Page 83 of Rose
Her tone was soft. Peaceful. A complete shift from the woman who had just been unraveling in his arms. Savior blinked slowly, nodding. “Yeah... but first, you gotta let me know you good. You hit me with that hook like you’ve been training with Tyson. And you were shaking like crazy, Allure.”
Ahzii looked down, voice barely audible. “I’m good now… the fire just—it took me back to a time in my life when I lost everything. Like I was reliving it all over again.”
She didn’t go into detail. She didn’t have to.
Savior’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t press. Not yet.
“That place responsible for the burn mark on your neck you try to cover with that tattoo?”
She nodded and looked away.
“My neck... and other places I keep hidden.”
“Look at me, Allure.”
His voice was low—gentle, not demanding.
Slowly, her eyes came back to his.
“The rings... around your neck. Is what you lost connected to them?”
Her breath caught. She winced, just slightly.
“I’m not ready to talk about that,” she said quietly, pain heavy in every syllable.
He nodded once. No questions. No pressure. Just respect.
“I get it. I shouldn’t have asked. I don’t regret blowing that nigga’s car to hell, but I ain’t mean to put you back in that headspace. I didn’t know. Seeing you with him—or any nigga, really—makes me do wild shit.”
Ahzii gave a weak laugh, shaking her head. “I think wild is just in your DNA. I told Sarai her idea was dumb as fuck. Iknewgoing out with Kiyan was a bad idea.”
“Should’ve listened to yourself, not my sister,” he said with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes but didn’t disagree. “You broke into that man’s house and threatened to shoot his basketball knees. And then tonight? That shit was insane.”
Savior stepped closer, his tone dropping. “Insane is watching you give your time to someone who don’t even realize how fucking rare you are. That nigga couldn’t even put his phone down for you. Me? I’d burn the whole goddamn world just to have five minutes alone with you.”
Ahzii stared at him, her heart pounding again—but not from fear this time. Something about his madness pulled at the broken pieces inside her. It was toxic. Reckless. Dangerous.
But it wasreal.
And part of her craved that more than she wanted to admit.
“Why are you so damn crazy over me?” Ahzii asked, her voice low but sharp, a challenge laced in every word.
Savior didn’t answer right away. He just started walking toward the shoreline, the waves glowing beneath the moonlight like they were calling him home. She followed his gaze and froze when she spotted the massive mansion in the near distance. It sat high above the sand like something out of a movie—modern, bold, cold as hell, yet somehow breathtaking.
“That’s your house?” she asked, eyes wide. “It’s so damn big... and it’s just you?”
He chuckled. “Yeah. Me, Brasi, and Bishop. My pits.”
Ahzii raised an eyebrow. “Who you work for—the White House or something?”
He smirked, the corner of his mouth lifting into something darker. “Nah. A family way more dangerous than that.”
Her smile faded a little at the weight of his words. She didn’t ask for details. Didn’t need to.
“Back to your first question…” he said, dropping down in the sand. He leaned back like he had all the time in the world, then pulled her down with him—settling her between his legs, his arms draped over her like a lock she didn’t have the strength to fight. Not tonight.
