Page 66 of The Prodigy 2: Rise of a Queen

Jakari set his fork on his plate and stood. He walked over and pulled me into him. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Look at me.”

I lifted my eyes to meet his. In them, I saw warmth. He dipped his head to kiss me softly, then he brushed my hair back from my face.

“What you need me to do?”

“I guess…find out if Jayden can be the ring bearer.”

“Done. What else?”

“I don’t know. Nothing, I guess.” I pulled back. “I’m tired. I’m gonna take a nap.”

He planted one more kiss on my lips, then my neck. “Get some rest. I’ll bring your bags in later.”

I woke to Jakari staring down at me. It would have been creepy if he wasn’t so damn handsome.

“What the hell are you doing?”

He grinned down at me. “You so pretty when you sleep. Other than the drooling.”

“I do not!”

He laughed. “You feelin’ better?”

“Not really.”

“Look. I know it’s fucked up that your people ain’t comin’. But you got us.”

“Us, who?”

“Me. Jaz. My brothers. My family. We’re your family now. We got you.”

“I appreciate it. I do. I just—”

“You ain’t gotta explain it. Your feelings are hurt.”

I nodded.

“If you don’t hear nothin’ else I say, hear this: you with me, now. Ain’t nobody gon’ hurt you ever again, you understand? Because I say so.”

“Okay.”

“I’m serious. I’m a motherfuckin’ lion when it comes to you. I'ma be out here bitin' niggas heads off for you. Including your family if I have to."

I believed him, partly because when he said it, his lips were tight and his teeth were bared like fangs. This man was really willing to go to war for me. He was in my corner. I was never giving that up.

No matter what.

“Thank you, baby.” I sat up and kissed him, soft and gentle. “You make me feel safe with you.”

“Good. That’s what I like to hear. Aight, get yo ass up. We got shit to do.”

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