Page 51 of Bodyguard My Heart

“We didn’t live a perfect life. We had the same trash ass father as you,” Royale replied.

“But you had him! I had nothing!” Julez barked. “I will have it all, though. Get yo’ ass over there by your sister.”

Royale backed up slowly and joined me on the floor.

“I didn’t know today would be the day I would get the ultimate revenge. As we speak, our father is eating his last meal. I had one of the cafeteria workers lace it with poisoning. You know what’s sweet about it? I used dad’s money to pay the bitch.” He laughed hysterically. “He’s funding his own murder.”

My heart sank at what he just told us. I didn’t know how to feel about my father being murdered. I hated him, but I didn’t want him to die.

“Look who I found.” Ashton’s voice echoed as he entered the room with Polo and a gun stuck in his back.

“Oh, good. We can eliminate all they asses together.” Julez chuckled.

“We just came for Samara,” Polo said again.

“Like I just told them, I can’t do that. Get your stupid ass over there with my siblings,” Julez demanded. Royale rolled and pulled the tape from my mouth.

“Are you okay?” he whispered. I ignored him and addressed Ashton.

“So, you moving into my apartment complex? Dating me? That was all to spy on me?”

“Pretty much. Your pussy was sweet as fuck though. I was thinking about keeping you around, making you my girl, but you dissed me for that big nigga.” He laughed to himself before continuing. “How does it feel to know I’m the one that sent that eighteen-wheeler barging into his ass?”

My mouth dropped at his confession. Ashton was directly responsible for Fabian’s death.

“This is crazy!” I shouted. “You’re blaming your siblings for your parents’ mistakes. Is that fair? We hate that man just as much as you.”

“Life ain’t f—”

Julez didn’t get to finish his statement as a window in the distance shattered, bringing all of our attention to a hole in the ceiling.

“You missed, bitch ass nigga!” Demetrius said as he fired a shot that hit Ashton in the head. Ashton fired as he hit the floor, and shots rang out. Royale threw his body on top of mine, and I could feel a strange heat radiating from my belly. Ashton and Julezua’s lifeless bodies fell to the floor.

“Samara, you okay?” Royale called out. I couldn’t respond. Pain ripped my body.

“Shit, she was hit. One of them niggas shot her!” he shouted. My eyes traveled to where he was now applying pressure. My stomach was covered in blood.

“Fuck!”

“Stop the bleeding!” Demetrius shouted. My head turned to him as he hopped out of the ceiling on one leg. He fell to the ground and immediately scurried over to me.

“Baby girl! Fuck!” I could hear his voice, but it sounded like it was fading into the distance.

“I’m s-scared,” I mumbled as his arms wrapped around me. Tears dropped from his face and landed on mine.

“Tell me your secrets, baby girl. I’m here.”

“I’m scared to die.” I coughed. I could feel his arms tighten around me.

“Who about to die? Nah, hang in there, baby girl. You can’t leave me. I love you. Do you hear me? Samara!” His voice got further and further away until I couldn’t hear anything anymore.

18

Demetrius

“Meechie! She’s up!” Monroe shouted as soon as the elevator door opened. I had just gone downstairs to order flowers for her hospital room. That motherfucker looked like death, and I didn’t want that to be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes. My baby had been through a lot in the past week. The gunshot had punctured her stomach, and she had to get emergency surgery. A few days after that, she caught an infection and had to undergo another surgery. We’d been waiting for her to wake up for about twelve hours. I took off sprinting toward her hospital room. The hospital staff had got me a knee scooter to get around the hospital better. I ain’t want to use it at first, but I eventually gave in.

Reaching her door, I took a deep breath. I hadn’t heard her voice since she’d passed out on my floor after losing too much blood. I was nervous. The door swung open, and all the girls, Aliza, Monroe, and Contessa, all piled out of the room. They were laughing, so that must have been a good sign.