Page 20 of Kairo

“Bullshit,” Mario shouted, interrupting her. “This biker’s club day was my idea.”

She smiled. “Congratulations, love that for you, but if this was your idea, why you come to us?”

Mario said nothing. He just stared at her with evil in his eyes. She was making him look bad and he didn’t like it. For me, this was entertainment.

“Cat got your tongue?” she asked. Mario remained silent. She shook her head. “Men. As I was saying, if we are donating money, the event needs to have both clubs on it. The profit we get from sponsors can go to something for the community to keep the heat off us for a while. Let them know we aren’t just out here committing crimes on a daily.”

“This is fucking nonsense! I ain’t agree to no shit like this. That money was going back to the club so we can have money in our pockets,” Mario confessed. “This was our year to come up with something. Y’all was slow about coming up with an idea. I feel that if it’s my idea I deserve a cut.”

“Well, it’s not. If you don’t agree with it, take your cheap ninety-cent folder and get the fuck out. That’s my stipulation and I ain’t changing shit. Plus, when did we ever start taking the money for ourselves? Don’t act broke. It doesn’t look good on you.”

Junie had a grin on her face. I knew Mario, and one thing he hated was being embarrassed, especially in a crowd. It also didn’t help that Junie was a woman. He looked at Unc. Unc had his eyes on me. There was nothing I could do or say. He put me in this position, and I had to stand behind Junie. Truth be told, I agreed with everything she said. Unc leaned over, whispering in Mario’s ear. A few seconds passed before he pulled back, sitting up straight.

Mario stood. “Deal. But it’ll be held at our site.”

“No, it won’t. It’ll be held at a neutral location.” Junie stood. “Draw up a contract and I’ll sign.” She fixed her jacket. “Anything else?”

Mario’s fists balled up by his side. He clenched his jaw as he stared at her. He wanted to jump stupid. I looked at Junie and she was unfazed. The way she handled this encounter impressed me. Mario, on the other hand, acted like a child who dropped his lollipop in the sand.

“You cool?” Junie asked Mario.

A few people snickered.

“Check yourself, son,” Unc warned Mario.

Mario cleared his throat and straightened his jacket. “I’ll have it to your inbox in twenty-four hours or less.”

Junie smiled. “Thank you. If there is nothing else, I’ll be heading out.” She looked at me. “I’m ready, let’s go.”

She kissed her dad on the cheek and marched out of the door, head high and a switch to her walk. I nodded at everyone at the table, then followed behind her. As she walked in front of me, I couldn’t help the feeling of pride that rushed over me seeing herstrut. Junie had that flame, bite, and courage. Not only did she impress me, but she also had me looking at her in a different light.

I laidin my bed thinking about today’s event. It had been a few months since I rode my mother’s bike up to the lake. I didn’t expect to drive all the way out there, especially with Kairo. The way my body pressed against his while I drove the bike made me feel protected. It felt right. My body molded into his while I bent the corner on the bike. When we made it to the lake, I expected him to judge me for being vulnerable. I was surprised when he listened to everything I had to say. He didn’t laugh nor call me sensitive. He listened with no judgment.

After the meeting at the warehouse, I was exhausted. I had spent all day out and about with Kairo and was ready to sleep. I sat in bed, tossing and turning. It was a bit after midnight and Kairo and I had gone our separate ways. He’d not said anything since we got back. He went to his assigned room, and I went upstairs. That was three hours ago, and he was still on my mind.

I couldn’t figure out why. I wanted to know what he was thinking, even wanted to know what he was doing. Kairo had me intrigued about him and I couldn’t shake it. This mysterious, sexy, dangerous man was unlike anyone I ever came across. It was foreign and now I wanted more. The longer I laid there the more miserable I felt. After everything that happened with Keith and being set up, I vowed to never have another man make melook delusional. I didn’t even mourn the relationship of Keith and me. It wasn’t a breakup; it was a set up. I was glad he was dead. I kept telling myself not to think of Kairo in that way, but my mind was defeated by my heart.

I stood from the bed and grabbed my robe off the door. I opened my bedroom door and noticed the house was dark and quiet. As I made my way down the steps toward Kairo’s room, I realized the light shined from under the door. There was soft music coming from the other side. I knocked softly, not expecting him to hear, but to my surprise, he immediately answered the door.

The wind got knocked out of me when he opened the door shirtless with a pair of gray sweatpants. He wore black, wide framed reading glasses and white socks. His cologne swept across my nose, causing me to drool. Kairo had me ready to risk it all.

“Everything okay, Junie?” he asked.

His voice was lower than usual, and he looked exhausted.

“Did I wake you?”

“Nah, I was just reading some stuff. What’s up?”

I didn’t need anything. Honestly, I wanted to be in his company, but I didn’t want to admit that to him, so I came up with a lie.

“Oh, nothing. I was heading to the kitchen. I saw that your light was on, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Hmm,” he said with a head nod.

“Um…” My brain had shut off. I couldn’t form a sentence suddenly. I was sure the fact that Kairo stood here without a shirt on played a factor.

“Junie, you good?” He chuckled.

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