Page 13 of To Love and Protect
“Real talk, though, Echelon back in the day is unbeatable,” Remedie reasoned. She had completely forgotten what their mission was and hadn’t even realized that they were close to her house.
Nico held a fist out to her, and she dapped it, noticing his bruised knuckles.
“You ain’t told a lie there. I wish he would do us a solid and release somethin’ new.”
Remedie shook her head. “He’s not. That man is retired and collecting money. I respect it.”
Nico glanced at her and must have noticed the faraway look on her face as she stared out the window. “Let me find out you want to retire already. You ain’t nothin’ but twenty-one,” he joked.
“You’re hilarious,” she said dryly. “I’m thirty-four, but it feels like I’m much older. I love cooking. I’ll always cook, but sometimes I do wish I didn’t have to work so hard still. I been doing that shit since I was young. I’ve never had anyone but myself, . . . well, and Isla, but you know what I mean. It would be nice to live like Echelon and sit back and collect money.”
“Your folks weren’t around?” Nico asked.
“Grew up in the system. My foster mom was okay, I guess, but I haven’t kept in touch with her.”
“No siblings?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Damn. I can’t imagine that. I ain’t ever knew my pops, but I always had my mom and Ree. Then I met Gramps. He taught me everything I knew and been the father figure I always needed. I don’t think I would have made it without them. You strong for that, for real.”
Remedie’s shoulders bobbed up and down. “I guess. It’s the only life I know, so I don’t really look at it as nothing but survival.”
“That ain’t no way to live,” Nico muttered as he pulled up to her house. “This you?”
She felt thankful for the subject change. It got a little too close to vulnerability there, and she didn’t want his pity.
“Yeah, this is it.” She unbuckled her seat belt and waited patiently for him to open her door.
When he did, his beautiful smile greeted her. “Good girl. I love a fast learner.”
She scoffed. “I just didn’t feel like hearing your mouth because I chose to open my own damn door.”
“Feisty, just how I like ’em,” he teased as he helped her out of the car.
Nerves bounced around her as she slowly walked toward the front door. Just before they got there, she stopped and turned around. He almost collided with her but caught himself at the last second. His hand, however, wrapped around her waist out of instinct.
“Remember you promised to be on your best behavior.” She reminded him of his pinky promise earlier.
“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted down at her, and she rolled her eyes.
“Are you always like this?”
“Yes.” The fact that he didn’t ask her to clarify was funny in itself. Remedie could tell right then and there that Nico knew exactly who he was and was more than comfortable with himself. She loved the confidence. Remedie lifted her fist to knock, but Nico stopped her. “Fuck you doin’? You got a key. This yo’ shit, ain’t it?” He held up her keyring, which he still had from earlier, and moved to unlock the door. The audacity he had to make that move turned Remedie on. She stood back and watched as he entered the house first, scoping it out before looking back at her. “Go ’head and grab everything you need.”
“Who the fuck—” Zayden’s words stopped short as he rounded the corner and saw Nico and Remedie standing there.
He looked a mess with a dingy white tank that was too small for him and a pair of cotton shorts with a hole in the thigh. Hehad a bowl of cereal in his hand, and his hair still hadn’t been cut.
Nico laughed. Like, really laughed. The sight of Zayden must have really tickled him because he bent over and slapped his knee and everything before looking back at Remedie. “This the kind of niggas you into for real? Let me find out I need to dirt-ify myself to pull you.”
Remedie’s face scrunched up at the same time embarrassment filled her. Zayden truly was an embarrassment, and she really didn’t have much of a response to that.
“Please don’t.” It was all she could say as she glanced at Zayden. “I’m just here to grab some more of my things.”
“And you thought it was a good idea to bring a nigga with you?” Zayden asked as he eyed Nico. “Up inmyshit?”
“Your shit? You’re only here because I don’t want to go back and forth with you about leaving anymore,” Remedie replied with attitude.
