I nodded. “Yes, Mama.”
“Always,” Blessing lied.
“Mmm hmm. Didn’t I also teach my girls not to be late for work? And I noticed three shadows standing at the door through the glass as I was coming down the stairs. There a reason for that?”
“Shit!” Blessing dashed to the door.
“Mouth, darling.” She sighed and then came to me, cupped my face, and kissed my cheek. “How’s my baby this morning?”
I pressed my cheek against her hand, burrowing into the most precious touch in the world to me. “I’m good, Mama. Ready to get back to work. Hoping the day doesn’t bring more bad news.”
“Well, we’re going to be hopeful and focus on the good we have. One another, a warm home, clothes on our backs, food in our bellies, and a whole lotta love, right?”
I nodded and she patted my cheek. “Go be beautiful for the camera, chicklet.” She opened her arms and I went into them like a duck to water. “Don’t let anything tear you down, my precious girl. You are loved. You are beauty. You are a gift. Remember that.” She squeezed me tight and I inhaled her wildflower scent and let it soothe me straight down to my bones.
“I love you, Mama.”
“And I love my girl. Let Blessing off the hook about her overprotectiveness, okay? She doesn’t know any other way to protect her family. And she’s lost a lot.”
I nodded against her hair and breathed through the tears that wanted to surface. Today I’d be strong, I’d be beautiful, and I’d get the job done. Not only for Blessing but for myself. I needed to make strides in my recovery and getting back to work was just one hurdle toward that goal.
“Mama loves you.” She kissed my temple and backed up. “Did you eat something?”
I grinned. “Yeah, I had cookies and tea.”
“Please eat a good lunch,” she requested, shuffling over to where Ryan was leaned against the cabinets, one arm crossed over his chest and the other mimicking that pose but holding a cup of Joe.
“Good morning, Agent Russell. Can I make you some breakfast?”
I waved at Ryan. “Bye, Mama,” I said as I headed toward the front door where a huge Hispanic man stood sentry. He wasn’t overly tall, maybe close to six feet or just under. Though the dude was built. A wall of muscle from top to toe. He had thick, luxurious black hair that was parted at the side and swept back at the top. His face was angular, cut with harsh lines that made him seem dangerous but also sleek, like a wild panther.
“Oh, hello.” I smiled.
“Ma’am.” He moved to open the door for me.
“You’re taking care of my sisters?” I pressed my hand to stop him from opening it.
“Yes, ma’am. Charlotte, Liliana, Genesis, and one small child named Aurora.”
I grinned. “Don’t let Charlie hear you call her Charlotte.” I mock shivered.
He smiled a bright white beautiful smile against his brown sugar-colored skin. He was clean-shaven and his cologne was a heady, pleasurable mix of musk and man.
“I’m Addy.”
“Omar Alvarado.” He reached a hand out.
I shook it and took in his kind, warm brown eyes, square jaw, and hulking form. Liliana was going to crush on this man hard. He was exactly her type. Our sprite loved a big guy, and she preferred dating Hispanic men.
“You married?”
His eyebrows pulled together as he frowned. “No, why?”
I shrugged and winked. “No reason. Take care of my sisters.”
“I’ll protect them with my life,” he stated with purpose.
“I’m counting on that.”
I was about to open the door when I heard the shuffling of little feet dashing down the stairs.
“Wait, wait!” I heard Liliana holler.
She came barreling down the rest of the stairs, across the entry, and through the living space in a flirty little cotton dress that moved with her before she crashed into me.
I took her into my arms and snuggled her petite frame close. She wore a sweet-smelling perfume mixed liberally with something lemony. She always smelled good enough to eat. I glanced at Omar whose entire body went stock still, but his gaze was absolutely not. It ran up and down my sister’s little body and he bit into his bottom lip. Everyone had a tell when they were interested in a person romantically. As a model, I picked up on these things. Especially a man hitting on a woman. People always thought models were loose and down to party. I was not but that didn’t mean I didn’t get my fair share of being hit on…regularly. Omar was into my sister Liliana. I’d bet my bank account on it.
She pulled back. “I didn’t want you to leave without saying goodbye.”
I cupped her beloved cheek and took in her beauty. Curly hair just hitting her shoulders. A beautiful espresso color that was a natural gift from the Big Guy. Super high rounded cheekbones, flawless, golden bronzed skin, perfectly arched eyebrows I’d kill for, and plump, cherub-like lips. The woman didn’t even need makeup, she was so genuinely gorgeous.
Omar grunted next to us.
“Oh.” I lifted my chin to Omar standing next to us. “This is Omar, your bodyguard. He’ll be taking you to and from work today along with Charlie and Gen.”
She frowned. “Bodyguards… ¿Qué? Por qué?”
“Blessing’s doing.”
She rolled her eyes. “That girl.” Then she finally took in her bodyguard and her eyes widened and a pretty red hue tinged her cheeks. Liliana lifted her hand and pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear, then looked down at the ground and then back up. “Um, hola. I’m Liliana.”
He smiled and I watched as she visibly swallowed then let out whatever breath she was holding.
I almost cracked up but I had to get to work. “Well, I’m going to leave you two to your introductions. See you later?”
Liliana nodded. “Si. Um, te quiero. Be careful and check in. I’ll be worried if you don’t.”
I pulled her into my arms once more then kissed her cheek. “I love you too, Sprite. Have a good day with your hunk.”
Her eyes got big again and she put her hand to her chest. “He’s not my hunk…” she defended instantly. A little too quickly if someone asked me.
“I could be,” Omar murmured.
“What?” Her gaze slashed to him and narrowed.
“Bye!” I called out, and then I opened the door and entered Hell. As expected, when I exited the house, the cameras started flashing. Blessing was waiting as were the two other bodyguards. One of them took my elbow and led me through the shouting crowd to the black Escalade.
I glanced behind me and saw the other guard doing the same for my sister.
They got us safely into the back of the vehicle as they took the front.
I surveyed the rather large crowd in front of Kerrighan House.
“This is insane. When is this going to stop?”
Blessing sighed. “I don’t know.” She took my hand and held it with hers just like she did yesterday. Sister solidarity. We may fight, we may bicker, but more than that, we loved one another fiercely. Holding her hand, I felt the tension start to lift.
“Today’s going to be a good day. I just know it,” I touted desperately, trying to believe it myself.