Locked In Love

"Bro, why pay for sex when I have all these features? Like, what's all the wholesomeness for?"

"Get that dirty smirk off your face, man. You're saying that because you think all women are the same. I'm telling you - one day, you'll meet a woman who doesn't give a damn about your ugly face but your fine-ass pocket."

"You're really gonna swear my face is ugly?"

A satisfied laugh followed.

Two single friends, seated in an open-air section of a bar, exchanging drunken wisdom.

Sterling whistled at a hostess strutting past - deliberately, like she knew what she was doing. His aim was to catch Jeddah's attention. But Jeddah was too proud for his own good looks. He knew his worth, and he wore it like armor - shoving it into the face of every woman who liked a daring man.

His eyes scanned the room like a predator. Only, he wasn't looking for prey.

Sterling took a sip from his glass and smiled at his friend - the kind of smile that says "I know exactly what you're thinking."

"Who's it gonna be tonight?" Sterling asked with a smirk, almost dipping into his vodka.

"I swear to God, if you touch me again, I'll kill you. Try me."

Jeddah's eyes drifted from the roundness of a redhead standing a few feet away... to the sharp, unapologetic voice slicing through the air.

He hated women who tried to order their way out of things.

But she was hot.

That's beside the point.

An irritated-looking man reached for her arm as she turned to leave, heading for the exit.

"She's cooked tonight. I'm telling you," Sterling murmured.

"I doubt she'll let him. She looks fierce. She could kill," Jeddah said, draining his drink.

"Who?" Sterling raised a brow. "You drunk already, bro? Mr. One-Hundred-Bottles can't be." He chuckled. "I'm talking about that girl sitting by the door."

"Girl? That's a woman. Probably someone's mother."

"Moms need love too," Sterling chuckled, standing up like a man on a mission.

"For your mind now, guy. You wan give her love? Saint Sterl."

But Sterling was gone. No time to waste.

Jeddah glanced back at the exit, pulled out his wallet - thick with money - and dropped a generous tip. Then he stood, curiosity leading the way.

And he was right.

The man had cornered her by the door, pinning her against the wall every time she tried to walk away. She looked upset - but worse, she looked helpless.

Jeddah scoffed.

"So much for being bold."

He stood nearby, watching.

Then he pulled out his phone - an idea sparked.

When he looked back up, the man now held her waist. She was fully pinned.

They looked... intimate.

Jeddah scoffed again.

"So much drama. Why go through all that just to end up where you belong? In his bed."

He turned to leave.

"Micheal, I said stop!"

Her scream - desperate, raw - cut through the noise.

Jeddah didn't hesitate this time. He moved fast, fists forming, like some pissed-off superhero.

"You know I've been watching... and filming. This act of yours? It could end up as a movie, porn, or a twelve-year prison sentence. My choice. Not yours. And I'm picking the latter."