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"Damn, little mama! You sure know how to put it away!”

Groaning as I entered the restaurant, the first thing I heard was Wild’s annoying-ass voice.

I sent him in here to grab us a couple of sandwiches to hold us over until later, and I should have known the task was too much.

The place wasn’t too crowded yet, but that was about to change as soon as people started coming in on their lunch break.

Ducked off in a corner, I could see my brother trying to spit game to some broad that was unbothered by his shit.

“You know, you would be a lot cuter if you weren’t so ignorant.” She rolled her eyes as she continued to eat her Philly cheesesteak. I smirked as she giggled at him. Frowning, he pushed his locs from his face. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to enjoy my lunch in peace.”

“Girl, this is my city. Ain’t no damn peace when I’m around!” He folded his arms and mugged her. “You ain’t from ’round here.”

“Good eye, Adrian.” She clapped sarcastically, causing his arms to fall to his side. “You’re not as slow as I thought you were.”

Placing his hand on his hip, I hurriedly made my way over to diffuse the situation.

He obviously didn’t know her, so her knowing him must have rubbed him the wrong way.

As shady as these hoes are, I can’t say I blame him for reaching for his gun.

Approaching them, I was slightly taken aback when I locked eyes with the beauty.

This girl was hands down the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

Her caramel-colored skin seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights of the restaurant.

With her locs pulled into a tight bun, her round face was on full display, and damn was it a sight to see.

Her cute button nose and round, expressive eyes were perfectly positioned on her heart-shaped face.

A small dimple that played peek-a-boo in her left cheek accentuated her beauty.

With a slow grin, she winked at me before giving her attention back to my brother.

“Who the fuck are you?” He gritted his teeth as he leaned forward and placed the palms of his hands on the table. “How the fuck do you know me?”

“Wild, you said you were going to be in and out.” I tapped him on the shoulder. “We got shit to do.”

“I came over here to speak to this damn girl, and she acts like she knows a nigga,” Wild answered with his eyes still on her. “I’d remember if I fucked you, shorty, because the lips on you ? —”

“Man, come the fuck on!” I snatched him up by the collar. The mystery girl was amused by our interaction as she continued to eat. “You just don’t know what to say to people.”

My brother was the true definition of a crash-out, and shorty didn’t know she was playing with fire.

However, the look on her face told me she wasn’t moved by his demeanor at all.

As he continued to rant, my eyes watched hers dance between the two of us.

The girl seemed familiar, but I’d never seen her before.

There was something about her that told me she wasn’t a regular woman.

Too bad I wasn’t in the running to figure her the fuck out.

“Nice meeting you, Jordan.” She wiped her mouth and hands before standing from her seat. Wild backed up, giving her minimal room to move around. With her hand extended to me, I looked at it as if it was covered in shit. I didn’t know this damn girl either. “I’m Noemi.”

“Noemi?” Wild frowned as he hovered over her.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see an unknown man approaching us, and instantly, I was on high alert.

People were starting to file in, but I wasn’t opposed to airing this bitch out.

“I don’t know no damn Noemi.” Facing me, he tapped my chest with the back of his hand. “You know this broad?”

“Broad?” She giggled lowly as she finally lowered her hand. My eyes followed the movement, taking in her curves as her hand found her hips. Shorty was motherfucking pressure. “I’m a Boudreaux, baby.”

At the mention of her last name, a light went off in my head. Stepping between her and my brother, I folded my arms and dragged my eyes across her frame again. “You’re Andre’s cousin?”

“In the flesh.” She grinned cheekily. “It’s my job to know everything about everyone who works in close proximity to my family, so I’m familiar with you both.

” Turning her attention to my brother, she shook her head before addressing him.

“You are exactly what your name is: Wild. Is that how you approach women in real life?”

“Hell yeah…” He chuckled as he reached out and pulled her into a quick hug, catching her off guard. “I was seconds away from blowing your shit back, girl. Good thing I didn’t because your folks would’ve been pissed.”

Throwing her head back, her laugh seemed to fill the restaurant.

There was something different about this girl, and all I could do was stare.

Dre spoke of his cousin often and talked about how smart she was, but he would describe her in a way that made me feel like she was his kid sister.

The girl before me, decked in all black from head to toe, was a grown-ass woman.

“I’m not worried, love. I keep shooters around me too.

” She winked as she trashed her food just as a man came to stand by her side and size us up.

“Come on, Nicky… we have a lot to do before tonight.” Turning back to face us, she extended her hand once more.

This time, I was inclined to take it. “Again, it was nice to meet you guys.”

“You, too, shorty.” I winked as I placed my hands in hers. Her skin was so soft that I immediately thought of other places she could touch. “I’ll be seeing you around.”

“Definitely.” She giggled before shaking Wild’s hand. “You, too, Adrian.”

“Girl… don’t be calling me by my government name like you know me.” Wild mugged her as we watched her walk away. “Tell your crazy-ass brother to stay his ass away from me too. I got Sweets number on speed dial, and I ain’t afraid to use it.”

Laughing even more, my eyes stayed trained on her as she walked away. The sway of her hips had me hypnotized to the point I didn’t know I’d followed her out of the door until I was approaching her blacked-out truck.

“Noemi!” I called out, stopping her from getting in. “Let me get your number. You know… just in case you need something while you’re in town. This is our city, after all.”

She turned to face me before she could slide into the back of the truck. “How do you know I don’t have a man, Jordan?” The guy she was with had already gotten into the driver’s seat. With a raised brow, she pointed in his direction. “How do you know he wasn’t my man?”

“It wouldn’t matter to me if he was or wasn’t.” I shrugged and answered honestly. “He was going to get his ass beat and possibly a bullet if he bucked stupid. Either way, I’m getting the digits.”

Grinning, she took my phone and input her number. With my hand in my slacks, I watched as she dialed her own phone and logged me in as well. Handing it back to me, she adjusted her Brahmin bag on her shoulder.

“I’m supposed to go back home after the night’s festivities, but I’d be inclined to stay an extra day or two if I had the right incentive.” She bit her bottom lip as she eyed me. “See ya soon.”

Holding the door open for her, I made sure she was settled into her seat before closing it behind her.

Stepping back from the curb, I crossed my arms and watched as the SUV pulled away.

Through the tinted windows, I could still feel her eyes on me, and I couldn’t wait to see Miss. Noemi Boudreaux again.

I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something about this girl that intrigued me.

Even if it was just showing her around the city, I wanted to be in her presence, and from our brief encounter, she proved to want to be in mine too.

I had to shake the other thoughts lingering in my mind, though, because the little head was doing some talking, and it wasn’t saying shit I wanted to hear.

Noemi was fine, but not fine enough to have me shifting my focus. It would always be business only.

“You know… when you asked me to go on a breakfast date, I didn’t think this was what you had in mind.”

Chuckling lowly, I sipped my orange juice as I sat across from her in a crowded IHOP.

Last night, we attended the trafficking auction for the young girls, and I’ll be so glad when this shit is over with.

Knowing that something as deplorable as trafficking was happening in Milly Grove was sickening, but I was thankful that Dre was close to getting the shit squared away.

He’s become the homie, and if he ever needed me to assist him with anything, I was there.

Before we left, I’d pulled Noemi to the side and told her to give me the information for her hotel so that I could pick her up the next day for food. Happily, she agreed.

“What? The Boudreaux Princess too good for fuckin’ pancakes.” I smirked at a cute little frown appearing on her face. “Were you expecting something a little more upscale?”

“Boy, please.” She balled up a napkin and threw it at me. “I’m a vibe wherever I go. I just expected to go to a place like this with Wild. It fits his personality more.”

As the waitress placed our food we’d ordered before us, I laughed internally at the way Noemi watched her watch me.

From the time we stepped foot in here, all eyes have been on us.

Noemi was bad, dressed in hip-hugging jeans and a baby tee.

Her Chanel sandals with the matching bag let me know that she was comfortable being a plain jane but could pop her shit if she wanted to.

“Is there anything else I can do for you, Skip?” The waitress nibbled her bottom lip as she placed her hand on my shoulder. “I’m here for whatever…”