7. Charisma Rae Jones
CHARISMA RAE JONES
“That’s the last one?” Kalm’s deep voice asked from behind me.
I glanced over my shoulder to find him leaning sexily against the doorframe of my bedroom.
Dressed down in basketball shorts and a wife beater, his masculine presence filled the entire room, along with his sandalwood cologne.
The longer our gazes remained locked in, the faster my heart raced, and my pussy pulsed.
He was so magnetic I wanted nothing more than to close this distance between us and launch myself in his arms. My attraction to him terrified me because it had me doing things I never would, but considering the circumstances I was in, I had no choice but to trust him.
Glancing around the empty room, I nodded, feeling a little sad to part with my loft-style apartment, but it was time.
I could never walk these halls again and feel safe enough to sleep peacefully.
After accepting Kalm’s proposal, he hired movers to help me pack up my apartment.
I sold all the furniture I had on Facebook Marketplace to get rid of it.
I walked away with almost nothing from my life here because I told myself I was burying this past.
Kalm had offered me a chance to get out of the club, and I was going to take it.
He didn’t see a woman with no skills and nothing to offer.
For that, I was deeply grateful God was finally answering my prayers.
Right now, there was nothing between us more than lingering glances and soft brushes of our skin when we walked by one another.
But moving into the same home with him could produce different results because I was extremely attracted to him.
From the way he looked to his voice and the way he dressed.
. . even his walk sent chills down my spine.
I’d met many men in the midnight ballerina world, but none of them compared to Kalm Alexander Savage.
I’d taken the time to look him up and learned he truly was a professional boxer.
They referred to him as The Kalm Storm because, since going pro at the age of twenty, he had an undefeated record of 22-0 by the time he was twenty-two.
Last year, he’d won his first world title in the Heavyweight category and had taken time off.
According to the media, he was a very private man and didn’t do much talking or taunting before fights, giving off this completely calm and mysterious person, but when he got in the ring, he became someone else—someone uncontrollable and stronger than most could handle.
I watched a few of his fights and was thoroughly impressed.
Knowing he was such a formidable opponent increased his sex appeal because he wasn’t even arrogant but instead possessed this quiet confidence that warned you not to fuck with him.
I think the thing that stood out to me was the aggression behind his amateur fights versus the ones after he went pro. There was anger simmering beneath the surface that he channeled into every punch. It made me curious about the man behind the pain he was clearly burying beneath his fighting.
“Aight, let’s head out,” he said before turning to walk away.
I looked around the room once more, just thanking God for the ability to be able to afford the two-thousand dollar rent for three years without ever being at the risk of eviction.
With a heavy sigh, I followed behind him, refusing to look at my second room.
I could still feel what it was like to be overpowered by Bryaire, making me rush past Kalm to get outside.
He opened the passenger door of his Trackhawk for me then walked around to join me inside.
I kept quiet as he started it up then reversed out of the parking spot and shot off like lightning.
When my eyes wandered over to him, he had a serious expression on his face.
I was going to ask what was wrong, but he increased his speed and sharply turned to the right.
Pulling his phone out, I watched him type aggressively on the screen. “What is it?” I questioned, feeling an inky feeling spread through my limbs.
Once he sent his text, he glanced over at me and smiled. “Nothing, Pretty. Just enjoy the ride.”
Every time he called me Pretty, it made my insides turn into mush.
I preferred it over him calling me by my nickname or even my first name.
With a shake of my head, I blushed and dropped my chin to my chest. Pulling my own phone out, I went into one of my social media apps to distract myself from his alluring presence.
I didn’t glance up until we slowed down, and he rolled down my window.
“Eastside Savage!” someone called out when he bent down to see Kalm in the driver’s seat.
“Wassup, Jah,” he greeted the guy. They reached in front of me to dap up. “Your ass supposed to be in Beverly Hills, ain’t it?” I could tell he was teasing him.
The guy Jah laughed and leaned into the window. “I know you ain’t hating on a nigga getting out the hood and shit?”
Kalm chuckled deeply. “Never that. I love it.” His voice trailed off, making me glance in his direction.
Both of them had their eyes trained on the cherry red Mustang slowly passing by.
I sucked in a sharp breath, knowing exactly who the car belonged to.
I reached for Kalm’s hand, only to be met with the feeling of cold steel.
I glanced in his lap to realize he had a Glock sitting there.
His friend had also leaned out of the truck and now stood with his hand on the barrel of a gun in his waistband.
Had he already known Bryaire was following us?
“Fuck is that?” Jah asked him without the jovial spark his voice had a minute ago.
“Ole boy I choke slammed the other night. He’s been following us since we left her crib.”
My eyes bulged, realizing I hadn’t noticed a thing. At the same time, I was impressed by how on point Kalm was. He hadn’t even said anything to me about it, perhaps to keep me from stressing because he knew Bryaire scared me a little.
“You good?” Jah asked, looking back inside the truck only once the car could no longer be seen.
Kalm nodded and extended a hand toward him. “Always. Just had to take him on a little detour first. You know no nigga that’s not from the Eastside is comfortable being this way for too long.”
“True shit. Aight, y’all be safe. I’m about to head to the Big House.”
“Fresh Prince of Belair living-ass nigga,” Kalm joked with him. All the seriousness they previously had slipped away to show their brotherhood. He shifted his eyes to mine. “They live in a big-ass, beautiful estate in the country,” he shared with me.
Jah popped his collar with a grin. “Shout out to my brother for finding love.” We all shared a laugh before they dapped up again, and Jah turned his friendly gaze to me and said, “You gotta get this nigga to bring you through one day. You would love my sisters and sister-in-law.”
“Maybe one day,” Kalm replied. “But let us head out. Oasis has her first chemotherapy session today.”
“I’m praying for little sis,” Jah said, voice every bit of sad as we all felt about what she was going through. I liked her from the moment I met her and wouldn’t have guessed that she was recently given some devastating news.
“’Preciate it.” After that, he rolled up his window and hit the gas. His truck jerked forward with a growl, and we were on our way.
Noticing that I was watching him, his eyes slid over to me. “Told you I got you, Pretty.”
And after seeing how he’d dealt with Bry, I truly believed him. I released the tension in my shoulders and sat back peacefully for the ride back to my new home with the Savage siblings.
The truck was silent apart from the purr of Kalm’s engine.
After taking my things in the house and into the guest bedroom, we’d returned to the truck with Oasis in tow.
She hadn’t uttered a word since we left the house, and the spirit of heaviness in the car was darker than the tint on Kalm’s windows.
He eased into the parking lot for the oncology department, and I heard her suck in a sharp breath.
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw her back there biting her nails. “Do you want me to pray with you before we go in?” I asked.
At such a young age, she was facing something so life changing.
When I was her age, my worries were a mile long, but even still, I hadn’t faced this kind of turmoil.
The only thing I could think to do for her was to pray for peace of mind.
Her eyes slowly shifted to mine; she nodded her head with fat tears ready to spill on her cheeks.
Taking off my seat belt, I hopped out and opened her door.
Taking her hands in mine, I said, “Bow your head and close your eyes.” I waited for her to do that then continued.
“Heavenly Father, we gather here today, asking for your spirit to remove all nervousness Oasis may feel. Strengthen her as she embarks on this journey. Tuck her in your bosom and keep her protected and far from harm. I don’t know why you would put her through this test, but I do know you won’t leave her side while she walks through this.
Keep her brothers lifted because she will need shoulders to cry on.
I touch and agree with her that this will not be the end of her story, and she will have total healing.
This is simply a part of her testimony for the many lives she will change one day.
Your word says everything works together for the good of those who love you, so I humbly request that you keep your promise and perform miracles only you are capable of. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”
I opened my eyes and lifted my head to find a teary-eyed Oasis looking at me. She sniffled with an innocent pout that made my heart squeeze into a ball. She was so cute, looking like her brother’s twin, only she was much shorter. “Thank you.”
I reached up to wipe away her tears. “It’s going to be okay, and we’re both here to hold your hand.
” I motioned to her brother, who stood silently at the back of his truck.
I knew he was watching us because the heat of his gaze made the hairs on my arm stand at attention.
Reaching into my purse, I pulled out a strawberry and crème candy.
“Want one? Whenever I’m nervous, a piece of candy always helps. ”
I held it up, waiting to see if she’d accept it. She smiled widely before reaching for it. “Thank you, Pretty. I feel a little better now.”
I giggled, hearing her call me the same nickname as her brother. “You’re welcome. Now let’s go kick cancer’s ass.”
I held out my hand to help her out the truck then wrapped ours together.
Kalm closed the door and trailed wordlessly behind us.
I glanced over my shoulder to find a pained expression on his face.
He might not say it, but I knew this was killing him.
Since meeting him, one thing I noticed was the love he had for his siblings.
Knowing he couldn’t heal her had to be eating him alive.
“Thank you,” he mouthed when he noticed my eyes were on him.
I gave him a toothless grin and nodded once to let him know it was all good.
He trusted me enough to accompany his sister, and I was going to do everything in my power to be a part of her support system.
I actually liked her and wanted to see her come out on the other side of this diagnosis stronger than ever before.
Leaning closer to her, I whispered, “When we get alone, could you tell me about your brother?”
She stole a glance behind her and snickered. “Whatever you want to know, just ask, and I’ll tell you. Kalm is mostly an open book.” Her eyes landed on me, and she twisted her lips to the side. “Except for you. This is a new chapter for him.”
The automatic doors slid open, and we walked straight inside. For the time being, she was distracted from what was about to happen, and that was all I wanted. I smiled widely, “Tell me more.”