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“I—I don’t know.”

“Let me call you a taxi.” She pulled her phone out, and I sat back down on the barstool.

“It’s okay, Nicki. I can make sure she gets home safely.”

“I—I?—”

His index finger covered my lips. He craned my arm around his neck and lifted me from the seat. “Ca-call Reese.” He walkedme out the door and hit the fob on an older pickup truck. My vision was so blurry that I couldn’t tell if it was red or burgundy. “Where-where are you taking me?”

Ignoring my question, he opened the passenger door and shoved me in. Shutting the door, he rounded to the other side and got in alongside me. That’s when I realized this nigga had placed something in my drink in the short seconds I looked away. I knew he gave up too easily, and now I know why.

“You put something in my drink, you sick bastard,” I mustered. I fumbled with the handle to open the door. His hand connected to the side of my face, leaving a stinging sensation.

“Just sit back and enjoy the ride. I promise to take good care of you.” The truck roared when he started it up. He mashed the gas, kicking up gravel as he pulled out the parking lot.

“Please…” I should’ve gone with my first mind and never allowed him into my space. Letting my guard down for a few seconds got me into a very sticky situation.

It seems as if the car didn’t stop ’til he made it to his destination. He jumped out of the truck, and I mustered up enough strength to open the door and climb out. I tried my best to run in the opposite direction, though I didn’t even know where I was, but he caught me by the waist and tossed me over his shoulder. He carried me up to a door, and from the blinking sign in another window, I pieced together that it’s a motel of some sort. Of course, he wouldn’t take a woman that he date-raped back to his home.

Carrying me inside the room, he tossed me onto the bed. The door shut behind him. He wasted no time approaching the bed and ripping my dress down the front. A mufucka had to be strong as hell and desperate for a piece of pussy to rip someone’s dress like that. His tongue swept his lips. Lifting myself up, I crawled to the opposite edge of the bed.

Boom!

The door flew in off its hinges. I stumbled to the floor and hit my head. My vision was cloudy, but I saw someone else enter the room. Judging by the big black cowboy boots, I knew it was a man, but didn’t quite know who. My eyes struggled to stay open, but darkness consumed me.

The scent of lavender invaded my space. I nestled closer into the sheets and moaned. I had the craziest dream that I’d gone out to a bar and met some guy and had an experience I’d never had before. It was weird.

“Remedi?” My name was called, and my eyes shot open. They bounced around the room ’til they landed on Khalif, who sat in the chair in the corner of the room.

“How did I get here?” I eased up in bed, and my head throbbed.

“I returned a favor. You really need to be careful going out alone at night. Not everybody is so nice here,” he said and stood from the chair. Without uttering another word, he sauntered out of the bedroom.

“So it wasn’t a dream?” I whispered to myself. I only remembered bits and pieces from the night before. I tossed the covers back off me and saw that I wasn’t even in my own clothes anymore. They were replaced with this overly washed, black graphic t-shirt and a pair of briefs. “He saw me naked?” My eyes expanded, and my cheeks warmed. That should’ve been the least of my worries. At least I’m safe. That’s all that should matter. If he hadn’t intervened when he did, there’s no telling what would’ve happened.

Tossing my legs over the edge of the bed, I went into the bathroom to see if there was an extra toothbrush in there. If Iwas going to be around Khalif, I needed to brush my teeth. No one wanted to be near anyone with morning breath.

Khalif has already been on my radar, but after last night, I’d definitely be paying more attention to him. He’d done something that no one had ever done for me before—protected me when I needed it the most.

I tiptoed into the bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. I found a pack of toothbrushes that’s never been opened. Removing one, I put the pack back and grabbed the toothpaste. After handling my hygiene, I noticed a Band-Aid on my forehead. I wandered out of the bathroom and bedroom and found my way down the hallway toward the living room. Khalif was in the kitchen, rattling pots and pans.

“Where’s Khali?”

“It’s a weekday. She’s at school,” he responded and continued to the refrigerator. Hugging myself, I watched him as he removed food from there and placed it onto the counter. “You eat omelets?”

“I eat pretty much anything.”

“Sit down,” he instructed me, and nodded toward the barstool at the island.

I padded over to the island and eased onto the barstool. Khalif moved to the stove and turned on the eye. “Thank you for last night. I’m not sure what happened.”

“You do know they have a bet on who’s gon’ sleep with the new girl in town first.” He didn’t even bother to look back at me after he said that.

“Are you serious?”

“They’re like kids. They’ll make a bet ’bout anything.”

“How come you’re different?” I realized that there weren’t many men here like Khalif, which made him stand out. That’s probably why so many women wanted him.