Page 14 of Hood Legacy

“It’s his job,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s paid to protect me.”

“And how well has that been going?” Aceyn lifted his brow and waited. “Now, you have two options: you can go along with this, or I can take you along, but understand that both end with you and me riding this out.”

Images of me riding his dick flashed in my mind, and I shook my head. Fucking Aceyn was the last thing I needed to be thinking about, but I couldn’t help it. He was gorgeous, and the way he looked at me had my panties wet. I couldn’t place his scent, but whatever it was smelled damn good, and I’d only ever smelt it on him.

“I don’t want to be a burden, Aceyn,” I said, then started walking again. I needed to get away from him before I threw caution to the wind and did something stupid. “I can handle what’s going on with me.”

“Then me being here is just an added bonus,” he declared. We made it to the elevator, and he pressed the down button. The doors opened, and we stepped inside. “You hungry?”

“Huh?” I looked over my shoulder to see him staring at his phone with a twisted expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he answered with a shake of his head. “Just something I gotta handle.”

“Go take care of it,” I suggested, and he smirked. “Look, I know you think you need to be my shadow, but I’m good. I’m going to grab something to eat, go home, shower, and go to bed. Nothing crazy, nothing wild.”

“Nah,” he denied. “We are going to get something to eat; you can shower and then sleep once I know you’re good.” I opened my mouth to protest, but he stepped into my space and smiled at me. “I’m trying hard to be a gentleman right now and not show out because you’re testing my patience, but don’t push it, Point Guard. I already know you’re hiding something, so unless you’re trying to let that shit out, you might want to let me do what the fuck I need to do.”

“I want seafood,” I said, nodding.

A tug pulled at Aceyn’s sexy ass lips, and he gave me a single nod. He stepped back when the elevator doors opened. Aceyn pulled me back by my bag and shook his head. “Don’t get off until I tell you to.” He pulled his gun from his waist and then stepped off the elevator with a mug on his face. Bowlegged and all, he swagged over to my car and looked around. He ran his tongue over his teeth, pulled his phone from his pocket, and gave me his back. Whatever he was saying was low, and I couldn’t hear him, but I could tell he was angry by his stiff back and the way he kept tapping the butt of his gun against his head. He finally hung up the phone and stuffed his phone into his pocket before turning to me. “Come here, Point Guard.”

I stepped off the elevator and approached him. My eyes went to him then to the car to see a bouquet of yellow roses sitting in my passenger seat. My grip on my gym bag tightened, but that was the only outward display of anger.

“Yeti had the garage locked down from when you arrived until now. The only people that have been allowed in here are basketball-associated,” Aceyn said.

I looked at him and nodded. “Okay,” I replied. I overslept this morning and got a late start; usually, I was here by seven, but I got here closer to ten. I opened my driver's door and tried to get in, but Aceyn stopped me. “What?”

“You didn’t lock your car?” he questioned. I dug into my pocket and pulled out my keys.

“I have keyless entry,” I answered.

Aceyn took my keys and shook his head. “Nah, you didn’t press the button on the handle; they were already unlocked.” He stuffed my keys into his pocket and took my hand. “Yeti is going to run the cameras back; hopefully, we will see something this time.”

“Where are you going?” I asked as we walked away from my car.

“My truck,” he said as we approached a white G-Wagon. He unlocked the doors and opened the passenger door for me. “Get in.”

“I just want to go home.”

“Nah,” he laughed and shook his head. “We going to eat. Now, get in.”

I debated if I wanted to argue, but my stomach growled, and I knew that it was useless. Plus, I wanted to get the hell out of this garage and as far away as possible. I got into the truck, gave Aceyn my bag, and buckled my seat belt. He closed the door, put our bags in the back, and then rounded the car. The entire time he checked his surroundings, he wore a serious expression. When he got in, he started the truck, put on his seat belt, and drove off.

I expected us to go downtown, but he went in the opposite direction. We pulled up to a small, hole-in-the-wall seafood market and exited the car. I didn’t expect to see the full food display or the delicious smell when we walked in.

“I knew I would see your ass before the end of the night,” a short woman behind the counter said. She wiped her hands, then leaned against it and smiled. “You having your regular?”

“If you knew, why my shit ain't ready, then?” Aceyn laughed and shook his head. The woman behind the counter playfully rolled her eyes and waved him off. “As a big cousin, you are legit slacking right now.”

“Bull shit, Hood,” she laughed. Her eyes went to me, and they lifted in surprise. “Now, how did my cousin snag your attention?”

“Damn, you trying to say I don’t have pull?” Aceyn answered before I could, and the woman shrugged. He threw his arm over my shoulder and pulled me close. “Point Guard, this is my cousin, Bright; she owns this place.” He wore a proud smile as he looked around. “I have been coming here since college, mooching off her.”

“I’m glad you acknowledged that,” Bright said as she stood. I compared their features and was surprised at how much they favored each other.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Aceyn questioned. He rubbed his stomach and chuckled. “I've always been a fan of food; you can cook. I know my lane, don’t think I’m a fool, and don’t know who kept me fed when my Mama was mad at me.”

“Speaking of your Mama–”

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