Page 94 of Stay Dangerous

He chewed slowly and measured, like we had all the time in the world. Finally, he swallowed, and placed his utensils on the tray before him.

“Good morning, Wynter Snow.”

My eyes stretched, at both how nice his voice was, and how he knew my name. I sat up in the bed, keeping the blankets over me, even though I knew I was fully dressed under them–a nice satin long sleeve pajama set that was kind of making me hot.

“How do you know my name? Where am I?”

Pooh peered at me for a long moment, seemingly deciding something. Then he blinked, mind made up. “You’re at The Hive, my… oasis. And I know the name of every muthafucka whowalks through these doors, especially when I gotta make sure they stay alive. How’s your side?”

I winced, remembering the dull pain. “I’ll be alright. What happened?”

“Bullet fragments. But because we didn’t know you wererollingwhen we put you under anesthesia, you had a reaction. You were out for… a while.”

I blanched. “What’s a while?”

He shrugged, lifting his ankle to his other knee. “Four days. Give or take.”

“Four days?! I need to find–” I went to launch off the bed but froze as soon as Pooh stood to his full height.

Slowly, I sank back into the bed, trying to keep from peeing myself. This guy was nuts.

“Your sister is home safe. And unharmed.” His lip twitched before he added, “I heard she’s a real thoroughbred.”

Whatever that means.“Can I… can I go home?”

He shoved a hand in his pocket. “Unfortunately, no. Y’all stumbled into some real horse shit, and my nephew begged me to make sure you both were tucked away while we clean up this mess. And from what I hear, neither one of you were supposed to even be in the Birch. So it’s been decided that you can spend Christmas here. And before you ask, no, you won’t have access to a phone or the internet.”

My shoulders dropped. I didn’t feel in danger; in fact, I’d oddly never felt safer. But I need to see with my own eyes that Auty was okay.

Pooh saw my plea, because he produced his phone and tapped a few times before he showed me his screen.

She was dirty, and her tights were ripped, but she was okay, and in her room.

“Thank God,” I breathed. “Fine. I’ll stay.”

“You ain’t have a choice, cariña,” Pooh smirked. “Be nice to Pilar; she rarely has guests.”

My eyebrows crinkled, before a soft knock sounded on the door behind him.

Two women entered. One in a scandalous maid outfit, and another woman, probably only a few years older than me, that was utterly gorgeous.

Otherworldly. That nineties fine, with milk chocolate skin and a pixie cut. She had big doll eyes covered in gray colored contacts that could pass for her own in the right light, and a dramatic sheer red robe with fur lining.

The maid took Pooh’s tray, and he leaned down to kiss her cheek before she left. The other woman came to stand at his side, and folded herself into him as she peered at me with interest.

“Pilar. You’re in charge of making sure our guest has a good time. Remember the rules,” he said, eyes turning sharp as he held my gaze.

I recognized the test immediately.

I didn’t know how much he knew about me, but he knew I knew Foe Dub. I was familiar enough for Tyree to go to bat for me.

He wanted to know how much I knew about him, if anything. I hadn’t asked him his name once. We hadn’t even brought up his sons.

Anyone who didn’t know anything would blanch. He wasn’t a regular guy, by far.

And I wasn’t batting an eye. Not at what I should have been concerned about.

Pilar grinned, showing two rows of perfect white teeth surrounded by naturally pouty and full lips. “We’re gonna have so much fun, Wynter Snow.”