Page 8 of Hood Legacy

Hood opened the door to the weight room, and we left. The walk through the tunnels to the garage was quick, even though we strolled. Hood had a natural swag to his walk that emphasized his bow-leggedness and sex appeal. When we got to my car, I pressed the small button on the handle to disengage the locks and pulled the door open.

“Thank you for walking me to my car,” I said.

Givens checked our surroundings, then turned his attention to me and nodded. “It’s nothing,” he said slowly. “What’s that?” I threw my bag into the car and looked up to see what had his attention.

“What?”

He stepped into my space and reached around me to pick up a black rose under my windshield wiper. My face twisted in annoyance, and I shrugged. My attention wasn’t on my car, so I didn’t notice the rose, but I wasn’t surprised.

“You got secret admirers and shit, Point Guard?” he asked as he rolled the rose between his index finger and thumb.

“I guess you could say that,” I said, then put my hand out for the rose. Hood lifted his brow in question but didn’t move to give me the flower. “Sometimes, I randomly get flowers.” I pointed to my back seat, where I’d thrown the random flowers I’d been left over the last few days. “I have no clue who is leaving them.”

“You only get them when you’re here?” he asked, and I shook my head. “No?”

“Most of the time, it’s here,” I answered with a shrug. “I’m pretty sure it's innocent, but I’m taking precautions, too.”

“Like?” His attention was on the rose in his hand, but when he looked up at me, I could feel the anger he was trying to keep at bay.

“I have a running log of location, time, and kind of flower. It’s not always roses,” I answered, and he nodded. “I’ve already gone to the police, but they said it wasn’t anything they could do because someone was just leaving flowers.”

“Whoever it is, is playing with their life,” he chuckled lowly and shook his head. “Call me next time you’re out and get one.”

“I can handle it,” I insisted, but Hood shook his head.

“Call me, Point Guard,” he repeated. “I don’t give a fuck about the time or where you’re at. Dial my fuckin’ number.” I opened my mouth to reply, but he closed the distance between us, and I had to look up at him. Even though I was a tall woman, standing at five-ten without shoes, Hood still had a few inches on me. “It ain’t up for debate. Call my shit. You understand?”

“Yes,” I answered as I stared up at him.

“Alright, now get out of here; text me when you make it home.” He quickly kissed my forehead and stepped back. Instantly, I missed the heat of his body and wanted him to invade my space again.

I got in the car, pressed the push to start, and then closed my door once Hood was satisfied and stepped back. I gave him a small wave, put the car in drive, and pulled out of my parking space.

I turned onto the highway and waited for my phone to connect my call.

“What’s up?” Mercy said, sounding out of breath.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I maneuvered my car through traffic. “And why do you sound out of breath?”

“I was having a Nerf gunfight with Judah, Deuce, and Faylin,” she laughed. “What are you doing?”

“Just leaving the arena,” I answered. “I saw your man there.”

“Yeah, he just texted me and said he had to handle something with Hood and Pyrite, so he would be home later than expected,” she said. “Oh, you should come over.”

“Why?” I said, even though I was switching lanes to get off the highway. Mercy’s house wasn’t too far from mine. “What’s going on?”

“Deuce is here, and Faylin is going out on a date,” she laughed, and I shook my head. Even though Deuce was six, he’d declared that Givens’ daughter was his future wife and was sticking to his word. Her going on a date was going to cause some havoc.

“Does he know?” I asked.

“Nope,” she replied. “He wasn’t supposed to be here, but he and Judah popped up about an hour ago with Krude and didn’t want to leave. I told him I would take them home later.”

“You set up your daughter,” I jokingly accused her.

“No, I completely forgot about her going out until she reminded me while we were playing. I called Cross to see if she or Nine could pick him up, but they are on the other side of the town and won't get here in time.”

“Who is she going out with?” I got off the highway and made my way to her house.

---