Page 17 of Finding My Bodyguard

“Naw, I think we can manage. Tell yo’ ma I said thank you. We’ll be back by tomorrow.” London stood from the table.

“It was nice meeting you, Monroe. Ma said you’ll be here for a while. Maybe we can hang out sometime.”

“Maybe.” I turned to London. “Would that be okay?” He stared at me for a moment before answering.

“You don’t have to ask me permission. You are free to do what you want.” He shrugged. It was a habit for me to ask someone before I went or did anything. Places and people always had to be vetted first. My father didn’t want me to be around people who could potentially harm me, and Kashus just wanted me to stay locked up in the house so he could be free to do as he pleased.

“Anytime you get bored with Royale, hit me up. I’ll show you the fun places on the island. Here, put my number in your phone.”

I looked down, not sure what to say. I had left my phone back in Miami with my old life. “Um, I don’t have one… it’s um…”

“She broke it before she got on the plane. I gotta take her to get a new one today or tomorrow,” London interjected.

“Oh, okay, well, get it from London when you get your phone fixed. I gotta get back to work before my ma starts complaining.” She walked off waving.

“Okay, thank you!” I shouted as she disappeared into the kitchen.

“Come on now, Chocolate.” London took my hand and pulled me out of the booth. He guided me out of the restaurant. I could barely walk as we strutted along the water toward the shelter.

“So, a surgeon who was bred to be a gangster… Do you ever think about going back? Do you ever feel guilty for abandoning your family?”

That very thought had been plaguing my mind. Not marrying Kashus wouldn’t just affect me but my entire family. London smirked.

“In the beginning when I was in school, yes. My pops isn’t too happy about my decision. I haven’t felt guilty in a long time, though. I didn’t abandon my family. It’s quite the opposite. I’ve given my family a new path… a new beginning… an option. My sister Samara could have been moving cocaine across state lines, but because of me, she’s a nurse practitioner.”

I nodded my head as he spoke.

“Nurse Samara is your sister!” I exclaimed.

“Yes,” he replied as we continued to walk. London grabbed my hand, causing me to stop in my tracks.

“Sometimes choosing you can open the doors for others to do the same. Never feel guilty for choosing you—even if it’s over family.”

I took a deep breath as what he said took residence in my head. London had found a meaningful life outside of his family traditions. It gave me hope that I could one day have the same. As we walked, we talked more about our lives. It was so easy to talk to him. It felt like we’d known each other for more than a few hours.

“Here we are, Royale Children’s Home.” He pointed toward the small building that resembled a school. “Casita de ninos Royale,” he repeated in Spanish.

“It’s named after you.” My eyebrows knitted together.

“Yeah, I own it.” London guided me up the stairs of the shelter.

“You own a children’s shelter?” My mouth dropped open. The more I learned about Dr. London, the more infatuated with him I became.

“Yeah, it’s small right now—just about a dozen kids. They are all kids that have been affected by my family’s cartel. They’ve either been abandoned by drug addicted parents or orphaned by cartel violence. Some have experienced both.” He punched in a door code and turned the knob to open the door.

“This is really noble of you,” I spoke.

“I’ve seen firsthand how drugs affect our communities. The children are the ones left to suffer most of the time. I can’t change my family's past, but I can help to change the future.”

I smiled as we walked into the shelter. This man had to be too good to be true.

“Royale!” Several children came running. They all wore different skin tones and facial features. Some were boys, and some were girls.

“I have food!” London held up the bags.

“From Vanessa’s!” one of the boys shouted as he took the food out of London’s hands and ran toward the kitchen. The rest of the kids followed him.

“Make sure everyone gets a fair amount!” London shouted behind them as I took in my surroundings. This was a nice place. The furniture resembled the kind that London had in his villa. He had the children living just as nice as he was, and that was saying a lot about his character.

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