Page 58 of Invisible Bars

“Why does this sound like more than you just trying to protect yourself?”

I didn’t answer right away.

“I might have to marry her,” I revealed.

Dessign whipped her head so fast, I damn near heard thecrack. “Say what now?”

“Not just for me,” I added, leaning back on the couch. “For her protection, too. Like I told Chi, her, and now you—she can’t testify against me if she’s my wife. It’s clean… tight.”

“I understandthatpart, but Imanio, you’re talking about marrying a girl youkidnapped… afterthreedays? Not even a full three days, bro. That’s not even a full business week! Not to mention, she’s someone you knowvery littleabout, I’m assuming. Besides her having Tourette, have you doneanyother health screens on her? STDs? Therapy logs? Hell, a criminal record?”

I lifted a brow.

“In no way, shape, or form am I speaking ill on the girl or people with that condition,” Dessign continued, raising her hands like she had to cover her own ass. “You know I’m the last person to talk about anybody in any condition. I’m just saying, you may be taking in someone who comes with more problems than you can handle. Are you ready for that?”

Her words were a bit harsh but not untrue.

I stared at the floor, quiet for a second too long.

Was I really ready for that?

Ready to deal with the tics, the panic attacks that came out of nowhere, her outbursts that weren’t attitude, but fear disguised in loud syllables and twitching muscles? Ready to watch her flinch at sudden movements or cry over things I couldn’t see? Ready to share space with someone who didn’t trust me… and probably never would? Not only that, but the attention. The headlines. The damn blogs.

Somehow, despite all that, I still wanted her there. Not out of guilt. Not out of obligation. But because I saw her—even in her most unstable moments—and something in me still softened. And that’s what scared me the most.

“Imanio,youmarrying a girl with Tourette’s will be one for the books. Someone ofyourimage? Oh, the headlines will eat that up!” Dessign kept going bringing me out of my thoughts.

I shrugged. “I’ve been in worse headlines. Then again, maybe this one will be the worst.”

“Right. And what about Mama?”

“What about her?” I frowned, unbothered.

“I’m saying, have you thought about whatshe’sgoing to think about all of this?”

“You sounding like Chi right now. But I’ma tell you like I told his ass—I don’t give adamn. This ismylife.Mydecision.Nothers.”

Dessign tilted her head with a knowing sigh. “Imanio, Iknowyou don’t care. Hell, the shit she says to me goes through one ear and out the other like it’s on rollerblades. But youknowhow she felt about me accepting Chi’s proposal. She’s still trying to convince me to rethink my decision. Talkin’ ’bout, ‘I had a dream and it rained.’ Like, what does that even mean?”

I chuckled low under my breath.

“I’m just saying, I don’t want any extra drama to come because of this. You know how petty mama can be… at least I do.”

Dessign rolled her eyes, probably thinking about all the shit mama did to try and separate her and Chi.

“I’ll protect her.” That time, the words didn’t come out rushed or unsure. They landed steady—because I meant every single one. “But to answer your question about the health screen, I haven’t, but I will.”

Dessign was quiet for a long time, then rolled back a few inches and crossed her arms.

“Well, whatever you decide to do in life, you know youalwayshave my vote. But does this girl even know marriage is on the table?”

“She knows; I gave her a day to think about it.”

“A day? 24 hours? Really, Imanio?”

“What? You think I should change it to 48 hours?”

Dessign shook her head. “Typical you. But what if she says no? Because that’s surely not enough time for a girl to think about if she wants to accept her kidnapper’s marriage proposal.”