Legion of Guardians: (Book 1-5)

by Xyla Turner

  “Well,” Kylie spoke. “Can’t really speak about the upstanding citizen part, but I know that Shiz’s homes are top notch and he’s a good landlord. Dessy’s future sister-in-law was staying there for a bit and said it was, and I quote, “better than a hotel”.”

  At that notion, Dessy groaned and rolled her eyes.

  “Bad blood there,” Shay interjected.

  “Also, his personality is annoying as hell,” Lori added.

  “Yeah,” Dessy chimed in.

  “I concur,” Kylie agreed as Shay nodded her head with them.

  “Thank you.” I waved my hand at them with the palm up. “There you have it.”

  Shiz rolled his eyes.

  “That, uh, wouldn’t stop me from getting a good place to stay,” Shay shared. “I’m just saying.”

  “See,” Shiz mimicked me, but I merely frowned. “At least check it out. Plus, I barely see my tenants unless something is broken. You can even pay the rent online. Very little interaction.”

  My head finally swiveled to him to see the dark coffee colored eyes on me. Then I said in a low voice, “Why are you pushing this?”

  “You need an affordable place. I have an affordable place. Just come with me and see it, then if you don’t like it, then no harm done.” He shrugged.

  “Fine, I’ll see it tomorrow,” I conceded. “After seeing my brother.”

  “You ready to go or you want to stay a little longer?” he asked me.

  I turned to see if he was joking or not but realized this was serious Shiz. He meant to bring me home because he said so. If I went home with him, then I could get sauced, but I wanted to keep my wits about me when dealing with the bossy man.

  “I’m about to call it a night, I see Bronx headed this way. It’s been real,” Shay chimed in. “Avery, it was really great meeting you and I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other soon.”

  Ah, ambushed.

  “Guess I’m leaving then,” I looked to Shiz. “Shay’s my ride.”

  He raised an eyebrow at me with a challenge, as if to say, ‘oh really’.

  “Bronx, brother. Avery is coming with me. Right Shay?” he asked with his eyes on them as her head nodded with nothing but mischief in her features.

  Traded by a fellow sister.

  The tall, African-American man, looked down at Shay with adoring eyes, pulled her into his hard body and said, “Don’t give a fuck. Long as my woman’s coming with me.”

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Shiz’s head turn towards me. “Well, let’s go.”

  There would be no argument from the brothers and the sisters, specifically the pretty, long-haired one named Shay was googly-eyed for the specimen of a man. There would be no fight out of her or any of the guys, so I huffed, grabbed my purse and said, “Lead the way, bossy.”

  “Certainly,” he said with an equal amount of sarcasm.

  I followed him out to a modern dark-colored RAM truck with wheels almost as big as my head. The car alarm beeped on the vehicle, Shiz opened the passenger door and held out a hand to help me inside. Once he was in, the engine roared to life and he asked, “Where do you live?”

  “Outside of Manor, in Tenley, near the train tracks,” I shared.

  “Fuck, that’s pretty far.” He nodded his head.

  Strapping on my seatbelt, I didn’t say anything and ignored the tension in the air. Could cut it with a nice was the understatement of the year. I was feeling nice but also feeling feisty enough to be flippant with my mouth. This never worked out well for me, so for the fact that I’d be in the man’s car for forty minutes, I decided to shut my trap. Well, unless he asked me a question, then I would answer.

  Right on cue, he turned off the radio with the country music and said, “Avery West of the Westonians that are no kin of Kanye West, tell me about yourself.”

  I openly stared at him and his gall before I burst out in laughter.

  “Westonians?” I mocked.

  “Yeah, so, tell me,” he asked. “I know you have a brother who’s in college. Did you go? Where are you from? What do you do?”

  “I went to community college and graduated a few years ago. I’m from Tenley, born and raised there. I am an artist, so I am not really working in my career since I have a job as a Customer Service Representative. It doesn’t pay well, but I can manage to get by. Plus, my little difficulty with my temper, well, let’s just say it’s easier to hang up on people before I do something I will regret.” I laughed at myself. “Not sure how long I’ll have that job, really.”

  It was too dark to see the expression on his face but I was sure there was a roll of the eyes or a nod in agreement in there somewhere.

  “What do you want to do?” he asked.

  I sighed because I knew what I wanted but had no idea how I was going to get there. The idea of my dream job working with the art galleries in the county and eventually for the state of Pennsylvania seemed so far away. Having my work displayed would be my ultimate but it just seemed like a pipe dream. One that I didn’t even want to share but what the hell.

  “Like I said, I’m an artist and I want my art displayed. You know, in galleries around the county, state and hell, the world. It’s far from being a customer service representative and of course it doesn’t pay the bills, steadily, but it’s what I want,” I noted, then turned my head to face outside.

  “Then, that’s what you should aim for, artist,” Shiz said, then we grew quiet through the rest of the ride.

  Once we arrived outside of my apartment building, he took one look around and asked, “You live alone?”

  “Yeah,” I answered reluctantly as he took in the old neighborhood, that had been run down, including the building we were idling in front of.

  “Okay, I’ll wait for you to get inside.” He nodded towards my door. “Oh, I need your number, so I can contact you.”

  Running off the number for him to copy in his phone, Shiz nodded and said, “See you tomorrow, firecracker.”

  “Yeah,” I answered. “Tomorrow.”

  “Night.”

  4 Chapter 4

  SHIZ

  Instead of going home after I dropped Avery off, I went to the rental property to spruce it up a bit more. Repainting the areas that were spotty again, installing a new garbage disposal, replacing the toilet seats, switching out the light fixtures and nobs for the cabinets. Checking and double checking the water pressure, the temperature and clipping the lawn, since I couldn’t run the mower at three in the morning. I didn’t make it home until four and I slept until eleven.

  With way too much anticipation, I showered, picked out some clean clothes and texted Avery to let her know I was on the way. She should have been back from seeing her brother by then. When I arrived, she came outside in a burnt orange flare dress with strappy sandals and a denim fitted jacket. My cock started to stir, and that fucker needed to simmer down. She wasn’t for me.

  Sure, she was pretty and fucking sexy, but not for me.

  “Morning,” she greeted me with a smile.

  “Morning,” I said with a nod, as I held the truck door open for her. “Ready?”

  “Yup, sure am,” she replied. “I need a damn cat because I was asleep and I swear to you a mouse was walking across my headboard. Him and his friends, like they were playing follow the leader. Scared me shitless as I blinked to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Nope. Need a cat. Damn mice.”

  I tried not to laugh but there was no stopping the crazy shit that came out of her mouth.

  “Well, maybe those days are over,” I slammed her door. “Let’s go.”

  When we arrived outside of the two-story house, her mouth opened and didn’t close.

  “Is this it?” she asked with the hint of awe in her voice.

  The same awe that was there when Razor gave her that folder. There was a twinge in me that wanted to keep that expression on her face. Keep her in awe of what she could have. It was a foreign feeling, but I couldn’t deny it was still there.

  “Yes
, this is it,” I answered and walked towards the door to let us in.

  Only when I turned back around, Avery was still near the truck taking the entire place in. It almost looked as if she was taking in every single green blade of grass. Her eyes hit the porch, the awning, the gravel driveway, the shed, the shrubs in front of the porch, the banister that led her up the six steps and finally the door when she reached me. It was almost as if she were in a trance.

  “You alright?” I asked when she finally passed the threshold.

  “Yeah, I just don’t want to forget this.” Avery turned to me and said, “I haven’t even seen the entire house but Shiz this is amazing.”

  A small chuckle escaped me, but I closed the door and said, “Look at the entire house, then we talk. Okay?”

  “Mm, hmm,” she said with a slight twirl.

  Nobody could have told me she wasn’t about to do the twirl, like the nanny did on The Sound of Music. Avery lightly touched every surface, a piece of furniture, the marble countertops, the chrome handles, the new faucet, the bathroom curtains, the walls, the carpet, and whatever else was in her reach. The woman seemed to float as she took in everything. When she went outside to the backyard, she gasped.

  “Wow,” she breathed. “Wow.”

  It wasn’t a large patch of land, but it was enough to have a small garden, that I paid someone to tend. Apollo also demonstrated his landscaping skills, making it a nice place to have a gathering, that included tents, a brick grill and raised level stage that had lights around the entire yard.

  Avery walked what felt like every inch of the yard and then she returned to me and exclaimed, “WOW!”

  I laughed and almost cupped her face to bring it to mine. That look, it was killing me.

  Blinking away, I turned and said, “I take it you like it.”

  “Like it,” she scoffed. “I’m in love, Shiz.”

  “Come on in the kitchen, let’s sit and talk logistics.” I opened the back door, that led to the modern kitchen with the center island, that housed a stove, grill and storage.

  “Before you start,” Avery said with her hands raised as if warding me off. “I know you owe me no favors. Like none. I’m the one that is in debt to you and I swear it Shiz, I’m going to make it right. But if you’re dangling this carrot in front of me as some type of cruel joke, that really wouldn’t be funny.”

  Placing the folder down on the table, I cupped her face with both my hands and said, “I would never do that.”

  We stayed there for what felt like an hour but she did not tear away from me. She remained, almost daring me to make that move. I wouldn’t since I was forcing my body not to reach down and take one quick sip of her sweetness. It didn’t take a genius to know that once you’ve had a taste, a man would be hooked.

  I knew.

  She was Razor’s Kylie.

  Bronx’s Shay.

  Apollo’s Lori, and Bear’s Dessy.

  One sip and my brothers were hooked, and all hope was gone. Now they’re latched and seemingly happy. However, I know that there aren’t happy endings. This is not a story that will end well. It never does.

  It never will.

  Dropping my hands like they were burned by her very skin, I grabbed the rental lease and said, “As I said yesterday, the rent is four hundred a month. You can pay it online. All utilities will be paid, the grass, garden and manicuring of the lawn is already included and will be done on a bi-weekly basis.”

  “Shiz,” she called as if I was far away, but I avoided her eyes and moved around the counter.

  It was a punk move but I was hanging by a thread.

  “Yeah, Avery,” I answered.

  “Are you sure. I pay almost triple this where I’m at. This house is beautiful and it’s everything I want. There’s no way you had this out there and no one picked it up. No way. What’s the catch?” she asked.

  “Avery, there’s no fucking catch. Read the contract, there is no fine print. It is what it is. Something breaks, call me and I’ll come to fix it, or send someone who can. The place wasn’t on the market, I didn’t have the time but I’m a Guardian. Someone in need and in this case, it happens to be you, so this is what we do. Plus, I don’t like your neighborhood and the faster you get out of there, the better I will feel. Honestly.”

  “It’s not so bad,” she defended.

  “Oh, is that before or after you were singing, the ants go marching one by one with the mice on your headboard?” I sarcastically replied.

  Avery laughed and said through a smile, “Touché.”

  “Good, so do I have a new tenant?” I asked her.

  “Hell yeah,” she said with one of those blinding smiles. “So, once I fill out the application, do the credit check and go from there, what’s the turnaround time.”

  My head was already shaking before she finished her statement. “We don’t go through all of that. Your background has already been run when you came through the Guardian doors. Here’s the lease. You tell me when you’re planning to move, and I’ll get the trucks to your place and they move you. Simple as that.”

  “I’ll have movers?” she asked. “Wait, there is already furniture in here. Is it okay if I use it, get it clean or upholstered? Can I paint?”

  “Everything is either new or was cleaned thoroughly. You can paint or do whatever you need to keep it at home for you. It always gets painted back when one leaves but hopefully you won’t be jumping ship anytime soon.”

  “No, I don’t think I will.” She smiled again. “I just don’t know how to thank you.”

  “No need, Avery.” I nodded. “Just accept it and enjoy.”

  “Ha, I will.” She laughed and begin filling out the rental agreement.

  Once everything was finalized, she gave me the rent for partial payment of this month and next month’s rent. Then we set up the movers and she was moving the next day. When all was done, I asked, “Hey, I skipped lunch, do you want to grab a bite?”

  Her cheeks grew a little red before she answered, “Are you doing this because you heard my stomach growl?”

  Once again, I found myself laughing out loud at the woman. She was fucking hilarious and wasn’t even trying to be. That was just her.

  “No, babe, I didn’t hear it growling, but if it is, let’s get some food.” I smiled at her.

  “Yeah, I’m hungrier than a hostage,” she picked up her bookbag and slung it over her shoulder. “Where we going?”

  We ended up going to Lancaster Mall which was almost an hour away, but I found myself wanting to spend time with her but also wanted us to go to a semi-nice restaurant to eat.

  “Do you like seafood?” I asked.

  “Love it and I would eat the whole octopus right now.” She held her stomach as if it was trying to get away.

  “Why are you so dramatic?” I asked with a laugh.

  She chuckled before answering, stating her mom had a thing for flair and it was her artistic nature. We settled on Bone Fish Grille, which was perfect because we shared an appetizer and ordered the same plate. Salmon, asparagus and their garlic potatoes. It was flavorful.

  Avery peppered me with questions about my life, so I gave her vague details and nothing really about my family. I didn’t want to open that can of worms just yet.

  When I finally dropped her back off at her place, before she got out the truck, she said, “I know this is going to sound bad but I’m so glad I crushed your bike because so many doors have opened because I did. That’s bad, right?”

  Cupping her chin with my right hand, I lifted it as my head descended, then I said with my lips brushing against hers, “No, it’s not bad at all.”

  “Shiz,” she whispered against my mouth.

  “Avery,” I called her name too using the same light tone.

  “Night,” she said, right before she quickly pressed her mouth against mine and then ran in the building. Literally, Avery ran inside the building.

  Fuck me.

  I was in deep shit.

&nb
sp; Because her taste still lingered.

  On my lips, in my nostrils and seeping into my bloodstream as I blankly stared at the raggedy door that separated us. It almost seemed like a hindrance that needed to be overcome. With a good mind to stalk inside there and make her kiss me properly, the phone started vibrating in my pocket, pulling me from my trance.

  “Shiz,” I answered.

  “Hey brother,” Bronx greeted me. “Need you at the club. Some shit about to go down.”

  “See you in twenty,” I replied and hung up the phone.

  I’d live to fight another day.

  The battle of Avery West of the Westonians, no kin to Kanye West versus me.

  5 Chapter 5

  AVERY WEST

  I am such an idiot.

  A damn idiot.

  Why did I kiss him?

  Why did I kiss him?

  The mantra kept running through my head all night as I simply closed my eyes, pressed my lips to his soft ones and took the kiss. He started it and I finished but why the hell did I run.

  Just bolted into my house like that was supposed to happen after every kiss.

  I’m an idiot.

  Or one thing was for sure, if he thought I was crazy before, he definitely thinks so now.

  I still could not believe my good fortune. My very own two-story place, with a front porch, yard and a shed. I was in moving heaven, clearly. It just couldn’t be true. I signed the lease and everything. Gave my rent because no deposit was needed and paid my next month rent too. With this, I could take a less paying job and apply to work at the museum and still save some money.

  Though the transit system was much slower, my new place was only a twelve-minute walk from the closest bus stop or I could continue to ride-share. So even if I had to spend a year on public transportation, I’d gladly do it in that house. It was absolutely beautiful and something I could be proud of. The very notion of inviting my family and friends that come to see me, was exhilarating. Well, my new friends. I could even have parties; the yard was already made for them with surround sound speakers installed in rocks throughout the big space.

  I didn’t sleep one wink last night as I packed what very little I had. Then spent the rest of the time, overthinking the kiss I took and ran from.