Page 5 of Dima
“Okay, Li. I’ll see you later.”
I hugged my friend again before she sauntered off in the direction of her man. They had been dating for a while, and sometimes, I admired what they had. Harvey seemed to really like Liyah by the way he doted on her.
I knew he was probably slanging weight in the streets. I could tell a drug dealer by looking at one, but that was none of my business. As long as he didn’t get my best friend caught up in that shit, he was good in my book.
I hopped into my 2025 light pink Jeep Wrangler and headed toward the Durty Boyz compound. My father, Bishop, had been the president of the Durty Boyz motorcycle club since before I was born, but I had always steered clear of his compound. When I was younger, the men who worked for him were like uncles, but now that I was old enough to understand, Guard was the only one I trusted.
I could see how the club that I was told was my mother’s pride and joy descended further into blood and violence each year. That was something I wanted to keep my distance from, and my father understood that, but what he wouldn’t understand is me having something wrong with this vehicle and not going to get it fixed.
I merged onto the highway and made the fifteen-minute drive to get to the compound. It wasn’t outside of the city, but it was in an area that most people wouldn’t go to. No one in thewhole city of Jackson was ever stupid enough to touch me, so I could go anywhere and remain untouched. That didn’t keep my father from having a tail on me almost everywhere I went.
Guard, my father’s right-hand man, was surrounded by men on the front porch of the clubhouse when I pulled up. I knew most of them because they’d been around for some time, but one, I didn’t recognize at all. I could see them shifting in their seats as I put my Jeep in park. They were probably wondering what the fuck I was doing there and if my father would be pulling up behind me.
Guard walked up to the Jeep before anybody else could move from the porch. I hopped out and threw my bag over my shoulder. He rounded the front to meet me halfway.
“What’s up, princess? What you doing out here?”
“Something’s going on with the Jeep. Can you have someone look at it for me?”
“Of course, baby girl. Dima can handle it for you.”
Guard pointed at the guy I didn’t recognize, and my eyes followed. He was a lot cleaner than most of the mechanics who worked for my father. Too clean, actually.
“Uh, is he new?”
“Yeah, but don’t worry yourself with that.”
“Okay. Should I pull into the garage?”
“Nah, give me the keys.”
Guard took the keys from my hand and threw them to Dima. He caught them without even looking. Like he was expecting them. Expecting me.
“Walk with me.”
Guard pulled my attention from the stranger, who by this time had gotten into my front seat. I walked behind him like he’d asked. I already knew how this conversation was about to go. He would ask about school, then warn me to stay away from boys. Iwould play innocent, as I always did, and he would still see me as the toddler he had to look out for.
“How those grades looking?” he asked.
“Always good. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that.”
“And you staying away from those knucklehead little boys?”
“Yes, I’m staying away from boys, Uncle Guard, because they’re mostly men at my school.”
“Don’t be a smart-ass.”
I laughed and nudged him in the side before he grabbed my head and put me in a chokehold. He was careful not to hurt me as I wiggled to get away.
“I’m not being smart. I love you.”
I hugged him from the side before I kissed him on the cheek. We walked farther around the compound as I caught him up on everything that had been going on in my life since the last time we’d had one of these talks.
“Did my dad tell you I made the dean’s list?”
“The dean’s list? Look at you, baby girl. Smart just like your mother.”
“Yeah. My dad tells me that all the time.”
