All Give, All Take

er chest. Not fear exactly. Not peace either. Something in between

zed before sh

rom an unkn

O YOU TRUST I

art sk

ad it

play picture. J

ll of mischief-makers. But there was something about t

messag

OW EVERYTHIN

wallo

reply, the mess

ete

st tigh

alcony. The morning sun was bright over Ikoyi

ctive. Staff moving quietly. The sm

she found him. The door was sli

h" he was saying calmly. "Just ma

ore stepping in. He end

She didn't smile. "Do

on didn't ch

one in th

o.

side fully. "I

ed her ca

ro

umber. War

out

ou

all

did it

know everythin

chair, studying her

ked. "Ex

ng about me" he repeated

in her chest. "Th

ot lau

re you hiding somethin

pened slightl

wer

ave enemies" he said. "Real ones. This are people

ot what I

n front of her. Not touching. Just clos

you" he said quietly. "The answer is this, my world

y. "And what does

s you" he replied. "It means not every frie

ding y

ed in his expression, not anger, not

our enemy" he said softly, "

retched be

u're my enemy." she admitted. "I just do

de him

pla

like you're shielding me. Other times, i

d her more than words. Before either of them could

ere's a si

hifted instantly.

the gate. Refus

stomach

k asked. The s

he word land

hardened slig

her name i

the air lea

rdly, but she noticed the sm

t." he sa

ing madam." Now the

thia aske

ck looked at her careful

ide flared.

nt, then nodded once. "Fi

dress, sunglasses covering her eyes. She looked compos

g, she removed the sunglasse

thia-Rose, but

d with a small smi

her ground.

y, assessing. "I just wanted to s

alm but firm. "Amara,

"You look innocent," Amara said. "That's good.

htly at her sides. "And what

intly. "That yo

le

one sharpene

could say more. "Are you h

oftly. "Ex is a

hat are

lted her hea

settled l

r voice steady. "

replied calml

ward slightly. "You'

flickered to

emember" she said quietly, "men like him don't ch

ar. Cynthia stood frozen. Fredrick dismissed

drama." he s

at him slowly.

o.

rt tigh

about being histo

Bu

ry remains

d his face. "Di

pau

relevant." he

ned slightly.

, neither of

ietly. "I do not

e or warning. As they walked back inside, C

ousy. No

waren

She was stepping into a story that

ecide whether she was

anothe