Page 7 of To Love and Protect
If Remedie wasn’t so irritated, she would have laughed at Isla’s face. Homegirl looked so confused and like she didn’t know whether or not to punch the man in the throat or give him a dap for giving her props on her fighting.
“You good, love?” a deep voice asked from behind her.
Remedie had almost forgotten about Nico. Now that she knew her friend was okay, she turned slowly to give him her attention. “Yeah, but keep your hos in check. The next woman you get crossed up in some bullshit like that might not be so nice.”
A grin appeared on his face again, and damn if it didn’t make her middle buzz with excitement. He was the type of man who was fine as hell and knew it. Those types of men were dangerous as hell and had heartache written all over them.
“You called that bein’ nice?” he asked, one of his thick brows raised in amusement.
Remedie nodded curtly. “I did.”
“I would love to see what mean is then,” he replied. He was too smooth with his words. “What’s yo’ name, sweetheart?”
Her eyes turned into slits as she tried to get a read on him. “Remedie,” she finally snapped.
His eyebrows rose slightly. “Remedie. I like that. You seem like the type that could remedy some shit.”
Her brows furrowed as she opened her mouth to respond, but she clamped it shut when she heard her name called to the right of her.
“Remedie, the hell you doin’ here?” Zayden made his way through the crowd.
Remedie’s stomach dropped. She knew like hell she should have stayed her ass home. All she wanted to do was get out of there at this point. Zayden was the last person on the planet she wanted to deal with at the moment.
“Uh uh. You don’t get to talk to her. Not after the stunt you pulled,” Isla said. She marched up to Zayden, whose face turned up at the sight of her. “What? You thought she ain’t tell me about you getting rough with her?”
“Man, gone somewhere.” Zayden moved his attention back to Remedie. “Why yo’ fast ass here? You need to be back home where you belong.”
Remedie studied him. She could tell he was doing his best to come off like a big dog, but all she saw was a sad ass little puppy. She couldn’t believe it took her so long to see him for who he truly was.
“Zayden, leave me alone,” Remedie said. All the fight she had in her moments ago had left. She felt drained. “Come on, Isla. Let’s just go.”
“Y’all ain’t gotta leave,” Nico said.
Remedie turned to him with her brows pulled in. “Sir, I don’t even know you, and I damn sure am not about to give you head, just like lil ugly back there, so I doubt you really want to hang with me.”
He took a step toward her. “You really think I put you in the same category as lil ugly?” His lips quirked up into a smirk, and she couldn’t help but smile. She could tell he played all day, and she wasn’t sure if she loved that or hated it.
“You might as well kick it with my brother. At least it’ll keep the homeless out of your face.”
Remedie looked behind her to see the man who had carried Isla outside looking Zayden up and down in disgust.
So they’re brothers,she thought as she glanced between them.
“Tyree, we don’t talk about the less fortunate.” The way Nico egged his brother on told Remedie those two were trouble. Their poor mama definitely had her work cut out for her with them.
Zayden’s jaw clenched, but she noticed he didn’t have the same energy for them as he did for her.
“Bring yo’ ass on.” Zayden growled the words through clenched teeth as he reached for her. He caught her wrist and snatched it closer to him.
“Let me go,” she snapped. She used her free fist to beat on his chest. Isla quickly jumped in, but they were both pulled away from him before they could do any real damage.
Remedie blinked, and Nico was in Zayden’s face. “Go on about your business, my guy. Play with somethin’ safe.”
The playful spirit he’d had seconds ago had evaporated. Something dark lurked within him. Remedie couldn’t understand why that turned her on so much.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts just as she caught a glimpse of Zayden. Fear flashed across his face before he glanced at her. When he spoke, it was directly to her. “I’ll be seeing you.”
“Long as you know I won’t be too far behind,” Nico warned, forcing Zayden to look back at him.
