Her Protector

by D. Camille

  “Aww, Lotus…” he breathed holding her close. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  She laid her head against his chest. “Sometimes I wish I could be like everybody else…”

  Kent rubbed her back. “I don’t want that.”

  Lotus looked up at him. “You were scared of me.”

  “I was scared of how I felt about you, not who you are.”

  He touched her cheek, where her dimples were in hiding. “You’re amazing Lotus and that’s why there’s only one of you.”

  Lotus gave a small smile. “That’s all this world can handle.”

  “I’m trying my damnedest,” he confessed.

  She turned serious. “Am I going to hear from you when you leave today?”

  Kent smiled down at her. “You just waiting for me to stir that honey pot. You not slick.”

  Lotus laughed and shook her head. “You’re so right.”

  “I’m sorry baby,” Kent said pulling her closer. “I don’t ever want to make you feel bad about being special.”

  “You think I’m special?” Lotus asked against his chest.

  “Girl, you got me out of my damn mind. You’d better be special.”

  Lotus smiled thinking that only Kent could make her laugh and feel complimented at the same time.

  “Well, I think you’re special too Kent Baker,” she whispered. “And think twice before you walk through any damn doors today, okay?”

  He lifted her face to his. “I’m not trying to die before I get this…trust.”

  He lowered his head to hers and Lotus wrapped her arms around him, holding him close while trying to shake off her fears.

  ******

  Trent waited in his office for his next appointment. He’d asked Keith Watson to come talk about his daughter Tara, whom Trent and his wife Callie, currently had custody of, with no plans to relinquish it anytime soon.

  Finding out that Keith was keeping track of the case in Atlanta that involved Trent’s ex and Tara’s mother, was not something that sat well with Trent. He was trying to work with Keith to get him reunited with his daughter, but this was definitely a step back in Trent’s mind.

  When Keith entered his office and took a seat, Trent sat across from him, looking the man over.

  Without preamble, Trent began. “Why are you keeping tabs on me in Atlanta?”

  Keith looked surprised and started to formulate an answer.

  “If you lie to me, you’ll never see Tara again,” Trent warned.

  “Let me explain,” he said quietly.

  Trent sat back in his chair. “Five minutes.”

  “My parents suggested that I check you out. They don’t understand why I can’t get Tara from you and they’re trying to find a way to get her,” Keith explained.

  Trent shook his head. “Your parents really have you wrapped around their fingers.”

  “I thought it was a good idea,” Keith protested.

  “Okay Keith,” Trent sat up. “I tried to work with you, but now I can’t trust you or your family. There’s no way in hell I’d turn Tara over to you.”

  Keith’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t just keep my daughter.”

  “On the contrary, I can and I will.” Trent told him firmly.

  Keith jumped to his feet and Trent lifted a brow. “What are you going to tell her?” Keith demanded.

  “That when her father stops being a damn puppet, she might see him again.”

  “You don’t want us as enemies,” Keith warned and Trent stood to his full six-foot-five height.

  “No dude, you don’t want me as an enemy,” he corrected. “And whoever you’re paying off in Atlanta to get information on me, you should get your money back.”

  “I’m going to get my daughter,” Keith threatened. “No matter what I have to do.”

  Trent nodded. “You don’t know who you’re messing with. I wouldn’t want your parents to lose two sons.”

  Keith frowned. “I’m not afraid of you and if you do something to me, my parents will fight you to the end.”

  Trent shrugged. “Sometimes the end comes when you’re least expecting it. Your day can start out like any other and then…”

  “You haven’t seen the last of me,” Keith warned then walked out of the office.

  Trent watched him go then sat back in his seat. “I might have Keith.”

  *******

  Lotus left work that afternoon with Kent on her mind. Her vision last night had been harrowing and her heart began racing at the thought of it. She took out her phone to call him when she was approached by one of her co-workers.

  “Hey Dr. Masters,”

  Lotus smiled. “Hi Nurse Winston.”

  The nurse handed her a card. “This was dropped off for you at the desk.”

  Lotus looked at the envelope then took it. “Thanks.”

  Nurse Winston smiled. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I caught you before you left.”

  Lotus watched her walk away and turned her attention back to the card. Opening it, she saw a picture of a lotus flower on the front and frowned, wondering who had sent this to her. She wondered if Kent was trying to do something sweet.

  Opening the card, Lotus froze then put a hand to her mouth. Silently, she let it drop to the floor then dialed 911.

  ******

  Kent shut down his computer for the day and mentally prepared for his meeting with Dennis later tonight. One thing Kent hated was shady, dirty people. Growing up on the streets of Atlanta, he’d met plenty. He thanked his lucky stars that he’d met Trent. They’d not only become best friends, but brothers and when Trent had found his family and walked into a goldmine, he’d shared that fortune with Kent and his family.

  The Black Diamonds had become Kent’s brothers as well. He looked up to them and admired the men they were. Even after training with them for several months, he was still in awe of their skills.

  Kent had initially met Lotus in the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta when they were both on their way to Trent’s eighteenth birthday party. From the moment he’d spotted her, he’d been entranced. Lotus was beautiful, sexy and had a way of keeping him in check that no one else had.

  Today, however, she had him paranoid as hell every time he reached a door. While he’d still didn’t quite understand how her vision stuff worked, he knew from her voice that she was really scared for him so he took it seriously.

  “This damn girl…” he sighed then felt a chill. “Lotus…”

  Kent turned as his phone rang and he saw Lotus’ number on the screen.

  “Hello?” he answered quickly.

  “Kent, I’m with the police,” Lotus said in a rush.

  He frowned. “What the hell happened?”

  “I got a card at work with a death threat,” she said shakily.

  “What? Where are you now?”

  “I’m still at the hospital. The police are going to take me home.”

  Kent jumped from his chair. “No! Stay right there until I get there.”

  Lotus frowned. “You don’t want me to go with the police.”

  Rushing out of his office, Kent ran down the hall. “No, I’m sending our guy in to get you.”

  “I don’t understand,” Lotus told him.

  “I know. I promise I’ll explain it when I get there. Just don’t leave with anybody, okay?” he asked frantically. “I’m coming right now.”

  Lotus looked around at the police waiting to escort her. “Uh, okay. I’ll be right here.”

  “Thank you!” Kent said making it to his car. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

  After disconnecting with Lotus, Kent notified the tail he had on her to go inside and stay with her until he arrived. Navigating the streets, he called Trent.

  “What’s up Kent?” Trent answered.

  “Dude, shit just got real…”

  ******

  Lotus ended the call with Kent and looked over at the officers waiting for her.

  “Are you ready Dr. Masters?”
<
br />   Lotus hesitated. “I’m going to wait for a ride.”

  The officers shared a glance before one of them spoke. “That’s not necessary. We’re here to insure your safety.”

  “No, I’m good.” She told them taking a step back.

  They stepped forward. “It’s what we’re paid to do,” another officer informed her.

  Lotus began to feel uncomfortable at their insistence, especially after hearing the panic in Kent’s voice when he’d told her not to leave with them.

  “He’s on his way, so I’ll be fine.”

  The officer went to reach for her arm. “We have to insist.”

  Lotus pulled back just as a man in a dark suit and dark glasses came barreling through the lobby. He stopped at her side and looked down at her as the police readied themselves.

  “Kent sent me.” He told her simply.

  She looked up at the dangerous looking man and nodded slowly.

  “Who are you?” one of the officers asked.

  “I’m here to watch over Dr. Masters.”

  The officer frowned. “Who do you work for?”

  The dark clad man faced the officers. “That’s not your concern. Dr. Masters is safe now, so you can continue with your investigation.”

  He gently took Lotus’ arm and led her away from the officers. When they were secluded, he looked down at her.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “Yes, I think so. You’re the man Kent has following me?”

  He nodded. “I should tell you that you drive too fast.”

  Lotus smiled sheepishly. “I know.”

  She looked up a few minutes later up as Kent came rushing through the doors and his green eyes searched the premises until he spotted her. Lotus ran to meet him and he yanked her into his arms when she reached him.

  “Are you alright?” he asked holding on to her.

  Lotus shook her head against his chest. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”

  Kent pulled back to look into her face. “Tell me what happened.”

  “The nurse gave me a card that was left at the desk for me. I opened it and there was a picture of a lotus flower on the front, then on the inside…” she trailed off and lowered her head.

  Gently he lifted her face back to his. “What was it?”

  “It said…I was a dead woman and I think there was blood on it,” she choked out.

  Kent frowned. “Where is this card?”

  “The police took it.”

  They both looked up as Kyle joined them. “Lotus, what happened?” he asked coming to stand next to her.

  Lotus repeated what she’d just told Kent as he kept his arms around her.

  It was Kyle’s turn to frown. “What did the police do with the card?” he questioned.

  Lotus looked around. “I guess they took it as evidence.”

  “What did they say to you?” Kent asked.

  She stepped out of his arms and recalled the uncomfortable situation. “They tried to make me go with them. They kept insisting that they take me home.”

  Kent and Kyle shared a look before Kyle asked. “Was there any indication on the card who it might have come from?”

  She shook her head. “No, so I thought it was from Kent.”

  “Me?” he asked surprised.

  Lotus gave him a look. “I thought you were trying to be sweet.”

  Kyle looked at the pair and again wondered how they’d gotten together and how long it would last.

  “By sending you a card?” Kent questioned. “My game is way tighter than that.”

  “I don’t know because I haven’t seen it,” Lotus told him.

  His eyes darkened. “Didn’t I get your breakfast this morning?”

  “Uh, can we get back to Lotus’ death threat right now?” Kyle intervened.

  Lotus turned to him. “What do you want to know Kyle?”

  “Let me holla at Lotus, Kyle,” Kent said firmly.

  She looked at Kent. “This is not the time.”

  “Thanks Kyle,” Kent said keeping his gaze on Lotus.

  Kyle let out a breath then shook his head as he left the couple alone.

  Lotus turned angry dark eyes on Kent. “What?”

  “Why are you tripping?” he demanded.

  “Hmmm…maybe because somebody just threatened to kill me! Did you think of that one?”

  Kent took her arm and pulled her closer. “Why do you think I drove my ass over here as fast as I could?”

  Lotus lowered her head and took a breath. “Thank you for coming Kent and for sending your agent.”

  “Look baby, there’s a lot going on that you don’t know about,” he explained.

  She looked up at him. “I can see that.”

  “I’ll fill you in later, but until then I need you to trust me.”

  Lotus nodded. “I do.” She touched his face. “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry for telling me that you’re not impressed with my game?” he asked.

  “For arguing with you in front of Kyle,” she clarified. “I’m really not impressed by your game.”

  Kent smiled. “So you’re putting me on notice?”

  Lotus removed her hand and shrugged. “Just because you’re the one doesn’t mean you don’t have to come correct. Taking me to your Momma’s house for dinner ain’t it.”

  He nodded. “I hear you little Momma.”

  “See, that makes me second guess you.”

  Kent laughed. “Let me see those sexy dimples.”

  Lotus purposely frowned and his smile widened. “You’re going to make me do something to you at your job, if you don’t cooperate.”

  “I don’t want to smile at you,” she told him. “You play too much.”

  Kent leaned down and whispered something in her ear and she closed her eyes. “You’re nasty too,” she whispered back.

  He smiled and brought her closer in his arms. “You know it.”

  Lotus opened her eyes and looked up at him with a soft smile.

  “There they go,” he said staring down at her cheeks. “When I see those, my whole world lights up.”

  She couldn’t help but to smile brighter which prompted Kent to kiss each exposed dimple. Lotus caught a glimpse of Kyle talking to one of the staff.

  “Kyle is waiting,” she reminded him.

  “So,”

  “Kent.”

  He sighed. “I can’t wait until he takes his ass back to LA.”

  Lotus grabbed his tie. “He’s here to help you right?”

  “I guess,” he agreed stubbornly. “We’ll see.”

  “Well, I need the two of you to find out who sent me that card,” she told him. “Can you do that for me?

  Kent looked down into her lovely face. “That’s a wrap. Nobody’s going to hurt you Lotus.”

  She hugged him tightly. “Thank you.”

  Kent waved Kyle back over and he joined them with a look. “You two ready to get this done?” he asked. “I’ve been asking some questions while you two were…talking.”

  They both looked at him.

  “What’d you find out?” Kent asked.

  Kyle looked at his watch. “We need to take Lotus home first because we have another appointment soon.”

  Kent mimicked his action and checked his wrist. “Shit! It is getting close to that time.”

  Lotus looked between the two before Kent started to ushered her to the door. The police had cleared out, along with Lotus’s tail, and the lobby was back to normal as they exited the building.

  “We’ll leave your car here until we get it checked out,” Kent told her while walking her to his vehicle.

  Lotus frowned. “I’m going to be without a car again?”

  “Not too long,” he promised. “You got food at home. You’ll be alright.”

  Lotus laughed as she slid into the passenger side of his car.

  “I think I’ll make some spaghetti tonight.”

  Kent froze for a moment, then closed the door. When he
was settled in on the other side behind the wheel, he turned to her.

  “There better be some damn banana pudding too.”

  Chapter 9

  Kent and Kyle rode in the car together to meet with Dennis. They’d made sure that Lotus was settled in at her apartment with two agents outside to guard her.

  “Are you ready?” Kyle asked.

  Kent smirked. “I’m always ready dude.”

  Kyle turned to the window. “What’s the plan?”

  “Trent said no loose ends, so we have to make this real clean,” Kent began. “It has to look like Detective Sanders turned on the police and somebody retaliated.”

  Kyle looked at him. “Well, since you trained the most with Sean, this should be your area of expertise.”

  “I’ve got it.” Kent assured him.

  “Have you handled somebody before?” Kyle asked.

  Kent smiled and glanced at him. “Like I said, I’ve got it.”

  Kyle nodded then turned back to the window. After a minute, he heard Kent ask, “So what’s up with you and Lotus?”

  “Me and Lotus?” Kyle asked surprised.

  Kent shrugged while driving. “I mean; your picture is on her mantle…you sleep over at her crib.”

  “I’m sure Lotus told you that we’re just friends.”

  Kent gave him a look. “Dude, for real…nobody has ‘friends’ that look like Lotus.”

  Kyle waited then nodded slowly. “I won’t lie to you Kent. If Lotus wasn’t waiting for the man in her vision, I would’ve definitely tried to be more than friends.”

  Kent pulled to the side and hit the brakes. He put the car in park then turned to Kyle who watched him quietly.

  “So you are feeling Lotus?” Kent questioned.

  Kyle gave him a look. “She’s a beautiful, brilliant woman with a big heart. Hell yeah, I was feeling Lotus.”

  Kent’s eyes narrowed as Kyle continued. “But she made it clear from the start, when Isis and Callie tried to hook us up, that she was waiting for someone.”

  “Isis and Callie?” Kent asked shocked.

  Kyle nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Tried to hook you up with Lotus?”

  “That’s what I said Kent,” Kyle answered. “And if I’d known it was you that Lotus was waiting for, I would have definitely tried harder.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Kent demanded.