Page 14 of Dr. Bell

“If that’s how you feel, you can’t give a fuck about ya sister, which I know isn’t the case.”

“I love my fuckin’ sister. Which is why I don’t want her fuckin’ wit’ a nigga like you.” He pointed out the expensive paintings lining the hallway and the equally expensive chandelier dangling from the ceiling. “You hide behind that fuckin’ doctor title but clearly, you more than that.”

Humble’s door opened. I held my hand up to keep him from coming into the hall. Disrespecting me was surely to have Humble putting his hands on Quilo, and we couldn’t have that.

“The fuck you gon’ do?” Quilo blasted. Peace’s door opened next, followed by Pretty’s door. The concern on her face fucked with me.

“Humble. Peace. I got this. Pretty, rest like I asked you to, lil’ baby. He’s good.” Although I was a stranger, she had to learn to trust me if this shit was going to be anything outside of unorthodox.

Once the doors were closed, I advanced on Quilo until his back hit the wall behind him. Defiance seeped from his pores.

Lowly, I said, “I’m big dog ‘round this muthafucka. I can understand that you don’t like that, but you gon’ respect me inthis bitch. Most importantly, you gon’ do what the fuck I say. If not for ya ungrateful ass, you gon’ do it for ya sister who’s sacrificing her own fuckin’ life to save you, lil’ nigga.”

He glanced off, avoiding eye contact.

“I fuck with the fact that youthinkyou love ya sister. However, you gon’ watch how you talk to her, too. Lower yo’ fuckin’ tone and talk to her like the responsible fuckin’ adult that she is. Does she have to marry me? No, the fuck she doesn’t. Is she doing it to save yo’ life? Yes, the fuck she is. As a fuckin’ man, you should honor the fact that she’s willing to lay aside whatever life she had to see to it that you can live yours. Do you understand me?”

He responded with, “Whateva, bruh.”

I’d take that. For now. If I didn’t get him out of my face, I’d yoke his ass up.

“For now, you’ll share Peace’s room. We’ll get ya room together tomorrow.”

He curtly nodded. I knocked on Peace’s door, then waited for Quilo to enter.

I glanced at Peace, who ducked his head in acknowledgement before closing the door.

Sighing, my shoulders finally relaxed until a door cracked open.

“Dr. Bell… Adir, I mean.”

My shoulders tensed again. This time for another reason.

“Yes, Pretty.”

She tiptoed my way. Only then did I realize that she was freshly showered, and wearing one of the lounge sets from the walk-in closet. Her hair was slightly damp at the tips and brushed her forehead. I gulped hard as fuck when her scent made it to my nose.

“As beautiful and luxurious as it is, I’m not sure if I can sleep in that big ass room alone,” she whispered. Her cheeks darkenedas her slightly puffy eyes lowered to the floor. She’d been crying again.

“I promise you’re safe here.”

“I know… I just…” Her words trailed off as she twiddled her thumbs.

“Grab what you need and come with me.”

She pivoted on her pretty feet and hurried back to the room. Seconds later, she came back out with a single pillow. Leading her down the stairs, we walked through the living room and kitchen and down the hall leading to my bedroom.

Her eyes widened when she walked inside my bedroom.

“This is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.”

I smirked. My bedroom was something I took pride in. After a long day or night of working, all I wanted to do was come in here and crash. My bed was large enough for me and whatever woman shared it with me, which was few and far between. I didn’t want my boys seeing me bringing in women left and right, so I went out of my way to make sure no woman came here. The last woman to step foot in this house was still begging to get back in.

“What’s up those stairs?”

The lighted staircase led to an upper deck.

“My closet and bathroom.”

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