Chapter 2
Yet again, I slept through my alarm, which was ridiculous, seeing as I didn’t have to get up for my shift until ten in the morning.
Most of my nights were spent watching Chinese women on TikTok sell and pack beads while I made bracelets myself.
I’m not quite sure how the addiction started. Well, yes, I do.
One day, I was randomly scrolling and saw a lady packing bead orders.
The ASMR of her voice and the sound of the scooped beads put me to sleep.
Then, curiosity had me buying so I could see my own order packed.
One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I had a whole room dedicated to making beaded bracelets, beaded plants, and suncatchers.
The good thing about my job was my boss wouldn’t care too much about me being late, seeing as though she was my mother.
I didn’t like to take advantage of that fact, though, because when I was late, my team was shorthanded, and Ma’s restaurant was always super busy.
Since I was late, that meant I had to scramble around the house while I rushed to get ready.
We opened the restaurant at eleven, and I was pretty sure there would be a line waiting at the door.
Ma’s restaurant was a staple in The Hills.
She’d retired from teaching to do the second thing she loved most—cooking.
The great thing about Southern Delightz was it was soul food that our customers could eat every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and not have to worry about the typical health problems that plagued our community like diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
Our menu was a healthy take on the classics without everything being high in fat, sugar, or deep fried.
Now we did still have the staples like fried chicken and fish, but we also offered baked and vegetarian options.
I was a waitress for now, but eventually, I’d take over when Ma retired.
My plan was to expand and open more restaurants, including buffets.
I put my nutrition degree to use to help Ma come up with the menu, and I also offered meal planning and nutritional coaching on the side.
Not only did Southern Delightz operate as a sit-down restaurant, but we also outsourced private and personal chefs and catered events.
While I was the team lead for the waitresses, Sidney was over the private chefs, bringing in crazy business just by having Caden alone as her client, and my girl Yana was over the catering department. She and Ashley were my best friends, and Ashley and I had been friends since high school.
When I went to college, I didn’t think I’d continue to work at the restaurant after I graduated, but honestly, I had no reason to leave.
I made very good money in tips because the restaurant was always packed, and even if I didn’t, Daddy set me and Ma up financially with his insurance policies.
Truthfully, I would have preferred to have him here instead, but with the money he left behind, I was able to buy my first home and my dream car, which was a blue BMW M4.
Just thinking about him made my heart squeeze.
He’d warned us over the years and tried to prepare us in case he died on the job, but no amount of preparation made losing my father easy.
Hearing that he was gunned down on the streets, blood spilling on concrete, still haunted me.
What made it worse was they still hadn’t found the man who’d killed him.
Daddy wasn’t even supposed to be working a case.
He was the captain and should have been behind a fucking desk.
Instead, he was following up on some lead an informant had given him, and in the process, he’d paid the ultimate price for his devotion to his badge.
With a sigh, I rounded my bed and went to my closet to grab my uniform for the day.
I decided on a pair of jeans and my short sleeved Southern Delightz shirt.
After unbuttoning the first three buttons, I tied a thin red scarf around my neck for a pop of color that would match my lipstick.
Before I could unroll my hair, there was a knock on my door.
At first, I didn’t bother answering. I figured it was a delivery, because most people in my life knew I’d be at work or on my way there.
When the knocking started up again, I grabbed my phone to look at my security camera.
My eyes rolled at the sight of Chris. Not because I didn’t like my godfather, but because I didn’t have the time to talk.
Rushing down the stairs, I hoped he didn’t want to sit and talk. I didn’t know why Chris hated using the phone. A lot of what he popped up to talk about could be texted. It always tickled me because he was only in his late forties but acted like he hated using cell phones.
I opened the door, not even bothering to invite him in as I leaned against it and said, “Hey, Chris. What’s up?”
“Can I come in, GD? We need to talk.”
There was no way I could deny him when he called me GD. It was the cutest reminder that I was his goddaughter.
“Yes, but I don’t have much time. I’m already late for work.”
“Of course,” he grumbled before laughing with a shake of his head. “I’ll make this quick.”
I held the door open wider as he walked in and closed it behind him. “What’s up?”
“I just wanted to come and warn you.” Between his ominous statement and serious expression, I grew concerned. “He’s out.”
“Who’s out?” I questioned, unsure where he was going with this. I didn’t have the time or patience for a slow conversation.
“Wicked.”
If life could have temporarily left me, it would have. My heart felt like it stopped at the sound of his name.
Wicked.
The boy, the man, who’d saved me.
Wicked.
My biggest crush and most unfulfilled desire.
I already felt boy crazy over him before he saved me, but when he killed Mario, I became borderline obsessed.
Feelings consumed me for years after what happened.
I went from gratitude and love to guilt over him going to jail back to gratitude and loyalty to love and then nothing.
Nothing for years because I couldn’t talk to him.
Then Daddy died and Wicked reached out to offer his condolences.
He had one of his friends, Cole, come to the restaurant to give me a letter and flowers.
At the funeral, both Sonny and Cole showed up on Wicked’s behalf.
Even after that, Wicked still didn’t want to see me.
I thought maybe, just maybe, he’d approve a visit from me, but he didn’t.
All I’d ever wanted to do was thank him for saving me, but I never had the chance. Not face to face at least.
“I thought he got fifteen years?” I asked breathlessly, not really knowing what else to say.
“Yeah, but we knew he’d only serve ten. I honestly thought he’d only have to do seven. Must’ve gotten into some shit while he was there.”
“Oh,” I muttered absently, heart racing and body warming over this new revelation.
“Has he stopped by yet? It’s clear you didn’t know he was out, but I still have to ask. Have you noticed anyone hanging around or—”
“N-no,” I stammered, clutching my beating heart. “I haven’t seen him. I haven’t talked to him since . . .”
His head hung and nodded. “If you hear from him, tell me immediately. I need you to stay away from him. He’s dangerous, Jelai. Now I don’t think he’ll try to reach out to you, but on the off chance you see him out and about, ignore him.”
Brows wrinkling, I shook my head. “I don’t understand. The man gave up ten years of his life for me. I have to thank him. I have to make up for that.”
“You don’t have to make up for shit,” Chris countered quickly.
“Wicked chose to do what he did. He wasn’t a hero; he was a fucking monster.
He killed Mario with his bare hands, and you need to stay away from him.
Not only is he dangerous, but there’s no doubt in my mind that The Wilted Roses and The RVH Outlaws are going to have an even bigger war now that he’s out.
I can’t be worried about you every second of the day, so promise me you’ll stay away from him. ”
Truth was, I couldn’t promise him that, because if I had the chance, I was going to thank Wicked for what he’d done for me.
Daddy had drilled in my head enough times over the years to stay away from men in motorcycle clubs because they were whorish with no discipline and no good.
On top of that, he swore they were all violent and not to be trusted.
I’d never believed that, but he said it so much it resonated with me.
From what I’d seen with TWR, they were protectors, not violent men. What Wicked did for me was proof of that. Still, I had to admit I was one of those people who let rumors and scandals involving some warp my perception of them all.
“The man didn’t let me visit him, and every letter I sent him received no response. The only correspondence he acknowledged from me was a thank you letter Daddy gave him, so I don’t think you have to worry about him and me, Chris.”
“All the same. Stay away from him. He’s no good. If you see him, I need you to tell me immediately, okay?”
“Okay,” I agreed, more so just to get him to leave.
We hugged quickly and said our goodbyes before he left.
By the time I made it upstairs, Chris was knocking again.
Growling, I rushed down the stairs and swung the door open.
I was unable to hold my irritation in as I said, “I said I’d tell you when I .
. .” Instantly, my shoulders slouched and my mouth snapped shut.
It didn’t matter how much time had passed.
I’d never forget those eyes, that dark skin, that face. “See him.”