Page 53 of Bodyguard My Heart

“When I leave the hospital and get better, I’m leaving. I’m getting as far away from this hellhole as possible, with or without you.”

“Samara,” I called softly, begging her to change her mind. “Don’t make me choose. I love yo’ ass.”

“If it’s even a choice, you’ve already given me your answer. Please go.”

“Baby girl, come on. You’re getting all worked up over nothing.” I was trying to reason with her.

“It’s something to me!” she yelled. “Please go, Demetrius.”

Slowly, I turned around on my scooter and left her room. I was pissed, but I wouldn’t do this with her right now. She was recovering.

“I love you, Samara. That ain’t gon’ change,” I said before I exited her room. She was traumatized. She just needed a few days.

Four MonthsLater

“Are you coming, bruh?”Polo asked as soon as I swung open the front door of the condo I’d been staying at.

“By the way this nigga look, I’m gone go with no.” Royale came around the corner, revealing that he, too, was a part of this mission. I glanced at their asses, annoyed. I didn’t know why these niggas had popped up over here attempting to drag me to Samara’s going away dinner. They knew damn well I wasn’t going. Going away dinners were supposed to be a happy occasion. There was nothing happy about Samara leaving.

“I told you niggas on the phone, no.” I huffed. I thought I would breeze past this day, but here they were. I moved away from the door and headed toward the couch, plopping down.

“So, you just gon’ let her go?” Royale questioned, hovering over me. I stared at him. I didn’t know what he wanted me to say. It had been four months since Samara had put me out of her hospital room. I thought she needed a few days to cool down, but she was standing on business. She didn’t want anything to do with this lifestyle anymore. Now, she was going through with her plan to leave Florida.

“Yeah, who am I to stop her?” I shrugged. I was ready for these niggas to leave. I had just called one of the strippers from the club to come over and keep my mind off Samara.

“I don’t know… her fucking husband, maybe?” Royale replied. He’d been on my bumper about stopping Samara from leaving. I didn't know if it was because he didn’t want to see his sister go or if he was rooting for our relationship. Either way, he’d been preaching for me to end this.

“Bruh, I don’t be in yo’ business, but come on. This is some ho shit. Get yo’ ass up and go get your fucking wife. This ain’t even like you,” Polo fussed.

“I’m in a new era. I’m not forcing myself on anybody. I’m good.”

“Yeah, whatever. You scared, nigga.” Royale sat down next to me. “You doing the same shit you did with Navaeh, running.”

“This ain’t nothing like that. I didn’t even love Navaeh.” I waved him off.

“I guess you don’t love my sister either?”

“You know I do.”

“I can’t tell,” he replied. A weird silence fell over us. I appreciated my boys coming, but my mind was already made up.

“You know, I never thanked you for stepping in and taking over my duty to the cartel. I never apologized either. I didn’t consult you on the matter. I just handed you off my burden like a fucking gift. I’m sorry, bro.”

I stared at Royale. I didn’t know where that had just come from. He didn’t consult me before naming me head of the cartel, but he didn’t need to. I had his back, whether I wanted the responsibility or not.

“I’m sorry too, bro. If you ever thought you had to make certain decisions because of me, I’m good, bro,” Polo added. I stared at them both. Two apologies I never expected because I never knew I needed them. I knew what they were trying to do... Give me an out. I didn’t know if I was ready to say goodbye to the only profession I’d known.

“I appreciate y’all, but the cartel isn’t a burden. This is my life. If Samara wanted me, she’d understand that.”

Royale stood from the couch with a disappointed look on his face.

“This is the part where you have to make a decision.”

“We’ll be at the party, nigga,” Polo added as they walked out, leaving me in my thoughts. Grabbing my phone, I shot Raina a text, canceling her visit. I wasn’t in the mood anymore. I had a lot of shit to figure out.

Samara

Two weeks later