“She’s been through a lot.”
“And so have you,” she replied. “But you ain’t never brought a woman here before. What makes her so special?”
I didn’t answer right away. Allure was the first woman I’ve ever allowed in my space and that was saying a lot. I was super protective over who I allowed in my sanctuary.
This wasn’t a space for women. Not the ones I slept with. Not the ones who begged to get close. After what happened with Malia, I made a promise to myself—I wouldn’t let another woman bring chaos to my door, ever again. This place was supposed to be untouched. Clean. Sacred.
But Allure?
I welcomed her chaos. There was something about her that I couldn’t turn away from. I needed to save her. I needed to look after her.
There was something about her presence from the ==moment I laid my eyes on her. She brought the kind of peace I didn’t know I needed until I saw her curled up in that bed wearing my t-shirt, looking like a secret I wanted to keep forever.
“She needed safety,” I said finally. “And I knew she’d have it here.”
Madeira didn’t press. She just nodded once, like she already understood.
“I’ll get started on breakfast around 9.” she said. “You should go check on her.”
When the door clicked shut behind her, I sat there for a minute longer, staring at the closed laptop on my desk, at the untouched glass of water at my side.
I stood, stretched the tightness from my shoulders, and headed to the bathroom, where I took a hot shower to wash the night off. I knew shit was about to rev up—and it was gonna get crazy real soon.
When I stepped out of the shower, I checked my phone. There it was. The revving up. Rollo had called me three times, So, I called him back.
“Yo!” he answered.
“Nigga, it’s too early for you to be blowin’ up my phone,” I said, trying to play it cool. But I already knew why he was calling.
“My girl is freaking the fuck out. She’s been losin’ it all night. That thick chick she came with? She’s missing. And I know I saw you talkin’ to her at the party. You were the last one seen with her. You know where she is?”
“Yep.”
“Where is she? I need to come get her and bring her back to Irina.”
“She’s with me—and she’s stayin’ with me,” I said, sharp.
“Why? What are you talkin’ about?”
“She ain’t goin’ back to Boaz, aight? Besides, that nigga is under arrest,” I said, rubbing my chin.
“Did you have somethin’ to do with that? You ain’t no snitchin’-ass nigga,” he barked.
“Nah. That wasn’t me. But heisunder arrest. So is his crew.”
“Yeah, but you know he’s gonna get outta that shit sooner or later. Irina’s gonna be in trouble if she don’t get her back.”
“Irina’s gon’ be aight. Because I’m gonna kill Boaz, take out his crew—and you’re gonna help me.”
“Nigga... you tryna start a war.”
“Nah. I’m tryna end one.”
He let out a low laugh, but I could hear the wheels turnin’.
“The King family’s always had a complicated relationship with the Israelis. I was surprised when you started sellin’ animals to that man,” he said.
“Yeah, that was a lil side hobby. Shit’s been chill between us the last few years. But I gotta protect Allure and those other girls. So it is what it is,” I shrugged.