by D. Camille
“The dried fruit!”
Danielle nodded and glanced at Khalil. “She also said this was Daddy approved.”
He agreed with a small grin then Danielle dug into the bag and removed a small container consisting of a variety of dried fruits then handed it to Kyros.
“Thank you!” he said happily.
“Take it to the kitchen and don’t eat them all at once,” Khalil instructed with a smile knowing his son.
Kyros took off and Danielle turned to Khalil. “I also asked what was your favorite thing at the store,” she said coming closer.
Khalil slid an arm around her waist. “If you were there today, then it was you.”
Danielle smiled as he lowered his head and kissed her gently.
“Hello Queen.”
“Hello Khalil, I hope I’m not interrupting, but I wanted to surprise you.”
He shook his head. “No, you’re not interrupting. Kyros and I were playing a game.”
“A game?’ she asked surprised. “What is it?”
“Chess.”
Danielle frowned. “Kyros plays chess?”
Khalil nodded and Danielle sighed. “Kam can’t even play Life.”
“I’m teaching him strategy,” Khalil explained.
“You have to explain that to me,” Danielle said confused.
“It’s better if I show you.” He placed a hand on her back and led her to where the chess board was set up. He put his weapon away while Danielle took a seat across from him, where the black pieces were on his side.
“So you see the squares on the board?” he asked and she nodded placing the bag to the side.
“Those represent territories and the entire board is a map,” he began. “The objective of your opponent,” he pointed at the white pieces. “Is to eliminate you completely from the board, conquer your King and control your territory.”
Danielle listened intently.
“Now, he can’t come directly, because your people are united.” He spread his hands over the black pieces in front of him. “So what he has to do, is use a series of strategic moves to confuse and distract you.”
Danielle was enthralled now at this commentary.
“Now the Pawns are your loyalists. They go into battle with no option for retreat since they can only move forward and even though they are Pawns, they can take out any of the opponent’s soldiers if they’re caught slipping. These are the brothers on the frontlines, going into the streets on a daily basis.”
She nodded.
“The Pawns aside, the King has his Court. The Knights, the Rooks and the Bishops. This is like the Negus. We can all make certain moves in specific ways, but our goal is the same. The Court is to protect the King and the Negus protect the city.”
Danielle smiled. “I like that.”
Khalil held up a hand. “But wait, there’s one piece left, and she’s the baddest thing on the map. My Black Queen. She can make almost all the moves on the board; forward, backward, and sideways. See the opponent is only focused on conquering me, so he allows my Queen to make moves openly that the King cannot.”
He looked at her. “But when she uses her power strategically along with the Pawns and the Court, the King always remains protected, and the opponent is defeated.”
“What does the King do?” Danielle asked watching him.
“He makes his moves, but mostly he allows the Queen to use all of the abilities that she has been given, because he knows only she… can save them both,” he answered.
“I’ve never heard chess explained that way…” Danielle trailed off.
Khalil patted his temple with an index finger. “This isn’t a game.”
She smiled. “So I’ve just learned.” Danielle touched his jaw. “That intensity and intelligence is so damn sexy.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.
“How are you?” Danielle whispered.
Khalil sighed and held on to her hand. “On edge, restless, ready to attack anything in sight.”
“How’s Kyros?”
“I’ve told him to be on guard and that’s it. He knows there are bad people in this world and he’s been taught how to protect himself, if needed.”
Danielle looked shocked then shook her head. “I don’t even know why I’m surprised.”
“Unfortunately, even little soldiers live in a real world.”
“I know,”
Khalil’s gaze landed on the bag next to her. “Why are you always bringing me things in bags?”
Danielle smiled and glanced over at the bag. “Because I like to see that handsome smile. It’s so rare. It’s almost an urban legend.”
“You see it more than anybody,” he assured her.
“Well, I wanted to see it tonight.” She reached into the bag just as Kyros entered the room.
“Thank you Ms. Danielle. Those were so good!”
Khalil looked at Kyros. “How many did you eat?”
Kyros gave him a sly grin. “Not all of them.”
“Which means you left one or two?” Khalil asked and Kyros nodded.
Danielle laughed and handed Khalil a box of Chamomile tea. He looked at the box, then back at her. “My sister sent this, didn’t she?”
“She said you needed it to calm down,” Danielle confirmed.
“I don’t drink tea,” he told her. “That’s for women and old ladies.”
Danielle frowned. “You drink hot chocolate.”
“Only with you.”
“Then you can only drink tea with me.” She got to her feet. “You and Kyros can finish your game, and I’ll show you my tea making skills.”
“I see that I’m not going to win this battle,” Khalil commented.
“Let the Queen use her abilities,” she said before walking out of the room.
Kyros looked at his father. “Ms. Danielle is funny.”
Khalil was still looking in the direction where she had disappeared. “Yes, Ms. Danielle is something else.” He turned back to Kyros. “Are you ready?”
“I’m coming for you this time,” Kyros told him beginning to look at the board.
Khalil nodded. “What’s your strategy?”
Kyros looked his father in the eye. “Study my opponent just as much as I study the game,” he recited.
“Exactly.”
Kyros continued. “That way he never catches me unaware,” he said proudly.
“Because that’s always been his key to victory,” Khalil finished.
When Danielle returned with a cup of tea for Khalil, he and Kyros were engaged in the game and she sat quietly and watched in fascination. Kyros picked up a piece, then glanced at his father. Khalil shook his head slowly and he replaced it.
“I need to think about this,” Kyros told him.
Khalil nodded. “I can see that. We can pick up tomorrow, it’s getting late.” Kyros agreed and got to his feet.
“Go and start getting ready for bed and I’ll be in there shortly,” Khalil told him.
Kyros looked over at Danielle. “Good night Ms. Danielle. Thank you again.”
Danielle smiled and reached over to give him a hug. “Goodnight Kyros and you are so welcome.”
He smiled at her and left the room.
“I might steal him,” Danielle said turning back to Khalil.
“I think there’s a line for that right now.”
Danielle sighed. “That’s why you need to drink that tea.”
Khalil picked up the hot mug. “So you saw my sister?”
“Yes, I visited the co-op and she was there. We had a very interesting conversation,” Danielle told him.
“She tried to run you off.”
“She tried, but I’m no lightweight,”
He looked her over. “No, I never thought so.”
“Khayla is definitely your twin in every way. She’s very uh…passionate about things.”
Khalil took a sip of the tea. “She wants to kill Melody.”
“Oh definitely.�
�
He shook his head. “Did she tell you what she was planning?”
Danielle put a hand over her heart with her fingers crossed. “I’ve sworn not to share the official business of the Nigist. I was warned the only way out was death and snitching was strictly forbidden, no matter how handsome the Negus was.”
“You’re the judge, you can’t go around joining female gangs,” he warned.
“The Nigist are not a gang, thank you. They protect the Negus while the Negus protect the city.”
Khalil lifted a brow. “They have a tagline?”
Danielle laughed. “I told you they were official.”
He sat the mug down and reached for her hand. “Please don’t let the Nigist get you involved in anything that jeopardizes your career.”
She shook her head. “I’m told that we’re very careful.”
“Just how did you become a Nigist? They’re only married to Negus.” He pointed out.
“Khayla gave me a special pass. As the unofficial leader, she said she has that authority.”
“My sister…”
“Is amazing, just like you.”
Khalil held her gaze for a minute. “Stay right here. I’m going to settle Kyros in and I’ll be back.”
“I really should go.”
“We can battle it out when I come back,” he said getting to his feet.
Danielle waited until he’d put Kyros to bed and was standing when he returned. She gasped when he lifted her in his arms and walked out of the room.
“Khalil!” she whispered harshly. “What are you doing?”
“Ending the battle,”
Danielle looked around as he carried her into his living room and laid her on the sofa. Looking down at her, he said, “I’m not sleeping tonight anyway because I’m too on edge, and you’re the perfect company to sit with me.”
“Khalil, I’m not staying here tonight.” Danielle told him firmly. “Your son is sleeping down the hall.”
He sat on the sofa and looked down at her. “I told Kyros that it’s too dark and too late for you to be driving home alone, and that you’d be staying over.”
He touched her face. “He agreed and said I should make sure you have enough blankets, like his Grandma does when he sleeps over at her house.”
Danielle smiled and shook her head. “Who can’t love that little boy?”
“Just that little boy?” Khalil asked.
She connected with his gaze. “No baby, definitely not just that little boy.”
Chapter 15
Danielle watched Khalil sip his tea while she sat next to him on the sofa with a blanket thrown across her lap. A fire roared in the fireplace as they took in the silence.
“Are you really going to keep me here against my will?” she asked.
“To keep you safe, yes.” He answered and looked at her. “You don’t want to stay with me?”
“Don’t look at me like that and use that sexy voice,” she admonished and he gave a small grin.
He took another sip. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“Oh, you know exactly what I mean, Khalil Lewis.”
Khalil sat his mug aside and slid closer to her. Placing his arm along the back of the sofa, he stared down into her face. “Do you mean that it’s only been days since I’ve been with you, but I feel like a man who’s famished and deprived of the most sensual and seductive woman that I’ve ever made love with?”
Danielle grabbed a handful of his shirt. “See, that’s what I mean.”
Khalil kissed her passionately as she pulled him closer. His large hand stroked her hip encased in denim then slid underneath her sweater to touch her heated skin.
“This is why you need to let me leave,” she breathed against his lips.
He looked into her eyes. “This is why I need you to stay.”
“Khalil…”
“I want to feel your warmth and your strength as I’m trying to level out,” he confessed.
Danielle rubbed his face. “You need to rest, Khalil. You can’t think straight if you’re exhausted.”
He shook his head. “I can’t sleep. This has got me so twisted.”
“It’s something that no one expects and it’s horrifying so I understand that you’re out of sorts,” Danielle comforted. “Since I’m here, please try to sleep. We can take shifts.”
“You know how to protect me?” he questioned.
“I’m a judge in the City of Detroit and a kidnapping survivor. I know how to handle myself now,” she told him.
Danielle kissed him softly. “I promise if I hear anything, I’ll wake you immediately.”
Khalil looked as if he wanted to protest. “Please,” she whispered. “I can see how this is wearing on you, baby.”
“I don’t like this feeling,” he told her. “I don’t like him out there without me knowing where he is and I want to murder him with my bare hands.”
Danielle pulled him into her arms. “That day is coming soon and you need to be on top of your game, because if you slip up, it’s going to cost all of us, if we lose you.”
Khalil returned her embrace. “I understand.”
He pulled back to look at her. “I still need to kiss you first.”
“I never said that you couldn’t do that,” she responded.
When his hand slipped further up her sweater to caress her breast, she looked at him.
“You never said I couldn’t do this either,” he pointed out, sliding his hand inside one of the cups.
“Khalil!”
He kissed her again. “I love the feel of your womanly softness.”
“Okay, keep it up,” she warned.
Khalil laughed softly as he continued to fondle her. “What are you going to do?”
Danielle moved to his ear and nipped it before whispering, “I’m going to be riding you on this sofa with a child sleeping in the bedroom.”
Before she could utter another word, Khalil had placed her on his lap facing him. “He’s a light sleeper, so you have to keep it low.”
Her eyes widened. “I didn’t mean I would actually do it.”
“Don’t tease me Queen.”
“You’re the one teasing me.”
“No, I’m not.”
She looked down at him. “Really?”
He nodded slowly, lifting her sweater. “Do you do this often with your son sleeping?” Danielle questioned.
“Never.”
She lifted her arms over her head as he removed the top. “What if he wakes up?”
“He’ll call out before he comes wandering,” Khalil told her.
“Why does he do that?”
Khalil looked at her. “Because tonight, I told him to do so.”
He began to touch her again with gentle, heated strokes. “I miss you and I need you, Danielle.”
She framed his face with her hands. “I miss all this intensity.”
“You want it?” he whispered, tasting her lips.
Danielle reached for his shirt. “It’s mine.”
******
Kyros found Danielle in the kitchen making breakfast. He smiled as he took his seat at the counter.
“Good morning, Ms. Danielle,” he greeted.
Danielle turned to him. “Good morning Kyros. Did you sleep well?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
Danielle smiled at the definitive answer like his father.
“Good, are you ready for your breakfast?” she asked.
“Daddy’s coming, he’s in the bathroom,” Kyros informed her.
She placed a plate in front of him and he smiled wider. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“Thank you,” he said looking up at her and her heart melted.
Khalil entered the kitchen pulling a white T-Shirt over his head, dressed in jeans and socks. He looked up at Danielle watching him and gave her one of his scarce smiles.
As Kyros dug into his breakfast, Khalil walked over and placed a hand on her waist before bending to kiss her
cheek. “Thank you for breakfast.”
Danielle looked up at him. “You’re more than welcome.”
They took seats with Kyros and began eating the fare she’d prepared. Kyros glanced at Danielle in between bites. “Did you sleep good Ms. Danielle?”
Danielle glanced at Khalil. “Yes, I did Kyros. Thank you for asking.”
He turned to his father. “What about you Daddy?”
Khalil paused in his eating. “Yes.”
He looked at Danielle and pinned her with that dark, sexy gaze. She looked away and continued with her breakfast with a smile on her face.
The trio finished their meal and Kyros went to wash his face before school and Khalil looked over at Danielle before taking her hand. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome Khalil. It’s my pleasure to make breakfast for you and Kyros.”
“Not for breakfast, Queen.”
She smiled. “I should be thanking you then.”
He nodded. “What are your plans for today?” Khalil asked.
“I’m going home to actually go to sleep, then I have a lunch appointment later,” Danielle told him.
“I will call you later then,” Khalil relayed.
Danielle squeezed his hand. “Please do, and be safe.”
Khalil brought her hand to his mouth. “I will.”
The Lewis men walked Danielle to her car and saw her off before they headed out to start their day. As they drove, Khalil wondered when he would hear from Melody. He hoped that she was on the up and up because if she fucked up…
******
Melody heard the phone ringing and looked at the screen as she packed her bags. Seeing that it was the call she was waiting for, she picked it up quickly.
“Spencer, what took you so long to call?” she answered.
“I told you I’m busy working.”
Melody frowned. “You don’t work Spencer.”
“You don’t know what I do, Melody.”
“I’m learning more every day,” she commented. “The meeting is set with Kyros.”
Spencer smiled. “Good, when?”
“Two days, we’re meeting at Khalil’s community center,” she informed him.
“Why there?”
“Since somebody tried to kill Khalil, he wants to be in a safe environment.”
Spencer frowned. “Isn’t that where somebody tried to kill him?”
“I don’t recall telling you that,” Melody questioned.
