that. Don’t forget, you’re in the hood, and the rules that apply to the suburbs don’t apply in the hood. You don’t have anything to worry about.”
“Please don’t hurt him, Harlem. He was just a kid. As much as he frightened me, I’m not trying to be the reason another young Black male loses his life or ends up behind bars either.”
“Don’t worry about all that, Baby.”
He pulled his phone from his pocket and made a call.
“Aye, meet me at the bakery.”
“Who was that?” I asked when he ended the call.
“JC. I’m gonna take you home.”
“You don’t have to do that, Harlem. Thank you for just being here. I was so scared, but I’ll be fine driving home.”
He shook his head. “I don’t recall asking you a question. I’m taking you home.”
“But—”
“This shit ain’t up for debate, sweetness.”
My bottom lip trembled from the harshness of his tone, and he gripped my chin between his fingers and kissed my lips softly.
“Aye, look at me,” he commanded, staring into my eyes. When I met his gaze, he continued. “I’m not trying to hurt yourfeelings. The last thing that I want to do is hurt you any further, but I’m serious about protecting mine, Baby, and you’re mine. You understand?”
I bobbed my head. “Yes.”
“I love you, okay, and I will kill a nigga before I let something happen to you.”
“Kill someone?”
“I didn’t stutter. I know you might have felt alone in your last relationship and like no one had your back, but I’ll never leave you all alone. You can rely on me, and you can breathe in my presence and out of it. You understand?”
“Wait. You’re not really going to kill anyone, are you?”
“Don’t be asking questions you don’t want the answers to. Just know that I’m gonna resolve that problem once and for all. I’ll only do what’s necessary.”
