Chapter 7
“That’s the third time in forty-eight hours. They’re trying to send a message, and I’ve never been afraid of a challenge. Schedule the flight back. It’s best I’m there to handle this in person.”
The deep rumble of his voice paused for a brief second. He was agitated and trying to keep his voice low so that he didn’t disturb me sleeping. The consideration he always exuded for me made my heart beat a little faster. I truly did not deserve Quadior.
I hadn’t done right by him in our past, and he had every right to be hesitant with me.
I was the one who pursued him. First with harmless flirting until I was comfortable enough to ask him for what I really wanted.
When I propositioned him to take my virginity, he thought I’d lost my mind, but I was curious, and I trusted him immensely.
I didn’t have to do much convincing, because I knew Dior felt something for me, and it wasn’t platonic or innocent.
I totally used him because I didn’t want to go to college as a virgin. While he wanted to pursue me, I told him we could never be together. He was CCB, and I didn’t want any parts with my father and his gang members when I left for school. But I’d gotten my karma ten times over since then.
Quadior didn’t owe me anything, and we both knew it.
Yet and still, he agreed to protect me. I mean, he agreed under the guise of having me race for CCB, but I knew his choice was about more than that.
He still had feelings for me. Knowing that was what made it so easy to give myself to him last night.
And honestly, I’d do it again. Watching the muscles in his back flex made every vein in my body heat with a fever only he could cure.
“Okay, bet. Love.” I watched him end the call, then run a weighted hand down his face.
Sliding the covers from my legs, I silently made my way over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist once I was close enough.
I inhaled deeply when I pressed my cheek into his back.
His natural scent was quickly becoming one of my favorites.
“Shit, I didn’t mean to wake you, mama,” he declared with a slight turn to look at me.
“You didn’t disturb me, Dior,” I assured him, allowing my eyes to drift closed.
We remained in that position for a while, and neither of us felt the need to fill the silence with words.
The way he allowed me to hang on to him said more than a thousand words ever could.
I wasn’t expecting Dior to become my anchor in all of this, with our jaded past, but he had, and he served his purpose very well.
Spinning around, he tucked some of my hair behind my ear and smiled down at me. “We have to leave,” he warned me in a gentle tone.
I planted my chin on his stomach and glanced up at him. “Yeah, I heard. Things aren’t getting better?” The second the question rolled off my tongue, my mouth was filled with cotton, and my gut flooded with the inky tendrils of fear that loved to plant roots in me.
As if he could see me about to spiral into a dark place, Dior planted a finger under my chin and forced me to look at him.
“They will, and that’s all you need to worry about.
” I melted into the warmth of his hand sliding up my neck to caress the side of my face.
“You believe me when I say I got you, Harlo?” I nodded without hesitation, but it wasn’t good enough for him. “Tell me.”
“Yes,” I croaked out before I cleared my throat and tried again. “Yes, I believe you. I just worry someone will get hurt. Emir is violent and evil.”
I wanted to focus on the warning I was trying to give, but Dior’s smile distracted me.
He seemed genuinely delighted that I had worries.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Him reciting scripture to me made my bottom lip tremble.
If I couldn’t trust Dior’s word, I could always trust that of the God I served.
Even when it was hard, I knew He never left me.
Being forced to go to church as the good governor’s wife served me well.
In my lowest moments, it was the strength of God to pick me back up again.
He promised me things would get better, and with Dior, they certainly were well on their way there.
“I say all that to say, we will do our part, but trust God will fight for us. He sees all and will revenge all. Word is bond; everything is going to work out, so please stop worrying and have faith in your man.”
I couldn’t contain my smile if I tried. “My man?” I tucked my lips to tame my giddiness at his declaration. We hadn’t discussed anything of that nature, and he was just throwing his claim out there.
He nodded his head while looking at me as if I’d grown two heads. “The way you put that pussy on me all night long said I was your man. You were the one sending the memo, so how I got it, but you didn’t?”
My cheeks flushed with heat, remembering the things he’d done to my body. “Cut it out.” I giggled with a shake of my head. “You do know I’m still a married woman, right?”
His entire countenance fell at the same time he put distance between us. “LoLo, don’t piss me off. I was having a good morning.” He pinned me in place with a glare that could put fear in anyone else but me. My confidence came from knowing Quadior would never hurt me.
I chuckled, taking a step closer to him.
He tried to back away, which led to me chasing him until he fell backward on the bed.
I straddled his lap, pinning him to the bed.
My lips were a magnet to his because the next thing I knew, we were feverishly kissing.
Liquid gold seeped out of me when he cupped my ass cheeks in his hands and pressed his pelvis upward to tease my fully erect clit.
I moaned, seconds away from becoming undone. Dior sucked on my bottom lip, then slapped my ass hard as fuck. I loved the way he caressed the stinging area until the sensation of pain was gone. Somehow, I found the strength to pull away from him and to pry a little more into what he’d said to me.
“You really want to be my man? You don’t think I’m damaged? You don’t hate me for not choosing you?”
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 the experience, 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’d rather 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 we won’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 simply walk away and leave me alone. However, I had faith that I would never be subjected to a life with him ever again.