Free Basement Level 5: Never Scared by L. R. Wright Page B

someone should hide from, it’s mine. What if Ky sees me like this and decides she wants to follow in my footsteps.”
    “ So what? She would do good to follow in your footsteps. She doesn’t have to kill to be like you. Somewhere along the line you forgot who you are because you were so busy pretending. The fact that you’ve killed does not define you. Our kids could do so much worse than to be like you.” Dro cradled her face again, smoothing his hands over her hair. “You’re intelligent, fearless, and strong. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. And you’re never more beautiful to me than when you are being yourself. I love everything about you, even the worse parts. I’ve known since I was ten-years-old that you would be my wife. I’ve loved you for so long, I can barely remember what it was like to not love you. And our children love you, too. They need us to fight for them.”
    “ Dro, I’m scared.”
    He smiled down at her and placed a sweet kiss on her lips. “No, you’re not. Remember, you are never scared.”
    She appreciated his attempt to lighten the situation. “I am, baby. We have so much to lose. If something were to happen to our kids because of me, I don’t think I could survive it.”
    He pulled her back into his arms. “I know. But it’s going to be alright. We just have to believe that.”
     
    ***
     
    August 22, 1997 :
     
    Dro stifled a groan when Alexa walked into his room and hopped up on his desk. At seventeen, she was even more beautiful. He had to remember to breathe every time she smiled. Her hair was styled in a long, layered cut. But he preferred it in a mound of messy curls, like it was today.
    She closed the book he was reading. “It’s my birthday tomorrow, Dro. What are you getting me?”
    “ Do I ever tell you what I’m going to get you?”
    “ No, but do I ever stop trying?”
    “ I guess not.” He leaned back in his chair. “What’s up?”
    She picked at the torn edges of his textbook. “I have a question to ask you.”
    “ What is it?”
    She fidgeted, a rare occurrence. “Well, as you know I’m turning seventeen tomorrow, and there are some things I want to accomplish.”
    He took a sip from his glass of water. “Like what?”
    “ I want to lose my virginity.”
    Choking on the water in his mouth, he pounded on his chest. “W—What?”
    “ I’m ready to lose my virginity.”
    Trying to compose himself, he rubbed the back of his neck “I heard you, but I’m wondering what the hell your problem is?”
    She shrugged then giggled when he rubbed his hand down his face. “I don’t have a problem, Dro. I’m seventeen tomorrow. I’m the only one I know that hasn’t had sex. It’s time.”
    He frowned, wondering where the hell this was leading. “So, what does this have to do with me?”
    “ Well...I want you to be my first.”
    Immediately, his gaze traveled down her body. “Okay, let’s just pencil that in between cake and ice cream.” Clearing his throat, he sat up straight. “You’re really trippin’.”
    “ No, I’m not.” She slid off the desk and onto his lap, straddling him. “I’m ready. And I trust you, so I want you to be the first.”
    His hands fell to her thighs. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “ Why not? You’re not attracted to me?”
    He gazed into her expressive brown eyes, tilting his head. “That’s not what I’m saying. It’s just...I don’t know if we should...”
    She placed her finger against his lips and he had to fight the urge to suck the digit into his mouth. “I have a reason for this request. I already had Kendrick give me my first kiss.” He was so distracted by her finger lingering over his lips that he almost missed her comment about who gave her that kiss. Almost.
    Dro arched an eyebrow at her. “So Kendrick was the first kiss?”
    She trailed her tiny fingers up his arms, distracting him from planning Kendrick’s beat-down. “And then Chase took me to second base,” she