Saving My Heart For A Thug's Love

By Mo Howard

Identical twin sisters, Denver and Aurora Andrews were always close until a traumatic situation left the twins to figure out life on their own.

Denver was the one who had her entire life planned out by the age of ten. After achieving the dream husband, career and home, she still feels like something is missing when it comes to love. Malik isn’t doing it for her anymore. She’s over the lies and is ready to be with someone who knows her worth.

The comes Myles Mills, a handsome and very successful kingpin with a thug allure that catches her eye. Myles has never had a problem getting ladies, so when he meets the beautiful Denver Andrews, he knows that she’s not like the rest. She’s off limits but Myles has a hard time leaving her alone. And, eventually it becomes clear that he won't...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Royalty Publishing House
• Release date: Oct 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9781648407932

Book preview

Prologue

2013

Ring. Ring.

Denver Andrews rolled over in her bed as her phone continued to ring and vibrate on her nightstand. With her eyes still closed, she grabbed her iPhone and answered without even looking at phone. Hello, she answered.

De, I can’t do this.

Aurora? What’s wrong? What are you talking about? Denver asked, opening her eyes. Her twin sister, Aurora was the only person who called her De.

I don’t know. I just can’t do this. I need to come home, Aurora stated before sobbing.

Calm down. Tell me what’s going on. Denver was now sitting up in her bed. Although the girls were twins born ten minutes apart, Denver was extremely overprotective of her younger sister. She begged Aurora to come to Spelman College with her, but Aurora wanted to go to Xavier University in New Orleans. This was the first time the girls had been apart. They were now in their senior year of college and a few weeks away from graduation.

I don’t feel like myself. Aurora cried, trying to catch her breath.

Is everything okay? Malik, Denver’s boyfriend of three years asked.

It’s Aurora, Denver whispered as she got out of bed to search for her leggings that she took off before going to bed.

Is she okay? Malik questioned while tossing in the bed.

Denver held her finger up to silence him. She couldn’t have a conversation with him while trying to figure out what was wrong with her sister.

Ro, are you still there? Denver questioned as she walked out of her bedroom.

Yes. I need to come home. I can’t be here. Aurora cried.

What’s wrong? Calm down and tell me what happened, Denver said in a soothing tone.

De, I think someone is trying to kill me. I can’t sleep and every time I close my eyes, I hear people laughing in my closet.

What? Denver stopped moving around her room to make sure she heard her correctly.

People have been following me all week. I know they’re trying to kill me. You have to come get me.

Ro, who has been following you? Why didn’t you tell me earlier this week?

Girls. I feel like they’re trying to kill me.

Denver took a deep breath. Something was really wrong with her sister. She was the sweetest person you’d ever meet so Denver didn’t know why her sister felt like people were after her.

Ro, when was the last time you slept? You sound tired.

It’s been a couple of days.

Why didn’t you call me then?

I didn’t want to bother you. Please don’t tell Mommy and Daddy. Aurora cried.

You know I have to tell them, Denver said, keeping it real with Aurora. She didn’t know what was going on with her, but their parents had to be notified.

I should have never called you, Aurora said, disconnecting the call.

Denver rolled her eyes and called her sister back. I know you’re mad, but I need to make sure you’re okay.

Why can’t you just come get me? Why do you have to tell Mommy and Daddy?

Ro, you know I can’t drive more than an hour. I’m going to call Mommy and we’ll be there by noon today. Ro looked at her phone and saw that it was four in the morning.

Okay. Aurora sniffled.

Let me call Mommy and I’ll call you back. I promise, no one is in your closet. Make yourself some tea so you can calm down, and also try to get some rest. Do you have any melatonin or sleepy time tea? Denver questioned, sounding just like their mother. Out of the two, Aurora was the more sensitive twin. She was diagnosed with anxiety when she was younger and because of that, Sheri and Edward wanted her to go to Spelman College because if they ever needed to get to her, she would only be down the road from the house. Aurora begged her parents to go to Xavier, and after much consideration, they agreed to let her go. They knew that they couldn’t keep her under their thumb forever, so they allowed her to go to New Orleans. Aurora was weeks away from graduation and had been on the dean’s list ever since she entered college. They were very proud of both of their girls and that’s one reason Aurora didn’t call her mom. She didn’t want anyone to worry about her. She figured calling Denver would be the better option, but now she was regretting it.

I have some tea, Aurora answered.

Okay. Drink some tea and lay down. We’ll be there as soon as we can. Denver assured her sister.

Okay. Aurora said as she wiped away some tears that were rolling down her face.

I love you.

Love you more.

As soon as Denver disconnected the call from Aurora, she called their mom who answered on the second ring.

What’s wrong? Sheri answered.

It’s Aurora. I think she’s having some sort of breakdown. She just called me crying telling me that some girls at the school are trying to kill her.

What? Kill her?

Yeah. That’s what she said. She also said that she needs to come home. Ma, we have to go get her. She doesn’t sound like herself.

See, I told her ass to go to Spelman. I don’t know why she wanted to go so far away from home.

Ma, save that speech please.

What’s going on? Edward asked in the background.

Sheri filled him in while Denver got dressed. Ma, I’m on the way to your house.

Okay. I’m going to call Aurora and see if I can talk to her. I’ll see you when you get here.

Denver looked around the room making sure she had all her belongings. The ride to New Orleans from Atlanta wasn’t too bad. She’d be back the next day, so she wasn’t going to take a lot, just the essentials.

Once she was sure she had everything, she gently shook Malik.

Baby, I’m leaving. Make sure you lock up when you leave. Denver placed a kiss on his cheek.

Alright. Let me know when you make it. I hope she’s okay.

Me too.

When Denver made it to her parent’s house, she parked in the driveaway and let the garage door up. After grabbing her bag, she made her way inside the house and found her mom in the kitchen on the phone.

Hey. Denver greeted her mom.

Hey. I’m on the phone with Aurora’s resident assistant, Sheri whispered. Yes, I want you to go check on her. She lives on the third floor in a single room.

Denver left her mom and went to find her dad who was in his man cave.

Hey daddy.

Good morning sweet pea. Edward smiled before hitting the blunt. Edward quit smoking cigarettes years ago, but he couldn’t let go of smoking weed. It was his stress reliever.

Have you spoken to Aurora?

Yeah. She was worked up, but I was able to calm her down. She knows we’re on the way, so she sounded relieved.

Good. I just want to make sure she’s okay. She wasn’t sounding like herself on the phone.

Edward nodded his head. His baby girl was going through something. He didn’t know what was wrong, but he knew that he had to get to her to make sure she was straight. It was his job to protect his family and make sure they were taken care of, so driving to New Orleans early in the morning to pick up his baby girl was what had to be done.

Babe. Denver, come on. We’re leaving, Sheri yelled from upstairs.

Edward put his blunt out and followed Denver upstairs. He got in the driver’s seat while his wife hopped into the passenger seat. Denver got cozy in the back and before she knew it, she drifted off to sleep.

A sudden stop made Denver’s body jerk forward. Her eyes shot open and the sight in front of her took her breath away. She couldn’t process what was happening because everything moved so fast. She saw her father gripping the steering wheel and her mother gripping her father’s arm.

Ahhhhh! Edwardddd! Sheri screamed as the car was pushed over the guard rail.

The car entered the cold water and within seconds, water started pouring in. Denver struggled to get her seat belt off as the icy water filled the car.

My seatbelt isn’t coming off! Sheri screamed.

Denver unbuckled her seat belt as the water rose above her chest. She took a deep breath and swam towards the front of the car. Her parents were struggling to get out of their seatbelts. Denver wanted to help but her lungs felt like they were on fire. She needed to breathe. Taking one last look at her parents, she swam towards the surface and prayed that God allowed her parents to escape. When she made it to the top, she breathed deeply, allowing the oxygen to fill her lungs. She could hear screaming and sirens. Before she knew it, she was being pulled out of the water.

My parents are down there! she screamed.

Ma’am please calm down. We’ve sent a team down there to get your parents.

God, please don’t take my parents! Please don’t take my parents! Denver repeated over and over again as she was wrapped in wool blankets by the EMTs.

Ma’am we need you to come over here.

No. I have to wait for my parents, Denver said, shaking her head back and forth. The people around her looked at her with sympathetic eyes. They knew the hard truth that Denver wouldn’t believe.

The EMT backed away from Denver. The minutes passed by silently and after a while, the dive team surfaced.

Where are my parents? Denver screamed as she dropped the blankets and ran towards the edge of the water.

The divers took off their masks. I’m sorry ma’am.

Where are they? Denver cried. Her heart felt like it was about to explode. The pain was enough to bring her to her knees. Why? Why? Denver cried until her voice went out. The rest of the day was a blur. Denver didn’t know when her aunt showed up and she wasn’t sure how she made it to New Orleans, but she did remember pulling up to Aurora’s dorm and seeing her sitting outside. It was dark out, but Denver wasn’t sure what time it was.

Whose car is this? Where’s Mommy and Daddy? I’ve been calling y’all all day. Aurora started firing off questions.

Denver wrapped her arms around her sister and began to cry.

Auntie what’s wrong? Where’s Mommy and Daddy? I thought they were coming to get me, Aurora asked with a confused look on her face.

Sweetie get in the car. We’ll talk when we get to the hotel. Their aunt Reese tried to reason with her.

No. Where are my parents? De, where are they?

Denver cried harder. How could she tell her sister the truth when she still didn’t believe it?

Auntie. What happened? Aurora asked as tears started to form in her eyes. She knew it had to be bad if her auntie wasn’t telling her. Reese was blunt and a straight shooter. She didn’t have a problem speaking her mind.

Reese walked towards the girls and wrapped her arms around both of them. Your parents died in a car accident. As she explained the situation, it became harder and harder for her to speak. Losing her baby Sis didn’t even seem possible. They were the best of friends growing up and they were able to maintain and strengthen their friendship as they got older. Reese knew at a young age that she didn’t want children. She always told Sheri that she would be the best auntie in the world, but having kids of her own was never a desire. She kept that promise when the girls were born. She was often the last-minute babysitter when Sheri and Edward needed a break from the twins.

By the time Reese finished recounting the story, both of the girls were sobbing. Aurora didn’t care that her peers saw her mourning, all she could think about was the fact that she’d never be able to see her parents again.

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