I follow Oliver inside his new apartment, my head reeling with questions. The inside is really fancy, there's a huge photo of Nimo dangling next Oliver's favourite grandfather clock.
"Can we talk?" I don't wait for him to get comfortable after pecking Nimo who throws me a nervous look. "Now!" I order.
He shrugs nonchalantly and follow me to his kitchen.
"I need an explanation and this time you aren't going to just give me some lame answers." I say as soon as we are alone.
"What do you want to know?" His demeanour turns serious.
"Where you got the money to afford this apartment and what exactly happened to the mechanic shop?"
"I used my saving and for the shop, like I told you it burned down." He doesn't blink as he says this. His face is hard, the same face my father had when he was close to breaking.
"Am still not convinced." I say.
"Sorry siz, my mission wasn't to convince you but tell you the truth. How you decide to Interpret it, it's your choice."
I heave a sigh, "Fine." I surrender.
"The food is getting cold." Nimo pokes her head. The nervous look on her face I can tell her main mission was to confirm if I had told Oliver about her affair with the older man at the police station.
I exhale, "What are we having?"I ask. I might as well give the girl a chance, after all Oliver is crazy about her. I should be happy for him.
"Oliver told me your favourite, Rosemary Chicken and flat bread. So I made it." She says with a huge genuine grin.
She's a jolly, I get why Oliver likes her.
He's yet to get a dining table so we occupy his leather sofa. Nimo has placed the food on the chest that acts as the table. I focus my eyes on the 7pm news.
"Cara, Oliver has told me so much about you." She breaks the silence and I turn to face her. There's a huge scar just above her left eye. She is average looking with voluminous curly hair, a round face adored with a delicate nose and big puppy eyes.
"Like what?" I ask. People always says that when they don't know anything about you.
"You have been more of a mother than a sister since you lost your parents. He talks about you with so much pride." She says and my heart does somersault that Oliver is proud of me.
I am about to answer when my phone rings, it is a private number. Only one person calls me with a private number. I hope this is not a booty call.
I pick it and stay silent waiting for the caller to answer.
"Are you okay?" Quinn asks his voice full of concern. That's new.
"What is going on?" I match his worry. Oliver's brows creases.
"Are you at your apartment?" His breaths are uncoordinated and fear sips into me.
"No."
"Don't go there it is dangerous. I will come get you wherever you are." He speaks in a rush manner and I hear him cuss.
"No." I haughtily say. "Listen Quinn," Oliver eyes darken at the mention of Quinn. I told him how Quinn kept on blaming me. "Whatever games you are playing I will not be part of them." I hang up before he can talk.
"What does he want?" Oliver enquires.
"Don't know, Don't care."
Nimo asks, "Is that the same guy you were kissing in the papers?"
I keep forgetting that my face is printed everywhere with all sorts of names.
I nod dutifully, "He's and he is an ass."
That earn her a chuckle, "He is hot too." She adds.
Oliver clears his throat, "He's the devils son, if you knew half what he's capable of." He spits, "As long as you are with me, am the SI unit of hotness." He pulls her closer.
"Whatever you believe," She leans and plants a chaste kiss on his lips. I look away, they Look head over heels in love.
Nimo stands, "Cara can you help me in the kitchen with the dessert?"
I nod in agreement.
"I want to thank you for not telling Oliver about that man I was with the other day. I ended it" She puts a slice of red velvet cake on a saucer.
"It is your confession to make." I say.
"I think am in love with him."
"Then don't break his heart because you will have me to deal with." I mean every word.
"I won't." She smiles. "You are protective of him just he's to you.
A thought pops into my head, "Why don't we go shopping sometime, I would love to know you more." I offer.
That excites her, "How about tomorrow?" She suggest.
Tomorrow I have to go talk to Ryan after he has ignored all my calls.
"How about Wednesday?" I ask.
"Sounds like a plan."
Oliver walks in on us with my phone. "He won't stop calling. "He hands me my phone.
"What!" I bark once I answer it.
"Am here, come out."
"Where?" I ask confused.
"Outside your brother's apartment." He answers.
He's unbelievably pushy. "How did you know where to find me?"
"I am a man of many connections. The more you delay the more danger you are putting your brother in." He warns and that gets me all worked up. I turn to Oliver who is wearing an impatient look.
I know Quinn never bluffs but he did tell me yesterday at the Ranch that I will pay. Can i trust his motives?
"Don't make me come up there to get you." He threaten when I don't reply immediately.
I have had enough of his bullshit for long, "Go to hell Quinn." I say and hang up.
As soon as I do that, there's loud banging on the door.
"You got to be kidding me." I mutter as I move to open it. I swing it open. Quinn is standing there in all his glory and arrogance.
"You told me to stay out of your life but seems like you can't stay out of mine."
"Get out of here." Oliver lungs at Quinn. Compared to Quinn he is shorter. He has always had an athletic body and am afraid what Quinn might do to him. He gather a handful of Quinn's designer shirt in his fist. "Leave my sister alone. Your family has done us enough damage already."
"What are you trying to say?" Quinn asks.
"Oliver!" I shout his name, I cannot let him tell Quinn everything.
The neighbours peer through the doors to see the cause of commotion.
"Should I call the cops?" An old woman in her seventies asks us.
"No."I say. "Yes." Oliver says too.
"Everything is fine." I assure her. She look between Oliver and I before she goes back inside.
"I just want to keep your sister safe. Bad people are after me and to get to me they will use her."
"So you are just trying to protect yourself?" Oliver pins him on the wall.
"And her. I promise I will keep her safe." I have never seen Quinn masked in such worry.
"Why should I believe you after everything you have put her through."
"My word is enough." He stares down at Oliver whose face holds no humour.
Oliver releases him and huffs, "It is her decision to make, but dare hurt her and I will scatter your bones throughout each state." He points at Quinn. He turns to me with a questioning look.
"I will go with him." I say.
"I wish I had two men who loved me this much." Nimo whispers to my ears. I roll my eyes and asks Quinn to wait as I collect my stuff.
"Use this if he tries anything." Oliver gives me a penknife my father got him for his birthday. I hesitate knowing how sedimental it is to him. " He pushes it to my palm and I hug him goodbye.
"Take care of her." He shouts at Quinn as we walk down the hall.
"How do you intend to protect me?" I ask Quinn.
"You will live with me." He says.