Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
Mouth agape, I watched Tanisha scurry off to do as she was told. It couldn’t be me.
I was so caught up in watching everyone scattering like roaches when you hit the lights that I didn’t notice the cause of it all sliding into my booth until it was too late.
“Uhh…” I wrinkled my nose at the sight of Roc and Golden, now sitting across from me. “What are you doing?”
“Sitting down. Having lunch,” Roc answered while holding my gaze. There was a slight dip in his brows, and I could tell he was trying to place where he might know me from. Golden must have told Roc he’d caught me staking out their business.
Meanwhile, I was stuck on how unbelievably gorgeous they both were.
Roc had rich brown skin, long lashes, chestnut eyes, a thick patch of hair adorning his chin, a thin mustache and beauty mark above his thick lips, and enough waves in his close-cut hair to make you seasick.
And from what I glimpsed underneath his white ribbed tank and open long-sleeve uniform shirt, his chest, shoulders, and arms were a mosaic of colorful tattoos. One of them was a child’s hand gripping the forefinger of a much larger one with a date under the wreath of sunflowers adorning the child’s wrist. Written across his chest in Old English were the words, “Only Halo Can Judge Me,” which I found odd but decided against asking about it.
I’d known the moment Desi called his name that I’d found another one of the Kings.
Like Golden, Roc was taller and bigger than his younger self, with the same mischievous glint from the photo. Each time my gaze fell on his image, I couldn’t help returning his infectious grin and feeling the same pull growing in my chest now.
My gaze traveled to Golden, who was staring out the window like we weren’t even here—like he hadn’t followed me to this diner.
I flicked my fingers at them dismissively. “Well, go sit somewhere else.”
Roc blinked his surprise that I dared to order them, and I could have sworn that was a smirk playing at the sensual curves of Golden’s lips.
They both stayed put.
“Why would we do that?” Roc returned. “This is our table. You leave.”
But you just said…
Roc was grinning now, his almond-shaped eyes practically glimmering, and I decided not to give him the satisfaction of going off. Rolling my eyes, I tore the wrapper from my straw and dropped it in my glass before taking a long sip to gather my thoughts.
“Aye, you look familiar. Who yo people?”
Choking on the cold water, I coughed for several seconds while they stared me down like I was a weirdo. I guess my reaction had been pretty weird. “You don’t know them,” I rasped.
“You don’t know who I know. Answer the question.”
“No.”
Dumb for my cause, necessary for my ego.
I wasn’t lining up to be stepped on by men who already had too much power. It didn’t matter that I’d thrown away the opening I needed just to prove a point. I’d find another way in. One that wouldn’t make me another bowing and preening subject.
My mama had always said my stubbornness would be my downfall.
I hadn’t spoken to her since I left home. I never even told her where I was going or for how long. I knew she wouldn’t care. She was trapped in a fog of grief so thick I knew it would be weeks before she noticed I was gone.
Just like I knew Dad would be disappointed that I’d run away.
Guilt ate away at the carcass of my soul, so I took another sip of water to wash down the bitter taste.
“Okay,” Tanisha announced her return. “Oxtails, mac and cheese, yams, and lemonade.” She set down the first steaming plate in front of Golden, and my mouth watered. “And rice with peas, jerk shrimp, cabbage, and Coke.” Roc stole a plantain from the plate before she could even finish setting it down. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“Yeah,” he spoke with his mouth full. I cringed as he regarded the waitress. “Get her whatever she wants.” He nodded to me while staring her down. “It’s on the house too.”
Tanisha paused like she wanted to object, but when Roc simply looked away to answer his ringing phone, she sighed and turned to me. “What would you like?”
Feeling my stomach growl, I decided not to let my pride get in the way of a free meal. “I’d like the jerk chicken sandwich and fries, please.”
“Coming right up,” she said before flashing a fake smile at the same time Roc finished his call. “So, what are you doing la—”
“Aye, we good,” he cut her off while typing on his cell. “We don’t need nothing else.”
Tanisha resembled a dying fish, but Roc didn’t notice as he gave his phone his complete focus. The waitress stood there for a second longer before slowly walking away. As soon as she did, Golden leaned over to whisper in Roc’s ear.