I wrapped her in my arms, lifting her gently. “You got that, shorty.”
I didn’t takeher home at first. Not to my house. I took her to the condo I kept under a shell company, the one nobody but Seth and now Ajani knew about. Some place Trell had never found. Some place Gillian didn’t know existed.
The elevator ride up was silent. Farrah stood pressed against my side, both of my arms around her, her face tucked under my chin like she was trying to disappear into me. She hadn’t let go since I picked her up off that warehouse floor. I wasn’t letting go either. When the doors opened, she jumped at the soft ding, her fingers gripping my shirt like she thought someone was about to come flying out at us.
“It's okay,” I murmured. “Ain’t nobody here but us.”
Her breathing was quick, shallow, uneven. She tried to hide it, but I could feel her shaking. I walked her in. It was all dim lights, clean smell, and big windows overlooking the city. It looked peaceful, even though neither of us was.
Farrah lifted her head and looked around like she was trying to figure out where we were.
“This… this isn’t your house,” she whispered.
“Nah. Thought we needed somewhere out the way,” I said softly.
She nodded once. I could tell she didn’t have the energy to ask questions.
I guided her to the bedroom. She was shaking again. Subtle, but there. I sat her on the edge of the bed.
“I’m gonna get you some water,” I said.
She caught my hand before I stepped away. Her fingers were cold. Too cold.
“Don’t… Khi… Please don’t go far.”
My chest squeezed.
“I ain’t going nowhere, baby.”
I grabbed water from the kitchen, hurried back, and gave her the bottle. Her hands shook so bad I had to unscrew the cap for her. She took a sip, then looked up at me.
“You killed him,” she whispered. Not accusing. Just… acknowledging.
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t even hesitate.”
“No.”
Her throat worked. “For me.”
“For us,” I corrected gently. “And ’cause I wasn’t letting nobody walk around with the idea they could touch you and still breathe.”
Her jaw trembled. She tried to hold herself together but couldn’t.
“I knew you were coming, but I wasn’t sure you’d find me in time,” she said.
I sat beside her, close enough that our knees touched. “I was always gon’ find you.”
She shook her head. “I was so scared, Mekhi.”
I turned, cupped her face with both hands. She leaned into the touch like she’d been starving for it.
“You listen to me. There ain’t a place on this earth I wouldn’t have gone to get to you. Ain’t a man alive, dead, or dreaming that could’ve stopped me.”
Her eyes flooded instantly. I pulled her into my chest and she broke down for real. I held her through quiet, painful sobs, my throat tight, aching at her fear. She cried into my shirt, fists clutching the fabric like she needed something to hold on to. I held the back of her head with one hand and wrapped the other arm around her waist, pulling her fully into my lap. I rocked her gently without thinking, just instinct.
“I got you. You safe now. I promise.”
