Page 35 of Guarded

“Are you sure? It’s not a fucking country club Ariella.”

“It’s fine, I mean, unless you think I’d be unsafe there,” I ask. He looks at me, contemplating my proposal before finally deciding to save time.

“You’ll be with me. You’re always safe with me.” He replies.

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I wasn’t sure what I imagined the clubhouse to look like in my head, but this wasn’t it. The wooden exterior of the large building looked more like a dive bar. A vomit-colored dive bar.

My inner interior designer was mortified. Who chose this color? Was it more green or yellow? I think it was somehow both at the same time. That is what made it so revolting.

There is a large front deck wrapped around the front, with rails also colored vomit green. Two men in leather vests like Nero’s sit on the front porch.

“I’ll just wait out here with Guapo,” I say when Nero parks the car by a line of bikes outside.

“No. Bring him inside with you.” He says.

He leans into me and unfastens my seatbelt. I stare down at the veins of his forearms, popping through the layers of ink. I lean back, but it does nothing to stop the feelings arising at the close proximity.

“Don’t talk to anyone when we get inside. You can sit at the bar, and Ofelia will take care of you. I’ll be out back there.”

I look at his outstretched arm, following the lines of his tribal marking tattoos to the end of his index finger. Finally, I find the large garage off to the side of the clubhouse.

“Yes, Sir,” I say, only to watch his jaw clench.

I grab Guapo and step out of the door Nero’s opened for me. The moment my pink heels hit the muddy ground, I sink in.

Nero lets out a frustrated sigh. I notice two men on the front porch watching us, so I pull away from Nero and settle back into the passenger seat.

“I can just wait in the car. It’s fine,” I murmur.

I don’t want to embarrass him or myself in front of these guys. This was not my world. Selfishly, I invited myself because I wanted to spend more time with Nero. But I don’t belong here.

“Ariella, it’s 100 degrees out. You’re not waiting in the car.”

Before I can protest, Nero bends down and scoops me into his arms. I let out a small gasp before wrapping my arms around his shoulders.

“There. Problem solved.” He says with a comforting smile. One that melts my heart.

He doesn’t wait for me to make a decision. Like he knows, I was trapped in the chaos of my own insecurities.

Social media made me feel insecure when it came to human interactions. It was easy to influence people from the comfort of your home, but whenever I was out in the real world, I felt like people were judging me.

Like I had either overdressed or underdressed, and all the toxic thoughts circling in my brain would convince me I didn’t belong. I didn’t want to look like the dumb, rich girl who tripped over her heels in the mud. Not when I knew how important these people were to Nero. I want them to like me.

Nero’s long legs make quick strides until we reach the front porch, and he puts me down on my feet.

“Sheesh.” One guy says

“What’d you bring us to play with Vato?” another one says.

Nero returns to the car to grab Guapo, and I nervously stare at the men on the porch, eyeing me like dogs watching a piece of carne asada.

“She’s with me, boys. And she’s off limit.” Nero says, coming up behind me.

“Ah, you’re no fun.” The one in the cowboy hat says, jumping off the side railing and walking towards me.

He’s older. Even older than Nero, with grey in his beard and small wrinkles forming around his face. He’s unconventionally attractive, but his fit body makes up for it. The wife-beater tank top leaves little to the imagination.

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