Page 17 of The Greek's Destruction

GeeGee glances over at me, then gives me as inviting smile. “Aren’t you pretty.”

“Thank you,” I blush.

Zar releases one of his arms, moving to the side so they both can see me. “GeeGee, this is Nina. My Nina.”

GeeGee laughs, swatting his chest. “Boy, I know who she is, hell you can clearly see she’s the same girl from the picture. Nina, it’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m GeeGee Valentine, and you let me know if you need anything, you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

GeeGee pushes Zar away from her, saying, “Brunch is almost ready. Show Nina to her room, then come back to eat. I know you haven’t fed then girl yet.” She eyes him from head to toe, giving him a pitiful expression as she shakes her head, then picks the spoon back up.

“Well come on, you heard what she said,” Balthazar states, lacing his hand with mine, then dragging me out of the kitchen.

After showing me his den, game room, office, and three large fully furnished guest rooms, one of which I thought would be mine, Zar led me down a hallway that ended with one door.

“You will be staying in here with me. There’s no way I can have you under the same roof as me, and not be able to sleep next to you,” he says, twisting the knob, then pushing the door open.

I gasp taking in the spacious room. There’s a king size cream platform bed facing the door with matching dressers, armoire, and nightstands. The room is decorated in cream and black. Sitting on top of the cream and black ottoman at the end of the bed were my suitcase and bag. One large window in the middle of the wall to the right with a view of the front yard.

“The bathroom is over here.” Zar points to the door on the far left side as he walks toward it. He opens the door, then turns the light on. He faces me again, then nods toward the two sliding doors. “Over there is the closet. I’ll let you get freshened up. Meet me back in kitchen. GeeGee should be finished with the food when you return.”

As Zar begins to head for the door, I call his name, “Zar”

“Yes,” he responds.

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Nina. I would do everything in my power to keep you safe, even if it means restarting a war.” He pins me with his serious brown eyes. “I’ll see you in a few.” With that, he left the room, closing the door behind him.

I took a quick shower, then threw on a fresh pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and gym shoes. As I stood at the mirror in the bathroom, teasing my hair, my cell phone begins to ring. I dart into the room and grab my purse to get my phone. Pulling it out, I stare at my momma’s name on the screen. I already know what she’s calling for, but like every other time, I hope that maybe she’s just calling to see how I’m doing.

Letting out a deep sigh, I hit answer. “Hey, momma.”

“Nina, where the hell are you at? I went by your house, your car is there, but you’re not,” Momma says on the other line, not even bothering to say hello.

“I’m fine and you? I’m with a friend, momma.”

“What friend, that boogie girl, Janae?” she quizzes, ignoring my question.

I took Janae with me one time to check on momma after I hadn’t heard from her in over a week, only to find her laid up in her house with some man. They had been binging on booze and drugs the entire time. Momma took one look at Janae dressed in her nice clothes, long weave, designer purse, and called her a ‘boogie bitch’. I was so embarrassed and heartbroken. After that, I told her I wouldn’t help her anymore if she didn’t get herself together. She’s been on and off the wagon for two years now, and as much as my brain tells me to push her out of my life, my heart won’t let me. She is my mother.

“No momma, you don’t know this friend,” I tell her.

“Must be some damn man. Look, Nina I need some money. My check is late getting deposited and I need to get some things.”

This is how it always is, never asking, just ‘I need or give me’.

“I’m sorry momma, but I’m not in town right now. Give me a couple of days and I might be able to get it to you then,” I offer.

“I don’t have a couple of days, Nina,” momma yells in the phone. When she’s like this, I know she has fallen off the wagon again. Now I’m happy I’m not around to feed her addiction. Without the money from me, she’ll have to sweat it out and go cold turkey.

“Like I said momma, I’m out of town. I’ll call you in a few days, okay?”

“To hell with you, Nina, with your stingy ass. You don’t never want to help nobody,” momma screams before she hangs up on me.

I close my eyes, saying a silent pray that she will be okay until I could make it back. My phone rings again, causing me to open my eyes. This time I frown. What the hell does Trent want? Why in the hell is he calling me after what he did?

“You got some nerve calling me, Trent,” I hiss.

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