Page 48 of Guarded

The way her hands wrap around my neck makes me feel safer than I ever have in my entire life. I want to stay here in this moment. Before I can lower her to the bed, she cups my face.

“Nero?” She whispers.

“Yes, Princess?”

“Thank you.” She says.

Then, to my surprise, her lips press gently against my cheek. She’s barely in her bed, tucked under the covers before her eyesshut. The urge I suppress to crawl in next to her will go down in history as the most brutal battle I ever had to face.

Chapter 14

Ariella

List of the top three baddest bitches I have ever met.

Thalia Consuelo. My older cousin had killed more men than I had fingers and toes. She was the definition of fuck around and find out.

Adriana Consuelo. My mother killed several men trying to attack us while my father was in Mexico. All of them had been a part of our security team and had access. Somehow, that night, my mom held it together, put me in the closet, and went to take care of business.

Jenni Rivera. The diva of Banda was a Long Beach native. When I was five, my uncle invited her to his daughter’s Quinceañera.

Cooper Calvo.

Iwrite the name at the bottom of my list and stare up at her. Cooper Calvo was a bad bitch. She was also the most annoying house guest to ever visit me. Not only does sherefuse to take off her shoes, but she also raids my fridge before even asking me how I’m doing.

Typically, other people- sane people- would find these behaviors of hers offensive. However, I find it intriguing. She’s everything I need in a friend because she eliminates all the fake bullshit. I can be myself around her because she’s herself around me.

After raiding my fridge, Cooper takes a seat across from me and digs into an entire sheet of cake left over from my grandpa’s birthday. Today’s look includes an evil eye necklace, hooped earrings, her curly hair styled in space buns, and her shirt of the day that reads “Fuck Dem Kids.”

As you can imagine, this was not the best t-shirt for her to wear the day, she agrees to help me babysit Lucia and Luca.

“I can’t believe you filled the class today,” Cooper says with a mouthful of cake.

“I know! I didn’t think anyone would show up.”

I really wasn’t expecting more than three people, including Cooper, so imagine my surprise when I show up to a full class.

Note to self: Cross that off your bucket list. Also, cross off the reason why that delicate spot between your legs is sore.

I recheck my phone for the hundredth time.

“Who are you waiting to message you?” Cooper says, interrupting my thoughts as I am about to run rampage with all my insecurities.

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