Chapter 13 Solana
My back was still to him.
I should just go, but it was something about the way my name rolled from his tongue. I knew if I turned around and looked up at him, I wouldn’t be able to leave even if I tried. But I had to. I couldn’t give up on the life I knew I deserved.
I released a breath, then turned to face him, ignoring the bitch still propped up on the edge of his desk.
“Nessa, get up off my desk like that and head out.” He told her.
She glanced back in his direction with wide eyes, like she couldn’t believe what he was saying to her.
“Are you serious, Duke? For her?”
He stood from behind his desk and pointed towards the exit.
“You gotta ask?”
She rolled her eyes and slid from the edge. Then turned back to face me with a scowl. She rushed toward where I’d been standing, so I tried to move out of the doorway. But she made it her mission to knock her shoulder into mine.
I slipped my foot out, tripping her. She dropped to her knees, then sprang back up like she was about to do something stupid. I didn’t know how Duke moved so fast, but he was already between us, blocking her from coming at me.
“Bitch, you got the right one!” she shouted.
“You bumped me. I’m only going to tell you this once. Don’t let the pretty face fool you and get yo’ ass whopped.”
Duke held her as she pushed at him to get to me.
“Nessa, take yo’ ass on somewhere. Should have kept your hands to yourself. Go home!” He shouted, startling her.
Her eyes widened and looked a little glossy. It was as if she was seeing the real Duke for the first time. Then glanced in my direction with a scowl.
“Next time, he won’t be here to protect you.” She threatened.
I chuckled, because she didn’t know. Before I became Amore, I could have easily gotten a championship belt for the number of bitches I’d laid out. She’d just become another notch on my belt and I welcomed it.
Vanessa turned and stomped down the steps. Duke watched her until he couldn’t see her anymore, then turned to face me. He shook his head in my direction before taking a seat behind his desk.
“You ready to tell me what’s going on?” he asked.
I let out a quiet exhale.
“Yes, but not here.”
Duke leaned back in his seat, clasping his hands in front of him. I knew he wanted to tell me to go about my business… or maybe I just assumed he did. If I were him, and someone I was interested in seemed to be hiding something from the beginning, I’d feel the same way. But that wasn’t my intent.
I stood my ground, unwavering, needing him to see my sincerity. Duke had started to feel like a safe space to me. And I didn’t want to keep letting my past take my peace… or the life I was trying to rebuild.
His look of disappointment flashed repeatedly in my mind. I wanted, no, I needed him to understand why this was so important to me. Why I was so afraid to share my reality with too many people. Those women back at the bar were a prime example of why I didn’t feel safe in my skin.
“Please… don’t make me beg.”
Duke pushed his chair back from his desk, then grabbed his keys. I watched him intently, wondering whether he planned to send me on my way or give me a chance to explain.
With a tilt of his head, he gestured toward the door. I followed behind him quietly, watching as he locked his office before heading down the steps to the main floor. He held up a hand, stopping me from walking any farther into the club.
I leaned against the door frame and watched as he talked to a few of the men in black thorn vests. They nodded their heads after each word he spoke. I loved how he commanded everyone’s attention whenever he walked into a space. It was one of the reason I’d locked in on him the first time I saw him.
Once he was finished, he turned back in my direction and led me out the back door.
Still no words—just action. That seemed to be his way of communicating.
It was one of the things I loved about him, but right now…
I needed words. Still, I knew I couldn’t ask for too much when I was the one who needed him to listen.
I watched as he pulled the tarp from covering his bike and removed the locks attached.
He reached into the storage of his bike, then handed me my helmet he’d gifted me earlier.
I gave him a tight-lipped smile, then slipped it over my head.
He stood in front of me to tighten the straps like he had done before everything went to shits tonight.
I needed to let him take care of me. I needed to feel cared for right now. Once he was finished, he got on his bike, started it up, then looked back at me.
“You coming?” he asked.
I took a deep breath, then nodded. I walked over and he helped me onto the back. Again, I wrapped my arms around his waist, sinking into his heat. I needed to feel more than just my anxiety at this moment.
Duke slowly pulled from the back of the club, then looked both ways before pulling onto the road. I didn’t know where we were going, but I knew if he was there, I would be safe. At least that’s how I felt.
It seemed like we’d been riding for forever before he pulled up to a home on the outskirts of town.
There was a fence that surrounded the property, but it was a nice family style home with a wrap-around porch.
This man seemed to surprise me at every turn.
If I had to guess, this wouldn’t have been the home I took him to live in.
He slowly pulled into the driveway, then kicked out his stand so I could get down.
I stood awkwardly, waiting for him to tell me where to go or what to do.
He had been silent this entire ride, even at this moment.
I watched as he walked over to the garage and pressed a few numbers on the keypad to lift the garage door.
I followed close behind him as he walked his bike inside, then closed the door behind us.
“Would you like some water?” he asked.
I nodded, unable to find my words as we walked into the house from the garage. Again, his home was warm, white walls with cream and brown decorations. Pictures of him as a kid, with an older couple, and a few more were all around. If I wasn’t sure this was his house, I was certain now.
I followed him into the open-concept kitchen, the island set up with bar seating. You’d think this man had a wife and kids with how put together his house was.
The sound of his chuckle had me looking back at him.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“You. I can see the questions running through your mind. Ask me. I’m sure I can guess what they are,” he responded.
He turned and reached into the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water for each of us. Then slid mine across the island towards me.
“Try me. I would love to hear what you think I’m thinking.”
I uncapped my water and took a drink. He gave me that sexy smirk that seemed to be his signature look. One that I had missed in the moments he hadn’t spoken a single word to me.
He shrugged and walked around the island, heading for the closed in back patio. So I followed silently with my water in hand.
“I’m sure you didn’t expect my house to look like this. Second, you want to know where my wife and kids are at since the shit looks like a family could live here. Oh, and I’m sure you’re racking your brain about who chose my decorations and shit. Am I close?” he asked with a lift of his brow.
I couldn’t help but smile with a tilt of my head.
“Maybe, all of that.” I responded then laughed.
“I knew it. Haven’t you realized being around me all this time, you can’t judge a book by its cover, Sweets?” he asked.
I shrugged and followed his lead to sit down as he turned on the fire pit he had. I took the seat next to him as he turned to give me his undivided attention.
“My grandma helped me decorate this place. My family’s the only ones who’ve ever been here—I don’t just bring anybody here. I’ve got a place in the city that probably fits your cliché idea of who I am. But this… this is where I come when I need to clear my head. When I need to feel at home.”
My eyes widened at his revelation that he’d never brought anyone here. I hadn’t expected him to say that. What was so special about me—someone who’d kept her fair share of secrets from him—that made him bring me here?
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked.
I needed to know.
Duke leaned forward from his slouched, relaxed position.
“I see what I need in you, but I also see your need to release whatever is on your chest. I couldn’t think of a better place for you to do that.”
I placed my bottle of water to the side and turned my body to face him. I removed my shoes, then tucked my feet beneath me on the couch. I needed to be comfortable if I was going to go there with him.
“Yeah, I went back and forth with myself before I came to see you.”
He slouched back into the seat again, giving me the floor to say what I needed to. Then he tilted his head to the side.
“Tell me this. Why did you come to the club? You didn’t want to say anything when I was outside your shop. What changed in those few minutes?” he asked.
“I see a chance at life with you. I don’t want to keep allowing my past to take everything from me. I deserve to be here in this town, with this community, my friends, my shop, and I deserve a chance with you.”
Duke reached a hand out and I placed mine in his.
He pulled me lightly onto his lap and kissed my jawline.
So tender that it brought tears to my eyes.
In this moment, I felt safer that I’d ever had.
Like his arms could shield me from all my pain.
I snuggled into his body as he rubbed circles against my back.
“I listening, sweets.” he said against my ear.
I released a shaky breath.
“My name isn’t a lie. It is Solana. But those girls didn’t run up to the table for bakery Solana—they came for actress Amore. I was one of the highest-paid actresses in the world… and I walked away from all of it—the money, the houses, the cars. I just didn’t want any of it anymore.”