Page 28

His fingers curled around my AirPod, taking the right one into his hand. Passing cars and the sound of nature waking greeted me. Chirping birds. Mingling insects. The rubber of tires. Feet pressing against the pavement.

Still, Teyana Taylor entertained the other ear. The dissection of me with those amber eyes felt so unnecessarily cruel. I accepted my fate as I took him in.

“Good morning, Rome.”

Dark.

Deep.

Condemning .

His baritone shook me to the core. I stole fresh air from the trees around us, hoping they’d provide enough because with each passing second Saint was depleting my lungs.

“She doesn’t speak– suddenly ,” he teased.

The challenge was immediately accepted. Though I wanted to run in the opposite direction and hide behind my gate, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t .

“Good morning, Saint.”

“I didn’t think you’d mind,” he pointed to the AirPod he’d stuck in his ear.

“I don’t,” I admitted.

“And the run?” He asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t.”

He tilted his head rightward and pursed his lips.

“Good, because it would’ve broken my heart to hear you say otherwise.”

I pushed the saliva down my throat. My belly flipped twelve times. The butterflies were dizzy with the movement, confusing us both. I fought the urge to close my eyes to gather myself, because for once, the dream was nothing in comparison to the reality.

I picked up my pace and set my sight forward. The changing of the song gave me a fresh start. I tried my hardest to push Saint’s presence to the back of my brain. However, it didn’t belong there so it didn’t stay long. Not even for a few seconds.

Fine . I surrendered with a sigh.

I rounded the bend, pushing myself to the point of exhaustion. I lifted my wrist to check my progress, mentally calculating the distance left on the twelve-mile run.

Half of a mile .

I was near my home, but it still felt so far away. My legs and arms tingled. Sharp, invisible needles pricked my skin with each step I made.

Half of a mile, Rome. Keep going .

I was near the finish line. Sweat dripped down my oily frame, rolling right off me and onto the ground. Peering behind me, I watched as August and Koen altered their positions.

They both stood in the middle of the street, prepared to use their bodies as human shields to save mine. So that they weren’t casualties to my cardio addiction, I crossed the street.

They were accustomed to the route now and knew every move I’d made exactly when it was time. Within seconds, we were on the opposite side of the road. Safely, everyone continued their stride.

The lovely home I passed morning after morning came into full view as a lump grew in my throat. My nerve endings began to split.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe, Rome .

I formed a small circle with my lips, hoping to steady my breathing. My lungs were screaming.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe, Rome.

Dramatically, my chest rose and fell. Rose and fell. Rose and fell.

Long fingers gripped my elbow. An even longer frame blocked the sun’s glare, offering shade. I peered up to find Saint staring down at me. His head tipped forward. He was signaling for a change in my direction.

The gates of his parent’s home were still open. A beautifully manicured lawn that was worth a battle with envy and jealousy greeted me from the gates. Though the home in front of us was twice as small as mine, it was incredibly large.

It would house a family of at least six to eight people, comfortably. It was a shade of gray. Modern. Massive. And inviting.

Saint guided me inside, both of our legs still moving. Our speed was uninterrupted until we reached the porch. My hands pressed against my knees as I came to a complete stop. Sweat dripped onto the wooden planks.

“Shit. Let’s rest. You trying to kill a–”

Roof.

Roof.

Rooooof.

Roof!

I stilled, unable to move a muscle. Fear gripped my heart, immobilizing me. My body locked as I plummeted to the ground.

The awful and haunting smell of a canine’s breath hovered over me. Thick, bacteria-infested saliva dripped on my chest as the chubby, saggy face of my aggressor became clearer.

“Leo!” Saint yelled.

“Back– now! Leo.”

He wrestled with the massive chunk of force, trying to rid me of his presence. However, he was on a mission to establish his dominance. Saint’s efforts only enraged him.

Fow .

“ Urrrrrrrrr .”

The furry ball of aggression retreated, instantly.

“ Urrrrrrrrr . Urrrr. Urrrrr!”

He fell over, right beside me, yelping in pain.

“Fuck!” Saint’s hand ran down his face as the whimpers of his pet filled the air.

“It’s in his back, barely. He’ll live. This time ,” August expressed with a shrug.

“It’s not him I’m worried about,” Saint confessed, extending his arm.

I used his strength in collaboration with mine to lift myself from the ground. The towel that hung from Saint’s pocket the entire run was now pressed against my skin. I exhaled, silently thanking God for keeping me. I reopened my eyes to find Saint’s eyes burning holes in my cheeks.

My forehead.

My neck.

My ears.

My shoulders.

He left me riddled. And, when his eyes finally met mine, he threatened to burn them to ash as well.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded with a sigh. I propped a hand on my hip and shifted my weight, nervously. Shame tried having its way with me, but something wouldn’t allow it. Someone wouldn’t allow it. Saint wouldn’t allow it.

“Yes,” I breathed out, barely above a whisper. “Yes, I’m fine.”

My hands were trembling. My breaths were shaky. My thoughts were running rampant.

“I apologize, Rome. He gets excited and doesn’t quite know how to contain himself. It comes off as aggression sometimes, but it’s his way of greeting us. All of us if he could.

“He bites. So, if he meant any harm, harm would’ve been done. Please forgive him. And, forgive me. I should’ve made sure he was put away.”

He cleaned my chest, making sure that any signs of the dog’s saliva were cleared. My body tensed with each stroke of the towel. Having a man’s hands on me was foreign. I hardly understood how such small gestures could result in such massive waves down below.

My mouth dried completely. Anxiousness, which was a trait I simply didn’t possess, locked my limbs. I stiffened like a wooden plank.

“What is it?”

I shook my head, unable to express what was truly happening internally.

“Nothing,” I responded. “I jus– I think I should be heading home.”

Saint nodded, understanding my sudden discomfort. There was so much happening at once and I didn’t thrive in chaos. In fact, it caused a complete shut down. Before I made it to that point, I wanted to remove myself completely.

Saint’s hand lowered and his eyes followed. They fell on his dog, who’d quieted almost completely.

“Give me a second, Rome. I’m going to walk you over. I need to make sure he’s good.”

He squatted, placing a hand on his dog’s back. The rottweiler winced in pain as Saint’s hand glided over his thick coat until he located the wound. It was shallow, barely visible to the naked eye.

“Grazed–” Saint announced.

“Sounds about right,” August confirmed.

Saint’s eyes cut in his direction.

“I figured you didn’t want to use the little energy you had left to dig a grave after that long ass run. But, let his ass try that again and you might just have to.”

August’s words were followed by a shrug. Saint rose to his feet.

“I respect your occupation. I even respect you, but pipe down. All that other shit is unnecessary. Take a lesson from that nigga–” Saint said, pointing to Koen, “Say less.”

“Ain’t a nigga alive can tell me what the fuck to do,” August boasted.

“Yet, you’re employed,” Saint replied with raised brows and his hands in front of him.

“And trained to execute fuck niggas without consequence. Including you.”

Chuckling, Saint shook his head. “I doubt that, and it’s not because I dribble a fucking ball either.”

“You can barely do that shit.”

“Yet your ass is planted in a seat every time a game of mine comes on. Waiting and watching to see how I deliver that W to the city. Nigga, you a fan. I know one when I see one.”

“I done shot niggas for less, playboy. I hate a motherfucker that can’t shut up.”

Saint took the steps, decreasing the space between him and August. I watched… I waited. Admittedly, I wanted to see just how much heart Saint truly possessed, because, although I lived in a glass house, I needed to know he’d break the windows to save me if he had to.

“Then that sounds like a personal problem, my nigga, cause all you do is run your mouth.”

Koen was quick on his feet. He planted his body between August and Saint. He held out his hand, summoning Saint’s. Hesitantly, Saint observed Koen.

“I’m Koen,” he said, clearing his throat. “And, this is my partner August.”

Koen turned around and looked at his partner in crime.

“He irritates me too, sometimes, but he does his job well.”

He tipped his head in my direction.

“She’s precious to him. Precious to me as well. So, there’s no need to get in your feelings about shit he’s saying. He’s testing you. Making sure you can handle her when we’re not around. Just like your dog, he means no harm.

“He shoots. Shooting would be the first response if he felt you were a threat at any capacity. Not talking. He’s done enough of that to let us all know he’s bullshitting. It’s all good, my nigga. We’re playing for the same team now .”

After realizing Saint wasn’t quite ready to make amends, Koen dropped his hand.

“I should be getting her home.”

“We could do that,” Koen assured him with a shrug.

“I’m sure, but I’m going to,” Saint retorted, still trying to center himself after August’s sly remarks.

“Suit yourself,” Koen whispered before turning around.

He ushered Augusti toward the gates, silently chastising him for his erratic behavior. He was the most unpredictable of the two.

Saint beckoned for me, standing at the edge of his parent’s porch. I descended the stairs, resting my palm against his. Our fingers intertwined. My smooth skin thickened with fine bumps all over.