“The other kids don’t like me,” she says. “Ellis said that my daddy is a bad guy. He isn’t allowed to play with me. Is daddy bad?”
“What?” I almost screech. “Why didn’t you tell me he said that?”
“I’m telling you now,” she says, rolling her eyes, and I laugh at her sassiness. “Is my daddy bad?”
I push the key into the lock and open the front door. “Just ignore what people say about your daddy. He loves you and you love him. I think . . . ” My words die on my lips as I survey the living room. The place is a mess— things are all over the floor and the mirror is smashed. I swoop down, wrap Malia in my arms, and go back outside. My hand is shaking as I press Eva’s name on my cell. “Hey girlfriend,” she answers in a high-pitched voice.
“Eva, are you at home?”
“Yeah, what’s up?” she asks.
“I’ve been burgled,” I explain. I hear her rustling about, and she tells me she’s on her way. Luckily, she lives just at the end of my road, and Esther, her mom, lives a few doors away from Eva. Minutes later, they both come running towards me. “I didn’t know what to do,” I say feebly. Esther rubs my arm to offer reassurance as she passes me and goes into the house.
The rumble of motorbikes fills the street, and Malia covers her ears. “Have you called the cops?” asks Eva, but I shake my head. “Did you call him?” she adds as Riggs’ bike comes to a stop outside my house. I shake my head again.
Riggs steps off his bike followed by Cree and two other bikers. “You okay?” he asks.
“Not really. I’ve been burgled,” I mutter. “What are you doing here?”
“I was passing,” he says and then heads inside.
Esther comes back out. “The place is a mess. You can’t stay here tonight,” she says. “Every room’s been ransacked.”
Riggs comes out with his cell pressed to his ear. He pushes a bag into my hands. “Pack some shit together. Just stuff for a few days.”
Eva and Esther help me get some things together while Malia clings to me. “Who would do something like this?” sighs Eva, looking around my bedroom at the heaps of clothes and other belongings strewn all over the place. “It doesn’t even look like they’ve taken anything.”
My jewellery box lays untouched on the dresser. It’s full of expensive pieces that Reggie bought me.
Back outside, Riggs is waiting beside his bike. He flicks his cigarette to the ground and crushes it with his boot. “All packed?” he asks, and I nod in response. “The police are on their way. They won’t get any fingerprints and the chances of them finding whoever did this are low. I’m gonna do some digging. Until I know for sure that this isn’t targeted, I’m gonna have someone follow you.”
“No,” I say firmly as I hand Malia to Esther. “Take her for me. I’ll be over shortly.” I wait until they’re gone before fixing Riggs with a hard stare. “I spent years being followed around by Reggie’s men. I won’t have that again. This wasn’t targeted. I was unlucky that some chancer broke into my house—”
“What did they take?” he cuts in. When I don’t reply, he smirks. “Exactly. My guy’s been watching you. You haven’t spotted him once, so he’s not gonna be all up in your face.” He points over to where a man stands by the wall at the end of my street.
“That’s how you knew something was wrong,” I gasp. “Why would you have someone follow me?” I ask. I’m outraged that he’s taken it upon himself to arrange for me to have protection without my knowledge or consent.
“Because I can.” He brushes his thumb over my lower lip. “I’ve been dreaming about your mouth ever since that kiss,” he mutters. His voice is low and raspy. I’m suddenly mesmerized by his lips. “Stop looking at me like that,” he whispers. “It makes me do stupid things.”
I snap out of the spell when I hear the word stupid. He’s right. I step back. “Who’s your guy?” I ask, nodding to the shadow at the end of the street.
“Blade. He got the name because he can throw any sized blade accurately. He’s been known to hit his target right between the eyes.”
“Nice,” I mutter. “I don’t think that’ll be needed, but if it makes you happier.” I shrug and then walk away.
The week drags. The police came, and as Riggs suggested, there were no prints. I gave my statement, and as nice as it was to stay with Eva, I was glad to get back home a few days later. I pop my head out of the front door and Blade glances up from his cell phone. “You want coffee?” I ask. He smiles gratefully and takes the steps two at a time.
I got sick of seeing him sitting on my wall all the time and told him that if he was going to keep following me around, then he could at least allow me to get to know him.
“Have you heard from Riggs?” I ask casually, because since my place got burgled, I’ve not heard a thing.
“Yeah, I saw him last night at the club. You hot for the Pres?” he grins.
“No,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat up. “He irritates me. He’s with that girl, anyway, erm . . . Bonnie?”
Blade grins wider. “You trying to dig for info?”
“No. I already know he’s with her. I saw them together when we were out a week or so ago.” I hand him his coffee.
“Well, she’s in his bed every night, but that doesn’t mean shit unless he lays claim to her,” he says.
“Lay claim?” I repeat.
“Yeah. A biker usually lays claim to
