Her Protector

by D. Camille

  “But…I’m not about to fuck up the best thing that’s ever happened to me, no matter what crazy ass thoughts come into my head,” he told her.

  “Is that how you really feel?”

  “Yeah baby, that’s how I feel.” Kent saw Sean and Kyle arriving. “Hey, I gotta go but I’ll be there to pick you up.”

  “Okay,”

  “Have a good day little Momma and be safe.”

  Kent disconnected the call and exited the car to meet with Sean and Kyle. “I’m still a monster, just not a dumb one.”

  ******

  Kent and Kyle followed Sean into the office of Warren Harding Sr. The Hardings, in addition to being in politics, owned a pharmaceutical company that manufactured products used primarily in local doctor’s offices.

  Warren Harding Sr. presided over the operations and had been thrilled when the Assistant of Jordan Black of Black Diamond Holdings out of LA, had contacted his office inquiring about adding another business to their portfolio. Having the backing of such a large organization could definitely expand Harding Pharmaceuticals’ reach and distribution.

  While many of his other relatives, including his son had taken the political road, Warren had wanted to keep the family business that had begun as a company that supplied basic home remedies that had been passed down from his grandmother’s grandmother. Warren had expanded the business and developed a state of the art lab to make more elaborate drugs.

  However, the building of this new lab and the costs associated with it had expended most of the firm’s resources and now they were in dire financial straits. Warren, up to this point, had been able to keep this information under wraps so being contacted by Black Diamond Holdings, was like a godsend.

  His visitors were announced and he put on a smile to greet them. The three well-dressed men entered and introduced themselves.

  “Mr. Harding, I’m Sean Jackson, Jordan Black’s Assistant.”

  Warren Sr. shook Sean’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “These are my associates, Kent Baker and Kyle Washington.”

  The two men also shook Warren’s hand before they all were seated. Warren sat behind his desk and looked at the men.

  “Thank you all for coming today,” he began before there was a knock on his door. “That must be my nephew, Wallace. I asked him to step in for a moment. He’s in charge of our accounting.”

  “Come in,” Warren called and all heads turned towards the door.

  Wallace Harding entered the office, spotted Sean and froze. Kent and Kyle both picked up on his reaction and readied themselves.

  “Wallace, come on in. I want you to meet the representatives from Black Diamond Holdings. They may be interested in working with us,” Warren told the man standing by the door.

  Sean stood slowly and faced the man. “I think Wallace already knows why I’m here.”

  That was Kent and Kyle’s cue to stand as well. Warren looked confused at the men. “What’s going on here?”

  Sean looked at Wallace. “So how do you want to do this?”

  Warren jumped from his chair. “What is going on here?” he demanded. The next thing he knew, the three men he’d invited to meet about his company were holding guns. One of which was pointed at him.

  Sean instructed Wallace to move over to where his uncle was in apparent shock. Wallace looked at Warren. “Why didn’t you tell me who was coming?”

  “I didn’t know I needed to,” Warren complained. “What the hell have you done?”

  Wallace frowned. “Ask your son that.”

  With his hands in the air, Warren turned to Sean. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on here. I thought we were meeting about the company.”

  “Tell him who I am Wallace,” Sean instructed.

  Reluctantly, Wallace began, “He’s Lily Masters husband.”

  “Lily Masters?” Warren repeated. “The woman that Junior is seeing?”

  Sean shook his head. “No, that’s Lotus, her sister…and her name is Lily Jackson.”

  “And Junior’s not seeing her,” Kent added.

  “What about her?” Warren asked. “What does she have to do with this?”

  Wallace clammed up and his face became angry. “Tell your uncle why I’m here,” Sean told him firmly.

  “She has the money we need to save this damn company!” Wallace yelled. “She stole it from Uncle Wendell before he died.”

  “Now, we’re getting somewhere.” Sean prompted. “Finish the story.”

  “We wanted to try to get the money back,” Wallace explained. “So we were going to send her a message through her sister, but Junior went and became obsessed with her.”

  Kent’s eyes narrowed and Kyle glanced at him. “So how are we going to handle this?” Sean inquired.

  Warren shook his head. “Why did you do this?” he asked his nephew.

  “I was trying to help you keep this place. Everything I’ve done has been to make this company successful,” Wallace told him.

  “By sending a woman a death threat, trying to scare the shit of out her?” Kent demanded.

  Wallace looked confused. “Nobody sent her a death threat,” he defended. “Junior did tamper with her car, trying to play hero until she pulled a gun on him.”

  “Junior did what?” Warren asked.

  “You should ask him Uncle Warren,” Wallace answered. “Junior has a lot of secrets.”

  Warren frowned. “I can’t believe you two. This is ridiculous. Wendell and Wayne were two scumbags and I wish they hadn’t carried the Harding name.”

  He turned to Sean. “I don’t know what my son and nephew have been up to, but I swear I had nothing to do with this and whatever happened between your wife and those two, I hope they’re rotting in hell for it.”

  Sean nodded. “I don’t have any problems with you Warren, but I think…” He glanced over at the still angry Kent. “Your son and nephew have something to deal with.”

  “Please don’t hurt my family,” Warren pleaded.

  Sean looked at Warren. “Listen, I don’t want you to lose any more members of your family, so this is what we’re going to do…”

  ******

  Lotus watched as the woman walked toward the table where she was sitting. She smiled and greeted her with a hug.

  “I’m so happy you called,” Lotus said as they separated.

  “I’m sorry it was so last minute, but I was in the area today.”

  Lotus smiled again. “I’m glad that I was free. I need some girl time.”

  Simone returned her smile. “Yeah, me too.”

  Both women took their seats and waited for a waitress.

  “So you have to tell me how you tamed the green-eyed monster,” Simone asked with a grin.

  Lotus rolled her eyes. “His reputation is legendary, I guess.”

  Simone frowned. “Wait, hold up. Me and Kent, that’s a definite no. He flirted, which is like breathing to him, I’m sure… but then he backed off.”

  “Plus we’re on the team together,” Simone finished.

  Lotus shook her head. “I’m glad to hear that because I really did want to have lunch with you.”

  Simone laughed. “So you would’ve put me on the curb if I’d messed around with him.”

  “Hell yeah,” Lotus answered. “I’m not trying to be breaking bread with his onesies.”

  “Girl…” Simone said shaking her head. “I know that’s right.”

  Lotus agreed. ‘It’s hard enough trying to handle him.”

  “I can imagine. Kent is a mess, but I can see you’ve done something to him.”

  “He thinks I put a spell on him.”

  Simone looked confused. “Long story…I’ll tell you another time.” Lotus told her.

  “Well you two are so cute together. I hope everything works out,” Simone said sincerely.

  “Thank you Simone,” Lotus said with a smile. “So what are you doing in Atlanta?”

  Simone sighed. “Trying to find myself.”
/>
  “How’s that going?” Lotus questioned.

  “One day at a time,” Simone answered. “What’s going on with you?”

  Lotus shook her head. “Let’s see, somebody’s wants to kill me and I’m leaving to go to LA so that my family can keep me safe.”

  Simone’s eyes widened. “What? I’m out of the loop. What’s going on?”

  “Kent and Kyle are working on it and Sean is here.”

  “Wow, Sean is here. This must be big if he’s overstepped Trent.”

  Lotus lifted a brow. “Who is Trent exactly?”

  Simone smiled. “They haven’t told you?”

  “I know you all are the Uncut Diamonds and that Sean, Ray and Jordan have something to do with all of this,” Lotus told her.

  “I’ll just tell you this, Kent’s specialty is weapons…so he can definitely be your protector.”

  Lotus looked interested. “Is he good?”

  Simone nodded. “Very.”

  Lotus’ eyes widened. “Why does he need to be that good with weapons?”

  “It’s his job.”

  The waitress appeared and took their lunch orders while all kinds of thoughts went through Lotus’ head regarding her twin flame. Apparently, she didn’t know Kent at all, since everything she learned about him surprised her, from where he worked, how he lived and how dangerous he was.

  “Have I said too much?” Simone asked gaining Lotus’ attention.

  “No…I’ve thought too little,” Lotus said quietly.

  She went into her thoughts about Kent Baker. All these years, although she’d known he was hers, she’d never thought about who this man really was. He was a son, a friend, a brother, a hard worker, a lover and a protector. Her protector.

  When she’d spoken with him earlier, she could tell that he was having second thoughts and although it had made her nervous, she’d let him know that she only wanted him if he wanted her. It couldn’t be any other way, no matter how much she desired him.

  Kent mind worked in mysterious ways and Lotus could feel his mood swings. Underneath that tough exterior was a very fragile heart that he wanted to protect at all costs. Lotus had resigned that Kent was her twin flame, but she’d never contemplated falling so deeply in love with him.

  Her mind had been mostly on the physical, but after spending time with him and getting to know the man he was, she knew that falling in love with Kent Baker was exactly what was happening. How could it not?

  He’d answered her call without even understanding what he was doing. He’d volunteered to keep her safe even before he’d known who he was to her. He’d made hot, sweet love to her, and most of all, Kent had stolen her heart.

  Lotus put a hand to her face.

  “What’s the matter Lotus?” Simone asked watching her from across the table.

  Lotus smiled. “Kent Baker is amazing.”

  Simone laughed. “I’m glad you think so.”

  ******

  Jordan knocked on the door to the hotel room and waited. When it was opened another pair of dark eyes, stared in surprise.

  “Hello Chloe,”

  “Jordan? What are you doing here?” Chloe asked.

  He smiled. “I’ve come to see my sister. May I come in?”

  Chloe moved back and opened the door. “I’m surprised to see you,” she said as he entered the room.

  “I know that you had dinner with Sean and I felt it was time that we spend some time together,” he told her.

  She stood watching him. “You can have a seat.”

  Jordan walked to the sofa and looked around the suite. “You know that we have plenty of apartments if you’re planning to stay in town.”

  Chloe took the seat opposite him. “I’m waiting for Daddy, then I’ll decide what I’m going to do about life and work.”

  He nodded. “Do you like being a therapist?”

  “You checked me out…” Chloe said knowingly.

  “Of course, you know who we are.”

  She agreed. “Yes, I enjoy working with people on their family issues.”

  “Sort of ironic,” Jordan commented.

  Chloe smiled slightly. “Yes, I guess so.” She studied Jordan.

  “You look so much like him…” she whispered.

  “I hear that all the time,” Jordan responded.

  She shook her head. “It’s like I’m sitting here with him.”

  “Are you and our father trying to hurt us?” Jordan asked point blank. “Because although I don’t want to hurt either of you, I won’t hesitate to do so.”

  “No Jordan, we’re trying to keep us all safe.”

  He nodded. “I’ll take your word for now.”

  “Since I’m sure that Trent has all the information on me, can I tell you my story?” she asked.

  “I’d like to hear it.”

  Chloe rubbed her hands together. “I knew from a little girl that I was adopted. My parents told me early on because they wanted me to know. What they didn’t tell me was who my real parents were, which was fine with me because they were the best parents I could’ve asked for.”

  “When Trent contacted me, I told him that I didn’t want anything to do with any of you because you’d never been a part of my life. I didn’t know that you and Sean didn’t know about us or our parents even being involved.”

  “Then I was contacted by Dr. Camille and she explained everything to me and took me to meet Daddy. He told me about him and Carolyn and the role he played in giving up me and Trent. He told me how Trent got lost and it broke his heart that he hadn’t had a family. He and Dr. Camille made it possible for him to find you and Sean.”

  Jordan lifted a brow. “Why didn’t they just contact us so that we could’ve went to get him?”

  “Then you would’ve known that they were involved.”

  “Why did he fake his death?” Jordan questioned.

  Chloe looked away. “Daddy hasn’t told me everything Jordan. Only what I’ve needed to know.”

  “When he gets here, he’d better be ready to talk or things will get very nasty. Trent is already on edge and I’m not too far behind him,” Jordan explained.

  “I understand,” Chloe told him. “While Camille’s death wasn’t necessarily unexpected, it has been hard. She was a very sweet woman despite what people think. She gave up her life so that Daddy could have one with his family.”

  “How touching…” Jordan replied. “Listen, I don’t take threats lightly, especially to my family. So tell ‘Daddy’ to hurry up and get his ass to LA.”

  Chloe began, “I don’t-”

  Jordan shook his head. “I know you have contact with him. That’s a pretty good scrambler you use to block the calls, but rest assured Justin Black will answer for what he’s done.”

  “Will you at least hear him out when he gets here?” Chloe begged.

  “Yes, I will listen but if it’s not what I want to hear…”

  Chloe frowned. “Will you keep Trent under control?”

  “I can’t control Trent, but he’s agreed to let me handle this.” Jordan gave her a look. “And you need to make friends with your twin.”

  “He thinks he knows everything,” Chloe complained.

  “Well he’s a genius.”

  She gave Jordan a look. “That doesn’t mean he can’t listen!”

  “Why are you so mad at him?” Jordan asked perceptively.

  Chloe got to her feet. “Because, he found her and she never looked for me.”

  “You said you didn’t want anything to do with us,” Jordan reminded her.

  “She was supposed to want to find me.”

  Jordan leaned forward. “Don’t you think Trent feels the same about our father?”

  “He had you, and Sean and your families.”

  “We would have welcomed you too Chloe, had you come.” Jordan told her. “This whole situation is a damn mess because of Justin and Carolyn. Now it’s going to be up to them to fix this but they can’t if you all don’t try.”

>   Chloe looked at him. “I thought you were the mean one?”

  “I am.”

  “I think Trent is trying to take your place,” she frowned.

  Jordan smiled. “Trent isn’t mean at all. In fact, everybody loves Trent. I think once you get to know him without all of this animosity between the two of you, you’ll see that he’s a brother you can be proud of.”

  “I also think that you’re far more than we’re accustomed to. None of us have had a sister, so you have to let us get used to you. Believe me, Trent and I went through it.”

  She smiled. “Good.”

  Jordan shook his head and stood to his feet. “You have my number, if you need anything.”

  He walked to the door and she followed. Jordan stood looking down at the woman who shared his blood.

  “Thank you Jordan,” Chloe said quietly. “For being nice to me.”

  Jordan smiled. “You should try it. It really doesn’t hurt.”

  She nodded and he walked out the door.

  ******

  Kent arrived at work in time for his weekly staff meeting. Grabbing his paperwork, he walked to the conference room and occupied one of the empty chairs awaiting the rest of the staff. Kent was always prepared for his work. It was not only what he did, it’s what he loved. Making and managing money was his life.

  In college, he’d decided that he wanted to do something that would make him enough money to live his dreams, but also give him access to making more. He had to take care of his mother and Keisha, in addition, he also helped out his other siblings when necessary.

  The money he made being an Uncut Diamond, was icing on the cake and his bank account sat on an extremely nice figure. Kent was able to live very comfortably and that suited him just fine. He smiled as he thought about Lotus’ surprise at what he did and where he lived. He was glad that he had exceeded her expectations, but concerned that her expectations were so low.

  “Mmmm…that’s a sexy smile,”

  Kent looked up and saw Carla taking the seat across from him.

  “Good afternoon Carla,” Kent said turning his attention to his paperwork.

  “Hey Kent. You’ve been MIA lately,” she commented.

  He glanced up. “I’ve been working from home.”