Halo was just looking for a way out of a bad situation. She thought her sister was throwing her a lifeline, but instead, she landed straight into the path of a man who doesn't do favors, doesn't do guests, and definitely doesn't do soft. He run his life and his house with zero room for error. He's cold, dominant, and unapologetic. But sometimes, the very person who threatens your peace is the only one capable of holding you down. In a world where everyone else failed her, Halo is about to learn that protection comes with a price, and his standard is non-negotiable.

18 year old Seven is the pride of 12th Street. With a 4.0 GPA, a clean record, and a future that stretches far beyond the projects, she's the "good girl" everyone points to. She lives her life by the book, tucked safely behind the protection of her brother, Serge, and the iron gate of her porch. She's a goldfish in a shark tank, and she knows it. But the walls Serge built are starting to feel thin. Ghost is the first crack in her foundation. He's Serge's right hand, a man who has known Seven since she was in pigtails. He's respectful, steady, and moves through their house with a silent, predatory grace. He knows the "don't touch" policy better than anyone, but the way he watches her from the kitchen door tells a different story. He's the familiar danger, the one who's always there, whispering that he sees the woman she's becoming. Then there is Lucky. If Ghost is the fire, Lucky is the cold, dark eclipse. As the man who runs the neighborhood, he doesn't come inside, and he doesn't play by anyone's rules, not even Serge's. He doesn't talk much. He doesn't have to, his presence is a loud enough statement. Seven is caught in the crosshairs of two different kinds of power. One man is her brother's best friend who respects the house, the other is the street legend who intends to own it. On 12th Street, loyalty is everything... but some temptations are worth the war.

Imagine being only 17 years old living in the big city of Texas. 27 year old Ace, the most dangerous drug dealer of Houston, had just been released from prison for murder, and who would've known 17 year old Marsai would be the reason why he was sent away. She will run into him and face many obstacles that will try to spill her truth. Will he find out? What will be the outcome? Love or death? Witness or protection?

Nari is the backbone of her block. A hairstylist with a "don't talk to me" attitude, she carries the weight of her world on her shoulders without asking for a hand out or a shoulder to cry on. Between braiding heads until her fingers bleed and raising her little sister, Layla, Nari doesn't have time for feelings-only for the math of survival. She's the provider, the protector, and the one everyone runs to when the lights go out. When her best friend Vee discovers her boyfriend, Marcus, sneaking a woman into her apartment, the two "slide" to handle the disrespect. But the confrontation takes a deadly turn. Against Nari's warnings, a heart-broken Vee does the unmistakable, not realizing the aftermath will affect J.R., a name that carries a death sentence in the streets. Caught in the crosshairs of a street war they didn't start, Nari's life of calculated hustle is traded for a game of survival. Dragged into the shadows of the streets, she comes face-to-face with a man whose silence is louder than any gunshot. He's cold, calculated, and holds Nari's life in the palm of his hand. Now, Nari is juggling more than just bills and braids. She's navigating a world of high-stakes debts and a dangerous attraction to a man who represents everything she should be running from. But in a world built on power and pride, love is a liability. When the wall finally crumbles and the "Provider" has nothing left to give, the roles reverse. _________________________________

Sequel to 'My Brothers Shadow'. Please read book #1 first so you won't be lost. 🩶